Orthopedic Services

For most orthopedic diseases and injuries, there is more than one form of treatment. Treatment may involve medications, medical devices such as casts or splints and/or therapies such as exercise or surgery. Physicians will discuss the various and appropriate treatment options with each patient to select the best treatment plan possible.

Should the need for surgery be determined, SAMC's orthopedic surgery education program will help prepare patients and their caregivers. SAMC's innovative approach has proven successful in reducing the recovery period and returning patients to the activities of daily living through regained strength, independence and confidence.

Even before admission, an orthopedic case manager, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist begin to prepare patients and their families for what to expect during the hospital stay. Recommendations will be provided regarding adaptive equipment for use at home, exercises that will be important and helpful during rehabilitation, fall prevention and what to expect during at-home recovery.

Admission

Patients may be admitted to the hospital through the Emergency Department or as a referral from a physician. Streamlined admission processes ensure that patients receive care as quickly as possible. Effective pain management is one of our primary goals from the time you arrive. In addition to pain management through the use of medication, we aim for early surgical treatment when necessary to relieve pain.

Surgery

We take surgery very seriously. Therefore, we exhaust all other available forms of treatment first. In the event that surgery is required, rest assured that you are in the hands of some of the most skilled orthopedic surgeons in the Southeast. 

Anesthesia

Our anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists are highly skilled specialists in treating orthopedic patients. Anesthesia may be general or spinal. The anesthesiologist, in conjunction with you and your family and physicians, choose the most appropriate anesthetic.

Post-Operative Care

Recovering from orthopedic surgery presents challenges not always encountered with other surgical procedures. Rehab is an important aspect of post-operative recovery, allowing the patient to return to a comfortable level of activity. At Southeast Alabama Medical Center, we do everything possible to ensure a safe and easy recovery.

Discharge

In most cases, our patients are discharged to a nursing home/rehab facility to continue rehabilitation and physical therapy. Patients who came to us from a facility will likely return to the same facility. Other patients usually need a rehab stay until they recover enough to return home.

Joint replacement is needed when an arthritic or dysfunctional joint causes severe pain and inhibits patient mobility. Joint replacement surgery is most common in knees and hips. SAMC takes a comprehensive approach to joint replacement with the goal of helping each patient regain independence by returning to work and other daily activities with little or no pain.

The patient's health, comfort and recovery are collectively our number one priority. Each patient is treated by a team of professionals who are specialists in total joint care. Every detail, from pre-operative teaching to post-operative exercising, is considered and reviewed with the patient. A Joint Care Case Manager will plan an individualized treatment program and help guide the patient through it.

Each patient's team includes the director of orthopedics, physicians and nurses, the Joint Center coordinator, orthopedic case managers, physical therapists and occupational therapists, all of whom specialize in total joint care. The patient's personal care team will work with the patient and their family/caregiver(s) in helping the patient achieve the best possible outcome from joint surgery.

Knees

At Southeast Alabama Medical Center, we specialize in treating knees – whether it’s an ACL injury, a meniscal tear, posterior cruciate ligament injury, runner’s knee or arthritis. Our physicians specialize in getting you back on your feet.

 Hips

More than 35,000 people fracture a hip every year. And beyond that, other maladies like inflammatory arthritis of the hip and osteoarthritis of the hip are common.Our caring team develops a plan to adress reducing pain and increasing the range of movement, and coordinating a total hip replacement when necessary.

Shoulders

The shoulder is vulnerable to all kinds of strains, tears and stresses. We can help alleviate pain with the help of our physician partners at Southern Bone and Joint Specialists.  Whether it’s shoulder pain, a rotator cuff tear, or arthritis of the shoulder, we have the means, staff and skill set to deal with the problem quickly and effectively.

 We know that pain in the bones and joints can be debilitating and can restrict or eliminate movement, activity, work or play. Our mission is to develop a prognosis that doesn’t just treat the problem area, but reduces your chances of future pain, sprains and discomfort.

AfterCare

We are pleased that you have selected Southeast Alabama Medical Center for your orthopedic surgery. Recovering from orthopedic surgery presents challenges not always encountered with other surgical procedures.

The pdf booklet below has important information to help with your recovery. 

Therapy

Physical therapy is a vital part of your recovery. At  Southeast Alabama Medical Center our physical therapists help you make the most of your rehab, assisting you with special exercises at recommended times. Our aim is always a return to full mobility.