1. Cleveland Clinic. This academic medical center located in Cleveland not only treats a variety of musculoskeletal impairments in their orthopedic department but also has its very own center for spine health. Established in 2003, it covers the full scope of spinal services. The center has specialists in neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery and medical spine, as well as experts in manipulation and interventional pain management. These specialists work together to diagnose and treat spinal disorders, including scoliosis, spinal stenosis, chiari malformation and spinal tumors. For the past several years, U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked the the Cleveland Clinic’s department of orthopedic surgery among the nation’s top five orthopedic programs and the number one program in Ohio. Each fall, physicians in the orthopedic department publish an orthopedic insights newsletter, which can be obtained online.
Learn more about the Cleveland Clinic.
2. Duke University Medical Center. Located in Durham, N.C, Duke University Medical Center’s orthopedic department is not only home to expert orthopedic surgeons, but also two orthopedic traumatologists who specialize in the management of complex fractures. In addition to handling bone and soft tissue cancer, elbow, hand, foot and ankle problems, the department also performs joint replacement (including hip and knee). Like many orthopedic programs they also cover sports medicine and spine issues, and orthopedic trauma. Previously known as the Duke University Hospital and Medical School, Duke University Medical Center was established in 1930 and now occupies 7.5 million square feet in 90 buildings on 210 acres.
Learn more about Duke University Medical Center.
3. Hospital for Special Surgery. Located in New York City, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) was ranked #1 in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report. It offers comprehensive orthopedic services in 11 areas including foot and ankle; limb lengthening and deformity; osteoporosis/metabolic bone disease; orthopedic trauma; and sports medicine. It was founded in 1863 by James Knight, MD, and is the oldest orthopedic hospital in the country. HSS is known for its treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and performed more than 20,000 surgical procedures in 2007. HSS has developed minimally invasive spine surgery techniques that do not require spinal fusion and AARP Modern Maturity named HSS the #1 knee-hip orthopedic hospital. It is an affiliate of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College. In 2004, 400 applicants competed for eight spots at its residency program. Today, over 400 of its graduates hold positions in successful orthopedic departments.
Learn more about Hospital for Special Surgery.
4. Johns Hopkins Hospital. This teaching hospital is located in Baltimore. It was founded in 1889 and has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the best hospital in America in its annual rankings of American hospitals for 18 consecutive years. In the 2008 report, its orthopedics specialty was ranked sixth best in the United States. Within orthopedics, the hospital performs hand surgery, pediatric orthopedics, orthopedic oncology, shoulder surgery, spine surgery, sports medicine surgery and adult reconstruction. John Hopkins is devoted to education and offers a fellowship in arthroplasty each year and their orthopedic residency program has been training outstanding surgeons and leaders for nearly 100 years.
Learn more about Johns Hopkins Hospital.
5. Massachusetts General Hospital. The department of orthopedic surgery at Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) treats the largest volume of trauma, sports-medicine-related injury and musculoskeletal tumors of any hospital in the New England area with approximately 6,000 inpatient admissions and 30,000 ambulatory encounters every year. The department of orthopedic surgery at MGH is a major participant in the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency program. A total of 50 resident physicians are involved in clinical care through the program, with approximately 18 residents at MGH at any one time. In addition, MGH has approximately 14 clinical fellows involved in providing patient care. Many orthopedic teaching conferences are held weekly, biweekly and monthly.
Learn more about Massachusetts General Hospital.
