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Helping you move through life pain-free.

For those living with pain, performing the simplest activities, such as walking through a grocery store or getting up from a chair, can be difficult. Whether your pain is the result of arthritis, a sports injury or simple joint wear and tear, the orthopedic surgeons at Delray Medical Center can help restore you to a comfortable and more active lifestyle.

The Center for Advanced Orthopedics is located on the third floor in the new Patient Tower of the Delray Medical Center campus. This beautifully designed expansion features private patient rooms and some of the latest technology to provide patients with the comfort and care they need for recovery. Orthopedic surgery patients can also enjoy the new spacious gym located in the tower, staffed with physical therapists seven days a week.

Hip, knee and shoulder replacements are becoming more common every day as men and women pursue an active life.

What Is an Orthopedic Emergency?

Orthopedic emergencies occur when a bone or a tissue is injured and requires immediate attention to prevent further trauma or injury. The most common orthopedic emergencies include the following:

  • Open Fractures
  • Closed fractures
  • Compartment syndromes (bleeding or swelling in muscles)
  • Neurovascular injuries (damage to the major blood vessels)
  • Dislocations
  • Septic joints

When an orthopedic injury unexpectedly pulls you to the sidelines, get back on track to recovery at Delray Medical Center or our freestanding Emergency Center in Lake Worth. The Emergency Center in Lake Worth is dedicated exclusively to 24-hour emergency care and offers the same high-quality treatment and diagnostic services as Delray Medical Center's emergency department.

Hospital Stay and Discharge

You may stay overnight at the hospital and return home the following day. The length of your stay may also depend on the speed of your recovery. Your doctor may declare your discharge once you accomplish the following:

  • Get in and out of bed on your own
  • Eat, drink and use the bathroom
  • Experience tolerable levels of pain
  • Perform recommended home exercises
  • Understand knee precautions advised for proper healing and to prevent injuries
  • Walk with an assistive device if prescribed any (e.g., cane, crutch or walker) and be able to climb up and down two to three stairs

What Is Orthopedics?

Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the musculoskeletal system, which includes the bones, muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments.

What Does an Orthopedic Doctor Do?

Our orthopedic doctors in Delray treat various musculoskeletal conditions that include the following:

  • Joint pain
  • Back pain
  • Neck pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Fractures
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Sports-related injuries
  • Other congenital conditions

There are different types of orthopedic doctors:

  • Orthopedic surgeons or orthopedists use conservative treatment methods, but if the situation calls for it, they can perform surgeries.
  • Sports medicine doctors who focus on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sports-related injuries.

When Should I See an Orthopedist?

Long-term aches, pain and loss of mobility as well as injuries are the common reasons to see an orthopedist. Consult our orthopedists at Delray Medical Center to properly diagnose and treat you if you experience the following symptoms: 

  • Muscle, tendon and joint pain that lasts a few days
  • Swelling or bruising around a specific location 
  • Signs of infection (heat, inflammation, fever, redness, etc.) 
  • Joint deformity

Joint Replacement

A typical candidate for total joint replacement is someone who suffers from chronic joint pain caused by arthritis or by delayed and progressive joint pain as the result of a previous sports or traumatic injury. The Delray board-certified orthopedic surgeons affiliated with Delray Medical Center are specially trained to evaluate and treat hip, knee and shoulder problems. Their goal is to help relieve your pain, restore your mobility and enhance your freedom of movement. This procedure is performed by removing the arthritic or damaged joint and replacing it with a prosthesis (a device made of metal, plastic or ceramic to mimic the function of a healthy joint).

Spine Treatment

Neck, arm, back and leg pain that occurs as a result of injury, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis may be treated without surgery. However, surgery may be necessary if the pain is not resolved with conservative treatment or if symptoms such as weakness or loss of sensation occur. Our team of orthopedic spine surgeons in Delray Beach, Florida and neurosurgeons perform minimally invasive procedures for treating compression fractures and herniated disc microsurgery, as well as complex spinal surgeries involving the use of instrumentation systems for spine stabilization. 

Delray Medical Center is the first hospital in the state (May 2007) to offer O-arm surgical imaging technology for accuracy and precision in implant placement.

Sports Injuries

The orthopedic surgeons at Delray Medical Center treat and diagnose sports injuries accompanied by a dedicated focus on rehabilitation and prevention of sports-related injuries. Our multidisciplinary team works with patients to develop a personalized program designed to help return them to normal activities as quickly as possible to maintain a peak level of fitness and prevent further injuries.

Rehabilitation

Delray Medical Center offers patients comprehensive services for treatment and rehabilitation utilizing Pinecrest Rehabilitation Hospital, conveniently located on the Delray Medical Center campus. We also develop customized rehabilitation programs to help patients improve strength and mobility, decrease pain and optimize functional recovery.

Orthopedic Services

All Orthopedic Services Glossary

Why Choose Delray Medical Center?

Delray Medical Center has been named a Five-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 9 Years in a Row (2010-2018) by Healthgrades and is among the best orthopaedic centers in South Florida, providing specialized care for a wide range of orthopedic treatments, including knee and hip replacements.

Total Hip Replacement AwardSpinal Fusion Surgery AwardHip Fracture Treatment Award

Hear it from the source….

Who better to tell you about the orthopedic program at Delray Medical Center than a physician on our team? Hear what Dr. Pedro Piza, Orthopedic Surgeon has to say.

Find an Orthopedic Specialist

Request one of our specialists to get a second opinion, or a really good first one.
Request an Orthopedic Specialist Referral Today

More Information

Minimally Invasive Partial Knee Replacement

The knee is the largest joint in the body, and it’s often affected by osteoarthritis (OA). OA causes knee pain when cartilage in the knee wears away over time and the joint can’t move as easily as before. People with osteoarthritis that is confined to one section of the knee may be candidates for a minimally invasive partial knee replacement.

Anatomy of a Partial Knee Replacement

The knee is divided into three main compartments that work together:

  • Medial or inside part of the knee
  • Lateral or outside part
  • Patellofemoral or front of the knee between the kneecap and thighbone

A partial knee replacement is typically recommended only after other nonsurgical treatments, such as activity modification, strengthening exercises, medications, cortisone injections, or use of a cane while walking, have not been effective in providing relief for arthritis symptoms.

In partial knee replacement, only the damaged compartment is replaced with a metal and plastic implant while the healthy cartilage and bone in the rest of the knee is left in place. Before the procedure, the doctor examines the knee, tries to identify the location of the pain, and tests the knee for range of motion and ligament quality. Imaging tests, such as X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging, may be done to see the pattern of arthritis or better assess the cartilage.

Minimally Invasive Knee Surgery

In a minimally invasive partial knee replacement procedure, an incision of about three to five inches is made to allow for insertion of the knee replacement. This results in minimal damage to surrounding muscles and tendons around the knee. Compared to conventional surgery with a larger incision, benefits of minimally invasive surgery include:

  • Less discomfort, swelling and blood loss
  • Shorter hospitalization and rehabilitation
  • Ability to return to work sooner

During the operation, the surgeon checks all three compartments of the knee for cartilage damage and to make sure the ligaments are intact. The affected cartilage is then removed and the ends of the femur and tibia are capped with metal coverings that are held in place to the bone with cement. A plastic insert is placed between the two metal parts to ensure a smooth gliding surface.

Patients can start to put weight on their knee immediately after surgery. They usually can walk without a cane several weeks after surgery, but may need physical therapy for a few months. Not surprising, patients who are most likely to experience positive outcomes from the surgery are those who follow recommendations for rehabilitation. 

Most types of exercise are allowed after surgery, including walking, swimming and biking. However, patients should avoid high-impact activities such as jogging. Patients typically experience less pain than they did before surgery and can resume most regular activities by six weeks after surgery. For more information about minimally invasive partial knee replacement, talk with your doctor.