Orthopaedics

Helping You Stay Active

Orthopaedic surgeons focus on preventing, diagnosing and treating disorders and injuries of the bones, joints (including arthritis), ligaments, tendons and muscles. Some are generalists and others specialize in a certain area of the body (for example, hands, feet and ankles, spine or knees) or in sports medicine.

At Olympic Medical Physicians, we offer orthopaedic consultation and treatment in Port Angeles and Sequim, making it convenient for patients to receive care and attend follow-up appointments. If you’re experiencing joint pain, you may benefit from seeing an orthopaedic specialist. Ask your provider for a referral or call (360) 565-0999 for more information.

Orthopaedic Surgeons Loren Larson, MD, and Dirk Gouge, DO

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Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement at OMC

Surgeons Dr. Dirk Gouge and Dr. Thomas Herschmiller perform total and partial knee replacements right here at OMC, utilizing robotic-assistance from Smith+Nephew’s CORI surgical system, the most advanced navigation technology in knee replacements.

Together, Dr. Gouge and Dr. Herschmiller provide world-class knee replacement options for residents of the Clallam County area.

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Offering Valuable Assistance

When a patient visits Olympic Medical Physicians for an orthopaedic consultation, the first provider they are likely to meet is a certified physician assistant (PA-C). Physician assistants play an important role across the spectrum of orthopaedic care, performing many tasks that allow orthopaedic surgeons to focus on offering the best treatment possible.

When a patient visits the office, the physician assistant obtains a detailed history of the body part in question and reviews the patient’s medical records. They will also perform a physical exam of the body part, and if imaging has been ordered, review the images with the patient.

The physician assistant is the surgeon’s second set of hands during surgical procedures, typically helping by setting up equipment and assisting in exposing bones during surgery. Physician assistants see patients during office follow-up visits and perform tasks such as changing casts, administering injections or initiating physical or occupational therapy when appropriate.

Physician assistants often have more time to answer patients’ questions and explain treatments and follow-up care.

Managing Joint Pain

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint pain and instability in older adults. The risk for osteoarthritis increases with age, and the effects on daily life may appear gradually.

People with osteoarthritis will experience pain and stiffness in the hands, neck, low back, hips and knees. Before discussing surgical options, a physician might recommend the following conservative treatments for osteoarthritis:

Exercise can increase blood flow, flexibility and heart strength, as well as decrease pain and maintain weight. Try joint-friendly options, such as cycling, walking or water aerobics.
Hot and cold treatments can help minimize pain. Heating pads, hot compresses or a hot shower can increase blood flow and reduce soreness, while cold packs can reduce inflammation. Ask your provider which treatment could best relieve your osteoarthitis pain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications treat inflammation and pain associated with osteoarthritis. Over-the-counter options include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and naproxen sodium. Ask your provider or pharmacist which option is right for you.

Common Orthopaedic Procedures

Should you suffer an orthopaedic injury, musculoskeletal condition, or the degenerative effects of arthritis, ask your provider for a referral to our team of orthopaedic surgeons and physician assistants. We specialize in the following orthopaedic services and procedures:

Cortisone Injections: knees, shoulders, hands, elbows, ankles
Viscosupplement Injections: knees
Carpal Tunnel and Trigger Finger
Fracture Care: reductions, splints, casts
Total Joint Replacement: shoulders, hips, knees
Arthroscopic Surgeries: shoulder (rotator cuff repair, labrum/capsule repair, calcific tendonitis) and knee (meniscal repairs/excisions, ACL reconstruction, tendon repairs)

Total Joint Replacement

Total joint replacement generally is recommended for older individuals, but advanced ceramic and other implant technologies available at Olympic Medical now make artificial joints a good option for younger patients as well.

Arthroscopic Surgeries

Arthroscopic — small, minimally invasive incision — procedures for the shoulder, elbow, ankle and knee also are available at Olympic Medical. Advantages of such procedures include less post-operative pain and reduced scarring. Patients undergoing arthroscopic procedures may experience a quicker return to activity compared to those who receive traditional, open surgery.

Using a sophisticated computer navigation system, surgeons can precisely pinpoint where to make bone resections during a total joint replacement. Surgeons also can create a custom cutting block for patients by entering information about a patient’s joint into a computer, which creates an image on a screen that surgeons use as a guide.

Additional Information

For more details on orthopaedic injuries and diseases, and common procedures to treat them, please visit orthoinfo.aaos.org, presented by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).