Orthopedic Surgery

When do You need Orthopedic Surgery?

Orthopedic Surgery

From your shoulders to your feet, orthopedic surgeons at Penn Highlands Healthcare perform a variety of procedures to repair joints, bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. Patients who have experienced trauma, such as in a car accident, or sports injuries may need orthopedic surgery to correct broken bones, misaligned joints, or torn tendons. If you suffer arthritis, bone diseases, or genetic deformities, our orthopedic surgeons also can help.

When should You See an Orthopedic Surgeon?

Thankfully, not all orthopedic conditions or injuries require surgery. Often, pain and swelling can be alleviated with more conservative treatments, such as steroid injections or physical therapy. Those treatments are typically recommended by a primary care physician, sports medicine specialist, or, in the case of some arthritis-related damage, a rheumatologist.

If after several weeks of conservative treatment, your pain doesn’t not improve, or if you’ve experienced a traumatic injury like a tear to your ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), you may be referred to an orthopedic surgeon for further evaluation. Based on your symptoms and the results of imaging tests, such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scans, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend surgery as the next step. The primary focus is to help put an end to the pain and/or loss mobility that is affecting your ability to do the things you love.

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Fracture ClinicA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

The Fracture Clinic
123 Hospital Avenue
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-6200 Option Fracture Clinic

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Hospital Drive

Specialty Care Clinic
154 Hospital Drive, Suite 3
Tyrone, PA 16686
582-220-2310

Doctor Photo In Network
Armando Avolio, MD
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Advanced Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation


Doctor Photo In Network
Bradley A. Barter, DO
Specialties

Orthopedic Trauma Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Fracture Clinic
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Jason Clark, DO, FAAOS
Specialties

Shoulder Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Huntingdon
A Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Hospital Drive

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - State College
A Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois COE
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


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Lauren E. Conrad, PA-C
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

University Orthopedics Center - DuBois


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Harry H. Dinsmore, MD, MS
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Advanced Regional Center for Orthopedics & Podiatry


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Erik Hasenboehler, MD, FACS
Specialties

Orthopedic Trauma Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedic Trauma
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Andrea L. Inzana, PA-C, CAQ-OS
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - St. Marys
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois COE
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Christopher S. McClellan, DO
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

University Orthopedics Center - DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Daniel Miller, PA-C
Specialties

Orthopedic Trauma Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedic Trauma
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Mark A. Nartatez, DO
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - St. Marys
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Philipsburg
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Sarah Kaye O'Donnell, PA-C
Specialties

Orthopedic Trauma Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedic Trauma
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


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Ashish Kumar Patel, MD
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois COE
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Alex G. Raymond, DO
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Advanced Regional Center for Orthopedics and Podiatry


Doctor Photo In Network
Jory Richman, MD
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Fracture Clinic
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Justin Sheba, DO
Specialties

Shoulder Orthopedic Surgery

Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Uniontown

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Connellsville
A Service of Penn Highlands Connellsville


Doctor Photo In Network
David Sheba, DO
Specialties

Shoulder Orthopedic Surgery

Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Rostraver Township
A Service of Penn Highlands Mon Valley

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Uniontown


Doctor Photo In Network
Aaron Thompson, PA-C
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

University Orthopedics Center - DuBois

University Orthopedics Center And Spine Institute - State College

University Orthopedics Center - Huntingdon


Doctor Photo In Network
Allan Tissenbaum, MD
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Rostraver Township
A Service of Penn Highlands Mon Valley

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Charleroi


Doctor Photo In Network
William A. Tyndall, MD
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

University Orthopedics Center - Huntingdon


Doctor Photo In Network
Jonathan Van Kleunen, MD
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Tyrone


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David Vanchure, PA-C
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Matthew A. Varacallo, MD, MBA, FAAOS
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Christopher P. Varacallo, DO, CAQSM, FAAFP
Specialties

Sports Medicine

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - St. Marys
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Clarion
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois COE
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


Doctor Photo In Network
Sarah E. Yarger, PA-C
Specialties

Orthopedic Surgery

Locations

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - St. Marys
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois

Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Philipsburg
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois


What Types of Procedures do Orthopedic Surgeons Perform?

Our experienced orthopedic surgeons offer the most advanced treatments and procedures, including minimally invasive surgeries, to help ensure your recovery is as fast and complete as possible. These surgical approaches allow patients to spend fewer days in the hospital, experience less pain, and enjoy a quicker recovery.

Here are a few of the most common types of orthopedic surgery:

Joint Replacement: When damage to a joint—including the knee, hip, shoulder, and sometimes ankle—is too severe to repair, an orthopedic surgeon will perform a total or partial joint replacement. In this procedure, the patient’s own damaged joint surfaces are replaced with manmade metal and plastic components.

Penn Highlands Healthcare is the first health system in North Central/Western Pennsylvania to offer the latest surgical treatment option for hip replacement, knee replacement, and partial knee replacement. The Penn Highlands orthopedic program now offers Mako SmartRobotics at Penn Highlands Clearfield and Penn Highlands DuBois.

Knee Arthroscopy: Arthroscopy is a form of surgery where surgeons place small instruments through punctures into your knee to remove or repair damaged tissue. This relieves pain and swelling, and also can help prevent further damage to the joint. Removal of torn meniscus (the cartilage disc in your knee) is one of the most common reasons for knee arthroscopy.

Shoulder Arthroscopy: This type of shoulder surgery uses a small video camera and tools inserted through one to three small incisions. The camera helps the orthopedic surgeon view the cartilage, bones, tendons, and ligaments to repair or remove them. This procedure can be used for rotator cuff repair, shoulder impingement syndrome, or shoulder instability.

Carpal Tunnel release: To relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, including pain, tingling, and numbness of the hand, wrist, and arm, the surgeon will cut the carpal ligament, which releases pressure on the median nerve.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction: This is a common orthopedic surgery for athletes and others who experience a traumatic knee injury. During ACL reconstruction, the orthopedic surgeon removes the torn ligament, which connects your thigh and shin bones, and replaces it with tendon from another part of your body or from a cadaver donor.

Bone Fracture Repair: When you break your arm, ankle, wrist or other bone, sometimes surgery is required to realign and stabilize the bones so that they can properly heal. During this procedure, the bones are repositioned and then held together with a combination of screws, pin, plates, or rods.

Spinal Fusion: Osteoarthritis, injury, and spinal deformities all can lead to pain and instability of the vertebrae. In spinal fusion, surgeons essentially “weld” two or more vertebrae together to prevent movement and improve stability.

Hand Surgery: Hand injuries and ailments can be the result of many factors. From simple strain and overuse to more complex injuries or traumas. Hand injuries and ailments can worsen over time without proper treatment, Penn Highlands offers numerous types of treatments and surgeries to help with a variety of hand-related injuries and ailments.

Videos

Brian Picks Penn Highlands Mako Robot for Hip Replacement
Bruce Discusses Penn Highlands Mako Joint Replacement
Dale Shares His Experience Penn Highlands Mako Joint Replacement
​​​David Sheba, DO, Meet Your Provider
Jerry is the First Patient at Penn Highlands to Get Knee Replacement
Joann Talks About her Penn Highlands Mako Joint Replacement
Justin Sheba, DO, Meet Your Provder
Matt Varacallo, DO - We’re still here to serve you.
Meet Penn Highlands Mako Robot for Joint Replacement
Meet the Penn Highlands Mako Robot