Orthopedic Surgery and Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Not every bone, joint, or muscle problem needs an operation, and at Penn Highlands Healthcare, we don't treat surgery as the first option. Our orthopedic team always starts with the most conservative treatment that gives your condition a real chance to improve. We only move toward surgery when it's genuinely the best path forward.
Whether you're dealing with an old injury that's finally caught up with you, an acute tear that needs prompt attention, or a hand or wrist condition that's making everyday tasks difficult, we'll walk you through every option, conservative and surgical, so you know what to expect before you decide anything.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Many orthopedic conditions, including arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis, respond well to conservative care. That can include physical therapy, such as targeted exercises, stretching, and hands-on techniques to rebuild strength and reduce pain, oral or topical anti-inflammatory medication, and corticosteroid injections directly into the affected joint, which can provide relief for several months.
We typically give conservative treatment several weeks to work before revisiting the conversation. If it provides meaningful relief, we'll stick with it. If it isn't, that's when we start talking about whether surgery makes sense for you.
Orthopedic Surgery Options
Surgery becomes the right conversation when an injury is significant, when conservative treatment hasn't provided enough relief after several weeks, or when arthritis or joint damage has progressed to the point where it's seriously affecting your daily life. Acute ACL tears, in particular, often call for a prompt orthopedic evaluation.
When surgery is the right call, our surgeons favor minimally invasive techniques where appropriate, which can mean a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery. That includes arthroscopic procedures for the knee and shoulder, done through small incisions with video guidance, and for eligible hip and knee replacements, our Mako robotic-assisted system.
For joint replacement specifics, visit our Joint Replacement page.
For carpal tunnel release, visit our Carpal Tunnel Treatment page.
For fracture care, visit our Orthopedic Trauma page.
Orthopedic Trauma Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Fracture Clinic
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Orthopedic Trauma
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - State College
A Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
Orthopedic Trauma Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedic Trauma
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Orthopedic Surgery
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
Orthopedic Surgery
University Orthopedics Center - Altoona
University Orthopedics Center - DuBois
Orthopedic Trauma Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedic Trauma
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Orthopedic Trauma Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Fracture Clinic
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Orthopedic Trauma
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Orthopedic Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Philipsburg
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - St. Marys
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Orthopedic Trauma Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedic Trauma
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Orthopedic Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois COE
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - St. Marys
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Orthopedic Surgery
Advanced Regional Center for Orthopedics and Podiatry
Shoulder Orthopedic Surgery
Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Connellsville
A Service of Penn Highlands Connellsville
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Rostraver Township
A Service of Penn Highlands Mon Valley
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Uniontown
Orthopedic Surgery
University Orthopedics Center - DuBois
University Orthopedics Center And Spine Institute - State College
University Orthopedics Center - Altoona
Orthopedic Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Orthopedic Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Sports Medicine
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
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - St. Marys
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - State College
A Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
Orthopedic Surgery
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois COE
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Orthopedic Trauma
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Orthopedic Surgery
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
Hand Surgery
Hand and wrist injuries and conditions tend to get worse without treatment, so early evaluation matters. Our team treats conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tennis elbow, thumb arthritis, tendon injuries, and ganglion cysts, drawing on orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, and neurosurgery expertise to build the right treatment plan for your hand.
As with the rest of our orthopedic care, we start conservatively wherever we can, like splinting or injections, and reserve surgery for the cases that truly need it.
What to Expect
Your visit starts with an exam and, if needed, imaging to get a clear picture of what's going on. From there, we'll talk through your options together, conservative treatment, surgery, or both in sequence, and what recovery looks like for each. If surgery is scheduled, our pre-surgical team will typically confirm any needed clearances, such as from your primary care provider, in the weeks leading up to your procedure, and physical therapy is often part of your recovery plan from the start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Orthopedic surgery treats injuries and conditions affecting the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. It ranges from minimally invasive, arthroscopic procedures to joint replacement, and is typically considered after conservative treatments haven't provided enough relief.
It often comes down to how your condition responds to conservative care over a few weeks, and how much it's affecting your daily life. Your orthopedic provider will help you weigh the options honestly rather than rushing toward surgery.
Minimally invasive surgery uses smaller incisions, and, in some cases, robotic assistance or video guidance, which can mean less trauma to surrounding tissue, a shorter hospital stay, and a faster recovery compared to traditional open surgery.
Yes. Our team treats a range of hand and wrist conditions, from carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger to thumb arthritis and tendon injuries, starting with conservative care where appropriate and moving to surgery when it's the better option.
Recovery varies by procedure, but physical therapy is a common part of getting your strength and mobility back. Your care team will give you a specific recovery timeline and plan based on your surgery.
It depends on your insurance plan, and sometimes on location, so a quick call to your plan before scheduling can save you a surprise later. Prefer to skip that step? Our team can look into it for you.
