Nonoperative Orthopedics

When moving your body is difficult or painful, you might think surgery is the only answer. Our orthopedic specialists design sophisticated nonoperative treatments tailored to your unique needs.

Leading-edge nonoperative treatments: Why choose Aurora BayCare Medical Center?

We work with you to diagnose and treat pain and mobility issues without surgery. Our fellowship-trained orthopedic experts use the latest treatment options. We offer:

• Multidisciplinary expertise: Our highly specialized team works together, sharing injury-specific expertise. We make sure you see the right provider for the right care at the right time.
• Convenient clinic locations: When physical therapy is part of your treatment plan, you’ll find a clinic near you. With locations throughout Wisconsin, there’s no need to travel to the hospital for care.
• Back-to-work focus: When a work injury occurs, our team gets you back on the job quickly. With seamless care, our experts collaborate with your employer to identify work tasks you can do while your body heals.

Nonoperative treatments and services

We use sophisticated diagnostic tools and advanced treatments to relieve pain and heal your body without surgery, including:

Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound

Our on-site specialist uses MSK ultrasound. This tool diagnoses nerve damage, tendinitis and ligament injuries around the joints. This test offers real-time imaging, allowing experts to see what’s happening inside as you move a joint that is causing pain.

During this radiation-free test, a specialist applies gel to your skin and moves a small transducer over the injured area. This transducer collects high-frequency sound waves and sends them to a computer, which creates images your doctor can see.

Using MSK ultrasound, our specialists can see:

• Blood flow through the injured area
• Movement of the joints and muscles in real time
• Outer structure of the bones, ligaments (tissue that connects bones) and tendons (tissue that attaches muscle to bone)

Your doctor may need more information about the internal structure of bones or joints than MSK ultrasound can provide. In those cases, they may recommend other imaging tests, such as MRI.

Scar tissue (injured tendon tissue) removal

Scar tissue that develops on tendons can cause pain when you move. To remove scar tissue and relieve pain, our doctors use a treatment called needle tenotomy with debridement.

We use ultrasound imaging to locate damaged tissue and view the area. Then, surgeons insert a needle through the skin into the scar tissue.

After inserting the needle, our team uses this ultrasound technology to target energy waves at the scar tissue. This energy helps break down tissue, turning it into a liquid that doctors flush out with saline (known as debridement).

Our experts use needle tenotomy with debridement to treat:

• Achilles tendon injuries in the foot and ankle
• Plantar fasciitis in the foot and ankle
• Rotator cuff injuries in the shoulder
• Tennis elbow

Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound-guided injections

We use injected treatments to care for musculoskeletal injuries without surgery. Injected treatments include:

• Medications, such as steroids to reduce inflammation
• Orthobiologics, such as stem cell therapy or platelet-rich plasma
• Viscosupplements, substances that lubricate joints

We use MSK ultrasound guidance to deliver injections precisely to the injured tissue or joint. This guidance ensures that therapeutic agents can begin to work immediately.

Regenerative medicine

Specialists in our regenerative medicine program offer a range of treatments that enhance your body’s ability to heal itself. From plasma and stem cells to advanced cartilage restoration, we provide advanced nonsurgical treatments.

Therapy and rehabilitation

Our doctors create occupational therapy and orthopedic rehabilitation programs with specific exercises that help you recover. We focus on building your strength and relieving your pain so you can get back to your favorite activities.

Orthotics

Our team offers biomechanical assessments. These tests help us understand how you move, stand and carry your weight. We recommend and develop orthotics solutions to provide stability and support as your injury heals.

Conditions we treat

Our orthopedics specialists offer advanced nonsurgical care for all musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. We treat acute (sudden) and chronic (long-term) injuries of the:

• Bones
• Joints
• Muscles
• Nerves
• Ligaments
• Tendons

Whether you’re a dedicated athlete or a recreational exerciser or you want to relieve pain during daily activities, our doctors can help. We provide personalized therapies focused on your healing and good health, including:

• Foot and ankle treatment
• Hand and wrist treatment
• Hip treatment
• Knee treatment
• Shoulder and elbow treatment

Orthopedic sports medicine

We help athletes at all levels return to the sports they love through our orthopedic sports medicine program. Our specialists help you regain strength, build endurance and perform at the highest possible level.