FAQs

To schedule an appointment please call our office at (772) 335-4770.

Port St. Lucie
Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:00 pm

Stuart
Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:00 pm, Saturday, 9 am–4 pm (walk-ins welcome)

Port St. Lucie
9077 South US-1, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952

Directions To The Port St. Lucie Office »

Stuart
1151 SE Indian Street, Stuart, FL 34997

Directions To The Stuart Office »

You will be asked to fill out medical history forms. Please visit our medical forms page to download patient forms complete at home and bring it to your appointment. Additionally, you may want to bring a list of medications, any previous surgery information, including the date of the surgery. Other items to bring to your appointment include:

• Co-pay (Your insurance card will indicate the co-payment amount for your plan)
• Insurance Card
• Photo Identification
• X-rays or MRIs that have been taken at a facility other than Florida Orthopaedic Specialists
• If you are under the age of 18, you must be accompanied by your parent or legal guardian

We accept most major insurance plans. Please contact our office prior to you appointment to determine if we accept you particular insurance provider.

Orthopaedics is a medical specialty that focuses on injuries and conditions involving the musculoskeletal system, which are the parts of the body that allow you to move and be active, including your bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves.

Orthopaedic surgery is a very broad specialty, providing treatment for a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including:

• Fractures and dislocations
• Torn ligaments, sprains, and strains
• Tendon injuries, pulled muscles, and bursitis
• Ruptured disks, sciatica, low back pain, and scoliosis
• Arthritis and osteoporosis
• Knock knees, bow legs, bunions, and hammer toes
• Bone tumors, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy
• Club foot and unequal leg length
• Abnormalities of the fingers and toes and growth abnormalities

Many musculoskeletal conditions are treated without surgery by using medication, exercise and other rehabilitative or alternative therapies. Orthopaedic surgeons are skilled at using both surgical and non-surgical treatments.

Orthopaedic surgeons are medical doctors with extensive training in the proper diagnosis and treatment of injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Orthopaedic surgeons complete up to 14 years of formal education as follows:

• Four years of study in a college or university
• Four years of study in medical school
• Five years of study in Orthopaedic residency at a major medical center
• One optional year of specialized education

After establishing a licensed practice, Orthopaedic surgeons can earn board certification by meeting educational, evaluation, and examination requirements of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. All of the physicians at Florida Orthopaedic Specialists are Board Certified and Fellowship trained.

A board-certified physician is one that has successfully completed an educational program and evaluation process approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties, including an examination designed to assess the knowledge, skills and experience required to provide quality patient care in a specific specialty.

Fellowship training is an elective process of additional specialty training that a physician can choose after completing their 3-5 year residency. Subspecialty training may last an additional 1-4 years. Usually the focus of subspecialty training is fairly narrow and allows the physician to obtain knowledge and skills needed to perform additional procedures or focus on treating patients with a particular type of problem. Most subspecialties have additional board exams at the end of their training qualifying the physician to be a board certified subspecialist.

Sports medicine physicians have specialized training in the field in medicine that deals with sport or exercise-related injuries. Their primary focus is on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries that occur during sports and other physical activity. A sports medicine physician receives special training during a fellowship program in sports medicine after finishing a residency program in another specialty, such as primary care or orthopedic surgery.

A joint is the junction of two or more bones (an articulating hinge), whether movable or not. Examples include the knee joints, the shoulder or elbow joints, and the hip joints.

Yes, there are three types of joints found in your body. Fibrous joints allow minimal movement. The best example of this type of joint is the bones of the skull. Cartilaginous joints, also known as disc joints, are found between the vertebrae of the spine. Synovial joints comprise what we normally think of as joints. They are found in the upper and lower extremities. The joining ends of bone are covered by cartilage, which is contained in a tissue capsule. The inner lining of the capsule has a synovial membrane made up of cells that produce a fluid that lubricates the joint.