Orthopaedic Surgery

The orthopaedic surgery team provides comprehensive, coordinated care that promotes excellent outcomes.

Doctor explain knee pain with model to patient

Why choose UCLA Health for orthopaedic surgery?

At UCLA Health, our orthopaedic surgeons are among the best in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranks us No. 9 in the country for orthopaedic care. We use the newest, most advanced techniques that promote excellent patient outcomes.

Highlights of our services include:

Recognized expertise: Several of our musculoskeletal (bone and joint) specialists consistently list among the “Best Doctors in America.” Additionally, our faculty rank among the top 10 in funding for medical research from the National Institutes of Health.

High-quality joint replacement care: Our Joint Replacement Center is distinguished as a Blue Distinction Center® for knee and hip replacement by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. This honor means we have met the criteria for following best practices and offering high-quality care.

Comprehensive, coordinated services: Our orthopaedic surgeons offer inpatient and outpatient surgeries. We collaborate with other specialists so that your care is seamless and coordinated. For example, you can upload radiology images through a secure portal before your appointment to ensure an efficient visit.

Research and innovation: Our orthopaedic surgery services are connected to the J. Vernon Luck, Sr., MD Orthopaedic Research Center. This center is one of the largest and most productive orthopaedic research facilities in the world.

Trusted partner of elite athletes: As the medical care providers for UCLA Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Lakers, Sparks and USA Basketball, we provide world-class orthopaedic and sports medicine care to top athletes. These partnerships reflect our commitment to treating a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, from complex injuries to routine procedures, among elite athletes and all patients. If we’re trusted to treat them, imagine what we can do for you.

Our orthopaedic surgery services

The musculoskeletal surgery team works across multiple specialty clinics. We provide a comprehensive range of services, including pediatric orthopaedic care. Our areas of care include:

Specialty clinics and centers

We lead several specialty clinics and centers, including:

After-Hours Clinic: Through the After-Hours Clinic, we can address urgent musculoskeletal needs on a walk-in basis. The clinic allows patients to seek care after normal office hours, from 5:30 to 7 pm, Monday through Thursday. This service also helps to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and we ensure comprehensive follow-up care with an appropriate physician.

Hand Center: Through collaboration with our plastic surgery team, we specialize in diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of hand injuries and disorders. This close care coordination promotes better outcomes and efficiency.

Hemophilia Treatment Center: For more than 35 years, we have led the way in treating children and adults with bleeding disorders. In 1970, we were one of the first four centers in the world to achieve designation as an International Hemophilia Training Center by the World Federation of Hemophilia. Currently, we are the largest adult hemophilia treatment center in Southern California.

Joint Replacement Center: Since we performed our first joint replacement surgery in 1969, UCLA Health has been known as a leader in total joint replacements. We offer the full spectrum of care options, from nonsurgical treatments to total replacement surgeries. Our program has designation as a Blue Distinction Center for Hip and Knee Replacement, a distinction based on rigorous, research-based criteria for quality care.

Spine Center: Our orthopaedic and neurosurgery teams provide comprehensive care through the Spine Center. We bring their expertise together in one convenient, collaborative environment. By housing these services under the same roof, we can coordinate care quickly and provide more efficient, comprehensive treatment plans.

Sports Medicine Center: We care for competitive athletes of all levels at this unique, state-of-the-art facility. We specialize in diagnosing and treating sports injuries. We also offer expert reconstructive surgical services. Our goal is to help all patients achieve their highest possible level of function.

Other orthopaedic services

Orthopaedists offer services both in the hospital and in our outpatient locations. Other services include:

Foot and ankle surgery: Our specialists treat conditions that affect the foot and ankle. Often, these conditions arise from arthritis, instability or problems with ligaments or tendons. We perform inpatient and outpatient surgeries and prioritize pain control techniques that minimize the use of opioids.

General orthopaedics: Many musculoskeletal conditions or injuries don’t require surgery. Our specialists start by reviewing images such as X-rays and finding out more about your health history. The specialists in this program know when to involve other team members in your care, including when you may need a consultation for surgery.

Musculoskeletal oncology: Through our musculoskeletal oncology service, we manage all bone and soft tissue tumors. We have been pioneers in techniques that remove tumors while preserving the limb. Our service includes a multidisciplinary tumor board, where multiple specialists consult and write personalized treatment plans for each patient.

Shoulder and elbow surgery: Several of our providers specialize in caring for conditions and injuries that affect the shoulder and elbow. We provide the entire spectrum of care for shoulder and elbow injuries, including nonsurgical, minimally invasive and open surgical treatments.

Trauma: Our trauma service provides 24/7 care for orthopaedic trauma-related emergencies. Since 1978, we have supported the Level I trauma center at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. We have extensive experience in correcting previously failed surgeries and an international reputation in reconstructive procedures.

Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children

Through the Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children, we offer world-class care for children and young adults with musculoskeletal conditions. Our Pediatric Orthopaedics Program is among the busiest in the country with ultramodern care centers in Westwood, Santa Monica and downtown Los Angeles.

Specialty programs and centers within the Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children include:

Center for Cerebral Palsy: Our multidisciplinary team of neurologists, psychologists, physical therapists, orthopaedists and more has achieved national recognition for cerebral palsy care. In addition to offering surgical treatment, we also offer an innovative gait-training treatment in which we use a robotic device that assists children as they walk.

Congenital Limb Deficiency and Deformity Program: We use a personalized approach to treating congenital limb deficiencies and deformities. Depending on the patient, we may use nonsurgical treatments such as braces, splints or physical therapy. Or, we may use surgery to adjust the bones. Whatever the treatment plan, our goal is to improve each child’s function and increase quality of life.

Comprehensive Hip Care Program: We use the latest techniques to treat all types of hip disorders. Whether a pediatric patient is a newborn or a young adult, our specialists provide comprehensive care.

Spina Bifida Program: Our multidisciplinary center has achieved recognition with California Children’s Services as a designated treatment center. Our team includes a wide range of specialists, including pediatric-specific orthopaedists, neurologists, occupational therapists, urologists, dietitians and more.

Spine Program: Through the Spine Program, we offer coordinated, comprehensive care for children and adolescents with spine disorders. We have a reputation for excellence in innovative scoliosis surgeries. The techniques we use have been shown to increase patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Musculoskeletal conditions we treat

Orthopaedic surgeons offer surgery for both routine and complex conditions. Some of the most common conditions we treat include:

Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder): Stiffness and limited range of motion in your shoulder joint.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear: A partial or complete tear of the band of tissue that connects your thighbone to your shinbone.
Arthritis: Joint inflammation, swelling, stiffness or tenderness.
Bursitis: Inflammation of your bursae (fluid-filled sacs that provide cushioning near your joints).
Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow): Inflammation in the tendon that connects your elbow to your forearm muscle.
Tendonitis: Inflammation in your tendons (tissues that connect muscles to bones).
Rotator cuff tear: A tear in the tissues that connect muscles and bones in your shoulder joint.

Through our Spine Center, we also offer surgeries for spine conditions, including:

Ankylosing spondylitis: A type of inflammatory arthritis that causes some of your vertebrae (small bones in your spine) to fuse.
Fibromyalgia: A chronic condition that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain.
Herniated disc: When the rubbery discs that provide cushioning in your spine slip or bulge out of place.
Osteomyelitis: Bone inflammation that occurs because of an infection in the spine, legs or arms.
Scoliosis: Sideways curving of the spine that can affect children or adults.
Spinal stenosis: A narrowing of the spinal column.

Treatments orthopaedic surgeons offer

We use the latest surgical techniques and treatment options. Some of the treatments we offer include:

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: Removing a damaged disc to relieve pressure on the spine and neck.
Arthrodesis: Immobilizing a joint by fusing two or more bones.
Arthroscopy: Using a narrow, long tool with a camera (arthroscope) to diagnose or treat joint problems.
Discectomy: Removing portions of a damaged or herniated spinal disc.
Hip replacement: Removing damaged portions or all of the hip joint and replacing with artificial ones (prosthesis).
Knee replacement: Removing all or part of the knee joint and replacing it with artificial parts (prosthesis).
Microdiscectomy: A discectomy technique that uses tiny tools and cameras to operate through small incisions.

Our expert team

Our orthopaedic surgeons are leaders in orthopaedic care and research. Many of our clinicians consistently achieve recognition among the best doctors in the country. We use advanced techniques that promote excellent patient outcomes.