Dr. Welch Becomes First Surgeon in Maine to Perform a BEAR Procedure

ACL tears are one of the most common knee injuries, affecting more than 100,000 Americans each year. Until now, the only way to repair the torn ligament was with invasive surgical reconstruction using tendons from other parts of the body or from donor tissue.

We’re excited to announce that there’s now a simpler, less invasive treatment available called Bridge Enhanced ACL Restoration (BEAR), pioneered by our own Dr. Welch, who recently performed the first BEAR procedure in the state of Maine. The surgery uses an implant to ‘bridge’ the torn gaps of the ACL without the need for donor tissue but instead, using patient’s own blood encourages the body rebuild the tissue, typically within 8 weeks.

Congratulations Dr. Welch on this outstanding achievement!

If you’re suffering from knee pain, and would like to discuss your options with one of our knee specialists, please contact us today.

*Other resources on BEAR Procedure can be found here.

Dr. Robert Eberhart Retires After 36 Years at AOSM

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine has officially announced the retirement of Dr. Eberhart, after thirty-six years as an orthopedic hand surgeon in the New Hampshire Seacoast community. As one of the original founders of Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, and its leader for over 35 years, Dr. Eberhart’s impact on the practice cannot be overstated.

“We would not be one of the premiere medical providers in the Seacoast without him. Dr. Eberhart’s leadership and example will continue to inspire us even after his departure,” said Matt Lane, Executive Director at Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.

Dr. H. Matthew Quitkin, a board certified, fellowship trained hand surgeon, who joined the practice in 2019, is available to treat current and new patients facing a variety of hand and wrist ailments ranging from arthritis and fractures to tendonitis and nerve issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The entire staff at AOSM will be available to help patients during this transition.

In a letter to his patients, Dr. Eberhart said, “I have enjoyed my career tremendously. I have taken great pride and have received great joy in doing my best to help all of my patients. I also have been fortunate to work with a group of outstanding healthcare professionals to build Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine into the excellent orthopedic practice that it is today. Thank you for your trust and loyalty for all these years. It has been a great honor and a privilege to be an orthopedic provider on the Seacoast.”

The practice recently held a holiday event at The Outlook in Berwick, Maine during which they honored and paid tribute to Dr. Eberhart with speeches and a farewell video with messages from current and past staff, colleagues, and patients. His impact on all those he worked with and cared for was evident through the laughter and the tears of this special farewell. Dr. Eberhart is an avid athlete and boating enthusiast and has many plans to keep moving and doing what he loves.

Dr. Robert Eberhart with Marc Shepcaro of Rye during a follow-up visit at Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine’s new location at 1900 Lafayette Road in Portsmouth. Suzanne Laurent photo. Taken in 2016.

Our New Partnership with Phillips Exeter Academy

We are proud to be the exclusive orthopedic provider for Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH!

Learn more about our services at https://www.atlanticorthopaedics.org/

Hear from Dr. Tyler Welch about this exclusive new partnership!

*The following is a transcription of the video.

My name is Tyler Welch from Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. And I’m here to announce that we are now the exclusive orthopedic provider for Phillips Exeter Academy. As part of the new partnership with Phillips Exeter Academy, one of the doctors from AOSM will be on site covering all home football games. During those games, we can help diagnose and treat injuries if necessary.

At Atlantic, we have specialists that focus on every part of the body. This enables us to offer tailored care for each individual athlete here at Phillips Exeter Academy. We’re always trying to get better, we’re always trying to improve, so that we can take the best care of the community possible.

I have experience treating athletes from multiple professional teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Los Angeles Kings. That experience was very valuable to me. It taught me that you always have to treat each athlete as an individual. All athletes have different goals. They have different needs. They have different injury histories. And you always have to take these variables into account when you’re treating each athlete. This is a mindset that I’m excited to bring to Phillips Exeter Academy.

The one piece of advice I give high school athletes it to listen to your body. You know, if you don’t trust your knee, you don’t trust your shoulder, or you’re lacking confidence, or if you’re having pain that keeps coming back, you want to tell your trainer, tell your doctor. There’s usually an issue that you don’t want to ignore.

Atlantic Orthopedics, Phillips Exeter, game on!

Welcome Jacob Lareau, PA-C

We are pleased to announce the addition of a new provider to our practice. Jacob Lareau, has joined the team as a Physician Assistant (PA). Lareau recently finished his Masters in Physician Assistant Studies at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, Massachusetts. By adding him to the team, we will be able to offer patients quicker access to exceptional orthopedic care.

“My mission as a Physician Assistant is to provide high quality, compassionate care, while restoring function and helping patients return to doing what they love best,” said Lareau.

Outside of work, Lareau enjoys hiking, surfing and dirt biking.

Please call 603-431-1121 to schedule an appointment or click HERE to learn more about Jacob Lareau.

Free Sports Physicals

We are offering free sports physicals to all student athletes for the 2022-2023 sports year on July 27^th from 5pm to 7pm at our Portsmouth, NH office.

Young athletes planning to participate in a sports activity during their school year are encouraged to stop by for a complete examination. Physicals will be free of charge and a RSVP is required. Please call (603) 559-8341 to schedule an exam. Thank you!

The Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Portsmouth, NH address is 1900 Lafayette Road Suite A.

2022 Top Docs

Each year, over 3,000 licensed New Hampshire physicians nominate their peers for the opportunity to receive the honor of ‘Top Doctor.’ Those named Top Doctors received the greatest number of recommendations within 55+ specialties, and the results are in! We think all of our docs are top, but this year, seven of our physicians were voted ‘Top Doctor,’ including:
(Pictured below from left to right)

Glen Crawford, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
Robert Eberhart, MD – Top Doctor for Hand Surgery
Andy McMahon, DO – Top Doctor for Sports Medicine
Mayo Noerdlinger, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
H. Matthew Quitkin, MD – Top Doctor for Hand Surgery
Akhilesh Sastry, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
William Sutherland, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery

Congratulations to all the 2022 Top Doctors!

Learn more about our providers in Portsmouth, NH and York, ME HERE. Or click HERE to make an appointment with our orthopaedic and sports medicine team.

New Ambulatory Surgery Center Coming to AOSM!

New England Center for Orthopaedic Surgery Will Open Spring 2021

Atlantic Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine broke ground last week on a new ambulatory surgery center, New England Center for Orthopaedic Surgery.

The new, single-story ambulatory surgery center, affiliated with Portsmouth Regional Hospital and jointly owned with HCA Healthcare, will provide high-quality outpatient care for orthopedic patients.

The project encompasses 11,000 square feet of space for patients and visitors, and the building is located at 1900 Lafayette Road, Suite E, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801.

New England Center for Orthopaedic Surgery will feature:

Three operating rooms specially designed for orthopedic procedures
Private registration area for patients
Modern, comfortable waiting area with welcoming atmosphere
Operating rooms with the most up-to-date technology

The new, state-of-the-art facility will be highly specialized as a single-specialty center offering only orthopedic procedures for patients. It is set to be complete in the spring of 2021.

“Patients in Portsmouth will have a safe, convenient and cost-effective environment for receiving orthopedic outpatient care at New England Center for Orthopaedic Surgery,” said Michael Morwood, MD, orthopedic surgeon at New England Center for Orthopaedic Surgery. “Our modern ambulatory surgery center will be thoughtfully designed to ensure patients will feel comfortable and at ease while receiving excellent healthcare.”

About The HCA Healthcare Ambulatory Surgery Division

The HCA Healthcare Ambulatory Surgery Division operates and jointly owns with physicians, 144 ambulatory surgery centers throughout the United States. Located in 16 states with more than 3,200 physician partners, the HCA Healthcare Ambulatory Surgery Division is focused on collaborating with physicians to advance healthcare in our communities. Each year, the HCA Healthcare Ambulatory Surgery Division cares for more than 786,000 patients. HCA Healthcare ambulatory surgery centers are built on a foundation of quality care and a commitment to providing patients with healthier tomorrows.

Dr. Michael Morwood Published in the Journal of Arthroplasty

Dr. Morwood was recently published in the Journal of Arthroplasty. Dr. Morwood, who specializes in knee replacements says, “One of the main causes of total knee replacement failure is micromotion of the implants. This study was performed to see if the addition of a short stem extension onto the tibial component in a total knee replacement limits the motion of the implant. We were able to show the addition of a short stem provides a significant reduction in micromotion during cyclic loading of a cementless tibial baseplate in a synthetic foam bone model, similar to a cemented implant. The findings of this study may help lower the rate of tibial component loosening in total knee replacement.”

To read the entire study, please click HERE.

Dr. Sastry Leads MAKO Robotics Training at The New England Baptist Hospital

July 2020 – Dr. Akhil Sastry, Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon and provider at Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine recently led a MAKO Robotics training at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Sastry was the sole faculty member to facilitate the launch of their MAKO Robotics training program.

As robotic-assisted knee and hip replacement surgeries penetrate Boston’s most elite academic and fellowship programs, Portsmouth’s very own Mako Master Surgeon Akhil Sastry was selected to facilitate the launch at the New England Baptist, one of the most heralded institutions of orthopedics in the country.

To prepare for their first robotic knee surgery in a few weeks, Dr. Sastry trained a total of 8 surgeons in this one-time training session and has been invited back to provide additional training to another group of surgeons on August 6, 2020.

Dr. Sastry provided hands-on training and proctoring on how to perform this innovative and cutting-edge procedure. Dr. Sastry was not only one of the first surgeons to perform a robotic-assisted knee replacement in the world in 2017, in addition, he continues to teach and advance robotic concepts with joint replacements nationally. He has been selected to Chair these programs on many occasions and has trained over 100 surgeons from across the country.

To learn more about Dr. Sastry, please click HERE. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Sastry, click HERE.

All About Robotic Surgery – Free Webinar – July 8th, 2020

Please join us on Zoom for another FREE virtual webinar with Dr. Michael Morwood on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, from 5:30-6:30pm.

Dr. Morwood will discuss common causes for hip and knee pain and advances in robotic assisted joint replacements that can help you get back to doing what you love. There will be a brief Q & A session following the presentation. If you’re experiencing joint pain, you won’t want to miss this FREE event.

Topics will include understanding joint paint, your treatment options, joint replacement surgery and recovery expectations.

**Registration is required to attend this webinar, to register please click HERE.

New 1.5T Open MRI Available Now!

On June 30th, 2020, we will scan our first patient on a brand new 1.5T open MRI machine. This new MRI machine is one of few in the region that offers this level of detail and clarity, along with the largest field of view to create the most comfortable patient experience.

The state-of-the-art 1.5T GE Voyager is a 70 cm open MRI and is considered to be the gold standard for imaging. The machine comes fully equipped with new, innovative features including:

-MAVRIC software that allows imaging for patients with implants with no reduction in image quality. As more patients are receiving joint replacements, this is a terrific solution to improve the medical care that they need.

-A wider and more comfortable table design that sits lower to the ground, allowing for feet-first or head-first imaging. This features memory foam surfacing, is easier access for patient positioning, and accommodates up to 550 lbs.

-The open 70cm of headroom is the most comfortable patient experience without compromising imaging quality. 1.5T imaging is preferred by radiologists.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of having this new machine at our Portsmouth, NH location, please let us know.

FREE Webinar with Dr. Michael Morwood – Hip & Knee Replacements

Grab your lunch and join us on Zoom for a virtual webinar with Dr. Michael Morwood on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, from 12–1 p.m.

Dr. Morwood will discuss common causes for hip and knee pain and advances in robotic-assisted joint replacements that can help you get back to doing what you love. There will be a brief Q & A session following the presentation. If you’re experiencing joint pain, you won’t want to miss this FREE event. For more information or to register, please click HERE.