NH Magazine Announces 2023 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, eight of our physicians were voted ‘Top Doctor,’ including:

Glen Crawford, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
Robert Eberhart, MD* – Top Doctor for Hand Surgery
Andrew 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
Tyler Welch, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery

Congratulations to all the 2023 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.

*As of January 1, 2023 Dr. Robert Eberhart officially retired.

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.

Advances in Hip and Knee Replacement: ‘All About Robotic Surgery’ – An In Person Event with Dr. Morwood

Is hip or knee pain keeping you from the activities you love?
Take the first step towards recovery and learn how robotic assisted joint replacement surgery can improve your quality of life. Attend this FREE educational event with Dr. Michael Morwood!

Advances in Hip and Knee Replacement: ‘All About Robotic Surgery’
Thursday, July 14th, 2022 | 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Sheraton Portland at Sable Oaks
200 Sable Oaks Dr. South Portland, ME 04106
Light refreshments will be provided.

REGISTER NOW!
Scan the QR Code below or click HERE to get your tickets!

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.

What IS Pain Management?

Pain management providers see patients who are experiencing pain in the lower back, knee, head, hip, or neck, and who could be suffering from common conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, sciatica, and much more. But what exactly is “pain management”?

We sat down with our board-certified interventional pain management provider, Dr. Andrew Lehn to ask him a few questions about his specialty: pain management.

Q. What is the most common reason patients come to see you?

A. I treat pain from head to toe but low back pain is the most common complaint. It is estimated that up to 80% of people will have significant low back pain at some point in their lives!

Q. What is pain management, in your professional opinion?

A. Pain management is restoration. Pain means something is not functioning correctly. My goal is to try and figure out the source of pain and direct treatment to that location. Some conditions require surgery to correct but many things can improve by decreasing inflammation and facilitating healing. My goal is to restore someone back to how they felt before the pain started.

Q. What advice would you give a friend or a loved one if they are experiencing back or joint pain?

A. Exercise! Most painful conditions will improve with time. The goal is to strengthen the muscles and joints around a painful area so hopefully the pain does not increase. I tell people to think about joint pain like you would think about your heart. Imagine what your cardiologist would tell you: exercise, lose weight, eat healthy, decrease stress, prioritize good sleep. All these things will help your pain as well.

Q. Can you share a patient success story?

A. Recently, I had an elderly patient who was experiencing significant low back and buttock pain. She was frustrated because she was having difficulty doing her exercises and could not participate in physical therapy. Her Lumbar MRI had some degenerative issues and spinal narrowing but nothing too specific for the pain she was experiencing. She had pain around her Sacroiliac joint and her pain worsened with manipulation of the joint. I decided to inject her SI joint and she came back with significant relief. While her pain was not entirely gone, she felt that she could now do her exercises and return to physical therapy. Ultimately, that is the goal! I work alongside my patients to help get them going again and then they are better able to rehabilitate their injury and get back to functioning again.

Pain management works best when the patient and doctor work together for the best solutions.

If you’re experiencing pain of any kind, talk to Dr. Lehn today to see how he can help you overcome your pain issues and get back to living a fuller, pain-free life.

Schedule a consultation HERE or give us a call, 603-431-1121.

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.

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 in Portsmouth, NH. 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.

AOSM Physicians Named 2020 Top Orthopaedic Surgeons in NH

We’re so happy to announce that Dr. Sastry, Dr. Noerdlinger and Dr. Quitkin were named 2020 Top Orthopaedic Surgeons in New Hampshire Magazine.

Each year, thousands of physicians licensed to practice in New Hampshire are asked to nominate specialists they would most recommend to family and friends. Those selected as Top Doctors’ received the greatest number of recommendations within 57 specialties and are recognized for their skills and caring.

Their hard work and dedication to their patients is truly appreciated.

Robotics Surgery Growing Fast at Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Did you know Portsmouth Regional Hospital is a Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery and now has the largest fleet of surgical robots on the Seacoast – including one Mako and two da Vinci robots?

Dr. Sastry, the first Master Robotics Surgeon in New England, was recently featured in the Portsmouth Herald talking about the accuracy and precision of joint replacement surgery using the Mako. “These are exciting times in the world of robotic surgery. The accuracy and precision of surgery is vastly improved, and surgery is less invasive and violent than previously. We rely on our technology, on AI to tell us, to simulate how the operation will go before it is performed. Each surgery is customized to the patient. We have done over 1,000 robotic surgeries at Portsmouth Regional Hospital!” said Sastry.

Read the full article HERE.

If you’re interested in learning more about robotic joint replacement, please contact us today!

Dr. Sastry Achieves Accreditation as Master Surgeon in Robotic Surgery

Dr. Akhilesh Sastry of Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine has recently achieved accreditation as the first Master Surgeon in Robotic Surgery in New England by Surgical Review Corporation. This accreditation distinguishes Dr. Sastry from many other surgeons by providing the highest quality of care to patients as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation.

Status as an accredited Master Surgeon means that Dr. Sastry has met nationally recognized standards. Not all hospitals and surgeons seek accreditation; not all that undergo the rigorous on-site inspection process are granted accreditation.

Healthcare organizations and surgeons seeking accreditation by SRC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site inspection. This process includes physicians, nurses and administrators who are actively involved in the accredited program. The inspection is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization or surgeon improve its care and services.

Dr. Sastry began using the MAKO Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System in 2016, and was the first surgeon in New Hampshire and Maine to perform a robotic-assisted knee replacement.
Dr. Sastry is also the premier robotic-assisted orthopaedic surgeon at Atlantic Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and has privileges at both Portsmouth Regional Hospital and York Hospital.

About SRC – Established in 2003, Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) is an internationally recognized patient safety organization dedicated to recognizing and refining surgical care. SRC is the leading administrator of quality improvement and accreditation programs for surgeons and hospitals worldwide. SRC’s proven methodology, know as the “Cycle of Excellence,” results in quantifiable and unparalleled improvement in outcomes, patient safety and costs across surgical specialties. For more information, visit www.surgicalreview.org.

Dr. Akhil Sastry Will Teach at the Champions Mako Program

Dr. Akhil Sastry, Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon and provider at Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, will be on the faculty of Stryker’s Champions MAKO program on May 9 and 10 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, and their MAKO system is a surgeon-controlled robotic arm that enables accurate alignment and placement of implants.

Their Champions program is a master’s instructional course for surgeons who have robotics experience, and are working to enhance their skills, technical know-how and understanding of the applications on the partial knee, total knee, and total hip with the MAKO robot.

Dr. Sastry has taught and chaired multiple MAKO courses for Stryker nationally. He began using the MAKO Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System in 2016, and was the first surgeon in New Hampshire and Maine to perform a robotic-assisted knee replacement. Dr. Sastry has been participating in their educational programs throughout the country, teaching full knee, partial knee and total hip replacement on the robotic platform.

Dr. Sastry is also the premier robotic-assisted orthopaedic surgeon at Atlantic Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. He states that the robot allows for a level of precision that enables a quick recovery and fewer issues for the patient once fully rehabilitated.

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine is a leading practice on the Seacoast, with offices in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and York, Maine. Their physicians have full medical staff privileges at both Portsmouth Regional Hospital and York Hospital.