Integrity Orthopedics and Sports Medicine offers a focused portfolio of advanced orthopedic services designed to help you get back to living—and moving—comfortably.
From expert Shoulder & Elbow care to comprehensive Foot & Ankle treatment, our team provides personalized evaluations and a full range of options, including conservative therapy, minimally invasive procedures, and surgical solutions when needed. Explore our specializations below to learn more about the conditions we treat and the services available in Chattanooga.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a common cause of joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, often developing gradually over time. In the shoulder, arthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the joint wears down, leading to inflammation, pain, and difficulty with everyday movements such as lifting, reaching, or rotating the arm.
Biceps & Triceps Tendon Tears
Biceps and triceps tendon tears affect the tendons responsible for bending and straightening the elbow, as well as supporting strength and stability of the upper extremity. These injuries may occur suddenly from heavy lifting or trauma, or develop over time due to repetitive strain and degeneration. Symptoms often include pain, swelling, bruising, weakness, and difficulty performing everyday tasks that require pushing, pulling, or lifting.
Clavicle Fractures And AC Joint Injuries
Clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries are common shoulder injuries that often result from falls, sports activity, or direct impact to the shoulder. These injuries can cause pain, swelling, visible deformity, and difficulty moving the arm, affecting both daily activities and athletic performance.
Elbow Arthritis
Elbow arthritis can cause pain, stiffness, and loss of motion that interferes with daily activities such as lifting, gripping, or fully straightening the arm. Unlike weight-bearing joints, elbow arthritis often develops from prior injury, repetitive use, or inflammatory conditions rather than age alone. Symptoms may progress gradually, leading to increasing discomfort and functional limitation.
Elbow Fractures
Elbow fractures involve breaks to the bones that form the elbow joint and often result from falls, direct trauma, or high-energy injuries. These fractures can disrupt joint alignment, stability, and motion, leading to pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty bending or straightening the arm. Because the elbow is a complex joint, accurate evaluation is essential to determine the most appropriate treatment approach.
Humerus Fractures
Humerus fractures involve a break in the upper arm bone and can occur from falls, direct trauma, or high-energy injuries. These fractures may affect the shaft of the bone or extend toward the shoulder or elbow, often resulting in pain, swelling, bruising, and limited arm movement. Because fracture patterns and severity can vary widely, proper evaluation is essential for effective treatment.
Labral Tears
Labral tears involve damage to the cartilage rim that surrounds the shoulder socket and helps stabilize the joint. This structure plays a key role in shoulder strength and motion, and when injured, patients may experience pain, clicking, catching, weakness, or a feeling of instability. Labral tears can result from acute injury, repetitive overhead activity, or gradual wear over time.
Nerve Decompression
Nerve compression conditions can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness that interfere with daily activities and hand or arm function. Cubital tunnel syndrome affects the ulnar nerve at the elbow, while carpal tunnel syndrome involves compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Both conditions may worsen over time if not properly treated.
Nonrepairable Rotator Cuff Tendon Tears
Nonrepairable rotator cuff tendon tears occur when the tendons are too damaged, retracted, or degenerated to be successfully repaired using standard techniques. These complex injuries may result from long-standing tears, prior failed repairs, trauma, or progressive tendon degeneration. Symptoms often include persistent pain, weakness, limited shoulder motion, and difficulty lifting or positioning the arm.
Proximal Humerus Fractures
Proximal humerus fractures involve a break in the upper portion of the arm bone near the shoulder joint and commonly occur after falls, direct trauma, or high-impact injuries. These fractures can affect shoulder strength, alignment, and range of motion, with symptoms that may include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty lifting or rotating the arm.
Rotator Cuff Tendon Tears
Rotator cuff tendon tears affect the group of tendons responsible for stabilizing the shoulder and allowing smooth, controlled arm movement. These tears may develop gradually from overuse and degeneration or occur suddenly due to injury. Common symptoms include shoulder pain, weakness, limited range of motion, and difficulty lifting or reaching.
Shoulder Instability & Dislocation
Shoulder instability and dislocation occur when the structures that support the shoulder joint are unable to maintain proper alignment. This may result from traumatic injury, repetitive overhead activity, or underlying ligament and bone damage. Patients may experience pain, a feeling of looseness, repeated dislocations, or loss of confidence in shoulder movement.
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can limit everyday movement and make even simple activities uncomfortable. The shoulder is one of the most complex joints in the body, relying on a combination of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments to provide strength and flexibility. When any part of this system is injured or overused, pain and reduced function can follow.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a common condition caused by overuse or repetitive strain of the forearm muscles and tendons. It often leads to pain along the outside of the elbow, weakness with gripping, and discomfort during everyday activities such as lifting, typing, or using tools. Symptoms may develop gradually and worsen without appropriate treatment.
Achilles Tendon
The Achilles tendon, or heel cord, is the largest tendon in the body. It is very important for normal gait patterns and is the main generator of force for push off strength during walking. Throughout the stance phase of gait, the Achilles tendon and its associated muscles contract both eccentrically (as the muscle lengthens) and concentrically (as the muscle shortens). The tendon experiences forces nearly 4x body weight during walking and 7x body weight during running.
Ankle Fusion
Ankle fusion has long been an acceptable form of treatment for painful ankle arthritis. Surgeons have been performing ankle fusions with good results for decades. The operation is indicated for end-stage ankle arthritis that has failed other conservative treatment modalities such as activity modification, anti-inflammatories, and bracing.
Ankle Replacement
Ankle replacement (total ankle arthroplasty) is an advanced surgical option designed to relieve pain and restore function for patients suffering from severe ankle arthritis when conservative treatments—such as bracing and activity modification—no longer provide adequate relief.
Ankle Sprains and Instability
An ankle sprain is an injury to the ligaments that stabilize the ankle and prevent it from rolling or giving way. The ligament damage can be as mild as stretching the tissue or as severe as completely tearing the tissue. Fortunately, most patients who have an ankle sprain recover with rest, ice, compression, elevation, anti-inflammatories, and bracing.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopic surgery is done using small incisions called “portals” to access the joint. Two or more portals are typically used with a video camera inserted through one portal, and the surgical instruments inserted through additional portals. Many procedures can be done arthroscopically, but that doesn't always mean that this is the best choice each patient.
Cavus Foot
Pes cavus, cavovarus, or high-arch foot are all descriptive terms used to describe a foot in which the arch is higher than typical population norms. It is the opposite of pes planus, or flatfoot, in which the foot has little or no arch. Sometimes a cavus foot, just like a flatfoot, can be problematic. However, the problems seen with cavus feet are generally different, and in some ways, opposite of the problems seen with flat feet.
Forefoot Taping
This is Meant to be an informative video on some ways to splint your toes in position with tape after surgery.One of the most common symptoms of a neuroma is pain localized to the bottom of the foot between the metatarsal heads.
Fractures
Many patients experience a fracture (broken bone) at some point during their lifetime. Because nearly all fractures are unanticipated, one of the most frustrating aspects of fracture care is the inability of patients to mentally prepare themselves for the surgery and recovery.
Hallux Rigidus (Arthritis of the Great Toe)
The term hallux rigidus refers to a common arthritic condition of the big toe characterized by pain at the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The pain caused by this arthritic process may severely impair a person's ability to walk, run, or participate in athletics.
Hallux Valgus (Bunion)
A bunion, also referred to as a hallux valgus deformity, refers to a malalignment of the forefoot in which there is a prominence over the inner aspect of the foot near the great toe. This enlargement is generally caused by medial deviation of the metatarsal bone and lateral deviation of the great toe.
Hammer Toes and Mallet Toes
A hammertoe, mallet toe, or claw toe is a deformity in which the toe is curled downward toward the floor. Lesser toe deformities are commonly associated with poor footwear selection, but also can be secondary to hereditary causes. They are seen more commonly in women than in men. A mallet toe occurs at the tip of the toe. A hammertoe occurs more proximally, closer to the junction of the toe to the foot.
Limb Alignment Correction
Mechanical axis correction of the bone alignment can sometimes be beneficial. There are multiple reasons that the bone may be bent and not aligned in a normal manner.
Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia is a medical term used to describe pain on the ball of your foot at the base of your toes. There are many different causes of metatarsalgia and sometimes it can be difficult to determine exactly which problem is causing the pain you are experiencing.
Neuroma
The term “neuroma” refers to a painful swollen nerve that can occur commonly in the plantar digital nerve endings at the bottom of the foot. The interspace between the third and fourth toes is the most common location, followed by the interspace between the second and third toes. Why neuromas form is not entirely clear.
Peroneal Tendon
The peroneus longus and peroneus brevis are two very important muscles in the leg, which become tendons in the ankle and attach to the bones in the foot. They are located behind the fibula bone on the outside of the ankle and course along the lateral side of the foot. These tendons have functionally important roles in the biomechanics of the foot and ankle.
Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
Pain in the heel is one of the most common problems that a foot specialist treats. The actual cause of heel pain can be contributed to a variety of factors. Most often with conservative treatment, patients can be relieved of their symptoms without the necessity for surgery. The development of heel pain can be a slow insidious process, and therefore, the recovery can take months as well.
Plantar Plate Tears
The plantar plate is a ligamentous structure on the bottom of the foot connecting the foot to the toe. It is comprised of multiple soft tissue structures including capsular, tendinous, and plantar fascia contributions, which serve to stabilize the toe.
Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity (Flatfoot)
Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity, also know as Pes Planus, Flatfoot, or Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity, is a very common problem seen by orthopaedic surgeons. A flatfoot is one in which the arch is a bit flatter than population norms.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome refers to compression of the tibial nerve and it’s branches behind the ankle joint. Generally, the most reliable diagnostic criteria are evident on clinical exam. Signs and symptoms can include pain in the ankle, pain in the heel, numbness or tingling to the plantar aspect of the foot, and discomfort radiating into the foot.
TTC Fusion
Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) fusion can be a great surgery for many patients, but can be difficult to perform successfully.
Integrity Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Offering a focused portfolio of advanced orthopedic services designed to help you get back to living—and moving—comfortably.