Orthopaedic Associates brings experience, specialties to patients

Did you know?

The word orthopaedics is derived from the Greek words "orthos," which means correct or straight, and "paidion," meaning child. That is because for many centuries orthopaedists were involved in the treatment of crippled children. As the field of orthopaedics expanded over the years it came to include many subspecialties and treatments for a variety of musculoskeletal disorders in patients of all ages. The spelling "orthopedic" is also used, but the majority of university and residency programs and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons spell the word "orthopaedic."

Orthopaedic Associates of Southeast Missouri, P.C. has been providing area residents with quality surgical and rehabilitation services since 1934.

Offering comprehensive, state-of-the-art, award-winning orthopaedic care in Southeast Missouri, Orthopaedic Associates began as Cape Surgical Group with Dr. Raymond Ritter Sr. The area's first fully trained orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Tom Otto, joined the practice in 1950.

Dr. Raymond Ritter Jr. followed his father's footsteps and joined Orthopaedic Associates in 1970 and was a part of the practice until his retirement in 2007. He remembers the days when patients requiring orthopaedic services weren't as fortunate as they are today.

"In the early days, patients came to the office in the back of a car or the bed of a pickup with injuries," remembered Ritter. "There were no emergency rooms, and patients endured long hospital stays with no air conditioning."

Seventy-six years and more than 1.5 million patients later, getting quality orthopaedic care is more convenient today. In addition to the Cape Girardeau facility at 48 Doctors' Park, Orthopaedic Associates has weekly clinics in Perryville, Sikeston and Poplar Bluff.

"We will be looking for ways to expand access to patients in the future," said administrator Tom Weber. "in order to continue our mission to provide accessible orthopaedic specialty care close to home."

In addition to the comprehensive orthopaedic care provided by their eight board-certified orthopaedic surgeons, Orthopaedic Associates also has on staff two board-certified physiatrists, or specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Among the specialties of the surgeons of Orthopaedic Associates are hand surgery and sports medicine, in addition to general orthopaedics. Orthopaedic Associates is proud to serve as team physicians for the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawk teams as well as local high school athletic teams.

HealthGrades, a leading independent health care ratings organization, has awarded Orthopaedic Associates its Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award and Joint Replacement Excellence Awards for 2010. The practice is rated in the top 10 percent nationally for both overall orthopaedics and joint replacement.

Other accolades given to Orthopaedic Associates include five-star ratings for overall orthopaedics, joint replacement, total knee replacement, total hip replacement and hip fracture repair.

The physicians of Orthopaedic Associates of Southeast Missouri P.C. are Michael C. Trueblood, M.D.; Rickey L. Lents, M.D.; R. August Ritter, M.D., William K. Kapp, M.D.; Brian C. Schafer, M.D.; Patrick R. Knight, M.D.; James M. Edwards, M.D.; Andrew C. Trueblood, M.D.; Bernard C. Burns, D.O.; and Jimmy D. Bowen, M.D.