| South Carolina Orthopaedic Institute -High Tech and High Quality Orthopaedics in Orangeburg
ORANGEBURG, SC—They came from different areas of the country, each with diverse backgrounds and experiences, and each with a deep dedication to their profession – orthopaedics.
Four orthopaedic surgeons comprise the South Carolina Orthopaedic Institute (SCOI) providing orthopaedic services to the Regional Medical Center 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
They specialize in all aspects of orthopaedic care, both operative and non operative, including arthroscopic, spine and total joint replacement surgeries as well as general orthopaedics, trauma, bone and joint care, sports medicine and arthritis management.
James Marro, M.D. has practiced in Orangeburg for 11 years and been with SCOI for seven years, as an original member. Prior to coming to Orangeburg, Dr. Marro was Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery with the United States Air Force at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and Clinical Instructor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehab Medicine at the V.A. Hospital in Oklahoma City.
Dr. Marro handles a great deal of bone and joint care cases, especially total joint replacement surgeries. “There is very little that we don’t do at the Regional Medical Center as far as modern technology, but we customize each surgery or treatment according to what’s best for the patient – that’s very important to me,” said Dr. Marro.
Lucius Craig, M.D. agrees. A graduate of the spine surgery fellowship program at the Texas Back Institute in Plano, TX, Dr. Craig specializes in degenerative disorders of the spine and has had much success with an innovative procedure called “Kyphoplasty” in which the surgeon injects a special type of cement into the spine to fix injuries and defects.
Dr. Craig is quick to point out that not all back injuries require surgery. “We try to do conservative care. The vast majority of our cases are not surgical. We tend to use pain management techniques including medicines, injections, bracing and exercising before surgery.”
A native of New Orleans, Dr. Craig joined SCOI three years ago. His colleagues say that it is relatively unusual to have a spine surgeon at a hospital this size, and they are very fortunate to have Craig’s capabilities. “The nice thing about Dr. Craig is that he is comfortable with it all – spine surgeries and general orthopaedics,” said Dr. Marro.
A third SCOI surgeon, Matthew Nelson, M.D., was Orthopaedic Chief Resident at Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C. before joining SCOI last January. He said he was drawn by a combination of the friendliness of the people and by the technology available at RMC. “The hospital embraces new technology and encourages special training,” said Dr. Nelson.
Dr. Nelson is certified to do hip resurfacing, a bone-sparing hip replacement surgery, which is done by only a handful of surgeons in the state. “The Regional Medical Center is definitely committed to providing top quality, high tech orthopaedic services to this area,” said Dr. Nelson.
Dr. Nelson said that the support from RMC staff adds to SCOI’s success. “We have a top-notch rehabilitation center in HealthPlex,” said Dr. Nelson. “When we have hard cases like occupational injuries that require rehabilitation, we can easily coordinate continued care on-site through HealthPlex.
Dr. Marro said that SCOI works very closely with the HealthPlex staff. “They are our eyes and ears in the community at area high school games. If there’s a sports injury at a high school athletic competition, they contact us immediately.” Dr. Marro said that HealthPlex and SCOI also hold a free sports injury assessment clinic every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. during football season.
The most recent addition to SCOI staff is Denmark, SC native Charles Hughes, M.D. who joined the group in May. Dr. Hughes has more than 18 years of experience in orthopaedics, including five years of practice in Charleston, SC. He said a big drawing card for him was the way that the SCOI team works together.
“We help each other whenever we can, especially with complex cases. We often have two surgeons on one surgery case. It’s nice to have a second set of hands and eyes,” said Hughes, “Having two orthopaedic surgeons working on one surgery would never happen at a larger hospital.”
Dr. Hughes said there is another difference in working with SCOI at the Regional Medical Center: the SCOI physicians personally know all of their patients. “I’ve heard of cases at larger hospitals where patients never even meet their surgeon. They are assisted before and after surgery by a resident or by a physician assistant. With orthopaedic surgeries at the Regional Medical Center, the doctor who operates on you is the one you talk to after surgery,” said Dr. Hughes.
Dr. Hughes said he has worked at very large hospitals and at smaller ones. “There’s a perception that the larger hospital you go to the better the care, but that’s not always the case. Larger hospitals often limit new equipment and new technology or require physicians to use a certain supplier,” said Dr. Hughes. “Here we have all the equipment we need, and we have the flexibility to choose the best alternatives for the patient.”
“Another challenge of practicing in a large city is that the operating staffs at larger hospitals are constantly changing,” said Dr. Hughes. “It’s so important to know who you’re working with in the operating room.”
Dr. Marro agrees. “We’re lucky here. I have worked at several major medical centers in New York City and without a doubt the orthopaedic care given here at RMC is equal or better. The Operating Room and 4 West staff know us well, and they know what our patients need. They are an excellent team.”
“We have a lot of advantages here, and we’ve had excellent outcomes. We always strive to do what’s best for the patient – that’s what good healthcare is all about,” said Dr. Marro. |