WashU Medicine department of Orthopedic Surgery. Nationally recognized leader in orthopedic care and research, providing personalized treatment in St. Louis.
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Nationally recognized leader in orthopedic care and research, offering personalized treatment at a location near you.
04/28/2026
Joseph Sweet, PA, ATC, is back on our foot and ankle team in a new role. Previously, he worked alongside Dr. Backus as an athletic trainer, and when the opportunity to rejoin our team as a physician assistant, he didn't hesitate! “The foot and ankle team is an incredible group – kind, passionate, and fun to be around,” he shared.
From sports, to walks and everyday movement, Joe finds it rewarding to help patients get back on their feet. His approach is also rooted in education, believing that informed patients are empowered patients with better outcomes.
04/24/2026
This week, we've celebrated the incredible work of Abby Cheng, MD; Cecilia Pascual-Garrido, MD, PhD; and Lindley Wall, MD, MSC – celebrating this extraordinary group as 2026 WashU Medicine Dean's Impact Award recipients.
Together, they represent the very best of WashU Medicine Orthopedics – advancing care through innovation, delivering exceptional patient-centered treatment, and shaping the future of our field through research, collaboration, and education.
Their work is transforming care and improving lives – in St. Louis and beyond.
04/23/2026
🌟 2026 Dean's Impact Award Recipient 3/3
Lindley Wall, MD, MSc, is shaping the future of care for children with rare orthopedic conditions.
Dr. Wall is an international leader in the care of children with congenital upper extremity differences – advancing both treatment and understanding of these complex conditions. Through global collaboration, patient registries, and more than 90 high-impact publications, her work is helping define best practices while bringing a stronger patient- and family-centered lens to care.
Her impact is felt not only in the operating room, but in how the field approaches outcomes, quality of life, and long-term care for these patients.
04/22/2026
🌟 2026 Dean's Impact Award Recipient 2/3
Cecilia Pascual-Garrido, MD, PhD, is advancing hip care through precision and personalization.
Dr. Pascual-Garrido is a national leader in hip preservation and reconstruction, caring for patients across the full spectrum of hip conditions – from adolescent hip disease to complex deformities and advanced osteoarthritis. Known for her deeply individualized approach, she specializes in helping patients who have often exhausted other options – bringing clarity, compassion, and tailored solutions to complex cases.
Her work as a clinician-scientist continues to elevate the standard of hip care through both clinical excellence and a commitment to patient wellness.
04/21/2026
🌟 2026 Dean's Impact Award Recipient 1/3
Abby Cheng, MD, is leading innovation in whole-person orthopedic care.
Dr. Cheng is transforming how we approach chronic musculoskeletal pain – integrating physical health, mental health, and lifestyle medicine to improve outcomes beyond traditional care. As Research Director of the Living Well Center, her work focuses on addressing the full patient experience – from nutrition and stress to mental health and recovery. Supported by major NIH and AHRQ funding, she is advancing new tools to improve care for patients with chronic pain and Long COVID.
Her work is helping redefine what comprehensive orthopedic care can look like – for patients in St. Louis and far beyond.
04/18/2026
Back from The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons (ABJS) annual meeting, our faculty continue to drive what's next in orthopedics.
✋ Jason Strelzow, MD – hand surgeon
🏌 Robert Brophy, MD – sports surgeon
🦴 Jacob Buchowski, MD, MS – spine surgeon
👣 Kelly Hynes, MD, MS – foot and ankle surgeon
Committed to advancing orthopedic care head to toe.
04/16/2026
From podiums to posters to leading sessions, our researchers showed the impact of their work at the 2026 Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting. On top of dozens of presentations, collaborations, and conversions, there were a couple major highlights!
🏆 The Orthopaedic Research Society officially renamed its top mentoring honor to the Farshid Guilak Mentoring Award – a testament to Dr. Guilak’s lasting impact on the next generation of researchers.
🌟 Audrey McAlinden, PhD, named to the ORS Fellows Class of 2026, honoring her leadership and contributions to the field.
04/15/2026
We will welcome these outstanding trainees to our team for a year of fellowship –learning from some of the best in the field while deepening their expertise in their dedicated service areas.
04/14/2026
We’re proud to celebrate our PGY-4 residents on their fellowship matches! As they head into their final year with us, they’ve secured outstanding opportunities to advance their training and expand their impact in orthopedics!
Hand fellowship matches coming in May.
04/10/2026
Running the Greater St. Louis Marathon? Save this for after you cross the finish line. 🏁
These recovery tips from Marathon Medical Director Katherine Caldwell, MD, will help after race day:
1️⃣ Rehydrate and refuel
• Drink 500-mL of water or electrolytes within 30 minutes.
• Continue hydrating 400-600 mL per hour avoiding caffeine and alcohol.
• Refuel with a mix of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats.
2️⃣ Prioritize sleep and rest
• Deep sleep supports muscle repair and recovery.
• Aim for consistent sleep schedules and a cool, screen-free environment.
• Try compression socks, ice massage or heat to reduce soreness.
3️⃣ Ease back into activity
• Take 5-7 days off from running.
• Start with low-impact movement like walking, biking or swimming.
• Gradually return to running with light, easy efforts.
04/09/2026
In goes whole blood. 🩸
Out comes PRP – liquid gold. ✨
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) uses your body’s own growth factors to support recovery, reduce pain and get you back to what you love. We draw a sample of your blood, spin it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets (rich in growth factors), and inject it directly into the injured area to help reduce inflammation and stimulate tissue repair.
As the Official Medical Provider of the Greater St. Louis Marathon, we're here to support the running community on race day — and year round — with trusted care across the region. Spot any of our locations on your training routes? Take a pic and tag us!
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Whether you are a child or adult suffering from a sports injury, hip pain, back pain or any musculoskeletal condition, Washington University Orthopedics in St. Louis, Missouri, provides a full complement of comprehensive orthopedic services to meet the needs of every patient.
Combining the best in both inpatient treatment and outpatient care and rehabilitation, our practice is nationally recognized for outstanding orthopedic care, innovative research and advanced professional training for orthopedic residents and fellows. Our practice is ranked among the best orthopedic practices and holds the distinction of being listed on the Honor Roll by U.S. News & World Report. The practice is considered an innovator in both conservative orthopedic care and minimally invasive microsurgical techniques.
Affiliated with Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital, we have the unique ability to offer inpatient treatment for challenging cases at a top-tier academic medical center as well as outpatient surgery and care in convenient locations around the St. Louis area, including Chesterfield, O’Fallon, Town and Country and South County.
We offer expertise in ten orthopedic subspecialties:
foot and ankle
hand and wrist
hip and knee
tumor care
pediatric and adolescent orthopedics
physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry)
shoulder and elbow
spine (including scoliosis)
sports medicine
fracture care/trauma
Our orthopedic specialists are dedicated to providing safe, compassionate and family-centered care for both simple and complex orthopedic conditions.
Because of the skill and experience of our doctors and staff, we are the official medical provider for the St. Louis Blues hockey team. We also serve as team physicians for all of Washington University athletic teams, the St. Louis Surge Woman’s Professional Basketball team, several local select teams and high schools.
In addition, we provide general orthopedic services through our affiliation with the Veterans Administration Medical Center in St. Louis and pediatric and adolescent orthopedic services at Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis.
