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.
02/05/2026
Did you know the NFL recently banned smelling salts (ammonia inhalants) from being given to players?
Smelling salts have been used for centuries, but emerging research has prompted a closer look at their safety in sports. New research led by Matthew Matava, MD, Chair of the NFL Research & Innovation Committee, helped inform the league’s decision to prioritize player health.
Once used on sidelines as a quick way to “wake up” athletes, smelling salts are now being reexamined due to their effects on performance and the potential neurologic risks they may pose – particularly following a suspected head injury.
02/04/2026
On National Girls & Women in Sports Day, we celebrate the achievements of female athletes, coaches, leaders and physicians dedicated to this population. The Female Athlete Program supports girls and women in their unique needs.
Katherine Caldwell, MD, Director of the Female Athlete Program shares one of the biggest factors in training for women – STRESS. She shares, "Last week, I hit a lighter squat than usual – not because I got weaker, but because I was stressed and under-recovered. This week, I was better rested, less stressed, and a heavier weight moved way easier."
The Female Athlete Program is treating the whole athlete, "Our goal is to provide specialized care tailed for female biomechanics, hormone fluctuations, and unique training demands."
02/04/2026
Congratulations to Sade Williams Clayton, PhD, post-doc fellow in the Tang Lab, and recipient of the Drum Major Award. She shares, “I am so grateful for the lasting impact of Dr. King’s work and teachings and the opportunity to honor his legacy through this award."
In his 1968 sermon “The Drum Major Instinct,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. challenged us to lead not for recognition, but in service of justice. Dr. Williams Clayton exemplifies this call through her commitment to standing up for others and advancing equity across the WashU Medicine community.
Through her actions and advocacy, Dr. Williams Clayton embodies what it means to be an upstander – she speaks up when it matters, supports those facing inequity, and helps create a more inclusive and respectful environment. Her leadership reflects the spirit of Dr. King’s words and represents the very best of WashU Medicine.
02/01/2026
Our specialists at St. Louis Children's Hospital know that kids’ bones are still growing and that makes fracture care different. Pediatric injuries require our dedicated team of experts to protect growth and safely get kids back to being kids.
01/29/2026
Our Orthopedic Injury Clinics offer walk-in evaluation and expert care for bone, joint, and muscle injuries. Help is here when you need it.
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📍 St. Charles – 3871 Mexico Rd.
📍 Progress West Hospital, Medical Office Building 1 – 20 Progress Point Parkway Suite 114
📍 Center for Advanced Medicine South County – 5201 Midamerica Plaza Suite 1500
📍 Orthopedic Center – 14532 S. Outer Forty Dr. Suite 200
01/27/2026
Whether you're hitting the slopes at a ski resort or taking advantage of the record-breaking snow in St. Louis, Mitch Obey, MD, has some good tips.
As an orthopedic trauma surgeon and snowboarding enthusiast, Dr. Obey knows what it takes to enjoy the snow and stay out of the ER.
1️⃣ Wear layers
2️⃣ Stay hydrated
3️⃣ Protect your head, eyes, and skin
Shorter days and colder weather can impact more than mood–they can affect pain, stiffness, sleep, and recovery.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is real, common, and treatable. The Living Well Center shares how seasonal changes influence both mental and musculoskeletal health.
Support your body and mind this winter through –
🚶 Movement: gentle stretching, short walks, or modified physical therapy routines
💤 Sleep support: consistent schedules and calming bedtime routines
⏰ Routine and structure: predictable daily rhythms to support energy and pain regulation
💡 Light exposure: morning sunlight or light therapy boxes
Caroline Drain, Clinical Research Specialist for John Clohisy Sr., MD, has dedicated four remarkable decades to advancing clinical research at WashU Medicine.
From groundbreaking genetics research in Psychiatry to coordinating major NIH multicenter studies–and later supporting ALS research in Neurology–Caroline brought expertise and collaboration to every team she joined. Since 2018, she has been an integral part of Orthopaedics, helping manage Dr. Clohisy’s research portfolio and supporting impactful work that improves patient care.
As Caroline prepares for retirement at the end of this year, she’s most grateful for the people she’s worked alongside and excited for what’s next: traveling, time with friends, and enjoying life on her own schedule.
01/21/2026
A distinct superpower of WashU Medicine is our collaboration – like when four surgical teams worked together as one to remove a rare tumor from a child's collarbone.
Jaylanie, a St. Lucian native, had likely been living with a rare tumor for nearly three years by the time he got to St. Louis for specialized care. Through Eric Gordon, MD's, Caribbean mission trip work with World Pediatrics, a diagnosis and plans were made.
The tumor was malignant, but could be cured with complete and precise surgical removal. That meant a ten-hour operation at St. Louis Children's Hospital and the teamwork of four speciality surgeons – David Clever, MD, PhD, orthopedic oncology surgeon; Westley Ohman, MD, vascular surgeon; David Brogan, MD, MSc, orthopedic surgeon; and Mitchell Pet, MD, plastic surgeon.
"Removing tumors, dissecting and reconstructing blood vessels, and reconstructing bone and tissue defects are things that members of this surgical team do every day, but putting all those pieces together in one case is what made this so unique," explains Dr. Clever.
Jaylanie's surgery was a success – the tumor was completely removed. Within a month of surgery, his inflammatory markers had nearly returned to normal, an early sign that his body was finally healing. For Jaylanie, success means more than medical milestones – it means running, playing, and being able to use his arm without pain.
Our team will continue to monitor Jaylanie's health over the next 10 years, starting with another World Pediatrics mission trip Dr. Gordan will be on next month!
Congratulations to Jay Keener, MD, who's been named an elite reviewer by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. This honor recognizes his outstanding peer reviews, with ratings in the top 1-2% nationwide, and a strong commitment to advancing the field of orthopedics.
01/14/2026
Female athletes deserve to move well and feel energized. WashU Medicine specialists provide comprehensive care tailored to women and girls in sports at all levels. From Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) to ACL injuries, the Female Athlete Program is here to help.
Washington University Physical Therapy -Clinical Practice
WashU Medicine Orthopedics
01/13/2026
At the North American Spine Society annual meeting, Matthew Goodwin, MD, PhD, co-chaired a symposium: "It may see you, even if you don't see it: Workup of the unknown spinal lesion and what not to miss." As a physician scientist, Dr. Goodwin not only takes care of spinal tumors surgically, he also researches them and shares his findings on global stages to fellow spine surgeons.
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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.
