Sutter patients may receive diagnostic and treatment services in a number of settings, depending on the orthopedic condition and its severity.

Diagnostic Services

Four Sutter Health acute-care hospitals in the region each provide advanced diagnostic imaging tools: Sutter Auburn Faith; Sutter Davis Hospital; Sutter Roseville Medical Center; and Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. In addition, many orthopedic surgeons' offices include imaging tools within their practices. Sutter physicians also work with a number of outpatient radiology locations throughout the Greater Sacramento area and refer patients to Radiological Associates of Sacramento Medical Group for diagnostic imaging.

Treatment Services

Many procedures, including some minor surgeries, are performed within the surgeon's office. For more complex care, each Sutter acute-care hospital offers arthroscopy operating rooms for diagnosis and minimally invasive surgical treatment, as well as traditional surgery suites. Sutter Roseville Medical Center also provides surgical care in a new 15,000 square foot Outpatient Surgery Center located adjacent to the hospital. In addition, Sutter Roseville offers an American College of Surgeons recognized Level II trauma unit with the only team of fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon in the area specializing in trauma treatment and complex reconstructive procedures. Patients who undergo general, orthopedic, plastic, otolaryngology trauma surgery and trauma neurosurgery receive follow-up care through the hospital's Outpatient Trauma Clinic.

Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento (SMCS) provides a dedicated orthopedic surgery team that includes surgeons, certified orthopedic nurses, specialized surgical nurses and technicians. Through its Joint Replacement Center, SMCS also offers patients needing hip or knee replacement a full continuum of care. Surgeons at SMCS also have access to a Holmium laser that allows them to perform arthroscopic surgery using a laser to remove tissue in place of traditional surgical tools.

Sports medicine is a strong focus at Sutter Davis Hospital, with sports medicine physicians as well as orthopedic surgeons providing preventative care and treatments that provide an alternative to surgical care, when possible. Surgical treatment is available at Sutter Davis Hospital, which also provides inpatient physical therapy. Easy access to diagnostic imaging and outpatient physical and hand therapy enables patients to have access to the full spectrum of care in their community.

Children's Services

Many orthopedic surgeons in the region see patients of all ages. For more complex conditions, Children's Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento offers an interdisciplinary approach to each child's care, combining the skills of pediatric orthopedic surgeons with other pediatric specialists, including neurologists, rheumatologists and endocrinologists. The care team also includes the special expertise of pediatric physical and occupational therapists, Child Life specialists, nurses and technicians. In addition to receiving the highest level of care, children and families benefit from receiving diagnosis and treatment from professionals specifically trained to work with children and an environment geared to ensuring their comfort.

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Some patient conditions respond to treatment by physical therapy alone or in combination with medications or other procedures. When surgery is necessary, part of Sutter's full-spectrum care includes rehabilitation beginning in the hospital shortly after surgery and ongoing through outpatient rehabilitation centers. In addition, Sutter offers physical therapy and rehabilitation centers at each hospital and at 10 additional facilities conveniently located throughout the region.

From the first visit with an orthopedic specialist, Sutter provides education and support, as well as a full range of facilities and highly trained surgeons and staff to ensure patients regain maximum use of the area of the body affected.