Orthopedics (Bone, Joint and Spine)

Orthopedic care at Scripps Clinic in San Diego

An Orthopedic Surgeon and his patient looking over some images pertaining to the young patient's ailments.

Steven Copp, MD, Orthopedic Surgery, Scripps Clinic  

Orthopedic care at Scripps Clinic in San Diego

Scripps orthopedic doctors are San Diego’s winning team for treating sports injuries and other complex conditions that may require a knee replacement, hip replacement, spinal fusion, or procedure for the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, ankles and feet.


Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and Scripps Clinic are ranked among the nation’s best for orthopedic care by U.S. News & World Report. The Donald P. and Darlene V. Shiley Musculoskeletal Center at Scripps Clinic is among the nation’s top destinations for orthopedic care.


Scripps Clinic now also provides hip arthroscopy procedures that are ideal for younger patients who suffer from chronic pain but are not candidates for joint replacement.

Orthopedic specialties at Scripps Clinic

Orthopedic specialties at Scripps Clinic

With a focus on reducing pain and improving mobility, Scripps Clinic offers comprehensive care. Our orthopedic team provides diagnoses, treatment and rehabilitation of all musculoskeletal areas of the body — bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, connecting soft tissue and nerves.


Orthopedic services offered at Scripps Clinic include:



As a nationally recognized orthopedics program, Scripps Clinic Division of Orthopedic Surgery focuses on key pillars to support patient care and the advancement of medicine, including providing quality patient care, research and innovation, education, international outreach and philanthropy.


Physician-scientists and researchers at Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education (SCORE) at Scripps Clinic in Torrey Pines are pioneers in the effort develop new treatments and enhance existing ones. They are testing new devices and surgical techniques; developing artificial cartilage; and conducting publicly and privately funded clinical research to support the highest possible orthopedic care.


The division is also a regional leader in educating and preparing the next generation of orthopedic surgeons through rich graduate medical education.


The division offers full-time fellowships in joint reconstructive surgery, sports medicine and spine surgery, enabling physician-scientists to build stronger research skills at SCORE’s innovative facility in San Diego. The SCORE team also collaborates with the Scripps Clinic Division of Orthopedic Surgery fellowship program, providing a world-class laboratory experience to trainees.

Christine Burke gets back on track after hip replacement

Christine Burke gets back on track after hip replacement

Learn more about Christine's life before and after hip replacement surgery.

Common orthopedic conditions and injuries

From sports injuries to degenerative joint diseases, orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic treat a wide range of conditions.

Arthritis and other bone or muscle conditions

  • Arthritis — osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which often causes swelling and inflammation of joints over time.
  • Bursitis — an inflammation of one or more of the major joints of the body such as the shoulder, elbows, hips and knees.
  • Degenerative joints — such as the knees, hips, ankles or shoulders requiring treatment that may include up to a total knee replacement, hip replacement, ankle replacement or shoulder replacement.
  • Fibromyalgia — is characterized by chronic pain in the soft tissue and muscle surrounding the body’s joints.
  • Osteomyelitis — a bone infection caused by bacteria or other germs.

Back, spine and neck conditions

  • Adult and pediatric spinal deformity, which refers to abnormal curvatures of the spine may require spine surgery
  • Chronic back pain, including lower back pain and nerve impingement that can be caused by a herniated disc
  • Degenerative disc disease, which results in damage to the discs in your back from injury or aging
  • Neck pain, such as soft tissue injuries or cervical disc degeneration 
  • Scoliosis, which is a condition that causes severe spinal curvature
  • Spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal column that can result in pressure on the spinal nerves, causing pain


Learn more about spine surgery.

Hip, knee, foot and ankle conditions

  • Foot pain, which can be caused by bone spurs, sprains, tendonitis and more
  • Knee injuries, including tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and meniscus (cartilage)


Learn more about knee replacement, hip replacement and other types of joint repair and replacement.

Shoulder, wrist and hand conditions

  • Elbow pain, including tennis elbow, baseball elbow and golfer’s elbow
  • Hand and wrist pain, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis
  • Shoulder pain or injuries, including shoulder dislocation, AC joint separation and rotator cuff tears


Learn more about shoulder surgery and other types of joint repair and replacement.

Sports injuries or other trauma

  • Fractures of the bones, including emergency trauma injuries or stress fractures
  • Sports injuries, including ankle sprains, joint dislocations, runner’s knee and many others that may be caused by trauma, overuse or simply aging


Learn more about sports medicine.

Scripps Clinic orthopedic doctors near you

Each year, more San Diegans trust Scripps for their orthopedic care. Scripps Clinic has more than 30 board-certified orthopedic surgeons providing care across San Diego. 


Locations

Scripps Clinic orthopedic surgeons see patients at the following locations: 



Scripps Clinic orthopedic surgeons perform inpatient and outpatient surgeries at our hospital campuses in La Jolla and Encinitas.

Convenient locations

With more than 135 board-certified Scripps orthopedic surgeons across San Diego County, from Encinitas and La Jolla to Chula Vista, Scripps give patients convenient access to specialized care. Learn more on our orthopedic locations page.

Clinical expertise

Our extensive team of providers includes orthopedic specialists who are world-class experts in a wide variety of specialties and subspecialties who can diagnose and treat conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Whether you need sports medicine, podiatry, spine surgery, hand and wrist surgery, total or partial joint replacement — including knee replacement and hip replacement — plus foot and ankle reconstruction. Scripps’ experts are here to help. We collaborate with Scripps primary care physicians and experts in other specialties to ensure that you receive comprehensive, customized care. 


Find the right orthopedic doctor for you with our Doctor Finder tool.

Nationally ranked care

Scripps is consistently ranked among the nation’s best for orthopedic care by U.S. News & World Report. The distinction is based on key metrics that include quality, patient outcomes, and system capabilities and facilities. The Donald P. and Darlene V. Shiley Musculoskeletal Center at Scripps Clinic, adjacent to Scripps Green Hospital, is among the nation’s top destinations for orthopedic care.


Scripps hospitals have also received the “Blue Distinction Center” designation from Blue Cross Blue Shield for orthopedic care. This national designation reflects the ability to deliver high quality and safer specialty care, based on surgical teams’ expertise and historical patient outcomes.

Advanced technology

Scripps orthopedic doctors and teams use advanced imaging technologies and FDA-approved implants to ensure patients can receive the most appropriate diagnostic evaluations and treatments. Learn more about our high-tech knee replacement, hip replacement and shoulder surgery that may give you quicker recovery times.

Leading-edge orthopedic research

Scientists at Scripps Clinic’s Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education (SCORE) are on the leading edge in developing artificial cartilage, testing new devices and surgical techniques and conducting publicly and privately funded clinical research to support the highest possible orthopedic care. Learn more about orthopedic research at Scripps.

Looking to the future

Scripps is training the next generation of orthopedic surgeons and specialists through our graduate medical education and fellowship programs.

Support services and resources

As leaders in orthopedic care, we know what it takes to keep joints healthy. That’s why we equip our patients with support services and resources to help them achieve their best possible outcome. From connecting you with rehab services to empowering you with educational resources, Scripps offers a comprehensive lineup to help you along every step of your journey.

Support services

We are here for you — not only as your orthopedic surgeons, but as a team of experts who understands that your joint health is about much more than your medical treatment. Specifically, Scripps offers a variety of patient support services to ensure your physical and emotional well-being, as well as resources for dealing with the logistical aspects of your care.


Our services include:



For more offerings, please visit our patient resources section.

Glossary and other resources

Patient education is an important part of understanding your joint condition and treatment plan. To stay informed, we encourage our orthopedic patients to:


  • Bookmark the Scripps glossary of orthopedic terms for easy referencing.
  • Watch the pre- and post-surgery videos your doctor recommends.
  • Consult your orthopedic team for educational materials and a list of trusted online sources beyond the Scripps site. 


Always check with your orthopedic surgeon first to ensure that you have the most accurate information for your particular medical condition or need.