NRMC Orthopedic Associates

Located in the heart of Natchitoches, NRMC Orthopedic Associates is committed to providing outstanding joint, bone, ligament, and muscle care to our region. From monkey bar injuries of children to joint care for grandparents, we offer comprehensive orthopedic services with an emphasis on helping our patients achieve and maintain active lives, preventing injuries, and offering options for complex orthopedic needs.

As board-certified orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Ted Jordan and Dr. Ricardo Valle’s expertise includes sports medicine, complex trauma surgery, torn ligaments, fractures, and joint replacements. They also diagnose and treat diseases such as cancer, myopathies, and other conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system as well as benign masses.

The team at NRMC Orthopedic Associates see their relationships with patients as partnerships. They listen and welcome questions and strive to fully explain a patient’s injury or condition and offer treatment options. Not all patients need surgery, but for those who do, both Dr. Jordan and Dr. Valle are well trained and experienced in arthroscopic surgery, total joint replacement and everything in between. They seek nonsurgical options first, if at all possible. Surgery is recommended when necessary to repair bones, muscles or ligaments that will not respond to nonsurgical treatments.

Sports Medicine

Fellowship trained in Sports Medicine, Dr. Valle has cared for student athletes as well as professional athletes, helping to ensure good outcomes following injuries.  Dr. Jordan also has a special interest in sports medicine and enjoys helping high school and collegiate athletes return to their sports and achieve the same level of fitness as before their injuries occurred. Both doctors are committed to prevention and helping athletes fully understand needed recovery periods, the importance of physical therapy, and long-term health goals.

From the repair of rotator cuff injuries to ligament reconstruction including arthroscopy of the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist and ankle, doctors Jordan and Valle help athletes get back in the game.

Total Joint Replacement

Using the latest proven technologies and a patient centered approach, NRMC Orthopedic Associates offers total hip and knee joint replacement. Experienced in traditional, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery, they offer patients many surgical options based on their unique needs. Options include Minimal Incision Surgery (MIS), Direct Anterior Hip Replacement (DA), Computer Aided Navigation, and Robotic Arm Assisted hip and knee replacement.

NRMC has recently added Stryker’s Mako Robotic System as a surgical option for total joint replacement. This system helps orthopedic surgeons transform knee and hip replacements by integrating 3D modeling to create a personalized joint replacement surgical plan for each patient.

Total hip replacement surgery involves the removal of arthritic bone and damaged cartilage. These are replaced by a hip implant. Total knee replacement surgery involves the removal of damaged bone and cartilage from the thighbone, shin bone and kneecap. These are replaced with an artificial joint.

With robotic technology, surgeons can help protect a patient’s healthy bone while zeroing in with precision to replace the affected joint and customizing to each patient’s unique anatomy. Patients report less pain and a quicker recovery. Focused on patient safety and good outcomes, the goal is to help patients move and feel better.

When to consider hip or knee replacement:
• Hip or knee pain is affecting your ability to get a good night’s sleep.

• Hip or knee pain is keeping you from doing things you want to do.
• Non-surgical treatment options are not giving you relief from your pain.

Eligible patients must also meet other medical criteria including:

• BMI<45
• HbA1c<8.5
• Albumin > 3.5
• Vitamin D level normal
• Stop use of all nicotine products 4-6 weeks before surgery and 2 weeks after.
• Sleep apnea treated for at least 2 weeks
• Other medical issues requiring further evaluation (cardiac, renal, or other chronic illness)

Arthritis and Joints

The team at NRMC Orthopedic Associates are experts in caring for patients with arthritis. Focused on improving mobility and reducing pain, they help patients better understand an arthritis diagnosis:

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune response affects the lining of the synovial membrane which lines the joints. This can result in inflammation and pain.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is generally considered a degenerative form of arthritis which happens over time when the cartilage in the joints wears down resulting in bone-on-bone, a condition that can lead to pain, stiffness and swelling.

Post-traumatic Arthritis is the result of an old injury which over time can affect the bone, cartilage and joint itself.

Experience

Both surgeons have vast experience that goes well beyond medical school training. While in the Air Force, Dr. Jordan served on Flying Ambulance Surgical (FAST) Teams overseas where he cared for injured soldiers while enroute to hospitals.

Dr. Valle served as a civilian doctor at Cherry Point Naval Air Station in North Carolina. He treated active military for injuries that were very similar to those of professional athletes. Both Dr. Jordan and Dr. Valle provide outstanding care for veterans, understanding their orthopedic needs.

For all patients of all ages, the team at Orthopedic Associates use their vast experience to help patients by reducing pain, improving function, and increasing mobility. Realizing that everyone is has unique needs, they work with patients to create customized treatment plans that take into consideration the patient’s desired physical activity levels. For an athlete, the desired outcome may be to return to running or weight lifting; a senior being able to climb stairs without knee pain; or a patient who experienced a traumatic injury, regaining muscle strength.  All of these goals become the goals of the NRMC Associates team as they work to assist people physically and emotionally.

Emergency Care

In the event of an emergency, NRMC Orthopedic Associates, a department of Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, provides on-call coverage to the NRMC Emergency Department seven days a week, 24 hours a day.  If a patient arrives with an orthopedic emergency, the Emergency Department physician will contact the orthopedist on call to consult with him or if needed request the orthopedic surgeon to come to the Emergency Department to help assess and diagnose the patient. If emergency surgery is needed, Dr. Jordan and Dr. Valle will perform the surgery at NRMC, where they perform all their surgical cases.

Technology

From diagnosing an orthopedic injury or condition, to creating detailed treatment plans, Dr. Jordan and Dr. Valle utilize the hospital’s outstanding imaging technology. From MRI’s to CT scans and other imaging tools, they are able to better understand the precise medical needs of their patients.

Location

NRMC Orthopedics Associates, a department of Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, is located inside the NRMC Multispecialty Clinic at 601 Keyser Avenue in Natchitoches.

Our Orthopedic Surgeons

• 

  Dr. Theodore F. Jordan

  601 Keyser Ave

  Natchitoches, LA 71457

  318.214.5770

   

  Medical School:  Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD.

  Internship:  Malcolm Grow USAF; Andrews AFB

  Residency:  Wilfred Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB

• 

  Dr. Ricardo Valle

  601 Keyser Ave

  Natchitoches, LA 71457

  318.214.5770

  Medical School:  Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico

  Fellowship:  Sports Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center in Houston

  Residency:  Orthopedics at The Albany Medical College in New York