News Articles & Press Releases

At Southern Bone & Joint Specialist, our doctors strive to stay on the leading edge of technological and procedural advances. To the left are a number of news articles and press releases that have been made to showcase the determination of our doctors and staff to be the best they can be in the fields of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.

We also developed a newsletter to inform our current and past patients of the advancements Southern Bone & Joint Specialists have made. In order to view the newsletter you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. Below is a link to Adobe to install this program if it is needed.

Southern Bone & Joint Newsletter
 


SBJ announces new physician
2010-07-27
SBJ announces new physician
Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. has announced its newest physician, Dr. Neal Gregg, a general orthopaedic surgeon.
Gregg, a Hattiesburg native, received his bachelor’s degree from William Carey University. He received his doctor of osteopathy degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He completed an orthopaedic residency from the Medical College of Georgia.
Gregg worked at Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. and Southern Surgery Center as a medical assistant for one and a half years.
Southern Bone and Joint is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians and offices in Hattiesburg, Collins, Columbia and Poplarville.

 


Hand surgeon receives hand certification
2010-02-17
Dr. Constantine Charoglu of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. recently received certification of added qualifications in surgery of hand from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Charoglu is a board-certified, fellowship-trained hand surgeon.

To qualify for certification in the subspecialty of surgery of the hand, a surgeon must, among numerous other requirements, have been in the active practice of hand surgery for at least two years following the completion of formal training, hold full operating privileges in an accredited hospital and have successfully passed all examinations.

Charoglu received his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and his medical degree from New Jersey Medical School in Newark, N.J. He completed his residency at New Jersey Medical School and his fellowship in hand and micro surgery at the Hand Center of Western New York at the State University of New York. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.


 


Hand surgeon receives hand certification
2010-01-28
Dr. Rocco Barbieri of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. recently received recertification of added qualifications in surgery of hand from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Barbieri is a board-certified, fellowship-trained hand surgeon.

Barbieri received his bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residence at the University of Medicine at New Jersey. He completed his fellowship trained in reconstructive surgery of the hand and upper extremity at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and a fellowship in hand and microvascular surgery at Southern Illinois University. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association for Hand Surgery, and Mississippi Orthopaedic Society. He is an associate editor for the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma and the HAND Journal.

Southern Bone and Joint is a regional orthopaedic group with 14 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia, Collins and Poplarville.

 


SBJ to open Collins Clinic
2010-01-04
Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. will open a satellite clinic in Collins Jan. 12.

The clinic, located at the Covington County Hospital at 701 S. Holly Ave., will offer orthopaedic care and x-ray services. SBJ physicians Dr. Lance Line and Dr. Robert Dews will see patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“We have had great success with our satellite clinics in other areas and Collins was the next place we wanted to offer our services,” said Line, a board certified, fellowship trained sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon. “It will allow us greater availability to our patients in Covington County, Laurel and Magee.

To schedule an appointment with Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A., call 601-554-7400.

 


SBJ adds new physician
2009-12-08
Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. has announced its newest physician Dr. Ed Bagingito, a fellowship trained anesthesiologist.

Bagingito received his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California. He completed an internal medicine internship and anesthesiology residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He received fellowship training in cardiac anesthesiology from the University of California Los Angeles.

He is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiology, International Anesthesia Research Society, Society of Cardiac Anesthesiologists and American Medical Association.

 


Conn discusses latest trends
2009-11-1
Dr. Richard Conn recently participated in the Stryker Hip Champions meeting in New York City which included surgeons from the United States and United Kingdom discussing the latest trends and techniques in hip resurfacing.

Conn, a board-certified, fellowship-trained arthritic joint replacement surgeon, was the first physician in the United States to perform the Cormet Hip Resurfacing System in the United States. Cormet hip resurfacing, an alternative to total hip replacement, was approved in 2007 by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States.

Conn received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He completed his internship/residency in orthopaedic surgery in Greenville, S.C. After a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in arthritic joint replacement surgery, Conn returned to Hattiesburg. Conn belongs to several medical organizations including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, Southern Orthopedic Association, Southern Medical Association, American Medical Association, Mississippi Orthopaedic Society and the Society for Arthritic Joint Surgery.

 


Nipper receives board certification
2009-09-30
Elliott B. Nipper, M.D. with Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. was awarded board certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery means that the orthopaedic surgeon has met the specified educational, evaluation and examination requirements of the board. The examination includes written and oral exams. ABOS administers the exam every 10 years.

The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inc. was founded in 1934 as a private, voluntary, nonprofit, independent organization to serve the best interests of the public and the medical profession. These interests are achieved through the ABOS by establishing standards for the education of orthopaedic surgeons. These standards are evaluated by the ABOS through examinations and practice evaluations. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery is one of twenty-four certifying boards that have met the educational and organizational requirements necessary for membership in the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery are distinguished orthopaedic surgeons who are active in patient care, education and research.

 


SBJ announces new physician
2009-08-17

Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. has announced its newest physician, Dr. Robert Dews, a fellowship-trained, sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon.

Dews, a Hattiesburg native, received his bachelor’s degree from Millsaps College. He received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center where he also completed a residency. He completed an AO Trauma fellowship at Watauga Orthopedics and a sports medicine fellowship at Mississippi Sports Medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Arthroscopy Association of North America and American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine.

 


Stonnington receives recertification
2009-07-30
Dr. Michael Stonnington of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. was recently recertified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS).

The recertification examination evaluates an orthopaedist’s continuing competence through evidence of continuing medical education, credentialing and examination. The examination includes written and oral exams. ABOS administers the exam every 10 years.

Stonnington, a board certified orthopaedic surgeon with special interests in traumatology, total joint replacement and sports medicine, focuses on the treatment of acute fractures, post-traumatic deformities and non-unions including injuries to the pelvis and acetabulum at the Orthopaedic Trauma Services at Forrest General Hospital - a major trauma referral hospital for the state of Mississippi. Stonnington is co-chairman of FGH department of surgery.

He received his undergraduate degree with distinction from the University of Virginia. He then received his medical degree from Duke University and his orthopaedic surgery training at the University of Florida. He is the founding co-director of Orthopaedic Trauma Services at Forrest General Hospital. Stonnington recently authored two chapters in a major musculoskeletal textbook. He is the U.S. Orthopaedic Consultant for Futuro Braces, a leading national and international soft goods and brace company. He received his Air Force Reserve Commission in 1988 and was active duty at Keesler Air Force Base for three years as a staff orthopaedic surgeon. Stonnington is a Lieutenant Colonel and during his Air Force career served on a forward surgical team. One of his last responsibilities in the military involved teaching battlefield surgery. Such endeavors included travel to war-torn Nepal where he taught battlefield surgery to the Royal Nepalese Army.

 


Folse receives recertification by ABPMR
2009-05-05
Dr. Y. Susi Folse of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. received a recertification by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Her recertification will be effective until 2021. Folse passed in the following specific content areas: physical medicine and rehabilitation general topics, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and neurorehabilitation. The certification provides assurance to patients and their families, payors, funding agencies and the public that ABPMR diplomats maintain and continually improve their knowledge of physiatry. Prior to receiving a passing score on the exam, the certification is achieved through a process of ongoing participation in continuing medical education (CME), self-assessment and practice improvement.

Folse currently teaches a medical aspects class for the athletic training program at the University of Southern Mississippi. Folse serves as the co-director of the USM student athletic training program.
She received her athletic training degree from USM. She later received her medical degree from the Louisiana State University Medical Center in 1996 and also served her internship and residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation there. While at LSU, she served as associate chief resident and director of the residency sports medicine program. Folse is a member of the American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association and Southern Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Society.

Southern Bone and Joint is a regional orthopedic group with 15 physicians and offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia, Poplarville and Forrest General Hospital.

 


Folse receives sports medicine certification
2009-01-23
Y. Susi Folse, M.D. of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. has received subspecialty certification in sports medicine by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

The certification identifies physiatrists who through education and experience have acquired a special proficiency in sports medicine. Folse passed a written exam and completed 30 continuing medical education (CME) credits relevant to sports medicine. The certificate is a 10-year, time-limited certificate.

Folse currently teaches a medical aspects class for the athletic training program at the University of Southern Mississippi. Folse serves as the co-director of the USM student athletic training program.

She received her athletic training degree from USM. She later received her medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical Center in 1996 and also served her internship and residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation there. While at LSU, she served as associate chief resident and director of the residency sports medicine program. Folse is a member of the American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, Southern Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Society.

Southern Bone and Joint is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians and offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia, Poplarville and Forrest General Hospital.

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Stonnington named President-Elect of FGH Medical Staff
2009-01-05
Michael Stonnington, M.D. has been named president-elect for Forrest General Hospital\'s medical staff. Stonnington will assume these responsibilities in January 2010. This position involves serving as a liaison between physicians and hospital administration and is a very important role in the hospital\'s delivery of patient care.

Stonnington is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon. He is one of the founding directors of Forrest General\'s Orthopaedic Trauma Services and has been on staff at the hospital for more than eight years. He specializes in traumatology, total joint replacement and sports medicine.

Stonnington received his medical training at Duke University and the University of Virginia, and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Mississippi Orthopaedic Society, among other professional organizations.
 


SBJ physician invited to arthritic joint society
2008-08-06
Richard Conn, M.D. of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. has been invited to be a member of the Society for Arthritic Joint Surgery.

The society is comprised of orthopaedic surgeons with special interest in total joint arthroplasty. The membership is diverse, not only geographically but in practice settings as well. The 60-member group remains small to insure its tradition and founding principles that include sharing of experiences and knowledge, camaraderie and social activities. Membership is by invitation only. Conn and Guy Vise, M.D. of Jackson are the only members from Mississippi.

Conn, a board-certified, fellowship-trained arthritic joint replacement surgeon, will be expected to attend annual meetings and present scientific papers.

Conn began his medical career at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where he received his doctor of medicine degree. He completed his internship/residency in orthopaedic surgery in Greenville, S.C. He completed a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in arthritic joint replacement surgery. Conn belongs to several medical organizations including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, Southern Orthopedic Association, Southern Medical Association, American Medical Association and Mississippi Orthopaedic Society.

Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia and Poplarville.

 


SBJ/SSC offers wireless internet
2008-08-01
Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. and Southern Surgery Center now offer wireless internet in its lobby areas for patients.
 


SBJ sponsors sixth annual golf tournament
2008-07-30

Dr. Doug Rouse of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. poses with the first place team
Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. hosted its sixth annual golf tournament for coaches and referring physicians on July 28 at Canebrake Country Club.

More than 80 players participated. This year there were three teams that shot a 56 in the four-man scramble. The winners were decided by a scorecard playoff. First place was: Dr. James Holmes of Wiggins, Ralph Sims of Seminary and Joe Ignatius. Second place winners: Josh Hoffpauir, Drew Causey, Jamie McMahon and Richard Mathis, all of Pearl River Community College. Third place winners: Encore trainer Jeff Davis, Steve Knight, Tracy English and DJ Pulley, all of William Carey University.
 


Conn receives recertification
2008-07-14
Richard A. Conn, M.D. of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. was recently recertified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS).

The recertification examination evaluates an orthopaedist’s continuing competence through evidence of continuing medical education, credentialing and examination. The examination includes written and oral exams. ABOS administers the exam every 10 years.

Conn specializes in arthritic/traumatic conditions of the shoulder, hip and knee. Conn, received his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and his medical degree from the University of Mississippi. Conn completed his internship/residency in orthopaedic surgery in Greenville, S.C. In 1984, Conn returned to Hattiesburg after completing a year fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in arthritic joint replacement surgery.

He is a member of the American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, Southern Orthopaedic Association, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and Mississippi Orthopaedic Society.

Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia and Poplarville.

 


Melancon receives recertification
2008-07-11
Keith P. Melancon of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. was recently recertified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS).

The recertification examination evaluates an orthopaedist’s continuing competence through evidence of continuing medical education, credentialing and examination. The examination includes written and oral exams. ABOS administers the exam every 10 years.

Melancon received his bachelor’s and medical degrees from Louisiana State University. He completed orthopaedic residency training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He is the past president of the Mississippi Orthopaedic Society. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthoapedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, American Association for Hand Surgery, American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association and Southern Orthoapedic Association.

Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia and Poplarville.

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SBJ surgeon performs hip resurfacing procedure at NYU program
2008-07-09

Fred Jaffe, M.D. of New York University Hospital, Derek McMinn, M.D. from Birmingham, England and Richard Conn, M.D. of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. gave presentations at the New York University Orthopaedic Hospital Femoral Resurfacing program in New York City.
Dr. Richard Conn of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. performed a hip resurfacing procedure during the New York University Orthopaedic Hospital Femoral Resurfacing program.

Conn emphasized his modifications of the Hardinge approach to the hip to facilitate this procedure. He also gave a presentation on complications associated with femoral resurfacing.

Conn was among other distinguished orthopaedic surgeons including Dr. Fred Jaffe with the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases and Dr. Derek McMinn, who is credited with being the developer of modern hip resurfacing with the introduction of the Cormet Hip Resurfacing system and the Birmingham hip which are alternatives to total hip replacement.

Conn is the first physician in the United States to perform a hip resurfacing procedure with the Cormet Hip Resurfacing System, offered exclusively by Stryker in the United States. Conn also trains other surgeons across the country on how to perform the procedure and to select the appropriate patient. Cormet hip resurfacing, an alternative to total hip replacement, was approved in 2007 by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States.

Unlike hip replacement, in which the entire hip joint is replaced, hip resurfacing involves shaping and capping, with an implant, a few centimeters of bone within the hip joint. The implant, made from cobalt chrome, has the potential to last longer than traditional hip implants, experts say, making it an especially attractive option for younger, more active patients.

The technique also offers other advantages over the traditional hip replacements performed in the United States, the experts said. The resurfacing implant is larger than the femoral head used in total hip replacements, offering greater stability and reducing the risk of dislocation, the most common cause of hip replacement failures. It also offers greater range of motion after surgery.

Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia and Poplarville.




 


Stonnington appointed to volunteer faculty at Indiana University
2008-07-02
Dr. Michael Stonnington of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. has recently been appointed volunteer faculty at Indiana University in Indianapolis.

Stonnington, a board certified orthopaedic surgeon, will give orthopaedic surgery lectures to the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation residents.

He is the current Forrest General Hospital chairman of the department of surgery.

After receiving his undergraduate degree with distinction from the University of Virginia, Stonnington then received his medical degree from Duke University and completed his orthopaedic surgery training at the University of Florida. He is a founding co-director of Orthopaedic Trauma Services at Forrest General Hospital. Stonnington has authored two chapters in a major musculoskeletal textbook. He is the U.S. Orthopaedic Consultant for Futuro Braces, a leading national and international soft goods and brace company. He received his Air Force Reserve Commission in 1988 and was active duty at Keesler Air Force Base for three years as a staff orthopaedic surgeon. Stonnington is a Lieutenant Colonel and during his Air Force career served on a forward surgical team. One of his last responsibilities in the military involved teaching battlefield surgery. Such endeavors included travel to war-torn Nepal where he taught battlefield surgery to the Royal Nepalese Army.

Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia and Poplarville.

 


SBJ physician assistant receives recertification
2008-07-01
Buddy Moore, PA-C, of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. recently received recertification from the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants.

Certified physician assistants must maintain their certification every six years by following a two-pronged process which includes documentation of continuing medical education (CME) and successful completion of a recertification exam.

Moore is an orthopedic physician assistant who partners with James Sikes, M.D. and Michael Stonnington, M.D., both general orthopedic surgeons.

Moore has bachelor’s degrees in exercise physiology and athletic training from the University of Southern Mississippi and a bachelor’s degree in physician assistant studies from South University in Savannah, Ga. He received his master’s degree in human performance from the University of Southern Mississippi.

He is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Mississippi Academy of Physician Assistants, Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association and the American Society of Orthopedic Physician Assistants.

Moore and his wife Anna Katharine have two children. They attend Heritage United Methodist Church.

Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia and Poplarville.

 


SBJ surgeon participates in partial knee resurfacing panel
2008-06-30
Dr. Richard Conn of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. participated in a Stryker partial knee resurfacing panel in New York City in June.

The 12-member panel discussed scientific background, clinical applications and surgical technique associated with Stryker’s partial knee resurfacing called Triathlon PKR. Triathlon PKR was introduced in January 2008. The implant is anatomically shaped and helps enable surgeons to use the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques. With this procedure, only the affected compartment of the arthritic femur and the tibia are resurfaced with artificial implants.

Because the PKR artificial joints are smaller than total knee implants, the surgical incision may be smaller. A smaller incision may lead to a smaller scar. According to Stryker studies, other potential benefits to PKR include a quicker operation, a shorter hospital stay compared to a total knee replacement and rehabilitation may also be more progressive.

Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia and Poplarville.

 


Charoglu inducted as fellow
2008-04-24
Dr. Constantine Charoglu of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. recently was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Charoglu, a board-certified, fellowship-trained hand surgeon, was one of 675 new members inducted. AAOS has 31,383 members worldwide.

AAOS is the largest medical association for musculoskeletal specialists. Its fellows have completed medical school, plus at least five years of specialty study in orthopaedics in an accredited residency program, passed a comprehensive oral and written exam and been certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Charoglu received his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and his medical degree from New Jersey Medical School in Newark, N.J. He completed his residency at New Jersey Medical School and his fellowship in hand and micro surgery at the Hand Center of Western New York at the State University of New York. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Southern Bone and Joint is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia and Poplarville.

 


Dr. Rouse to serve on College Board
2008-04-11
Dr. Douglas W. Rouse of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. has been confirmed to serve on the State College Board.

Dr. Rouse has an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a medical degree from the University of Mississippi.

Dr. Rouse will serve a 10-year term on the 12-member board. Members are chosen from each of the three state Supreme Court districts. In this round of appointments, Gov. Haley Barbour had to choose two people from the central district and two from the southern district.

 


Sikes to throw first pitch at USM baseball game
2008-04-1
Dr. James Sikes of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. has been chosen to throw the first pitch at the USM/Houston baseball game on April 27 at Pete Taylor Park at 1 p.m.


 


Southern Surgery Center receives AAAHC accreditation
2008-04-02
Southern Surgery Center, LLC has achieved its third consecutive three-year accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

“We are committed to providing the highest level of quality care to the community we serve. The hard work, commitment and dedication by the entire staff not only made it possible for Southern Surgery Center to be awarded a third three-year term of accreditation but also made it possible for the AAAHC surveyor to report that there were no deficiencies determined during the survey process,” said SSC administrator Becky Swan, RN, MSN, CNOR. “Our status as an AAAHC accredited organization allows us to provide an extra measure of confidence to our community. We are proud to have met the challenge of accreditation and intend to consistently uphold the principles of quality improvement and quality care in the future.”

Orthopaedic and pain management procedures are performed in the surgery center. Located at 3688 Veterans Memorial Dr. in Hattiesburg, the facility includes four operating rooms, one procedure room, nine pre-op bays, nine recovery bays, two overnight extended-care rooms, a voice-activated Hermes system and a training observation room.

Full time staffing at the SSC includes nine full time nurses and nine part-time/PRN nurses, four surgical technicians and five office personnel. The average number of years of experience for registered nurses is 20 years and surgical technicians is 12 years. SSC has nine board-certified orthopaedic surgeons, one board-eligible orthopaedic surgeon, three board-certified anesthesiologists and one board-certified fellowship-trained pain management physician.

Ambulatory healthcare organizations seeking accreditation by the AAAHC undergo an extensive onsite, peer-based survey of its facilities and services. Accredited status means Southern Surgery Center has passed a series of rigorous and nationally-recognized standards for the provision of quality healthcare, set by the AAAHC. More than 3,000 ambulatory healthcare organizations across the United States are accredited by the AAAHC.

 


SBJ surgeon to serve on hip resurfacing panel in New York
2008-03-05
Dr. Richard Conn of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. has been invited to participate in a New York University panel discussion with leading national and international orthopaedic surgeons on hip resurfacing procedures in May.

Conn will be among seven other distinguished orthopaedic surgeons including Dr. Fred Jaffe with the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases and Dr. Derek McMinn, who developed a hip resurfacing system, an alternative to total hip replacement. They will present on the scientific background, clinical applications and surgical technique associated with hip resurfacing.

Conn is the first physician in the United States to perform a hip resurfacing procedure with the Cormet Hip Resurfacing System, offered exclusively by Stryker in the United States. Conn also trains other surgeons across the country on how to perform the procedure and to select the appropriate patient. Cormet hip resurfacing, an alternative to total hip replacement, was approved in 2007 by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States.

Unlike hip replacement, in which the entire hip joint is replaced, hip resurfacing involves shaping and capping, with an implant, a few centimeters of bone within the hip joint. The implant, made from cobalt chrome, has the potential to last longer than traditional hip implants, experts say, making it an especially attractive option for younger, more active patients.

The technique also offers other advantages over the traditional hip replacements performed in the United States, the experts said. The resurfacing implant is larger than the femoral head used in total hip replacements, offering greater stability and reducing the risk of dislocation, the most common cause of hip replacement failures. It also offers greater range of motion after surgery.

Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia and Forrest General Hospital.

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Orthopaedic surgeon presents at University of Florida
2008-03-05
Dr. Michael Stonnington of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. was recently invited to the University of Florida Orthopaedic Residency Program in Gainesville, Fla. to teach the orthopaedic surgery residents.

He presented orthopaedic trauma cases such as complex pelvic injuries and instructed the residents in trauma care. He also helped lead a seminar regarding the transition from residency training to an orthopaedic surgery practice.

Stonnington, a board certified orthopaedic surgeon with special interests in traumatology, total joint replacement and sports medicine, focuses on the treatment of acute fractures, post-traumatic deformities and non-unions including injuries to the pelvis and acetabulum at the Orthopaedic Trauma Services at FGH.

He received his undergraduate degree with distinction from the University of Virginia. He then received his medical degree from Duke University and his orthopaedic surgery training at the University of Florida. He is the founding co-director of Orthopaedic Trauma Services at Forrest General Hospital. Dr. Stonnington recently authored two chapters in a major musculoskeletal textbook.

He is the U.S. Orthopaedic Consultant for Futuro Braces, a leading national and international soft goods and brace company. He received his Air Force Reserve Commission in 1988 and was active duty at Keesler Air Force Base for three years as a staff orthopaedic surgeon. Dr. Stonnington is a Lieutenant Colonel and during his Air Force career served on a forward surgical team. One of his last responsibilities in the military involved teaching battlefield surgery. Such endeavors included travel to war-torn Nepal where he taught battlefield surgery to the Royal Nepalese Army.

Southern Bone and Joint is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians and offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia, Poplarville and Forrest General Hospital.

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SBJ adds new physician
2008-02-03
Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. has added a new physician, Elliott B. Nipper, M.D.

A native of Grenada, Nipper returns to Mississippi from Phoenix, Ariz. where he completed a fellowship in joint replacement.

Nipper received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and psychology from the University of Mississippi. He received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and completed his residency and internship at University of Mississippi Medical Center. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Medical Association and Mississippi Orthopaedic Society.

Southern Bone and Joint is a regional orthopaedic group with 15 physicians and offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia, Poplarville and Forrest General Hospital.

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SBJ receives ACR accreditation
2008-01-02
Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. in Hattiesburg has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology.

The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va., awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.

The ACR is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic-interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, and nuclear medicine and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

Southern Bone and Joint is a regional orthopaedic group with 14 physicians and offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia, Poplarville and Forrest General Hospital.

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Hand surgeon featured in national ortho journal
2007-12-16
Dr. Constantine Charoglu of Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A. recently had an article published in Orthopedics.

Charoglu, a board-certified, fellowship-trained hand surgeon, conducted a study on the proper type of casting for wrist fractures.

Orthopedics is a monthly, peer-reviewed national journal which offers original articles covering all aspects of adult and pediatric orthopedic surgery and treatment.

Charoglu received his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and his medical degree from New Jersey Medical School in Newark, N.J. He completed his residency at New Jersey Medical School and his fellowship in hand and micro surgery at the Hand Center of Western New York at the State University of New York. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Southern Bone and Joint is a regional orthopaedic group with 14 physicians with offices in Hattiesburg, Columbia, Poplarville and Forrest General Hospital.

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