We believe that confusing referral processes, a lack of choice regarding care providers, lengthy wait times, and limited face-to-face interaction with an orthopedic surgeon should not be the norm in orthopaedic care. To book a consultation at Ortho South, simply email or call the clinic location where you would like to be assessed, or fill out our online booking form. No referral is required! Virtual consultations are also available. Our dedicated staff will assist you in obtaining any other imaging studies or medical documentation that may be helpful for your appointment.

Most inquiries receive a response within 1–2 business days.

Response times may occasionally be longer during periods of high demand, staff absences, holidays, or when additional information is required before your inquiry can be directed to the appropriate member of our team.

Many patients can be scheduled for consultation within 1–3 weeks, depending on surgeon availability, consultation preferences, and location. Patients requesting a specific surgeon, an in-person appointment, or a particular clinic location may experience longer wait times.

Consultations are available in both Calgary and Vancouver, with virtual and in-person options available for many patients.

Both surgical and non-surgical treatment options are offered at Ortho South. The best treatment option for your orthopaedic problem often depends on several factors, including the nature of the problem, your functional abilities and demands, your individual goals and treatment timelines. Click the links for further details about orthopaedic surgical care.

Ortho South offers consultations and follow-up visits both in person and virtually, depending on patient preference and the nature of the problem. In-person visits are available at the Gateway Surgery Clinic in Calgary, or the Specialist Referral Clinic in Vancouver. Virtual visits are, of course, arranged at your convenience from the comfort of your home.

See our contact us page for more information.

The Specialist Referral Clinic (SRC) is an independent private surgery clinic in Vancouver, BC. The SRC works collaboratively with Ortho South and provides clinic space as well as administrative support for our team to see patients in Vancouver. Our surgeons offer in-person consultations, follow-up care, and other non-operative treatment such as injection-based therapies at the SRC clinic. The SRC is affiliated with the Cambie Surgery Centre, where our team provides surgical care to Ortho South patients.

Gateway Surgery is an independent private surgery clinic in Calgary, AB. Gateway Surgery works collaboratively with Ortho South to provide clinic space, as well as administrative support for Ortho South surgeons to see patients in Calgary. In-person consultations, follow-up care, and virtual visits with Ortho South Surgeons can all be organized at the Gateway Surgery Clinic. If surgery is indicated, Gateway Surgery will coordinate surgical booking with your Ortho South surgeon at accredited surgical sites in Calgary or Vancouver, depending on patient preference and availability.

While there may be a role for other treatment providers to be involved in your orthopaedic care at some stage, your appointment time at Ortho South will always be spent with an orthopaedic surgeon. Consultations are booked for 30-60 minutes, and follow-up visits are scheduled for 20-30 minutes to ensure adequate time with your surgeon to discuss your problem, as well as your function, ideas, feelings, and expectations.

Ortho South offers in-person consultations in both Calgary (via Gateway Surgery) and Vancouver (via the Specialist Referral Clinic). Virtual consultations are also available through both clinics.

If surgical care is required, procedures are booked with your Ortho South surgeon at one of the following accredited surgical facilities in Calgary and Vancouver*:

Calgary

• Canadian Surgery Solutions (overnight-stay procedures like total hip and knee replacement).
• Rockyview Surgical Centre (same-day type procedures like ACL, knee arthroscopy, rotator cuff, carpal tunnel, etc).

Vancouver

• Cambie Surgery Centre (both overnight-stay procedures and same-day type procedures).

*Not all Ortho South surgeons work at all facilities, and not all procedures are offered at all facilities. Where your procedure is ultimately booked will depend on a number of factors, including: patient preference, procedures available at each facility, and available surgical dates.

The short answer is yes.

If an imaging study or lab test is ordered by an Ortho South surgeon, or any other private care provider to pursue private orthopedic care with Ortho South, this service is not covered by the public healthcare system in your home province. Further, you will not be entitled to seek reimbursement from the respective public healthcare system in your home province.

If imaging studies or lab tests have already been completed in the public system, and you have access to the results, it may not be necessary to repeat these studies or tests. However, if these studies/tests are outdated or inadequate for your private orthopedic care, your Ortho South surgeon may need to order additional studies/tests, and you will be required to pay out-of-pocket for these studies.

No. Patients receiving private orthopaedic care at Ortho South are not entitled to seek reimbursement from the public healthcare system.

Except in the case of urgent/emergent medical needs, we do NOT refer patients to care providers in the public system.

However, if you choose to have a private consultation at Ortho South, this may give you further clarity about the nature of your orthopedic problem and may make it easier for you and your family physician to have discussions about a referral in the public healthcare system if you choose to pursue that route. You and your family physician are of course welcome to use any documentation from your Ortho South consultation to potentially help facilitate a referral to the appropriate specialist in the public system. Learn about private surgical costs for more information.

No. Unfortunately, these types of problems are best managed in the public system as they are time-sensitive, often requiring immediate assessment and more urgent treatment. You should seek care at an emergency department or urgent care center for these types of orthopedic problems.

Absolutely! You may phone the office, email Ortho South, or use the online booking form on the website to book a consultation for these types of problems. No referral is required. If you do not yet have imaging, this can be organized by Ortho South staff.

Please be advised that you may be directed to the emergency department or urgent care if a fracture is identified or suspected as we are not able to treat these types of problems at Ortho South.

Ortho South is unable to accept patients for acute fractures, spine-related conditions, or any issues related to a previous joint replacement surgery completed by another surgeon.

If you are seeking surgery and are unsure if it can be managed at Ortho South, please see our “Surgical Care” page for a list of procedures performed by Ortho South surgeons.

No. Unfortunately we do not have surgeons that specialize in spine or back related issues.

As the best treatment option for your orthopaedic problem often depends on several factors, including the nature of the problem, your functional abilities and demands, your individual goals and treatment timelines, it is best to start your surgical journey at Ortho South by booking a consultation with one of our surgeons. You can also contact our main office for additional information.

Joint Replacement & Arthritis Care:

Advanced surgical solutions for patients suffering from arthritis, joint degeneration, and chronic joint pain.

• Total Hip Replacement
• Total Knee Replacement
• Robotic Assisted Total Knee Replacement
• Knee Replacement
• Total Ankle Replacement

Arthroscopic Orthopaedic Surgery Procedures:

Minimally invasive procedures designed to treat ligament injuries, cartilage damage, tendon tears, instability, and mechanical joint problems.

Knee

• ACL Reconstruction
• Meniscus Surgery
• Cartilage Procedures
• Patella Stabilization
• Knee Arthroscopy

Shoulder

• Rotator Cuff Repair
• Shoulder Stabilization
• Labral Repair
• Biceps Procedures
• Shoulder Arthroscopy

Foot & Ankle Surgery:

Specialized treatment for arthritis, deformity, instability, and tendon conditions affecting the foot and ankle.

• Total Ankle Replacement
• Bunion Surgery
• Foot & Ankle Fusion Procedures
• Tendon & Ligament Reconstruction
• Selected Forefoot Procedures

Hand & Wrist Surgery:

Focused surgical care for common hand and wrist conditions affecting strength, comfort, and daily function.

• Carpal Tunnel Release
• Trigger Finger Release
• Basal Thumb Arthritis Surgery
• Other Hand & Wrist Procedures

The list above includes the most common types of orthopaedic surgeries our Ortho South surgeons offer. There may be other surgeries available - you can always ask! However, we do not offer back or spine surgery, fracture fixation, any arthroplasty other than hip/knee/ankle, or any revision arthroplasty procedures.

Eligibility for surgery at a specific site depends on your province of residence, as well as the procedures permitted at each facility. Not all surgeries are available at each site.

In Alberta, joint replacement surgeries and most other surgeries requiring an overnight stay are provided by Ortho South surgeons at the Canadian Surgery Solutions (CSS) facility in Calgary. Arthroscopic and other day-surgery-type procedures are provided by Ortho South surgeons at the Rockyview Surgical Centre in Calgary.

In BC, day-surgery type procedures (and some overnight stay procedures such as partial knee and total knee replacement, and total hip replacement) are provided by Ortho South surgeons at the Cambie Surgery Centre in Vancouver.

Follow-up after your surgical procedure can occur locally in Vancouver at the the Specialist Referral Clinic (SRC) or in Calgary at Gateway, or virtually depending on your preference and the nature of the procedure.

Private surgical pricing can be difficult to compare because the final cost depends on many factors, including the procedure performed, the complexity of your condition, the surgical facility, implants, anesthesia requirements, and post-operative care. For these reasons, it is not possible to provide an accurate quote for surgery before consultation with your Ortho South surgeon.

If surgery is recommended after consultation with your Ortho South surgeon, you will be provided with a detailed quote from the surgical facility where your surgery is to be booked.

Most private orthopaedic surgeries can usually be booked within 6-8 weeks. However, depending on the nature of the procedure, and any other medical conditions you have, it may take longer for you to be “cleared” for surgery. In most cases, a surgical date cannot be offered until you are medically “cleared” for surgery. If surgery is recommended, Ortho South staff will walk you through the medical clearance process. The process for medical clearance for surgery usually takes 1-2 weeks in most cases. Appointment and surgical availability may differ between locations depending on surgeon schedules, operating room access, and local administrative requirements. Learn about wait times and scheduling for more info.

Unfortunately, there are risks inherent in any surgery, and complications do occur. If you experience a complication after private orthopaedic surgery, Ortho South surgeons are regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons in their respective provinces and are required to establish a plan for continuity of care, as are orthopaedic surgeons providing care in the public system.

Typically, the first point of contact if you experience a complication after surgery will be with your Ortho South surgeon directly, the Ortho South office staff, or another appropriate medical designate. After surgery, Ortho South patients are provided with detailed contact information and instructions for accessing help in an emergency. Most complications/problems can be safely managed in the private system under the care of your Ortho South surgeon.

In the rare situation where a problem/complication cannot be appropriately managed by your surgeon in the private system, your Ortho South surgeon or respective office staff will offer guidance on how to access appropriate care in the public system. Ortho South surgeons are required by the College to have an orthopedic surgeon designated in the public system for these rare occurrences. If your situation means that you require care from an orthopedic surgeon in the public system, your Ortho South surgeon will assist in accessing this care.

By law, you cannot be denied care by a healthcare provider in the public system if a complication/problem cannot be safely managed in the private system after private surgery.

Yes. All care provided by Ortho South surgeons is private-pay and is not covered by provincial healthcare insurance plans. Patients receiving private orthopedic care at Ortho South are not entitled to seek reimbursement from the public healthcare system.

There is not one “best time” for surgery. This will depend on several factors such as the nature of the problem, your functional abilities and demands, and your own individual goals and treatment timelines. Wait times are fairly consistent for private surgery throughout the year. That said, there are often “slow-down” periods during the summer months and around Christmas holidays which can sometimes limit access to operating facilities during those periods. Fortunately, as many patients decide to put off having surgery during holiday periods, less demand means better access for those patients who simply want to have surgery as soon as possible!

Ultimately, it is best to speak to your Ortho South surgeon about the time that works best for YOU! This request can likely be accommodated in the private system.

This depends on several factors, most notably, the type of surgery you are having. At Ortho South, we provide all patients with a detailed post-operative recovery booklet specific to the type of surgery completed. Usually, this is personalized to reflect what exactly was done in your specific case, as no two surgeries are exactly alike.

Our Ortho South post-operative recovery booklets provide extensive information about wound/dressing care, pain management, splints, activity, return to work/driving, physiotherapy protocols, and recovery timelines.

Your Ortho South surgeon will go over these details with you before booking your surgery. If you find there are issues not covered in the booklet that require clarification after your procedure, please let us know.

There is no set recovery time for all orthopaedic procedures. The projected timeframe for recovery varies depending on the type of surgery condition, the patient’s age, overall health, the quality of rehabilitation and physiotherapy after surgery, and several other factors. For most surgeries, “maximal recovery” (where no further improvement is likely), usually occurs 10-12 months post-surgery.

Post-operative recovery protocols, with more detailed procedure-specific timelines, are provided to each patient undergoing surgery with Ortho South. Your recovery will also be monitored closely via follow-up visits with your Ortho South surgeon after the procedure.