News And Events
September 2021
We are proud to announce that Dr. Michael Kuczmanski has been voted "Best Orthopedist" in Cherokee County for 2021 by the Cherokee Tribune! Dr. Kuczmanski is the
Medical Director of Pinnacle's Outpatient Surgery Center and sees patients in
Canton and Woodstock. He specializes in
sports medicine and is a team physician for KSU and the team doctor for North
Cobb High School.
Physical Therapy Awarded "Best in Cherokee" 2021
Best Orthopaedic Practice in Cherokee County 2021
September 2021
We are excited to announce that we have been voted the "Best Orthopaedic Group" in Cherokee County for 2021 by the Cherokee Tribune!
Happy Surgical Tech Week
Dr. Brandon Burris speaks at Cobb Chamber Pigskin Preview
August 11, 2021
It was a great morning to talk football at the East Cobb Area Council's "Pigskin Preview!" Dr. Brandon Burris talked about our sports medicine program and local high school coaches talked about the upcoming season! https://www.pinnacle-ortho.com/sports-medicine
Congratulations to therapists, Charles and Ryan for passing their OCS exam!
July 6, 2021
We truly value higher learning and professional development and are proud to announce that Charles Clevenger, PT, DPT, OCS and Ryan Paruta, PT, DPT, OCS have passed the OCS exam to achieve excellence in orthopaedic physical therapy and become certified orthopedic specialists! Congratulations to these highly skilled physical therapists! https://www.pinnacle-ortho.com/rehabilitation
Best of Cobb 2021
March 2021
The votes are in for the Best of Cobb 2021! We are proud to announce that we have been voted "Best Orthopaedic Group," "Best Physical Therapy Group" and "Best Orthopaedist - Dr. Brandon Burris" in Cobb County!
Pinnacle is the first to have new Robotic technology in Metro area!
KSU Physical Day
August 15, 2020
We are keeping it safe at KSU Physical Day for the Cross Country and the Lacrosse Teams! Good luck to all our student athletes! www.Pinnacle-ortho.com/sports-medicine
COVID-19 UPDATE
Pinnacle Orthopaedics wants to reassure our patients and
guests that we are monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak via the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Georgia Department of Public Health and
the World Health Organization. The
safety of our patients and community, is our top priority, so we will continue
to provide updates. The Protocols are changing daily as we are working to
mitigate any impact on our patients, community, staff and providers.
In-Office Visits and Surgeries
We ask all patients and their guests to reschedule
your appointment or surgery if you are experiencing a fever, symptoms of a
respiratory infection or you have been exposed to a person with coronavirus,
the flu or any other communicable disease for at least 14 days.
When you arrive for your appointment, you will go through a
screening process! We are following CDC recommendations for screening and
management of patients. Patients are
screened when they call to schedule an appointment as well as when they check
in for their appointment. If you think
that you may have been exposed to or infected with COVID-19, please contact
your primary care physician.
In accordance with the changes in the hospital policies, you
may be contacted to reschedule or postpone elective surgical procedures.
Telehealth Virtual Visits
Pinnacle Physicians are offering Telehealth visits for
certain types of appointments. Call 770-427-5717 to make an appointment with a
specialist. If the type of appointment you
are needing will work with telehealth, then this will ensure quality care while
keeping up with social distancing.
COVID-19
The coronavirus is believed to be spread through the air
when an infected person coughs or sneezes, much in the way the flu and other
respiratory viruses are spread. Symptoms
can be fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
Much is being learned about this newly emerged virus. Based on the current information, health
officials are recommending the same steps to protect against coronavirus as we
take to prevent the spread of everyday illnesses like the common cold or the
flu.
· Wash
your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
· Avoid
touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
· Avoid
close contact with people. The general
rule is to keep 6 feet away from others.
· Clean
and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
For the most up-to-date information on the Coronavirus,
please visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.
Introducing our newest Physician, Dr. Charles Land!
August 10, 2020
Today was our new Spine Surgeon, Dr. Charles Land's first day! His specialties include degenerative spinal conditions, lumbar and cervical stenosis, disc herniations, minimally invasive spine surgery, spinal trauma, and kyphoplasty. He sees patients in the Marietta and Woodstock offices. https://www.pinnacle-ortho.com/charles-f-land-md
Dr. Bonnaig is featured on Nailed It on The Orthopaedic Surgery podcast!
July 2020 Dr. Bonnaig discusses ACL injuries on The Orthopaedic Surgery podcast.
https://naileditortho.com/aclintro/
Around Woodstock Readers' Choice Awards
We are excited to announce that we are Around Woodstock magazine's Readers' Choice as the "Best Orthopaedic" and the "Best Physical Therapy" in Woodstock!
#Aroundwoodstockreaderschoiceaward
Dr. Nicolas Bonnaig named Toc Doc in Sports Medicine by Georgia Trend
May 7, 2020We are proud to announce that Dr. Nicolas Bonnaig has been named a "Top Doctor in Sports Medicine" by Georgia Trend! He is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is Fellowship Trained in Sports Medicine. He is the team physician for The Walker School and a team physician for Kennesaw State University.
2020 Best of Cobb Winner
April 1, 2020
We are proud to announce that for the second year in a row,
we have been voted as the "Best Orthopaedic Group" in Cobb County by
the Marietta Daily Journal and Cobb Life publications! We want to
thank everyone for nominating and voting for us! Nominations were taken by the public, readers
of the publications and our patients in January. We were among the small group of nominated
practices. The community, our patients, and
readers of the publications were asked to vote.
We were announced as the winners as the "Best Orthopaedic Group" on April
1st. We are so proud of our practice and
this is very befitting title! Dr. John
Day and Dr. Jessica Bilotta were both nominated for the "Best Orthopaedist" in
Cobb. This is a great honor as there are
hundreds of orthopaedic physicians and surgeons in Cobb County. We are very proud to announce that Dr. Bilotta
was announced as the third-place winner!
Our Physical Therapy service was also nominated among hundreds of
physical therapy groups as "Best Physical Therapy Group!" We are so proud of our practice, our
physicians and our services and the nominations and awards bestowed on us! Thank you again to our patients, staff,
physicians and community!
Athletic Training Month
March 12, 2020
March is Athletic Training Month! We appreciate all of the athletic trainers that we work with on staff and at the clubs and schools that we cover! Their work is invaluable to sports medicine!
Glow Run SPonsorship 2020
March 7, 2020
Dr. Brandon Burris met with representatives of Paulding County Public Safety this week as Pinnacle is once again the sponsor for the Run With The Badges 5K Glow Run! Pinnacle has been the sponsor for the past 5 years and is honored to be a part of this Paulding Public Safety Appreciation event. The event will be held on June 5 at Shelton Elementary in Dallas, Georgia.
Coronavirus Update March 4, 2020
March 4, 2020
We want to reassure our patients and guests that we are monitoring the coronavirus outbreak via the CDC. The safety of our patients and community is our top priority so we will continue to provide updates.
Dr. Brandon Burris Covers KSU Lacrosse and Basketball Games
February 29, 2020
It was a busy day for Dr. Brandon Burris at KSU supporting the Women's Lacrosse Game and both Men's and Women's Basketball Games! Dr. Burris was on the sidelines as the men lost a close one, but both the women's teams got the W!
KSU Basketball
February 8, 2020
KSU Basketball Today! Dr. Bonnaig is on the sidelines keeping our Owls at the top of their game! The Women are playing now and the Men play at 4:30! Go Owls!
Dr. Swayze serves at Doctor of the Day at the Capitol
February 7, 2020
Dr. Scott Swayze was honored to serve as the Doctor of the Day at the Georgia State Capitol! The Doctor of the Day program is a service that the Medical Association of Georgia provides to Georgia Legislators.
Lil' Big South Volleyball Tournament
January 18, 2020
We are proud to be providing our sports medicine services at the Lil' Big South Volleyball Tournament. Dr. Bilotta is courtside keeping the players at the top of their game!
The Best of Cobb 2020 Nominations!
January 16, 2020
We've been nominated for Best of Cobb 2020! Please vote for us for Best Orthopaedic Practice, Best Physical Therapy, and Best Doctor - Dr. Jessica Bilotta and Dr. John Day at www.thebestofcobb.com and click on "Health, Beauty and Wellness!" You can vote daily through January 24! We appreciate your votes!
Cherokee Education Committee at Freedom Middle School
January 14, 2020
We are proud to be a part of the Education Committee of the Cherokee Chamber! Today we delivered smoothies courtesy of Tropicali Cafe to Freedom Middle School establishing a relationship that values the importance of working together for the betterment of the students!
Walker Sponsor Night
January 10, 2020
It was an honor to be a part of The Walker School's Winter Sports Appreciation Night! Dr. Bonnaig is the Team Doctor keeping the athletes at the top of their game!
Harrison High State Championship
December 14, 2019
The weather outside was frightful but the score was so delightful. Congrats to the Harrison Hoyas - 6A State Champions!
eClinicalWorks National Conference
October 20, 2019
Our Operations Manager, Donna Rice, CMPE, CPPM spoke at the eClinicalWorks National Conference on how we use mobile solutions for real-time documentation to speed work flows!
The Physicians Heritage Society meeting
October 2, 2019
Dr. Terrell presented on his amazing speciality at The Physicians Heritage Society meeting last week!
National PA Week 2019
October 6-12
Every year from October 6-12, we celebrate National PA Week! We love to acknowledge our Physician Assistants and their contributions to our patients and our doctors!
KSU Lady Owls Soccer
October 6, 2019
Dr. Bilotta was on the sidelines for the KSU Soccer win today! Congrats Lady Owls!
Happy Physical Therapy Month! We love and appreciate our Rehabilitation Department!
Happy 50th Anniversary at Pinnacle to Dr. Paul Payne!
North Cobb High Schools Sponsor Luncheon
September 26, 2019
We are proud to be a main sponsor for North Cobb High School. We enjoyed meeting other sponsors at their annual sponsorship luncheon.
WellStar Kennestone Emergency Room Tour
September 19, 2019
Our Co-Founder, Dr. Paul Payne, CAO, Donna Fisher and Janie Mercure, RN had the privilege of touring the amazing new Emergency Department at WellStar Kennestone Hospital!
Happy Surgical Tech Week! We love and appreciate our techs!
September 17, 2019
Happy Surgical Tech Week! We love and appreciate our techs!
Cobb Chamber/Taylor English Classic
September 16, 2019
We are proud to be a part of the Cobb Chamber/Taylor English Classic! The funds raised goes toward leadership training and education programs!
OrthoForum Therapy Services Meeting 2019
September 14, 2019
This weekend we attended the OrthoForum's Therapy Services meeting where William Gentry, PT was a featured speaker on Innovative Treatment!
KSU Women's Soccer
September 14, 2019
It's a hot but fun afternoon on the sidelines for Dr. Bilotta at the KSU Womens Soccer game!
Cobb Chamber First Monday Breakfast
September 9, 2019
It was a great Cobb Chamber First Monday Breakfast where Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms shared a "State of Atlanta" update!
Hearthside Health Fair
September 12, 2019
It was a fun morning meeting the residents at Hearthside Towne Lake at their Annual Health Fair!
MUST Ministries Charity Golf Tournament
September 9, 2019
It was a beautiful day to participate in a great cause. Aaron Rush, PTA, Brandon Burris, MD, and William Gentry, PT participated in the MUST Ministries Charity Golf Tournament to raise funds to help with the basic needs of individuals, families and children!
We welcome our newest physician, Dr. Zhu!
We are excited to announce our newest physician, Dr. Andy Zhu who specializes in orthopaedic surgery with an emphasis in hand, wrist and elbow surgery! He treats patients in the Hiram, Marietta and Woodstock offices!
2019 Georgia SBWC Annual Educational Conference
August 26, 2019
We are enjoying the networking at the Hollywood-themed Georgia SBWC Annual Educational Conference and sharing about our Workers Compensation Program!
Baltimore Limb Lengthening and Deformity Course
August 25, 2019
It was a busy weekend for Dr. Terrell at the Baltimore Limb Lengthening and Deformity Course where he was a part of the faculty, a moderator for the Adult Deformity Section, an Instructor for the Main Course, and the Lab Facilitator for the daily labs. There was also a post course and a lab dedicated to a computer program to learn his teaching method for the 3rd year in a row!
Cherokee Chamber Education Committee Meeting
August 20, 2019
We are privileged to be a part of the Cherokee Chamber Education Committee and to be updated on school safety from the Cherokee County Schools Chief of Police Buster Cushing.
2019 KSU Physical Day!
August 17, 2019
Our providers and staff keeping KSU athletes at the top of their game!
Cobb Chamber Pigskin Preview
August 15, 2019
It was great morning at the Cobb Chamber / East Cobb Area Council's "Pigskin Preview." We enjoyed hearing from the area's High School coaches about their upcoming seasons while we shared a little about our awesome sports medicine program!
Cherokee Chamber Schmooza Palooza 2019
August 6, 2019
We enjoyed networking at the Cherokee County "Schmooza Palooza" Business Expo!
Orthoforum Annual Meeting
August 1, 2019
It was an informative and successful weekend at the Orthoforum Annual Meeting.
Rotary of East Cobb Dog Days Run!
August 3, 2019
Fusion 5 Conference
July 24, 2019
Cobb County Football Coaches Meeting
July 23, 2019
We enjoyed listening to UGA Coach Kirby Smart speak on player safety and development at the Annual Cobb County High School Football Coaches Luncheon.
Limb Lengthening Conference
July 20, 2019
Dr. Terrell is in Boston at a Limb Lengthening and Deformity Conference and had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes - two victims that sustained amputations from the Boston Marathon bombing. They have been featured in an HBO special, as well as have authored a children's book about her service dog named Rescue!
2019 Woodstock Freedom Run
Happy 4th from the 23rd Annual Freedom Run!
Cherokee Golf Classic
June 10, 2019
We are all set up at the Cherokee Chamber Golf Classic! It's raining but the golfers are dedicated and they all have a Pinnacle towel to keep dry 😁!
Run with the Badges Glow Run
June 7, 2019
It was another awesome "Run with Badges," benefiting Paulding County Public Safety Appreciation! We are so happy to be a sponsor of this fundraiser!
Atlanta Blaze Preferred Orthopaedic Provider
June 2, 2019
First game of the season and we are once again the Atlanta Blaze Preferred Orthopaedic Provider!
Medicare Spring Workshop
May 23, 2019
This week our Revenue Cycle Staff attended the Medicare Spring Workshop in continuation of provider outreach education!
City of Douglasville Health Fair
May 21, 2019
We are enjoying meeting people at the City of Douglasville Health Fair this morning with the theme of "UnMask Your Health!
50th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Orthopaedic Executives
May 5, 2019
Our Operations Manager, Donna Rice and CAO, Donna Fisher are attending the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Orthopaedic Executives for a week of education, inspiration and networking!
Paulding Chamber Golf Classic
April 26, 2019
It was a great day for The Paulding Chamber Golf Classic! We enjoyed networking with members.
We are excited to announce that we are once again the Official Sports Medicine Provider for KSU Athletics
April 2019
We are looking forward to being on the sidelines for another great season as the Official Sports Medicine Provider for KSU Athletics!
We are excited to announce our sponsorship for the 2019 Run with the Badges Glow Run!
April 2019
Pinnacle and Dr. Brandon Burris are excited to once again be the Presenting Sponsor for the Paulding Public Safety Appreciation 6th Annual Run with the Badges 5K GLOW RUN! We look forward to a fun night on June 7th at Shelton Elementary in Paulding County!
High School Physical Day 2019
April 20, 2019
Physical Day 2019! Today we performed sports physicals for student athletes at North Cobb, Harrison and Kennesaw Mountain! Pinnacle Orthopaedics- Keeping You At The Top Your Game!
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle…Recycling at its Finest!
April 8, 2019
Dr. William Terrell has been healing bones with external fixators for years! An external fixator is a metal frame used to repair deformed bones or to stabilize broken bones in traumatic injuries. Metal screws are placed into the bone through small incisions through the skin and muscle and then attached to the fixator rings outside the skin. In America, we have had access to this bone healing technique for years. Dr. Terrell specializes in orthopaedic trauma, limb lengthening, and deformity correction and has been healing bones with fixators for over 25 years.
Dr. Terrell has also been saving these external fixators for years! He along with surgical technician, Josh Fernandez have cleaned, sterilized and sorted these parts. “Sorting the parts is a huge undertaking as each fixator is measured and sized for the specific patient,” states Dr. Terrell. Unfortunately, they cannot be reused in the United States, so they took this project on to donate the parts to Dr. Joe Hsu.
Dr. Hsu is an orthopaedic trauma surgeon in North Carolina and has established a non-profit medical mission to donate these parts to other countries where they can be reused. There is a great need for these parts all over the world. One cannot even buy fixators or their parts in Honduras. There is such a demand for these parts that Dr. Hsu has trained two doctors in Honduras on external fixators and is sending Dr. Terrell’s fixator contribution to them. Having these fixators in Honduras will be the difference between a patient’s full limb recovery or having a limb amputated! Imagine the possibilities! These parts can save one limb after another consistently. “We can’t even put a number on how many patients we can help with these,” says Fernandez. With the parts being able to be reused in Honduras, there is so much potential for patients now. These fixators could have just been thrown away or put in recycle bins as scrap metal but instead they are being recycled in the best way possible!
In the photo, Dr Joe Hsu, Josh ‘Bam’ Fernandez, and Dr. William Terrell have packed both vehicles from the front floorboard to the very back with fixator parts!
CCSD Celebrates Work-Based Learning Program with Regional Guests
March 7, 2019
We are so proud of our partnership with Cherokee County Schools Work-Based Learning Program. These young adults are our future, and we appreciate them!
https://www.cherokeek12.net/News/wbl-reg-19#sthash.c4YtQKVQ.l6ITuZHp.dpbs
AAOS 2019
March 12, 2019
Our mission is always to provide our patients with the most advanced and comprehensive medical care! This week, Dr. Jessica Bilotta, Dr. Trevor Starnes, and Dr. Nicolas Bonnaig are at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons conference attending lectures on knees, hips, upper extremities, and management of in-season injuries for the sports medicine physician.
Atlanta College Lacrosse Classic!
March 10, 2019
It was a great weekend at the Atlanta College Lacrosse Classic! We were proud to be the preferred orthopaedic provider at this event!
Cobb County Schools "Future Fest" 2019
February 28, 2019
We have had such a great day sharing information about healthcare careers at the Cobb County Schools “Future Fest 2019!” Future Fest is an event celebrating CTAE (Career, Technology and Agricultural Education) Month. The Cobb County School District CTAE Department hosted this event at the Cobb County Civic Center on Thursday, February 28, 2019.
Cherokee Chamber Breakfast Sponsor
February 7, 2019
We enjoyed sponsoring the “Good Morning Cherokee Breakfast” today! Dr. Ponnusamy and Donna Fisher spoke on how to “Get Back To The Life You Love!”
Lil Big South Volleyball Tournament
January 26, 2019
We are excited to be providing the medical coverage for the Lil’ Big South Volleyball Tournament at the Georgia International Convention Center this weekend!
Music City Volleyball Championship
January 21, 2019
Heloise Jones, AT-C and Adam Colon, AT-C of our Sports Medicine Team, treated athletes at the Music City Volleyball Championship in Nashville this weekend!
Vail Hip Symposium
January 12, 2019
In continuing to provide our patients with the most up-to-date technologies and surgical techniques, Dr. Jessica Bilotta attended the Vail Hip Symposium this week! Pinnacle Orthopaedics- Getting You Back to the Life You Love!
US Lacrosse Sports Medicine Symposium
January 11, 2019
Dr. Brandon Burris and Adam Colon, AT-C provide comprehensive information on lacrosse-specific sports injuries and prevention at the US Lacrosse Sports Medicine Symposium in Philadelphia.
KSU Football game at SunTrust Park
November 17, 2018
What a game! We were on the sidelines today for the first football game at SunTrust Park! As the team physicians for the KSU Owls, it was great to see them win in the 5th overtime! Pinnacle Orthopaedics - Keeping KSU athletes at the top of their game!
Acworth Turkey Chase
November 17, 2018
We had a great morning supporting Acworth Parks and Recreation’s 10th Annual Turkey Chase!
ASUN Volleyball Championship
KSU Owls are Big South Champs
November 10, 2018
Dr. Bonnaig and Dr. Kuczmanski were on the sidelines for KSU today as the Owls won to become the Big South Champions again!
GBA Mactoberfest
November 6, 2018
We hung out with “Paul Metto” today at the Palmetto GBA Mactoberfest in Chattanooga, learning everything we need to know about serving our Medicare patients!
USA Rugby Women’s Premier League’s National Tournament
October 28, 2018
We are excited to be a part of the USA Rugby Women’s Premier League’s National Tournament this weekend overseeing player safety and acute care!
ZombieFest and 5K
October 20, 2018
We enjoyed being a sponsor at the ZombieFest 5K and festival in Woodstock!!
KSU Health Resources Fair
October 18, 2018
We enjoyed meeting and talking with KSU students at the Health Resources Fair on the Marietta Campus today!
eClinical Works National Conference
October 7, 2018
Several members of our management team attended the eClinicalWorks National Conference this weekend in Nashville! They met with other healthcare professionals for education, networking, and information sessions about the newest products and services in healthcare IT!
Fox 5 Game of the Week
October 6, 2018
Dr. Burris was on the sidelines at the Fox 5 Game of the Week - Harrison High vs. Allatoona High! The theme of the game was "Pink Out!" We are happy to support Harrison High and their efforts to raise awareness for Breast Cancer.
Volunteer Aging Council's Annual Golf Tournament
September 18, 2018
We are happy to support the Volunteer Aging Council's Annual Golf Tournament again this year!
Hearthside Towne Lake Annual Health Fair
September 18, 2018
We enjoyed meeting the residents of Hearthside Towne Lake at their Annual Health Fair in Woodstock.
Annual Cobb Chamber/Taylor English Classic
September 17, 2018
Enjoying another beautiful day sponsoring a course hole at the Annual Cobb Chamber/Taylor English Classic!
Arthritis Foundation’s Walk for a Cure Cherokee 5K
September 15, 2018
It was a beautiful morning to host the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk for a Cure Cherokee 5K. Our own Dr. Ponnusamy is the Medical Honoree for Cherokee County! In the US, 3 million people are affected with Arthritis every year! We are happy to support the foundation’s goal to give helpful tools and support for those living with Arthritis!
Ball Ground Senior Center
September 5, 2018
As a part of Pinnacle’s ongoing Health Education series Dr. Ponnusamy spoke this morning at the Ball Ground Senior Center about Total Joint Replacements.
State Board of Workers' Compensation Annual Meeting
August 30, 2018
It’s a “Broadway” theme at the State Board of Workers’ Compensation Annual Education Conference! Pinnacle Orthopaedics - At Work For You!
Cobb Chamber of Commerce's "Elevate!"
August 23, 2018
Cherokee Chamber of Commerce’s “Shmooza Palooza!”
August 21
Cherokee Chamber of Commerce's "Shmooza Palooza!"
Team Physicians!
August 17, 2018
High School Football season is here! Pinnacle Orthopaedics covers several high school teams. Our sports medicine physicians cover athletes at Harrison, Kennesaw Mountain, North Cobb, and Walker School keeping their student athletes at the top of their game!
KSU Physical Day!
August 11, 2018
KSU Physical Day today! As the Preferred Orthopaedics Provider for KSU Athletics, we performed sports physicals for their athletes today! Pinnacle Orthopaedics - Keeping you at the top of your game!
Pinnacle is the Official Sports Medicine Provider for KSU Athletics!
We are excited to be the Official Sports Medicine Provider for KSU Athletics! With the start the Football and Women's Soccer Season, our sports medicine team is on the sidelines keeping our student athletes at the Top of their Game!
Dr. Hull speaks at Cobb Chamber Area Council Meeting
August 9, 2018
It was a great morning as the program sponsor of the East Cobb Area Council’s Pigskin Preview! Dr. Michael Hull gave an update on Pinnacle’s progress and the coaches of five East Cobb high schools shared their outlook on their upcoming football seasons!
Dr. Scott Swayze has been named vice chair of the WellStar Health System Board of Trustees.
August 8, 2018
We are excited to announce that Dr. Scott Swayze has been named vice chair of the WellStar Health System Board of Trustees. He will serve two years in this leadership role and then be named Chair. Congratulations to Dr. Swayze!
Dr. Kumiga Joins Pinnacle's Physiatry Team
July 9, 2018
We are excited to announce our newest physician, Bryan Kumiga, D.O., MS! Dr. Kumiga is an Interventional Spine and Sport Physiatrist and will be seeing patients in our Hiram, Marietta and Woodstock locations!
Happy 4th from Team Pinnacle at the Woodstock Freedom Run!
Pinnacle is the Title Sponsor at the Woodstock Freedom Run!
Pilgrim’s Pride Family Picnic and Health Fair
June 9, 2018 – Pinnacle Orthopaedics attends the Pilgrim’s Pride Family Picnic and Health Fair! Pinnacle is on the workers compensation panel at Pilgrim’s Pride Poultry in Canton which has about 750 employees complex wide!
GWCA Summer Conference
June 6, 2018 – Pinnacle is excited to be exhibiting at the GWCA Summer Conference in Jekyll Island and promoting our comprehensive workers’ compensation services!
Run With the Badges Glow Run
June 1, 2018 - Tonight we were the main sponsor for the Run With the Badges Glow Run! This is 5K Run that benefits Paulding Public Safety! We are happy to support our first responders of Paulding County!
City of Douglasville Employee Health and Wellness Fair
May 22, 2018 - We are enjoying meeting people at the City of Douglasville Employee Health and Wellness Fair! We love sharing our complete workers compensation services to the Douglasville community! Pinnacle Orthopaedics - getting you back to the life you love!
Walker Backer Golf Tournament!
May 7, 2018 – Today some of our doctors attended the Walker Backer Golf Tournament! Pinnacle Orthopaedics is proud to sponsor this event in support of the Walker School Athletics!
Physical Day!
April 28, 2018 - Physical Day! Today our doctors and staff performed sports physicals on area high school athletes. These sports physicals are required to participate in High School sports. We are the team physicians for North Cobb High School, Harrison High School, Walker School and Kennesaw Mountain High School. Pinnacle Orthopaedics - keeping our high school athletes at the top of their game!
Barber Middle School Running Club
April 27, 2018 - In continuing our support for our local schools, we were a sponsor Barber Middle School Running Club in Cobb County! Pinnacle Orthopaedics- Keeping You at the Top of Your Game!
Paulding Chamber Classic Golf Tournament
We support the county chamber of commerce” in which our offices are located! Today we are attending the Paulding Chamber Classic Golf Tournament! It’s a beautiful Spring morning to bond with the Paulding chamber members.
Atlanta Blaze Home Opener!
April 22, 2018 - Its Atlanta Blaze Home Opener! Pinnacle Orthopaedics is very excited to be a part of the Atlanta Blaze by being their Preferred Orthopaedic Provider. Dr. Brandon Burris is the head team physician. These athletes put it all on the line each day with training, skill and dedication. Pinnacle Orthopaedics does the same by putting it all on the line for our athletes to keep them at the top of their game.
Timber Ridge Elementary 5K
April 21, 2018
It is important to us to be involved with our community. We have 5 communities! Today we sponsored the Timber Ridge Elementary 5K in East Cobb! We had a great time “Running the Ridge” this chilly morning!
eClinicalWorks Innovation Summit
April 10, 2018 Several of our Pinnacle Managers attend the 2018 eClinicalWorks Innovation Summit in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This education is a continuum of our patient service in order to manage effective outcomes that meet the needs of our patients.
Northside Cherokee Hospital Regional Physician Networking Event
March 22, 2018 - Today Dr. Karthik Ponnusamy attended the Northside Cherokee Hospital Regional Physician Networking Event held at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center. We exhibited our practice to highlight our Cherokee offices and physicians and enjoyed meeting community and in-house physicians and new medical staff members and getting the Northside Hospital Cherokee Administrative Update .
Vinings Business and Food Expo
March 20, 2018 - Today we are exhibiting at the Vinings Business and Food Expo from 4p-7p at the Hotel Indigo Vinings! We have a strong comprehensive workers compensation service and are excited to share with the Vinings Community. Pinnacle Orthopaedics-Getting You Back to the Life You Love!
Kennesaw State University’s Annual Health Fair
March 13, 2018 - Today we are participating in Kennesaw State University’s Annual Health Fair for their students and faculty! As Kennesaw States Preferred Orthopaedic Provider we support all students, athletes, faculty and administrative personnel’s bone and musculoskeletal health.
Sports Medicine Journal Club
Feb 28. 2018 - Pinnacle Physicians hosted a very informative Sports Medicine Journal Club meeting tonight for area athletic trainers and physical therapists. Pinnacle Orthopaedics- Keeping You at the Top of Your Game!
Dr. Scott Swayze was the Medical Association of Georgia's Doctor of the Day at the State Capitol today!
Feb. 23, 2018
Dr. Scott Swayze was the Medical Association of Georgia's Doctor of the Day at the State Capitol today! The Doctor of the Day volunteers at the Medical Aid Station at the State Capitol during the legislative session. He is pictured with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, and State Senators Kay Kirkpatrick and Jennifer Jordan. We are proud of Dr Swayze!
Dr Michael Hull speaks at the Atlanta Chapter of NAON
Feb. 17, 2018
Pinnacle’s Foot and Ankle Specialist, Dr Michael Hull, spoke on “Common Foot and Ankle Complaints and their Conservative Management” at the meeting of the Atlanta Chapter of NAON (National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses.) Their theme was “There’s No Business Like Bone Business” and we agree!
Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce 47th Annual Meeting
Pinnacle Chief Administrator, Donna Fisher, Chief Operations Manager, Donna Rice and Marketing Manager, Michelle Henschel attend the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce 47th Annual Meeting! It was a great presentation on “Connecting, Creating and Cultivating.”
Severed Fingertip Recovery: A common injury with an uncommon treatment!
Cross Finger Flap Surgery -- An injured finger is repaired by attaching it to the skin and soft tissue of a healthy finger to cover the defect.
Last year Pinnacle Orthopaedics had a patient who was a construction worker operating a skill saw when he sustained a laceration to his left index finger. He sustained what is called in medical terms an open distal phalanx fracture with volar oblique tip amputation – meaning the tip of his index finger was cut off and bone was exposed. The patient went to the emergency room but his injury required a hand specialist to repair his finger. He then went to see Trevor Starnes, M.D., Ph.D. at Pinnacle Orthopaedics. Dr. Starnes is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon and is Fellowship Trained in Hand and Upper Extremity.
The patient was in a lot of pain and needed this repaired quickly. He had two treatment options. The first was called a cross finger flap of the index finger to the middle finger. His fingers would stay attached for 3 weeks and then a second surgery would occur to separate the fingers. This would allow his index finger to stay almost the same length. He might have some stiffness of the index and middle fingers but overall his finger would cosmetically heal well. The second option was to have to amputate back to the DIP joint (the first joint from the tip) and then get enough tissue to cover the new tip. He would lose his nail and length of his finger. Of course, the patient chose the cross finger flap surgery.
A few days later, the surgery was performed and the two fingers were attached using the skin and soft tissue from the middle finger to cover the defect in the index finger. Three weeks later, the second surgery was performed to separate the fingers and the tip was successfully covered with his nail intact. He went back to see Dr. Starnes after surgery and was doing very well. He was allowed to return to light duty at one month after the initial injury with lifting restrictions. The patient worked with hand therapy to get motion and strength back and was cleared to return to full duty at 3 months after the original injury.
The patient was cleared to return to light duty 1 month after original injury and full duty 3 months after the original injury!
Trevor T. Starnes, M.D., Ph.D., is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon and is Fellowship Trained in Hand and Upper Extremity. He also holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His specialties include orthopaedic surgery with an emphasis on hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder surgery. Dr. Starnes sees patients in the Marietta, Canton, East Cobb, and Woodstock locations of Pinnacle Orthopaedics.
Stan Dysart, MD co writes a study published in Surgical Technology International
Stan Dysart, MD co wrote a study regarding post surgical pain after a total knee arthroplasty. The title of the study is: A Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind Study of Local Infiltration Analgesia with Liposomal Bupivacaine for Postsurgical Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Rationale and Design of the Pillar Trail. The study was published in Surgical Technology International - Volume 30. For more information and to view the article go to: surgicaltechnology.com
Dr. Starnes performs new procedure for Carpal Tunnel Patients
Pinnacle Orthopaedics is excited to announce that Dr. Trevor Starnes is now using a popular carpal tunnel procedure that has had phenomenal satisfaction by patients.
The procedure is called Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release System (ECTRS). The incision is not in the palm of your hand like traditional carpal tunnel procedures, known as open procedures. A small incision is made at the base of the wrist in non-tensed tissue which allows for easier healing and a smaller scar. Once inside, an endoscope provides a clear view of the underside of the transverse carpal ligament and surrounding anatomy. Thus, giving Dr. Starnes a sufficient view to release pressure on the nerve.
Patients are back to work in half the time of traditional procedures.
The operating room time has been shortened from 30 minutes to 8 minutes.
Studies have shown that there is "faster recovery time, less pain and quicker return to work with this procedure."
20 years of proven safety and reliability through improved technique and product quality.
Trevor T. Starnes, MD, PhD sees patients in the Marietta, Canton, East Cobb, and Woodstock locations. Dr. Starnes is an Orthopaedic Surgeon that is fellowship trained in Hand Surgery. He also holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His specialties include orthopaedic surgery with an emphasis on hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder surgery.
Body Work, Featuring Dr. Terrell
Pinnacle physician, known for his difficult cases, reknits Nigerian's bones using a Russian technique.
Want Your Life Back? Featuring Dr. Swayze
As Seen in Cobb Living
Article by Laurie Entrekin
Is hip, knee or shoulder pain restricting your enjoyment of daily activities? With the latest advancements in joint replacement surgery, most Americans suffering from osteoarthritis can be assured of relief of pain and the ability to live a fuller, more active life. In fact, according to national statistics, 90 percent of patients experience good to excellent results following the replacement of a troublesome joint.
The success rate of these procedures, coupled with the growth of a retirement-aged and 30-something population experiencing arthritis pain, has let to an increase in the number of joint replacement surgeries performed annually. In 2002, approximately 381,000 total knee replacements and 193,000 total hip replacements were performed in the United States, compared with 167,000 and 127,000, respectively, 10 years before.
In an effort to better serve the populations of Cobb, Cherokee, Douglas, Paulding and Bartow Counties, WellStar Health System has opened its center for Joint Replacement, which uses a patient-centered team approach to provide outstanding quality care for patients needing partial or total joint replacements. Developed by a committee of orthopedic physicians, nursing and therapy staff, the Center officially opened with a ribbon cutting on April 27th.
Susan Easter, program coordinator, says, "We are excited to bring this new center to our patients. With it comes dedicated physicians, staff and facilities, and the utilization of leading-edge techniques and equipment. Our comprehensivee pre-operative education program has been designed to help patients and family members through the whole process--from initial diagnosis through successful rehabilitation."
And becoming pain-free is the objective. Most physicians agree that when joint pain interferes with the lifestyle an individual wants, joint replacement surgery is appropriate. According to Dr. Scott Swayze, an orthopaedic surgeon with Pinnacle Orthopaedics, a key member of the planning committee for WellStar's Center for Joint Replacement, pain is usually a deciding factor in a patient's decision to have surgery. "Surgery to replace a hip, knee or shoulder has been shown to relieve pain and stiffness, as well as to restore motion and independence," he says. "People talk about joint replacemens as being life-altering operations. Before surgery, they aren't able to do anything--go out to dinner, go to church--because of pain in their hip or knee. After surgery, they feel younger because of restoration of mobility. They no longer feel dependent or burdensome."
Swayze, who has been affiliated with WellStar since 1992 and was Chief of Surgery at WellStar Kennestone Hospital from 1998-2000, looks forward to a day when WellStar's Center for Joint Replacement will be able to put certain patients on a fast track through surgery, allowing them to go home within 24 hours. "Over time we will be able to convert patients to shorter and shorter hospital stays. We are becoming better at educating patients pre-operatively about their procedure; providing choices regarding surgical approaches, including minimally invasive techniques; and utlizing outpatient and home treatments post-operatively. I imagine someday it will be almost like instant surgery."
In conjunction with the opening of Center for Joint Replacement, WellStar Health System is working to ensure that residents of Metro Atlanta are aware that physician experts are available to take care of arthritic problemls at WellStar. "We're trying to let everyone know we're here," says Swayze. "There's no need to drive past WellStar to go else-where. We're as up-to-date on joint replacements as anyone in Atlanta."
Happy Anniversary Philip Ragozzino, ROT
