Non-Operative Orthopedic Care
Injections, regenerative therapies, bracing, and activity management, the work we do before (and often instead of) surgery.
Most orthopedic problems do not require surgery. At OSI New Braunfels our surgeons spend a large share of their time on non-operative management: activity modification, physical therapy coordination, bracing, and image-guided or landmark-guided injections. The pages below describe the specific injection and biologic therapies we offer.
Non-Operative Options
Activity modifications
The first thing most non-operative plans ask of you. Substituting the loads that aggravate a structure with ones it tolerates while it settles, usually the single most impactful piece of conservative care.
Physical therapy
The backbone of most non-operative plans. We coordinate therapy with trusted local physical therapists who know our surgeons’ protocols, and we follow your progress through the clinic.
Corticosteroid injections
A strong anti-inflammatory medicine injected directly into the painful joint, tendon, or bursa. The most commonly used non-surgical treatment in orthopedics.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
A small sample of your own blood is spun down to concentrate the platelets, then injected back into the injured tendon or joint. Used for selected tendon problems and early knee arthritis.
Gel injections (viscosupplementation)
Hyaluronic acid gel injections into the knee for osteoarthritis. We will also walk through related joint-preservation options when they apply.
Bracing
Off-the-shelf and custom braces for arthritis, instability, and injury protection, often used alongside injections and physical therapy.
Where Each Therapy Fits
Choice of therapy depends on the diagnosis, how long symptoms have been present, prior treatments, imaging, and the patient’s goals. At your visit your provider will walk through the realistic benefits and limits of each option, what insurance does and does not cover, and how each fits alongside physical therapy, bracing, and surgical alternatives.
See also: all conditions we treat · surgical options · schedule an appointment.