Know your Doctor

There may come a time in your life when you need to pay a visit to a doctor or clinic due to an orthopedic injury. It could be as simple as a sprained ankle or as complex as a knee or hip replacement. Isn’t it nice to know that here in Middle Georgia, we have one of the most respected Orthopaedic Specialist centers in the country? Staffed with 15 highly skilled and caring doctors and a world class surgery center, OrthoGeorgia is there when your need arises.

Established in 1961, Macon Orthopaedic and Hand Center (now OrthoGeorgia) has grown with the Middle Georgia region, earning a far-reaching reputation for unrivaled excellence in technology while keeping patients’ needs first and foremost. “Our practice has been around for 51 years. We strive to be the leader in orthopaedic health care in Middle Georgia,” says Robert Thornsberry, M.D. “I played sports growing up, including college football at Davidson College. Along the way, I was exposed to all types of injuries among my teammates as well as ones I experienced firsthand. Those experiences played a large role in why I chose to become an orthopedist. In college, I had the opportunity to work with some of the top orthopedic doctors in the country and was impressed at what they could accomplish with an injury.”

As a sports medicine physician, Dr. Thornsberry focuses on the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries for people of all ages, who may have been injured while involved in playing sports. This includes students at several colleges in Milledgeville to the weekend warrior. His expertise covers a wide range of injuries including the treatment of Meniscus tears, shoulder and rotator cuff and ligament injuries, and various other strains and sprains. He is also a specialist in hip, knee, and shoulder replacement, and recently performed the first MAKOplasty® Hip replacement procedure in the country. It’s this use of cutting edge technology that sets OrthoGeorgia apart from other orthopaedic centers. “Only about five percent of surgeons are currently using the very technologically forward robotic procedures we use here at our surgical center. The use of robotics ensures more comfort for the patient and better results,” says Dr. Thornsberry. “These techniques allow us to accurately position the implants, thereby improving surgical outcomes.. We are able to achieve a better biomechanical alignment than we ever before in history.”

Dr. Thornsberry’s commitment to excellence is unsurpassed in the medical field and is why he chose OrthoGeorgia to practice. “What is most meaningful to me is the ability to help someone recover from a debilitating injury and return to full usefulness,” Dr. Thornsberry said. “It’s interesting right now, that we are able to take surgery that doctors have performed in the past, and make this surgery more precise and easier on the patient. Less surgical trauma and more precision equals less pain and better results. This is part of the high commitment to patient care we follow at OrthoGeorgia, with the added benefit that if the patient has a need, we have a doctor on staff with experience in their problem. We take pride in providing a comprehensive team approach.”

The Macon facility includes a Hand Center, Spine Center, Sports Medicine Center, Total Joint Center, Ambulatory Surgery Center, Walk-In Orthopaedic Urgent Care Center, Full Service Retail Pharmacy, Physical Therapy Center, Hand Therapy Center, Wellness Center, and a Sports Specific Training Center.

Dr. Thornsberry is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Medical Association of Georgia, the Bibb County Medical Society, the Southern Orthopaedic Association, the Brower Orthopaedic Society and the Hughston Society. Dr. Thornsberry is the first orthopaedic surgeon in Central Georgia certified to perform the MAKO Robot Assisted Surgery for the knee and hip. He has authored multiple book chapters and medical journal articles on knee surgery, hip surgery and orthopaedic trauma surgery. His training includes a fellowship at the Hughston clinic concentrating on sports medicine.

Dr. Thornsberry enjoys golf, weight training, biking, fishing, team sports, and acts as team physician for Stratford Academy, Macon Mayhem Professional Hockey Club, Georgia Military College, and Georgia College and State University. In the past, he has acted as team physician at the University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University and Valdosta State University.