Business Details
Your Trusted Orthopedic Specialists in Santa Barbara
Alta Orthopaedics has served the Santa Barbara community for over three decades, establishing itself as a leader in orthopaedic surgery, pain management, and sports medicine. Our multidisciplinary team of fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons, physician assistants, and physical therapists delivers state-of-the-art care for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, from acute injuries to chronic degenerative diseases. We specialize in advanced diagnostic techniques, including in-house radiographs and ultrasound, and offer comprehensive treatment options such as injection therapy, physical therapy, and minimally invasive surgical procedures. Our surgeons possess specialized expertise in spine surgery, sports medicine, joint replacement, and trauma care, ensuring patients receive personalized treatment plans tailored to their unique needs. With locations in Santa Barbara, Solvang, Oxnard, and Santa Maria, we prioritize accessibility and convenience while maintaining the highest standards of care.Our commitment to innovation is reflected in our use of cutting-edge technologies like computer-navigated joint replacements and arthroscopic procedures. We emphasize patient education and collaborative decision-making, empowering individuals to make informed choices about their treatment. Our teams extensive experience, combined with a focus on compassionate care, has earned us a reputation as a trusted resource for orthopaedic excellence. We are affiliated with leading hospitals and surgical centers, ensuring seamless coordination of care for complex cases. For over 30 years, Alta Orthopaedics has remained dedicated to restoring patients mobility and improving their quality of life through expert, individualized treatment.
Services
Orthopedic Surgery
Pain Management
Sports Medicine
Shoulder Arthroscopy
Knee Arthroscopy
Rotator Cuff Repair
ACL Reconstruction
Meniscus Tear Treatment
Tommy John Surgery
Fracture Care
Highlights and features
- We have over 30 years of experience serving the Santa Barbara community.
- Our fellowship-trained surgeons specialize in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine.
- We employ state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment techniques.
- We offer personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs.
- We provide care across multiple locations for patient convenience.
What people say
Excellent practice
Helpful staff
Friendly and professional
Wonderful experience
Highly recommend
Services
Orthopedic Surgery
Our fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons treat complex musculoskeletal conditions using advanced techniques like arthroscopy, joint replacement, and trauma surgery. We specialize in minimally invasive procedures for faster recovery and optimal outcomes. Patients benefit from personalized surgical plans addressing injuries, arthritis, and sports-related damage across shoulders, knees, hips, and spine.
Sports Medicine
We provide comprehensive sports injury treatment for professional and recreational athletes. Services include ACL reconstruction, Tommy John surgery, and rotator cuff repairs using cutting-edge arthroscopic methods. Our team develops sport-specific rehabilitation programs to restore performance while preventing future injuries through biomechanical assessments and conditioning guidance.
Pain Management
Our specialists address chronic pain through interventional techniques like epidural injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation. We combine medication management with physical therapy to treat spine conditions, arthritis, and post-surgical discomfort, focusing on reducing reliance on opioids while improving patients' daily functionality and quality of life.
Shoulder Arthroscopy
This procedure diagnoses and treats shoulder conditions through small incisions using fiber-optic technology. We repair rotator cuff tears, stabilize dislocations, and address arthritis or calcific tendonitis with precision tools. Patients experience less pain, reduced recovery time, and improved range of motion compared to traditional open surgery methods.
Fracture Care
We manage fractures from initial immobilization to surgical repair using plates, screws, or external fixation. Our team treats clavicle breaks, wrist fractures, and complex trauma cases with imaging-guided techniques. Post-operative rehabilitation ensures proper healing and restoration of strength and mobility for optimal long-term function.
People
Stuart Hutchinson
Spine Specialist
Dr. Hutchinson specializes in spinal disorders, combining advanced surgical techniques with comprehensive patient care. His expertise includes minimally invasive spine procedures and complex reconstructions, ensuring tailored solutions for chronic back conditions while prioritizing long-term patient outcomes.
Amy Wickman
Spine Specialist
Dr. Wickman focuses on spinal health, offering both surgical and non-surgical treatments for neck and back pain. With fellowship training in spine surgery, she emphasizes evidence-based care, utilizing cutting-edge technology to address degenerative diseases and traumatic injuries effectively.
Amit Nathani
Sports Medicine Specialist
Dr. Nathani specializes in sports-related injuries, particularly shoulder and knee conditions. His patient-centered approach combines arthroscopic surgery with rehabilitation strategies, helping athletes of all levels return to peak performance while minimizing re-injury risks through biomechanical assessments.
Asher Kupperman
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr. Kupperman treats a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions with expertise in joint replacement and trauma care. He emphasizes personalized treatment plans, integrating advanced surgical techniques with comprehensive recovery programs to maximize mobility and reduce pain for long-term patient satisfaction.
Michael Kenly
Pain Management Specialist
Dr. Kenly focuses on interventional pain management, specializing in spinal injections and neuromodulation therapies. His approach combines diagnostic precision with targeted treatments to alleviate chronic pain from arthritis, nerve damage, or post-surgical complications, improving patients' quality of life.
Questions
What orthopaedic specialties does Alta Orthopaedics offer?
We specialize in sports medicine, spine surgery, joint replacement, fracture care, and pain management with fellowship-trained experts in each field.
Do you treat both surgical and non-surgical cases?
Yes, we provide comprehensive care ranging from conservative treatments like physical therapy to advanced surgical interventions when necessary.
Are your surgeons fellowship-trained?
All our orthopaedic surgeons have completed fellowship training in specialized areas like sports medicine, spine, and joint replacement surgery.
What locations serve Santa Maria residents?
Our Santa Maria office at 210 S. Palisade Dr. offers full orthopaedic services with specialists including Drs. Nathani and Wickman.
How do you handle urgent orthopaedic injuries?
While we don't operate a 24/7 ER, we prioritize prompt evaluation and treatment for acute injuries like fractures during regular business hours.
What insurance plans do you accept?
We work with major insurers including Aetna, Blue Cross, Cigna, and Medicare. Contact us directly to verify your specific plan coverage.
Reviews (6)
Bill Yeates
Jun 19, 2022
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Dr Kinley and his staff were professional, courteous and efficient. Was in and out painlessly in less than an hour. I have a couple more treatments, which I will look forward to with hesitation
Bonnie W.
Jun 07, 2022
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If I could give Alta Orthopedic zero rating if I could. Waited 45 minutes before Dr Wickman came into the room. Authorization department will never return your calls. Beware before you go to them.
Craig E.
May 25, 2022
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Great experience with first visit for a minor issue. After working with another orthopedic office that was uninterested in setting up an appointment, I was able to get an appointment quickly.
Robin S.
Jan 19, 2022
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I have been referred to Alta Orthopedics on a number of occasions. The wait is NEVER less tha 45 minutes then a med tech with questions and last time after the med tech a P.A came in sand asked the same questions meanwhile the doctor was seeing a patient who came after me. I left after an hour of waiting and I felt abused! I complained to the office manager who was defensive and uninterested. Nobody here is friendly. I never write these but this place is egregious.
Concerned P.
Dec 31, 2021
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Most frightening and dangerous experience in a doctor's office. During the summer of 2021 I attempted to get care from this facility. Upon entering I noticed a member of the staff in the office behind reception without a mask on. Then an employee walked by without one. When I was lead toward the exam room there were 3-4 members of staff at a desk just outside the door with no masks on. When I asked them why they weren't wearing them they said nothing and did not attempt to put them on.
As I began to leave the physician came toward me and I said I was leaving because the staff was not complying with health codes during a pandemic. His response was to question my vaccination status, publicly, in front of his staff. I said am fully vaccinated but immune compromised and I should not have to share that, much less publicly, to be safe in a healthcare setting, that the CDC was very clear about healthcare settings not dropping mask mandates. He shrugged.
As I began to leave the physician came toward me and I said I was leaving because the staff was not complying with health codes during a pandemic. His response was to question my vaccination status, publicly, in front of his staff. I said am fully vaccinated but immune compromised and I should not have to share that, much less publicly, to be safe in a healthcare setting, that the CDC was very clear about healthcare settings not dropping mask mandates. He shrugged.
Weimaraner W.
Nov 17, 2021
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Good Physicians but Questionable Billing At the time I was a patient at Alta Orthopedic clinic, their online Payment Policy stated that patients are to be notified in advance of any visit that is deemed self-pay. And if those visits are self-pay, "payment in full is requested at the time of visit". At NO time was I advised mine were self-pay appointments, nor was payment requested in advance. Had that been the case, I would not have commenced with a series of injections.
The clinic's initiation of the series was useless as the series was halted midstream since I could not afford the injections. Alta was negligent at the outset, in failing to communicate that the series was my responsibility. Nonetheless, Alta's billing department continues to hound me by email, text, and phone for payment. Alta has now altered their website page to shift the burden of self-pay notification to the patient but their belated attempt to backbill me now is unethical. A new CA law expressly forbids this disreputable practice in order to protect the patient. In the words of a judge, "It's a good law".
The clinic's initiation of the series was useless as the series was halted midstream since I could not afford the injections. Alta was negligent at the outset, in failing to communicate that the series was my responsibility. Nonetheless, Alta's billing department continues to hound me by email, text, and phone for payment. Alta has now altered their website page to shift the burden of self-pay notification to the patient but their belated attempt to backbill me now is unethical. A new CA law expressly forbids this disreputable practice in order to protect the patient. In the words of a judge, "It's a good law".
