Frequently asked questions.

In most cases, no referral is required to schedule a consultation. Some insurance plans require a referral for specialist visits to be covered — check with your insurance provider, or call our office at 561-202-8886 and our staff will help confirm your plan’s requirements before your visit.

We offer same-week appointments in most cases, and Concierge Members receive priority scheduling with direct access to Dr. Matarazzo’s office. Call 561-202-8886 or use the Schedule Appointment page — our team responds the same business day.

Bring a photo ID, your insurance card, a list of current medications, and any relevant imaging (X-rays, MRIs) or records from prior treatment for your injury. If you’ve had imaging done elsewhere, ask that office to send the actual images, not just the report.

Both locations offer the full range of consultation services with Dr. Matarazzo. Choose whichever is closer to you, or call our office and we’ll help you pick based on appointment availability.

Call the office at 561-202-8886 as early in the day as you can. We keep room for urgent orthopedic problems — a fresh knee or shoulder injury, a joint that gave way, sudden loss of motion — and our staff will tell you honestly whether we can see you that day or whether an emergency room is the safer first stop.

Dr. Matarazzo treats adolescent through adult patients, including high-school and collegiate athletes as well as active adults and seniors considering joint replacement. If a case is better served by a pediatric orthopedic specialist, we will tell you and help point you in the right direction.

Yes. We see out-of-area and seasonal patients regularly, including people travelling specifically for a MAKO procedure or a second opinion. Call ahead so we can coordinate imaging, scheduling, and any follow-up care before you travel.

Use the medical records request form on this site or call the office. We will confirm your identity before releasing anything, and records are sent to you or to the provider you designate.

We work with most major insurance carriers. Because plans and networks change frequently, the most reliable way to confirm coverage is to call our office with your insurance information before your visit, and our staff will verify your benefits.

We offer self-pay options for patients without insurance coverage, and our Concierge Membership program is available as an alternative path to direct, priority access to care. Call our office to discuss pricing.

Yes. Dr. Matarazzo provides Independent Medical Examinations (IME), Compulsory Medical Examinations (CME), and workers’ compensation injury evaluations, along with legal review services for insurance and case-related documentation.

Yes. Once a treatment plan is set, our staff will walk you through what your plan is expected to cover and what your out-of-pocket portion looks like. Exact figures depend on your specific benefits, so we verify with your carrier rather than quoting from memory.

Usually not. Regenerative treatments such as orthobiologics are generally considered elective and are typically self-pay. Our staff will make the cost clear before you begin so there are no surprises.

It is not insurance and does not replace it. Membership is a separate program that provides priority scheduling, direct access to Dr. Matarazzo's office, and pre- and post-operative concierge support. See the Memberships page for current tiers, or call to talk through whether it fits how you use care.

No — Dr. Matarazzo evaluates every patient for the least invasive effective option first, which may include physical therapy, regenerative treatments like orthobiologics or shockwave therapy, or bracing, before surgery is considered. Surgical reconstruction is typically recommended when non-surgical options aren’t enough to restore stability and function, especially for active patients.

MAKO is a robotic-arm assisted surgical system used for total and partial knee replacement and total shoulder replacement. It allows for more precise bone preparation and implant placement than traditional manual technique, which can support a more natural-feeling joint and a smoother recovery. Dr. Matarazzo is certified in the MAKO system.

Recovery timelines vary by patient and activity goals, but most patients follow a structured rehabilitation protocol over several months before returning to full athletic activity. Dr. Matarazzo builds an individualized, sport-specific rehab plan for every ACL reconstruction patient — ask about your specific timeline during your consultation.

Yes. Dr. Matarazzo offers second-opinion evaluations for patients who want an objective assessment before committing to a surgery or treatment plan recommended by another provider.

It depends on the procedure and what your job asks of you. Desk-based work is often resumed far sooner than physical or on-your-feet work. Dr. Matarazzo will give you a realistic range for your specific procedure and role during your pre-operative visit, and we can provide documentation for your employer.

For most surgical procedures, yes — rehabilitation is a large part of the result, not an optional add-on. Dr. Matarazzo prescribes a structured protocol and coordinates with your physical therapist throughout recovery.

Only once you are off sedating pain medication and can control the vehicle safely — which depends on which limb was operated on and whether your car is automatic or manual. Dr. Matarazzo will clear you at a follow-up visit rather than by a fixed calendar date.

Modern implants are durable and many patients get decades of service from them, but no implant is guaranteed for life. Longevity depends on your age, activity level, weight, bone quality, and how the implant is positioned — which is one of the reasons robotic-assisted placement is used.

A partial replacement resurfaces only the damaged compartment of the knee and preserves the rest, including healthy ligaments. A total replacement addresses the whole joint. Partial replacement suits a narrower group of patients — imaging and examination determine which is appropriate for you.

Every surgery carries risk, including infection, blood clots, stiffness, nerve or vessel injury, anaesthetic complications, and the possibility that symptoms are not fully relieved. Dr. Matarazzo will go through the risks specific to your procedure and your health history before you consent.

No. The procedure is performed by Dr. Matarazzo. The MAKO system builds a three-dimensional plan from a CT scan of your joint and provides a robotic arm that helps execute that plan precisely — the surgeon remains in control throughout.

Yes. MAKO planning uses a CT scan of the joint taken beforehand, which is what allows the implant plan to be built around your individual anatomy rather than a generic template.

Age alone does not decide it. What matters is how much the joint has deteriorated, how much it limits you, and whether non-surgical options have been genuinely exhausted. Dr. Matarazzo will be direct with you about whether waiting is the better course.

The MISHA Knee System is an implantable shock absorber for knee osteoarthritis — a joint-preserving option that reduces load on the affected compartment without removing the joint surfaces. Dr. Matarazzo was the first surgeon in Florida to implant it.

That is the goal of a sports medicine practice. Dr. Matarazzo spent over a decade as a team physician, including with the NY Jets and NY Islanders, and rehabilitation plans here are built around the demands of your specific sport and position.

Yes. Rotator cuff problems are evaluated with examination and imaging, and treatment ranges from targeted rehabilitation and injection to arthroscopic repair depending on the size, pattern, and age of the tear as well as your activity goals.

Rest the joint, apply ice, use compression and elevation, and avoid loading it until it has been assessed. Seek urgent care if the joint is visibly deformed, cannot bear weight at all, or is rapidly swelling. Then call us so it is properly evaluated rather than left to settle on its own.

A pop at the time of injury, rapid swelling, and a sense that the knee is unstable are common features, but only examination and imaging can confirm it — and other injuries produce the same symptoms. Do not self-diagnose from a symptom list; get the knee examined.

Shockwave therapy delivers acoustic pressure waves to injured tissue and is used for persistent tendon and soft-tissue problems that have not responded to rest and rehabilitation. It is non-surgical and performed in the office. Whether it suits your condition is decided at consultation.

They are different modalities. Radial shockwave uses pressure waves directed into tissue, while MLS multiwave laser therapy uses specific light wavelengths. Both are non-surgical, in-office treatments used for pain and soft-tissue recovery, and which is appropriate depends on the diagnosis.

Sometimes, and sometimes not — it depends on what is damaged and how badly. Orthobiologics and similar therapies can be effective for certain conditions, but they cannot reattach a torn ligament or resurface a severely arthritic joint. Dr. Matarazzo will be straightforward about what these treatments can and cannot do in your case.

Yes, where clinically appropriate. Injections can be a useful part of a plan, but they treat symptoms rather than the underlying problem, so they are used deliberately and as part of a broader treatment strategy.

Port St. Lucie, at 1100 SW St. Lucie West Blvd., Suite 105, FL 34986; and Palm Beach Gardens, at 11380 Prosperity Farms Rd, Suite 204, FL 33410. Both offer the full range of consultation services.

Patients come to us from across the Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches, including Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and West Palm Beach — and from further afield in South Florida for MAKO and second-opinion consultations.

Surgical location depends on the procedure and your insurance. Our staff will confirm the facility for your specific surgery when it is scheduled, along with what to expect on the day.

Call 561-202-8886 or email info@elitesportsmed.org. You can also use the Schedule Appointment page and our team will respond the same business day.