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Home > LA Providers > Orthopedic Surgeons

Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD

Accepting New Patients

(230 Ratings)

Specializes in: Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery

Professional interests include: total knee replacement, shoulder replacement, replacement arthroplasty (joint replacement), and more.

6550 Main Street Suite 2300
Zachary, LA 70791

(225) 658-1808

Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD is an orthopedist in Zachary, LA specializing in orthopedics/orthopedic surgery.

Office Locations

6550 Main Street Suite 2300
Zachary, LA 70791

open_in_new

Some issues Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD can help you with:

Hip Replacement

Hip replacement is a surgical procedure to replace parts of the hip joint that are damaged by disease or injury. It is most often done to treat arthritis, a common condition that causes stiffness and pain in the joints. Surgery is used only after other, less invasive treatments have failed to work.

The type of hip replacement patients receive is based on their age and the extent of damage to their hip. The hip joint has two parts: the femoral head, or hip ball, and the acetabulum, or hip socket. The hip ball is located on the upper end of the femur (thigh bone), and the hip socket is part of the pelvis. Depending on whether one or both parts require replacement, patients may need one of the following procedures:

Partial hip replacement, which is generally recommended in the case of hip fractures or other hip injuries. If a patient is having a partial hip replacement, only the hip ball will be replaced.
Total hip replacement, which is often used to treat the hip joint when it has become damaged due to arthritis. Both the hip socket and hip ball are replaced.
Hip resurfacing, which is usually performed for younger patients. A hip resurfacing procedure reshapes the hip ball and only replaces its surface. This preserves more bone and makes future surgeries easier. If a patient is having a partial hip resurfacing, only the hip ball is resurfaced and replaced. If a patient is having a total hip resurfacing, the hip socket will be replaced as well.

During hip replacement surgery, an incision is made along the side of the hip. The surgeon may access the joint directly through this incision, or by using small tools and a lighted tube called an arthroscope to see and treat the joint. The diseased tissue is removed, and the bones are smoothed out and fitted with metal ends. The metal pieces may be cemented in place, or they may have a porous structure that encourages bone to grow into them and hold them securely. A smooth plastic cushion is placed between the two bones to replace the cartilage and allow the joint to move freely.

Hip replacement surgery takes one to two hours, and afterwards patients may stay in the hospital for several days. When patients go home, they will have to use a cane, walker, or crutches at first. Patients will likely have physical therapy to improve their ability to move with their new hip. After the first few weeks, light exercise such as bike riding or swimming will help them heal, but certain actions, such as climbing stairs or bending over at the waist, may be difficult at first. It will take several weeks before they can drive or return to work. Full recovery may take six to 12 months.

Replacement Arthroplasty (Joint Replacement)

Joint replacement, sometimes also called arthroplasty, is an option when a joint becomes severely damaged by disease or injury. The damaged cartilage of the joint is surgically removed, the ends of the bones in the joint are resurfaced, and a prosthetic is installed. Most prosthetic joints are made of a metal piece that fits into a plastic sleeve so that they glide smoothly. A joint replacement increases stability in the damaged area and decreases pain. The hip and knee are the two joints most commonly replaced, but joint replacement can also be performed on the ankle, shoulder, elbow and even fingers.

Although joint replacement is one of the safest and most reliable medical procedures available, it is still a major surgical procedure. All surgical procedures carry risks, such as infection or blood clots. For this reason, doctors try to help their patients avoid surgery for as long as they can. Taking arthritis medications, losing weight, avoiding high impact sports such as running, taking supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin, or having joint injections may allow a patient to enjoy life without the need for surgery.

After having joint replacement surgery, patients can expect some pain the first few days as they recover. Physical therapy is an important part of recovery, and it can decrease complications and increase future mobility. As soon as possible, returning to low impact sports such as swimming, walking or biking can stretch and heal the new joint. A prosthetic joint can last 15 - 20 years and cannot be further damaged by degenerative diseases such as arthritis, so once it is done patients should be pain-free for many years.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 25%

By Volume:

inpatient hospital care

By Affordability:

In 2012, among providers in related specialties within Louisiana, Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD performed more inpatient hospital care (for patient admitted to hospital) procedures for Medicare patients than 75% of them and he also had a list price for joint X-ray, knee X-ray, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and X-rays that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 75% of them. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2012 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	203
doctor visit	616
hip imaging	56
hospital care	38
injections	203
inpatient care	38
joint surgery	11
lower extremity surgery	11
musculoskeletal imaging	250
pelvic imaging	41
reconstructive surgery	11
X-rays	291

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2013 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	153
doctor visit	610
hip imaging	50
hospital care	16
injections	153
inpatient care	16
musculoskeletal imaging	257
pelvic imaging	51
spinal procedures	16
X-rays	324

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	107
Female	248

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	244
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	135
From 75 to 84	104
85 and over	52
Less than 65	64

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2013

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	40
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	39
Dementia	16
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2014 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	205
doctor visit	631
fracture surgery	16
hip imaging	58
hospital care	41
injections	217
inpatient care	41
joint surgery	18
lower extremity surgery	34
musculoskeletal imaging	313
pelvic imaging	60
reconstructive surgery	18
spinal procedures	19
X-rays	413

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	128
Female	232

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	258
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	129
From 75 to 84	103
85 and over	57
Less than 65	71

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2014

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	45
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	24
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	36
Dementia	14
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2015 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	203
doctor visit	711
hip imaging	80
hospital care	53
injections	203
inpatient care	53
joint surgery	16
lower extremity surgery	16
musculoskeletal imaging	381
pelvic imaging	81
reconstructive surgery	16
spinal procedures	18
X-rays	480

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	310
Female	532

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	594
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	332
From 75 to 84	218
85 and over	120
Less than 65	172

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2015

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	40
Dementia	15
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2016 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	228
doctor visit	763
hospital care	41
injections	228
inpatient care	41
joint surgery	15
lower extremity surgery	15
musculoskeletal imaging	343
pelvic imaging	52
reconstructive surgery	15
X-rays	395

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	155
Female	271

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	302
Black	108
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	180
From 75 to 84	104
85 and over	59
Less than 65	83

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	38
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	37
Dementia	14
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2017 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	229
doctor visit	784
injections	242
joint surgery	22
lower extremity surgery	22
musculoskeletal imaging	346
pelvic imaging	59
reconstructive surgery	22
X-rays	405

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	158
Female	261

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	297
Black	109
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	188
From 75 to 84	98
85 and over	53
Less than 65	80

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	38
Dementia	12
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2018 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	241
doctor visit	733
hip imaging	18
hospital care	16
injections	253
inpatient care	16
joint surgery	27
lower extremity surgery	27
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	18
musculoskeletal imaging	293
pelvic imaging	57
reconstructive surgery	27
spinal procedures	17
X-rays	349

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	149
Female	272

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	299
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	200
From 75 to 84	120
85 and over	41
Less than 65	60

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	38
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	38
Dementia	16
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2019 were injections, aspiration, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	219
doctor visit	701
hospital care	31
injections	238
inpatient care	31
joint surgery	21
lower extremity surgery	21
musculoskeletal imaging	53
reconstructive surgery	21
spinal procedures	22
X-rays	75

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	154
Female	239

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	267
Black	113
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	200
From 75 to 84	91
85 and over	48
Less than 65	54

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	40
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	36
Dementia	14
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2020 were injections, aspiration, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	186
doctor visit	548
hip imaging	12
hospital care	12
injections	204
inpatient care	12
joint surgery	15
lower extremity surgery	15
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	12
musculoskeletal imaging	70
reconstructive surgery	15
spinal procedures	15
X-rays	73

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	136
Female	194

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	244
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	161
From 75 to 84	85
85 and over	41
Less than 65	43

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2020

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	4
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	24
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	37
Dementia	16
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2021 were aspiration, injections, musculoskeletal imaging and X-rays.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	194
doctor visit	524
hip imaging	18
hospital care	44
injections	194
inpatient care	44
joint surgery	18
lower extremity surgery	18
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	29
musculoskeletal imaging	116
reconstructive surgery	18
X-rays	87

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	126
Female	204

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	239
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	161
From 75 to 84	92
85 and over	44
Less than 65	33

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2021

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	41
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	4
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	36
Dementia	14
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA during 2022 were aspiration, injections, musculoskeletal imaging and X-rays.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	174
debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	11
doctor visit	483
fracture surgery	12
hip imaging	15
hospital care	41
injections	174
inpatient care	41
joint surgery	42
lower extremity surgery	43
minimally invasive procedures	11
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	15
musculoskeletal imaging	145
reconstructive surgery	31
upper extremity surgery	11
X-rays	130

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	112
Female	201

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	239
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	145
From 75 to 84	101
85 and over	45
Less than 65	22

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	34
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	36
Dementia	12
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated as an orthopedist in Zachary, LA were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

aspiration	203
debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	11
doctor visit	645
fracture surgery	14
hip imaging	38
hospital care	33
injections	209
inpatient care	33
joint surgery	20
lower extremity surgery	22
minimally invasive procedures	11
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	18
musculoskeletal imaging	233
pelvic imaging	57
reconstructive surgery	19
spinal procedures	17
upper extremity surgery	11
X-rays	274

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD.

**Gender**
Male	139
Female	241

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	30
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	271
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	101
85 and over	50
Less than 65	62
65 to 74	166

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and diabetes.

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	6
Osteoporosis	7
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	33
Atrial Fibrillation	9
Dementia	13
Cancer	9

Education & Training

He completed residency at Louisiana State University Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has a state license in Louisiana.

Residency: Louisiana State University Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Licensed In: Louisiana

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.99 out of 5 stars based on 230 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Zachary, LA.

4.99

Overall Rating

(230 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Adam Nelson Whatley, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Stryker Corporation	$4,770 Reunion $1,950	Mako $630	TRIATHLON $448	Axsos $347	ACCOLADE $185	Other $1,209
Alon Medical Technology	$1,586 $1,586
Arthrex, Inc.	$821 SHOULDER IMPLANTS FIBERTAK KNOTLESS $139	KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS REUSABLE INSTRUMENTS GRAFT PREP $76	$606
Horizon Therapeutics plc	$722 PENNSAID $278	Duexis $264	VIMOVO $143	RAYOS $24	$13
Medtronic USA, Inc.	$501 AQUAMANTYS $501
Other	$3,687 VIMOVO $438	Exogen $241	EUFLEXXA $229	Osteoarthritis of the knee $211	Zilretta $174	Other $2,394

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$9,131
Travel and Lodging	$2,930
Education	$26

Biography

Dr. Adam Whatley is a medical specialist in orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. Dr. Whatley's areas of clinical interest consist of hip replacement, shoulder replacement, and total knee replacement. His medical residency was performed at a hospital affiliated with Louisiana State University. He is rated highly by his patients. His practice in Zachary, LA is open to new patients as reported by Doctor.com.