Procedure Volume Patient Data Patient Conditions Reviews General Payments Back to Top

Home > VA Providers > Orthopedic Surgeons

Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS

(Dr. David Alan Nielsen, D.O.)

(No ratings)

Specializes in: Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery and Hand Surgery

University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine (1992)

Professional interests include: microvascular surgery, musculoskeletal problems, sports health, and more.

183 Spotnap Road Suite C
Charlottesville, VA 22911

(434) 244-8412

Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS is an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA specializing in orthopedics/orthopedic surgery and hand surgery. He graduated from University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine in 1992 and has 34 years of experience. Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS is affiliated with Sentara Health.

Office Locations

Sentara Health

183 Spotnap Road Suite C
Charlottesville, VA 22911

(434) 244-8412

(434) 244-8415

open_in_new

Some issues Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS can help you with:

Musculoskeletal Problems

The musculoskeletal system refers collectively to the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. It is what gives the body structure and movement. Because this system encompasses so much of the body, musculoskeletal problems are extremely varied and can happen almost anywhere. There are musculoskeletal problems that affect only the joints, those that affect the bones, those that affect tendons and ligaments, and those that can happen in any area of the body but cause pain and numbness.

Joint problems include bursitis and arthritis. Bursitis is the inflammation of a fluid-filled sac cushion on the outside of a joint, causing symptoms including pain and swelling. Arthritis is the inflammation and damage of a joint due to wear and tear or disease. There are several treatments for arthritis, but if the damage progresses far enough, joint replacement may be necessary. In joint replacement, a metal or plastic implant is surgically placed within the joint to make movement easier.

Bone problems include scoliosis, fractures, and osteoporosis. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, making the normally straight spine look like a 'C' or 'S.' It is treated with braces or surgery. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to weaken and break easily. It's most common in women, especially older women. Fully half of all women over 65 have osteoporosis. Fractures are any break in the bone. They can be a simple crack or a severe and complicated shatter. Osteoporosis causes fractures in people who have it, but other causes are trauma (such as a fall) or overuse.

Tendon and ligament problems most often result from injury or overuse. Two good examples are ligament tears and tendonitis. The most common ligament tear is the ACL tear in the knee. This ligament supports and stabilizes the knee and is most often torn during sports activities. Tendonitis happens when a tendon, which connects muscles and bones together, becomes irritated and inflamed. This happens most often in older patients who push their bodies too far, leading to pain and swelling. Treatment for both tendon and ligament problems usually includes rest, ice, and supporting the area to let it heal.

Pain and numbness problems can be caused by overuse, disease, an injury, or a compressed nerve. Lower back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome are two of the most common conditions patients encounter. Lower back pain may be caused by sore muscles that have been overworked, or an injury to the disks separating the vertebrae in the spine. Lower back pain usually goes away on its own within a few days, but it may require medical treatment depending on the cause. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the nerve at the base of the palm becomes trapped or pinched. Symptoms include tingling, pain, numbness, or weakness in the hand. Treatment involves rest and sometimes steroid injections.

Because the musculoskeletal system involves so much of the body, problems here can be incredibly varied in their type and severity. Some musculoskeletal problems will go away on their own or only require rest, while others may require medication, physical therapy, or even surgery.

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.

In The News

“Killian selected Don Morris, the UnMarlboro Cowboy, and Dr. David Nielsen, an ear surgeon well-known for his antismoking efforts.”—"Where There's Smoke", Phoenix New Times, January 1996

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2023

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

Top 5%

By Volume:

shoulder X-ray

In 2023, Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS performed more shoulder X-ray procedures for Medicare patients than 95% of providers in related specialties within Virginia.

Top 10%

By Affordability:

X-rays

In 2023, Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS had a list price for X-rays that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 90% of providers in related specialties within Virginia. 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.

Top 25%

By Affordability:

joint X-ray

knee X-ray

In 2012, Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS had a list price for joint X-ray, and knee X-ray that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 75% of providers in related specialties within Virginia. 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. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2012 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	93
decompression surgery	23
doctor visit	565
hip imaging	37
injections	137
musculoskeletal imaging	161
nerve procedures	23
open surgery	23
pelvic imaging	25
upper extremity surgery	23
X-rays	186

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2013 were X-rays, injections, musculoskeletal imaging and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	91
decompression surgery	26
doctor visit	627
hip imaging	30
injections	156
musculoskeletal imaging	143
nerve procedures	26
open surgery	26
pelvic imaging	18
upper extremity surgery	26
X-rays	161

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	160
Female	248

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	349
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	208
From 75 to 84	117
85 and over	46
Less than 65	37

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2013

Hypertension	66
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	17
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	31
Dementia	7
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2014 were injections, X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	102
decompression surgery	46
doctor visit	615
hip imaging	24
hospital care	18
injections	144
inpatient care	18
musculoskeletal imaging	114
nerve procedures	46
open surgery	46
pelvic imaging	18
tendon surgery	14
upper extremity surgery	60
X-rays	132

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	146
Female	262

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	354
Black	40
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	201
From 75 to 84	116
85 and over	55
Less than 65	36

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2014

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	31
Dementia	6
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2015 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	105
decompression surgery	27
doctor visit	545
hip imaging	33
hospital care	20
injections	139
inpatient care	20
musculoskeletal imaging	171
nerve procedures	27
open surgery	27
pelvic imaging	29
tendon surgery	13
upper extremity surgery	40
X-rays	200

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	248
Female	440

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	592
Black	74
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	316
From 75 to 84	222
85 and over	102
Less than 65	48

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2015

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	33
Dementia	8
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2016 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	110
decompression surgery	13
doctor visit	583
hospital care	15
injections	129
inpatient care	15
musculoskeletal imaging	171
nerve procedures	13
open surgery	13
upper extremity surgery	13
X-rays	171

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	131
Female	205

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	292
Black	28
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	151
From 75 to 84	100
85 and over	59
Less than 65	26

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2016

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	27
Dementia	9
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2017 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	126
decompression surgery	18
doctor visit	658
hospital care	17
injections	152
inpatient care	17
musculoskeletal imaging	202
nerve procedures	18
open surgery	18
upper extremity surgery	18
X-rays	202

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	143
Female	230

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	328
Black	31
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	170
From 75 to 84	122
85 and over	53
Less than 65	28

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2017

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	43
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	31
Dementia	12
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2018 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	102
decompression surgery	16
doctor visit	686
injections	124
musculoskeletal imaging	306
nerve procedures	16
open surgery	16
upper extremity surgery	16
X-rays	306

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	140
Female	242

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	325
Black	39
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	173
From 75 to 84	123
85 and over	57
Less than 65	29

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2018

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	27
Dementia	13
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2019 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	121
doctor visit	679
hospital care	22
injections	121
inpatient care	22
musculoskeletal imaging	310
X-rays	310

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	166
Female	249

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	349
Black	43
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	11
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	199
From 75 to 84	117
85 and over	50
Less than 65	49

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2019

Hypertension	63
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	27
Dementia	8
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2020 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	126
doctor visit	571
injections	139
musculoskeletal imaging	215
X-rays	215

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	151
Female	206

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	311
Black	22
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	13
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	179
From 75 to 84	98
85 and over	39
Less than 65	41

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2020

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	25
Dementia	6
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2021 were injections, X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	98
doctor visit	491
injections	124
musculoskeletal imaging	115
X-rays	115

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	132
Female	179

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	255
Black	30
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	11
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	152
From 75 to 84	90
85 and over	33
Less than 65	36

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2021

Hypertension	53
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	20
Dementia	5
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA during 2022 were injections, aspiration, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

aspiration	124
doctor visit	442
injections	142
musculoskeletal imaging	121
X-rays	121

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	97
Female	131

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	191
Black	19
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	120
From 75 to 84	81
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS in 2022

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	16
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	12
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	5
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	20
Dementia	0
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated as an orthopedist in Charlottesville, VA were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, injections and aspiration.

aspiration	108
decompression surgery	24
doctor visit	587
hip imaging	31
hospital care	18
injections	137
inpatient care	18
musculoskeletal imaging	184
nerve procedures	24
open surgery	24
pelvic imaging	22
tendon surgery	13
upper extremity surgery	28
X-rays	192

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS.

**Gender**
Male	137
Female	217

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	29
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	304
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	3

**Age**
75 to 84	107
85 and over	44
Less than 65	30
65 to 74	169

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	7
Osteoporosis	7
Heart Failure	10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	24
Atrial Fibrillation	8
Cancer	8
Dementia	6

Education & Training

Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS graduated from University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine in 1992. He completed residency at Grandview Medical Center. He is certified by the Board Certification: American Osteopathic Association - Orthopedic Surgery and Hand Surgery and has a state license in Virginia.

Medical School: University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine (1992)

Residency: Grandview Medical Center (2001)

Board Certification: Board Certification: American Osteopathic Association - Orthopedic Surgery and Hand Surgery

Licensed In: Virginia

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Sentara Health

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS does not have any reviews yet, be the first to leave a review of Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS here: Leave a Review

(No ratings)

Leave a Review

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Stryker Corporation	$347 Fixos $127	HOFFMANN $116	TRAUMA & EXTREMITIES $15	$89
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.	$114 VA-LCP PLATES & SCREWS $28	Shoulders $23	ATTUNE $20	MONOVISC $19	$25
Terumo BCT, Inc.	$111 BMAC $66	SmartPRep $27	SmartPReP2 $17
Tornier, Inc.	$105 LE - MaxLock Extreme $105
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated	$102 Exparel $102
Other	$137 EUFLEXXA $69	XIAFLEX $52	OFIRMEV $16

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$915

Research Payments

Dr. David A. Nielsen, DO, FAAOS has received 3 research payments totaling $2,500.

Biography

Dr. David Nielsen is a specialist in hand surgery and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. His areas of expertise include replacement arthroplasty (joint replacement), hand surgery procedures, and sports health. He is professionally affiliated with Sentara Health. Dr. Nielsen's education and training includes medical school at A.T. Still University, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine and residency at Grandview Medical Center.