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Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon

Accepting New Patients
(Stephen T. Gates, M.D. - Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon)

(No ratings)

Specializes in: Sports Medicine, Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery and General Practice
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine (2015)
Professional interests include: tendon transfer, rotator cuff arthropathy, elbow problems, and more.
400 Concord Plaza Drive
San Antonio, TX 78216

Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon is a sports medicine doctor in San Antonio, TX specializing in sports medicine, orthopedics/orthopedic surgery and general practice. He graduated from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine in 2015 and has 10 years of experience. Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon is affiliated with TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine, Baptist Health System, Baptist Hospital, Quarry Area, Resolute Health Hospital and THE SAN ANTONIO ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP LLP.

View Doctor's Full Profile (210) 804-5995

Office Locations

Unable to locate address.

Address:

400 Concord Plaza Drive
San Antonio, TX 78216

Unable to locate address.

Address:

2829 Babcock Road Suite 700
San Antonio, TX 78229

Address:

11212 State Hwy 151 Suite 150
San Antonio, TX 78251

Some issues Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon can help you with:

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.

Shoulder Arthritis

Shoulder arthritis is a very common condition that causes pain, stiffness, or a grinding sensation in the shoulder. Some patients may hear a clicking or popping noise, and all symptoms are more noticeable when moving. Arthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions joints becomes damaged.

Normally, when two bones come together inside a joint, they are separated by a layer of tough, smooth cartilage. The cartilage allows the bones to glide across each other, which makes movement easier. Cartilage can be damaged by an injury, by an illness such as rheumatoid arthritis, or by simple wear and tear (osteoarthritis). In the shoulder, the two joints most commonly affected are the AC joint (where the shoulder blade and collarbone connect at the outside edge of the shoulder), and the glenohumeral joint (where the arm bone meets the shoulder blade).

Treatment for shoulder arthritis may include:

  • Ice and rest
  • Exercise and physical therapy
  • Over-the-counter pain medications
  • Corticosteroid injections
  • Surgery

Surgical treatments include the removal of inflamed tissue and joint reconstruction. The type of arthritis and severity of the damage will determine which treatment is most appropriate.

Tendon Transfer

Tendons are rope-like fibers that connect muscles to bone. Tendon transfer surgery is a procedure that can be used to restore function to a muscle or tendon that no longer works due to injury or nerve damage. During the procedure, a neighboring tendon is 'borrowed' from an area where it is not necessary and repositioned to function in place of the damaged muscle or tendon.

Tendon transfer surgery can be performed on the arms, hands, feet, or other areas of the body where a muscle becomes unable to pull on its tendon. A nearby tendon is detached from its bone, but kept connected to its muscle, nerves, and blood supply. The loose end is connected to the bone that the patient could not move. After the attachment heals, the patient will be able to move that part of the body by flexing the newly connected muscle.

One of the benefits to tendon transfer surgery is that it does not have to be performed right away after an injury. It can be successful even if the affected area has been paralyzed for years. It does take time to retrain the brain to use a different muscle for movement, but the surgery is a powerful option to restore needed motion.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

"https://www.tsaog.com/category/tsaog-news/", TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2021 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon treated as a sports medicine doctor in San Antonio, TX were aspiration, injections, joint surgery and upper extremity surgery.

aspiration 91
debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue) 14
decompression surgery 12
doctor visit 325
hospital care 26
injections 91
inpatient care 26
joint surgery 48
minimally invasive procedures 37
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) 28
musculoskeletal imaging 28
reconstructive surgery 11
upper extremity surgery 48

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2021 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon.

Gender
Male 13
Female 27
Ethnicity
Black / African American
Asian / Pacific Islander
Non-Hispanic White 23
Hispanic 10
Native American / Alaskan Native
Other
Age
75 to 84 12
85 and over 2
Less than 65 2
65 to 74 20

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon From 2021 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 14
High Cholesterol 13
Stroke
Ischemic Heart Disease 6
Depression 4
Chronic Kidney Disease 5
Asthma 1
Osteoporosis 3
Heart Failure 2
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Diabetes 6
Atrial Fibrillation 1
Dementia 2
Cancer

Education & Training

Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon graduated from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine in 2015. He completed residency at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Affiliated Hospitals. He has a state license in Texas.

Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine (2015)

Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Affiliated Hospitals

Licensed In: Texas

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine
Baptist Health System
Baptist Hospital
Quarry Area
Resolute Health Hospital
THE SAN ANTONIO ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP LLP

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon appears to accept the following insurance providers: Cigna, GEHA, Aetna, Multiplan, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, TriWest, Medicare, Humana, Align and WellMed.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon accepts the following insurance providers:

Cigna
GEHA
Aetna
Multiplan
Blue Cross Blue Shield
UnitedHealthcare
TriWest
Medicare
Humana
Align
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Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Stephen T. Gates, MD Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
Liberty Surgical Inc. $1,200
$1,200
Stryker Corporation $1,198 BLUEPRINT PATIENT SPECIFIC INSTRUMENTATION
$937 		INSPACE
$247 		Gamma
$14
Pylant Medical $1,090
$1,090
KCI USA, Inc. $101 V.A.C. VERAFLO CLEANSE CHOICE
$58 		V.A.C. VERAFLO
$43
Types of Payments
Education $2,290
Food and Beverage $705
Travel and Lodging $594

Biography

Dr. Stephen Gates specializes in general practice, orthopedics/orthopedic surgery, and sports medicine and practices in San Antonio, TX. His areas of expertise include the following: ulnar nerve entrapment, arthroscopic shoulder debridement, and frozen shoulder. He accepts GEHA, MultiPlan, UnitedHealthcare, and more. Dr. Gates attended the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine and then went on to complete his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Baptist Health System and TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine. He welcomes new patients at his office inSan Antonio, TX as reported by Yext.

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