Dr. Ralph Salvagno
Orthopedic Surgery
Hagerstown, MD
41 years experience
Locations
Office
Hagerstown, MD
Phone
Practice website
About
Bio
Dr. Salvagno specializes in the joint replacement surgery of the hip, knee and shoulder. He is the founding partner of the Center for Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine and Medical Director and Founder of the Center for Joint Replacement at Meritus Medical Center, both located in Hagerstown Maryland. Dr. Salvagno also serves as Orthopaedic Liaison to the Trauma Program at Meritus.
Dr. Salvagno has performed over 5000 joint replacement operations and is a fellow of American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Orthopedic Surgery
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
76 Answers
33 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Post cast stiffness: It is very common for people who have been immobilized in a cast to experience stiffness in the joint (s) . This stiffness will usually resolve in a f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Hip arthritis??: One possible cause for anterior thigh pain is hip arthritis. It can be sensitive to changes in position and sometime hurt more when the hip is flexed.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Different causes: Compression fractures are most commonly found in the lumbar and thoracic spine (low and mid back) . The most common cause is minimal trauma associated... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Early Arthritis: Extruded meniscii are generally the result of accompanying arthritic changes on that side of the joint, as the joint narrows due to loss of joint cart... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
1,2,3: First degree sprain - is a tear of only a few fibers of the ligament.
Second degree sprain - is a tear of part of a ligament, from a third to almost ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Exam and X-ray : Pain after hip replacement which occurs in the same location after a pain free interval should be evaluated by an orthopaedic exam and new x-rays
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Not relaxer: Like rubbing your head when you bump it, products like icy hot "overload" nerve fibers that cause pain. They do not relax the muscle. Over a long term... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Brittle Bones: Osteoporosis results in "weakening" of the bones often leading to fractures. For this reason it is often described as "brittle bone " disease.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
10-12 weeks: Most fractures of the forearm and wrist heal in about 6-8 weeks. It will likely be at least a month after that before weight lifting would be recommen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
No: Osteoarthritis does not affect the growth rate of bones or joints. Most of the time osteoarthritis develops after bones and joints have stopped growin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Neck vs shoulder: Symptoms of hand pain are often are a result of pressure on a nerve. This can be originating in the neck or perhaps at the elbow. The pinky and ring f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Rotational Deformity: The most common metacarpal fracture is that of the little finger. When you make a fist the contour of the knuckles may be different. A small depressio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Wear debris: The most common cause of loosening is from the reaction of the bone to the wear particles from the metal and plastic implant. All mechanical devices p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
4-6 months: Assumong there is no bone loss or infection most compound femur fractures will heal in 4-6 months.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Stretching: One of the best ways to prevent injury is to stretch prior to activity. A short warmup period before strenuous activity can also help. Avoid un-level ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Abominal evaluation: Many times pain radiating to the mid back can be a result of problems in the abdomen. These problems can include ulcers, reflux, colitis, and gallblad... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Not FDA approved: The reason the cost is so high is that these products are not fda approved for use in the hip. Since they are used off label , insurance will not cove... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 61-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Possibly: A re evaluation by your surgeon is appropriate. You should be prepared to answer questions to help determine the reason. Have you had a fever or have ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Blood vessels: Blood vessels that enter the bone can often be mistaken for fractures. The pathway of the blood vessel through the bone can look like a fracture.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Ice massage: An easy way to do ice massage is to freeze water in a styrofoam cup. You then tear off the top of the cup and the remainder makes a nice insulated hol... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Cartilage removal: The knee has 2 cushioning cartilages called menisci . They are shaped like a waxing or waning moon. With injury the meniscus can become torn. Most tea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Not unusual: It is very common to get leg swelling after total hip or knee replacement. Of course, swelling with pain can be a sign of DVT (deep venous thrombosis)... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Treatment/Evaluation: Swelling in the knee usually represents some type of injury either as a result of trauma or a disease process like arthritis or gout. Ice and elevatio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Physical exam: An MRI is useless without a good physical examination. In fact, MRI 's should not be ordered unless the treating physician has performed an adequate e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Near the kneecap: The medial patellofemoral ligament is on the inside (medial) part of the patella (kneecap). It helps stabilize the patella as the knee bends. If damag... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Muscle pain likely: Most back pain in young active males is from muscle strain . Why do you think it's cancer? Does someone close to you have cancer or has recently died'... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Pain/Deformity: A colles fracture is a fracture of the distal radius (wrist ) . It is often caused by a fall on an outstretched hand . Because of the broken bone , bl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Weakness: Assuming that all else ( leg lengths equal and no nerve injury) is ok the most common reason for limp is weakness , especially of the abductor muscles... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Possible injection: Frozen shoulder can take up to a year to resolve. Therapy is usually the best treatment. Occasionally injection of the shoulder can calm some of the i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Not usually advised: Unless you have significant functional problems like loss of motion of the elbow correction is most commonly not recommended. To do so would involved ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Meds and Stretching: I recommend advil (ibuprofen) 2 tablets 3 times a day for at least 5-7 days for my patients with bursitis. Patients with stomach problems , bleeding d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Muscle tear shoulder: There are some shoulder muscles , such the rotator cuff muscles and the pectoral muscles which might require surgical repair. If one of these are inju... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Computer Aided: Dye is injected into the involved joint and images are obtained. Images of the same joint in the same position are then "subtracted" by the computer (... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Therapy , Cane: Physical therapy to improve motion and strength in the area of the hip would be helpful. Using a cane in the opposite hand would help relieve weight o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Clog shoe: Many people use a clog type shoe if they have a fracture of the toes. You might also check with a local pharmacy and ask for "post op shoe".
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Fit and Stability: There are many different types of "over the counter " knee braces available at your local pharmacy. If you have had a mild ligament injury a neoprene ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Hair dryer: If you're in a cast or splint using a hair dryer on a cool setting to blow cool air in the cast can help. Sometimes an antihistamine like Benadryl (di... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Osteoporosis/trauma: The vertebrae are the building blocks of the spine. They are made of cancellous (spongy) bone. They are stacked one on top of another separated by the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Muscle injury: Muscle injury can be detect by MRI in most cases. Weakness can be inferred by atrophy (less muscle mass than the opposite side) but cannot truly be me... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Hip pain with sneeze: "hip pain" caused by sneezing might represent a lumbar disc problem.The increase in pressure cause by the sneeze can affect nerves near the lumbar dis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Massage/Heat: Pain and "knots" around the shoulder are often associated with muscle inflammation. Stretching , massage and heat can help relieve the discomfort. I e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Spur or meniscus: Popping on the medial side of your knee most likely represents the ligament riding over a prominence of the bone (bone spur-?Early arthritis) or from ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Likely 90's: I have performed knee replacements on several patients in their early 90's ( oldest was 92) . What is common among these patients is that they were ph... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Imaging center: Most communities have imaging centers near a hospital or medical facility. In some states MRI scanners are avaiable in a doctors office.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
6-12 weeks: Most fractures of the the foot ankle hand wrist and forearm heal in 6-8 weeks . Fracture of the tibia femur and humerus may take up to 10-12 weeks (... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Very common: Following hip or knee replacement fatigue is common. The body is mobilizing all its nutritional resources to heal the surgical site and often patients... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Orthopaedic sugeon: An orthopaedic surgeon can perform a physical examination to determine if there is any laxity ( looseness) of the ankle ligaments. X-rays , including ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Extension Board: If you have had an injury or surgery and you have difficulty getting extension you may want to ask your doctor about use of an extension board or "dyn... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Usually a splint: Fractured fingers are usually treated with an aluminum or plastic splint on the back side of the finger. Sometimes they are treated by taping the inju... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ralph Salvagnoanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 41 years experience
Unpredictable: The healing time is very dependent on the amount of soft tissue damage that occurs at the time of the fracture. Compound fractures are those that have... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
377
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Salvagno is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Salvagno is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
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HealthTap member
I was reading symptoms on lung cancer and the back pain is a symptom along with a cough I have so I got a little scared; what do you recomme
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! good idea!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Maryland School of Medicine, MD
Graduated 1982MD
Affiliations
Meritus Medical Center, Hagerstown Maryland
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