"My role is to listen and then teach the patient. If the patient fully understands the disease process, they will always make the right decision for themselves."
Michael J. Fracchia, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon practicing in Port Jefferson and Riverhead. He completed medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1984, an internship at North Shore University Hospital in 1985, and his orthopedic surgical residency at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City in 1989.
Dr. Fracchia provides complete, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art orthopedic care, including total and partial joint replacements, sports medicine, and fracture care for all ages. He believes that although there is a place for surgery, many patients can be treated nonoperatively with casting or bracing, physical therapy, oral or injected medications—or even just time. Dr. Fracchia has helped thousands of patients return to normal, fun-filled, and active lives through operative and nonoperative management of their orthopedic problems.
One of the few physicians in the area who is an expert in the direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip replacement, many of Dr. Fracchia’s patients go home the same day after a hip replacement or total or partial knee replacement. He performs most knee and shoulder surgery arthroscopically, which means a smaller incision, and a faster rehabilitation and return to sports and work for his patients.
Dr. Fracchia is considered one of the world leaders in the technique of navigated soft tissue ligament balancing during knee replacement surgery. He performed a total knee replacement through a small, quad sparing incision with the aid of computer navigation that was televised live from St. Charles Hospital to the “MIS meets CAOS” meeting in Arizona. He is co-author of the operative technique for the minimally invasive computer assisted navigated Columbus Total Knee Arthroplasty. He has presented this technique and taught thousands of surgeons in more than 20 states, Europe, and South America. His instructional video for surgeon training has taught countless others.
Dr. Fracchia also designed and wrote much of Mather Hospital’s total joint education seminar, as well as pre-op, intra-op, and post-op protocols. This seminar helps thousands of people understand the complexities of arthritis and their treatment options. To find out about the next seminar, visit www.matherhospital .org or at 631-686-7876.
Dr. Fracchia also:
• Serves as director of the department of orthopedic surgery at Mather Hospital
• Serves as director of surgical education for Aesculap Implant Systems
• Was honored by Hofstra University & Long Island Business New as a HEALTHCARE HERO, 2008
• Received the J.T. Mather Theodore Roosevelt Award, 2009
• Designed smaller knee implants & revision knee implants
• Improved navigation software
• Designed surgical instruments
A firm believer in providing compassionate care to all patients, Dr. Fracchia strives to treat each patient as a unique individual and to relieve their pain and discomfort quickly and completely, so they can return to all the activities they enjoy. He joined Orlin & Cohen in 2019, following the acquisition of Long Island Bone & Joint, which he co-founded in 1998.
