About Dr. Paletta
Dr. George Paletta Jr, is a nationally and internationally recognized orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. His practice focus includes upper extremity problems of the shoulder and elbow, especially in overhead throwing athletes, as well as knee ligament, meniscus and cartilage surgery. He also has a special interest in the pediatric and adolescent athlete.
He is a 1984 graduate of Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts where he completed a degree in chemistry and was an Academic All-American lacrosse player. He completed his medical degree at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1988. His orthopedic residency was at the world renowned Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. His training included 3 post-graduate fellowships in various disciplines of sports medicine. He completed a Fellowship in Sports Medicine Research at Hospital for Special Surgery, an Adult Sports Medicine Fellowship at The Cleveland Clinic and a Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine Fellowship at Children's Hospital of Michigan.
His professional career has included both academic and private practice. He began his practice at Hospital for Special Surgery from 1996-1998. From 1998-2005 he was a member of the faculty of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine where he served as Assistant then Associate Professor, Chief of Sports Medicine and Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship. In 2005 he joined The Orthopedic Center of St. Louis, a private practice orthopedic group.
Dr. Paletta was Team Physician for the St. Louis Rams from 1998 to 2003 and Head Team Physician and Medical Director for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1998 to 2014. He completed his MBA from Washington University in St Louis in May 2015. He rejoined the St. Louis Cardinals as Head Team Orthopedic Surgeon in 2016.
Procedures
Shoulder Arthroscopy
Shoulder stabilization
Labral repair
Rotator cuff repair
Elbow arthroscopy
Tommy John procedure/UCL Reconstruction
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Primary Repair
Biceps/Triceps repair
Golfer/Tennis Elbow surgery
Ulnar nerve surgery
Knee arthroscopy
ACL reconstruction
Ligament repair/reconstruction
Mensicus repair
Cartilage restoration procedures
Patient Stories
Insurance
If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.
Credentials
Appointments
Director of Sports Medicine, HSS Florida
Orthopedic Surgeon, HSS Florida
Affiliations
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
American Orthopaedic Association for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)
American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES)
Major League Team Physicians Association (MLBTPA)
Certification
Board certified - American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
Education
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 1988
Internship
Northwestern University Hospital, Chicago, IL, 1989
Residency
Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, 1994
Fellowship
Hospital for Special Surgery Research Fellowship, New York, NY, 1990
Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 1995
Children's Hospital of Michigan Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine, Detroit, MI, 1996
State Licensure
Languages
English
Publications by Dr. Paletta
Research
Dr. Paletta has research interests in the areas of elbow ulnar collateral ligament injury and repair as well as shoulder conditions affecting the overhead and throwing athletes such as baseball players. His particular interests include researching methods to improve clinical outcomes and advance surgical techniques to shorten times to return to play. He also has interest in knee meniscus preservation and meniscus repair and stabilization. He is involved in pioneering research on the role of meniscus extrusion in the development of osteoarthritis and in techniques to surgically stabilize the meniscus, eliminate extrusion and restore meniscus function.