Thomas Bates, MD, AAOS

Thomas E. Bates, MD is an expert in Adult Joint Reconstruction and Sports Medicine. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery in both Orthopedic Surgery and holds a Subspecialty Certification in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. He completed his specialty training in Adult Reconstruction at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He is a graduate of LaSalle University and Temple University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia. He served in the U.S. Navy for eleven years including a tour of MCAS Cherry Point as a wing and NASA flight surgeon. He served overseas as the Musculoskeletal Department Head at U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, Italy.  He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.

Dr. Bates is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, and several other orthopedic surgeon and medical societies. He is the Medical Director for the Carolinas Center for Joint and Spine and the Orthopedic Champion for the Geriatric Fracture program.

Dr. Bates has a broad range of Orthopedic knowledge with a special interest in Arthritis, Joint Replacement, Arthroscopy, and Sports Medicine. His field of expertise includes arthroscopic surgical techniques in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle. He has a special interest in minimally invasive and joint preserving techniques for both the older and younger patient with arthritis including MAKO robotic partial and total knee replacement and total hip replacement. He is dedicated to the team approach to patient care, involving therapists, primary care physicians, and the patients family to ensure a speedy recovery and return to sports, work, and recreational activities. He lives and works in Morehead City and Jacksonville, North Carolina.