Local graduate offers total hip replacement surgery at SPH
Lars Matkin, MD, performed a hip replacement surgery at South Peninsula Hospital in January, rounding out the full suite of orthopedic surgeries now offered here. This event marks the first total hip replacement in recent times. Michael Craig, the recipient of the new hip, is a local resident of Homer and expressed delight in being able to access this expertise in Homer. Craig was up and walking hours after the surgery, and reported nothing but good outcomes at his follow-up appointment.
“I really don’t like driving and I really want to get my care locally,” Michael shared while visiting with the surgeon the day after surgery. Michael already had a relationship with SPH’s Dr. Brent Adcox and Dr. Kurt Mentzer for other orthopedic care, and he really appreciated the quickness and ease in which they were able to connect him to Dr. Matkin for assessment and scheduling. Though he’d never met Dr. Matkin before, Craig had been acquainted with his father for many years. Between knowing his dad, and being referred by Dr. Adcox, he felt very comfortable and was excited to be the first patient to have this surgery here.
Homer born and raised, Matkin attended medical school at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and credits time spent with Dr. Adcox as his inspiration to practicing orthopedics. He practices mostly in Anchorage, but now joins the SPH orthopedics team in Homer on a twice monthly basis, focusing on patients with hip issues.
Matkin joins South Peninsula Orthopedics where two full time orthopedic surgeons, Brent Adcox and Kurt Mentzer, offer a full range of orthopedic services including sports medicine, orthopedic surgeries, total joint replacements and care of cervical and lumbar spinal disorders. Adcox, the founding provider at South Peninsula Orthopedics, completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University Of Texas Health Sciences Center, and completed his spine fellowship at South Texas Spinal Clinic. Mentzer earned a Fellowship at Hand Center of San Antonio and completed residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center.
Matkin really appreciates the levels of support here as compared to other places. From a very effective and talented surgical staff and the familiarity of relationships found only in a small town, to a very diverse physical rehabilitation team which offers all types of specialties and even does home visits, Matkin is super impressed with the whole patient care experience here and looks forward to expanding his practice in the coming years.
South Peninsula Orthopedics is located at 4201 Bartlett Street, Homer. Appointments can be made by calling (907) 235-0310.