Nick N. Patel, M.D.

Biography

Nick Patel, MD is a fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacements. He currently serves as the Medical Director for the Center for Advanced Joint Replacement at Christiana Care.

Dr. Patel is a native of North East, MD and graduated from Tower Hill School in Wilmington, DE. He completed a dual degree in Biology from Emory University and Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, graduating with highest honors and a 4.0 GPA.

Dr. Patel obtained his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA where he subsequently also completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery. Training here included high volume elective surgeries at a dedicated Orthopaedic Hospital along with extensive trauma experience at one of the nation’s busiest trauma centers. While in residency, he performed research on the anterior approach for hip replacement along with methods to reduce infection in joint replacement.

After residency, Dr. Patel pursued a fellowship in hip and knee reconstructive surgery at Harvard University’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He has extensive training in both primary and complex/revision joint replacement. Dr. Patel also has a particular interest in the minimally invasive direct anterior hip replacement, partial knee replacement, and use of robotics in joint replacement surgery.

In addition to Christiana Care’s Center for Advanced Joint Replacement, he routinely performs surgery at Restore Orthopaedic Surgical Institute (ROSI), a specialized joint replacement surgery center. Through use of advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques, modern implant technology, and improved recovery protocols, Dr. Patel takes pride in offering exceptional joint replacement care.

He is a member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Dr. Patel's current research interests include integrating his engineering background with clinical medicine to improve outcomes in joint replacement patients.

Dr. Patel joined Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists in 2021 and is happy to be back in the Delaware community with his wife and husky.

Honors

• Top Doctor by Delaware Today: 2022, 2023, 2024

Direct Anterior Hip Replacement 

Dr. Patel performs direct anterior hip replacements for qualified DOS patients.

Anterior Hip Replacement

Anterior approach hip replacement is a newer technique to perform total hip replacement in which the surgery is performed through the front of the hip. In contrast to other approaches for hip replacement which require muscles and tendons to be cut, during anterior surgery, the surgeon accesses the hip joint by working in between muscle groups. As a result, there is less surgical trauma to area providing patients with an easier recovery. Additionally, surgeons can more easily use x-ray during anterior hip replacement which allows for more accurate implant positioning and sizing. Due to the improved recovery with anterior approach hip replacement, a significant portion of patients are able to discharge home same day.

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Advantages of Anterior Hip Replacement

Significant research has been performed comparing the anterior approach to other approaches for hip replacement.
Potential advantages include:
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• Less post-operative pain

• Improved early post-operative function

• Less surgical trauma

• Lower hip dislocation rate

• More accurate restoration of leg length

• Less post-operative restrictions

• Decreased hospital stay

• Smaller incision 

Iovera

Preoperative Cryoneurolysis for Knee Replacement 

• Can reduce pain and opioid use after surgery
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Nick Patel's Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Education

Undergraduate Degree

• B.S. in Biomedical Engineering - Georgia Institute of Technology 2011
• B.S. in Biology - Emory University 2011

​Medical School

• M.D. - Emory University School of Medicine 2015

Residency

• Orthopaedic Surgery - Emory University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 2020

Fellowship

• Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction - Harvard University's Brigham & Women's Hospital 2021