Workers’ Compensation & Work Injury Care at Mass General

Orthopaedic Evaluation and Specialized Care for Work-Related Injuries

A workplace injury can affect your ability to work, remain active, and perform everyday activities. Finding the right specialist is an important step toward understanding your injury and developing an appropriate treatment plan.

Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General) offers specialized orthopaedic care for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. Depending on the nature of your injury, evaluation may involve specialists in spine surgery, sports medicine, hand and arm surgery, foot and ankle surgery, shoulder care, hip and knee care, or orthopaedic trauma.

Pat Bovonratwet, MD, is an orthopaedic spine surgeon at Mass General and an Member of the Faculty at Harvard Medical School. His clinical practice focuses on work-related neck and back injuries, with expertise in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery.

For patients whose injuries involve other parts of the musculoskeletal system, the Mass General orthopaedic team includes specialists in additional areas of orthopaedic care. When appropriate, patients and referring professionals can inquire about referral to the relevant subspecialty.

Orthopaedic Care for Work-Related Injuries

Workplace injuries can involve the spine, joints, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, hands, feet, and other parts of the musculoskeletal system.

Depending on the injury, orthopaedic evaluation may involve:

• Spine care: Neck pain, back pain, herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and nerve compression.

• Sports medicine: Selected injuries involving the shoulder, knee, and other joints, including ligament, tendon, and cartilage conditions.

• Hand and arm care: Injuries and conditions affecting the hand, wrist, elbow, and upper extremity.

• Shoulder care: Rotator cuff injuries, shoulder instability, and other shoulder conditions.

• Foot and ankle care: Injuries involving the foot, ankle, tendons, and supporting structures.

• Hip and knee care: Joint injuries, degenerative conditions, and other problems affecting mobility.

• Orthopaedic trauma: Fractures and other significant injuries involving the musculoskeletal system.

The appropriate specialist depends on the location, severity, and nature of the injury, as well as the patient's clinical needs.

Specialized Spine Care With Dr. Pat Bovonratwet

For workers with neck or back injuries, Dr. Bovonratwet provides specialized evaluation of spinal conditions that may develop or become symptomatic following a workplace incident.

His practice includes the evaluation and treatment of herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, nerve compression, and other spinal conditions.

When surgery is appropriate, Dr. Bovonratwet specializes in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery for selected patients. These techniques can treat certain spinal conditions through smaller surgical corridors while limiting disruption to surrounding tissues.

Not every spinal condition requires surgery, and not every patient is a candidate for an endoscopic procedure. Treatment recommendations are individualized according to the diagnosis, examination, imaging findings, previous treatment, and functional goals.

For more detailed information about his approach to work-related spine injuries, visit the Workers’ Compensation Spine Surgery in Massachusetts and New England page.

Connecting Patients With the Appropriate Orthopaedic Specialist

Not every workplace injury requires spine surgery, and some patients may need evaluation by a different orthopaedic subspecialist.

Mass General's orthopaedic services encompass multiple specialties. Patients, referring physicians, case managers, and other professionals can inquire about the appropriate service based on the patient's injury and clinical needs.

If your injury involves the neck or back, you may inquire about an evaluation with Dr. Bovonratwet. For injuries involving other parts of the body, the Mass General orthopaedic referral team can help identify the relevant specialty and explain the referral process.

The availability of a particular appointment or referral depends on the clinical circumstances and applicable scheduling and authorization requirements.

Information for Workers’ Compensation Patients

If you are seeking medical evaluation after a workplace injury, it can be helpful to have the following information available:

• A description of the injury and when it occurred

• Your current symptoms and functional limitations

• Previous medical evaluations and treatment

• Relevant imaging studies and reports

• Medical records from other treating clinicians

• Workers’ compensation claim and insurer information

• Current work restrictions, if applicable

Workers’ compensation claims may involve specific requirements for referrals, provider selection, insurance authorization, and approval of treatment. These requirements vary by claim and insurer.

Contact your workers’ compensation insurer or claims representative to clarify the applicable requirements before scheduling or proceeding with services when authorization is needed.

Information for Referring Physicians, Case Managers, and Attorneys

Mass General's orthopaedic services evaluate a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions, including injuries that occur in the workplace.

Referring professionals may inquire about the appropriate orthopaedic specialty based on the patient's injury, prior evaluation, and treatment needs.

When making a referral, relevant documentation may include the clinical history, physical examination findings, imaging, previous treatment records, occupational demands, and workers’ compensation claim information.

Request Information About Workers’ Compensation Care

If you have sustained a work-related injury and need orthopaedic evaluation, the appropriate next step is to identify the specialty that best matches your condition.

For neck and back injuries, you can contact Dr. Bovonratwet's office to inquire about a spine consultation at Mass General. For injuries involving other parts of the musculoskeletal system, the Mass General orthopaedic referral team can help direct your inquiry to the appropriate service.

Contact the office to inquire about a workers’ compensation spine consultation or referral options at Mass General.

Request a Spine Consultation

If you have a work-related neck or back injury, contact Pat Bovonratwet, MD’s office to discuss your symptoms, prior treatment, and potential next steps.

The office can help clarify available appointment options, including whether a virtual visit is appropriate, and what records or imaging may be needed for an evaluation.