About Us

David A. Sugar, MD

Dr. Sugar believes in treating patients as though they are family members, even going so far as to ask questions like, “How would I treat this woman if she were my grandmother?” As a surgeon, he is naturally fascinated with the human body and with quality surgical techniques, but when asked about the most satisfying aspect of his work, he is quick to say, “People.”

“I’m so humbled that people come to see me,” he says, “They are often feeling anxious and uncertain, and I can play a role in helping them to leave here feeling comfortable. It’s incredibly gratifying to be a part of people’s lives like that.”

As a Florida native, Dr. Sugar is fully immersed in the Sarasota community where he and his wife, Stephanie, are raising their three boys. Besides a secret ambition to be a guest star on Saturday Night Live, Dr. Sugar can think of no better way to spend his days off than with his family. He says that together they are “psycho Rays fans” and they love fishing, spending time with friends, or working on scouting projects together.

Having met just after med school, David and Stephanie Sugar have, in their words, “grown up together.” They like to keep a low-key, young-at-heart approach to their lives and their practice, with the goal being to provide a warm, relaxed, family atmosphere for staff and patients.

Dr. Sugar considers it an honor when you choose him for your orthopaedic needs. He is committed to providing care and service that is in keeping with that honor.

Joint pain often comes from a deterioration in the tendons and cartilage stabilizing the joint. As the tissue breaks down, it causes the joint to no longer function properly. When this occurs, you may experience pain coming from the joint. This pain starts as a mild discomfort, but eventually it can take over, preventing you from moving the joint at all. Any movement you perform with the injured area of your body becomes more and more difficult, including walking, opening doors, shaking hands or taking showers. In order to restore your bodys functionality while reducing pain, you may believe the only option you have available is through a replacement surgery. After all, millions of Americans undergo some sort of a replacement surgery every year with these numbers growing each and every year. The practice is now commonplace, and while recovery time is down from what it might have been just a handful of years ago, youll still find yourself in pain for months, if not well over a year. That is why you need to look towards regenerating damaged tendons and cartilage instead of replacing it.

Replacing the Joint

When people say replacement surgery, it usually isnt the entire joint being removed. While some areas might require a full replacement (such as a hip), it usually is just the replacement of damaged tendons. Humans put much more stress on joints now than ever before. From athletic competitions to the body simply weighing more, over time this wears down the tendons and
joints which is why more and more people are undergoing replacement surgery. Scars are smaller and now, with recovering time down, it would make sense to receive the replacement surgery.

However, replacement surgery is not always the best option. Now, in some cases it is the only option, especially if a tendon completely tears free. Should this happen, surgery needs to happen quickly in order to either reattach it or replace it. In the event of deterioration where the tendon is still attached, it is much better to regenerate the damaged tissue instead of having it replaced.

Stem Cells Offer Tissue Regeneration

Stem cells are blank cells that take on the identity of cells it comes in contact with. By injecting stem cells into the damaged joint, the cells eventually take on the identity of the tendons and cartilage or other damaged tissue. As this occurs, the damaged area is restored and repaired thanks to this new tissue regeneration. But where do stem cells come from? Stem cells can be found inside of the body in many different locations, but usually it is removed from the marrow of a bone. The hip bone offers the clearest access point, so when performing stem cell treatments, the cells are retrieved through a small incision made to access the hip bone.

Your Doctor Can Tell You What is Right

Stem cell treatments is one of the fastest growing joint treatments in the country. It doesnt have an extensive recovery time and patients dont need to have artificial material placed inside of their body. They just need to sit down and talk with their doctor to make sure it is right for them.