
Dr. Richard Smith MD.
Orthopedist
289 Pleasant St Falls River MA, 02720About
Richard W. Smith, MD, works at Prima-care PC in various locations across Rhode Island. He specializes in a variety of orthopedic procedures to correct bone and joint injuries, especially in the field of sports medicine. A former Navy officer in Operation Desert Storm, Dr. Smith also provides sport medicine coverage and coaching to local sports teams.
Education and Training
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown Univ Sch of Med, Washington Dc 1984
Board Certification
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery- Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopaedic SurgeryAmerican Board of Orthopaedic SurgeryABOS
Provider Details

Dr. Richard Smith MD.'s Expert Contributions
We believe my mother dislocated her shoulder. What should we do?
If you think your mother has dislocated her shoulder, you should take her to the emergency room and have X-rays taken to confirm the diagnosis. She may have a fracture of her shoulder as well, so X-rays are necessary in this instance. READ MORE
Can a knee surgery help in relieving the pain due to arthritis?
Like all joint conditions, nonsurgical treatment is the preferred initial management. It is important to define the cause of your knee pain; if it is arthritis, then nonoperative treatments include physical therapy, weight loss and conditioning, over-the-counter medications (advil or aleve, tylenol in appropriate doses), and possibly injections all as the first lines of care. Don't rush into any surgery yet. Ultimately, arthritis is typically is progressive and arthroscopic surgery does not alter the course of deterioration, which leads to joint replacement surgery. READ MORE
partial vs full joint replacment
Your knee consist of three distinct compartments; the inner side (medial), the outer side (lateral) and the kneecap (patella). Arthritis can affect all three compartments and if it does, you need all the compartments replaced and this is a full knee replacement. If only one compartment has arthritis and the knee is otherwise healthy, you may be a candidate for a partial replacement. Partial knee replacements are not performed as stop gap measures to "buy you time to a full knee", they are performed as end line operations just like a full or total knee replacement. If however, future surgery needs to be performed on a partial knee for wearing or loosening, this second operation is relatively easy as compared to a second procedure on a full knee. READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
Treatments
- sports medicine , throwing athlete , partial and total knee replacements
Internships
- University of Massachusetts Medical Center
Professional Society Memberships
- Massachusetts Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, New England Orthopaedic Association, National Medical Association, Eastern Orthopaedic Medical Association
Professional Affiliations
- NEOS, EOA, MOA
What do you attribute your success to?
Consistency in Patient Care, Education, Research, Technology, Making a Difference in the Field
Hobbies / Sports
- Family, Friends, Golf, Soccer, Traveling
Dr. Richard Smith MD.'s Practice location
Falls River , MA 02720Get Direction
Practice At 235 Hanover St
235 Hanover St -Fall River, MA 02720Get Direction
Dr. Richard Smith MD.'s reviews
Write ReviewPatient Experience with Dr. Smith
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Nearest Hospitals
SAINT ANNE'S HOSPITALl
795 MIDDLE STREET FALL RIVER MA 2721MORTON HOSPITALl
88 WASHINGTON STREET TAUNTON MA 2780SAINT ANNE'S HOSPITALl
795 MIDDLE STREET FALL RIVER MA 2721MORTON HOSPITALl
88 WASHINGTON STREET TAUNTON MA 2780