Orthopaedic Clinic in Grenada: Bone, Joint & Sports Injury Care on the Spice Isle
TL;DR: Grenada has dedicated orthopaedic and musculoskeletal care available right here on the Spice Isle. The Grenada Orthopaedic and Trauma Centre (GOTC) in St. George's is the island's specialist facility for fractures, joint problems, sports injuries, and rehabilitation. This guide covers who to see, what treatments are available, how the referral pathway works, and where to find physiotherapy support.
Knee pain that won't quit. A cricket injury that flared up on the field. A slipped ankle on a trail above Grand Etang. Whatever brought you here, you need the same thing: clear information about orthopaedic care in Grenada.
The good news is that the Spice Isle has specialist musculoskeletal services available locally. You don't always need to fly to Barbados or Trinidad for bone and joint care. A dedicated orthopaedic clinic operates right in St. George's, supported by a network of physiotherapists and a well-organised public/private referral system.
This guide is for residents, expats, students at St. George's University, and visitors who need to understand their options. We cover the key providers on the island, what to expect at each stage of care, and how sports injuries are handled during Grenada's busy cricket and football seasons. Whether you're dealing with a fresh fracture or a long-standing joint problem, here's what you need to know.
What does an orthopaedic surgeon actually treat?
An orthopaedic surgeon diagnoses and treats problems with your bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons. This covers everything from a broken wrist to a worn-out knee joint to a torn ACL from a football tackle. Surgery is one option, but many conditions are managed without it.
Orthopaedics is the medical specialty dedicated to your musculoskeletal system, which includes your bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. When any part of that system is injured or deteriorating, an orthopaedist steps in.
Common conditions that bring people to an orthopaedic clinic include:
- Fractures and dislocations from falls, road accidents, or sport
- Ligament and tendon tears, including ACL and rotator cuff injuries
- Arthritis of the knee, hip, shoulder, or hand
- Back and spine problems, including herniated discs
- Sports injuries such as ankle sprains, hamstring tears, and stress fractures
- Joint pain that has not responded to rest or medication
Orthopaedic doctors typically try non-surgical treatments first, such as bracing, physiotherapy, or joint injections. Surgery becomes an option when conservative care fails, or when the injury requires it right away.
The Grenada Orthopaedic and Trauma Centre (GOTC)
If you're looking for specialist orthopaedic care on the Spice Isle, GOTC is the place to start. The Grenada Orthopaedic and Trauma Centre operates on Belmont Road in St. George's. It is the island's dedicated facility for musculoskeletal and trauma care.
GOTC is led by Dr. Kester Dragon MD, FCSOT, LLM, an Orthopaedic Surgeon and Traumatologist with over 25 years of experience. He has been listed by the US Embassy in Grenada as a recommended specialist, and his credentials include a Fellowship of the College of Surgeons of the Organisation of the Traumatological Surgeries (FCSOT).
Alongside Dr. Dragon, GOTC's consultant team includes:
- Dr. Aymee Aruca Machú MD, a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with 20 years of experience. She focuses on helping patients recover their physical function through structured rehabilitation protocols.
- Dr. Adedapo Oladiran MBBS, FRCS, FACS, a Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon with a Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons in England and further specialist training at Albany Medical Center, New York.
- Dr. Emile Mohammed MB ChB, FRCP, a Specialist in General Internal and Renal Medicine, trained at the University of Aberdeen and King's College Hospital, London.
This multi-specialist model means GOTC can handle complex cases where orthopaedic trauma intersects with vascular or systemic health concerns.
Clinic hours: Mon to Friday: 9:00am to 6:30pm Saturday: 9:00am to 12:00 noon
Contact: grenadaotc.com | customercare@grenadaotc.com | +1 473 440-3639
What orthopaedic treatments are available at GOTC?
GOTC provides a broad range of orthopaedic services from its St. George's clinic. These include an Acute Fracture Clinic, PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy, viscosupplementation injections for joint pain, digital X-ray, day-case surgical operations, and a specialist orthopaedic pharmacy stocking braces, splints, and joint supports.
Here is a closer look at what each service involves:
Acute Fracture Clinic: For broken bones that need immediate specialist assessment. GOTC can assess, image with digital X-ray, and manage fracture care on the same visit.
PRP Therapy: Platelet Rich Plasma treatment uses a concentrated sample of the patient's own blood to promote healing in tendons, ligaments, and joints. It is a popular non-surgical option for chronic tendon injuries and osteoarthritis.
Viscosupplementation: This is a series of injections that introduce a lubricating fluid (hyaluronic acid) into a damaged joint, most commonly the knee. It is used when arthritis causes pain and reduced movement but joint replacement is not yet necessary.
Day-Case Surgical Operations: GOTC performs orthopaedic and ophthalmic day procedures at its centre, meaning patients can have surgery and go home the same day without an overnight hospital stay.
Pain Management Services: The clinic provides peripheral nerve blocks (including ultrasound-guided), epidural and paravertebral blocks, and medicated pain management for complex cases including cancer-related pain.
Orthopaedic Pharmacy: A specialist on-site pharmacy stocks orthopaedic braces, splints, and joint support products, which are often hard to source elsewhere on the island.
This combination of diagnostic, non-surgical, and surgical services makes GOTC the most comprehensive orthopaedic resource on the Spice Isle.
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How does the public versus private orthopaedic pathway work?
Emergency orthopaedic cases in Grenada go to St. George's General Hospital first. The General Hospital stabilises fractures and acute injuries through its Accident and Emergency department. For ongoing specialist care, most patients are then referred to a private clinic such as GOTC. Private GPs can also refer directly to specialists without going through the General Hospital.
Understanding the two-track system helps you make faster, smarter decisions in a medical situation.
The public route: St. George's General Hospital on Grand Etang Road is the island's primary emergency facility. It is a 200-bed teaching hospital affiliated with St. George's University and provides emergency surgery, trauma care, and imaging services. For acute orthopaedic trauma, such as road accident fractures or serious falls, the A&E department is the right first stop. The hospital's phone number is (473) 440-2051.
The private route: Private clinics like St. Augustine Medical Services (SAMS) in St. Paul's, St. George (phone: 473-440-6173) and GOTC offer faster appointment access, specialist consultations, and elective procedures. GPs can refer patients to pre-approved specialists through a formal referral pathway. This means your family doctor can direct you straight to GOTC without an A&E visit if your injury is non-emergency.
A practical tip for residents and expats: If you fracture something or have a serious acute injury, go to the General Hospital A&E first. For joint pain, sports injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, or anything that can wait a few days, book directly with GOTC. You will get faster access to the specialist services you need.
Patients on Carriacou and Petite Martinique have access to the Princess Royal Hospital in Hillsborough for initial assessment. For specialist orthopaedic care, a transfer or referral to St. George's is typically required.
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation on the Spice Isle
Orthopaedic treatment does not end with surgery or a cast. Rehabilitation is often the most important part of recovery. The Spice Isle has dedicated physiotherapy services that work alongside orthopaedic care.
Grenada Physiotherapy Limited operates on Woodlands Main Road in St. George. The practice has been operating for over 18 years and has treated thousands of patients locally. Their services cover musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions, sports injury rehabilitation, post-surgery recovery for hip, shoulder, knee, elbow, wrist, and spinal surgery, manual therapy, and dry needling.
You can find Grenada Physiotherapy Limited on GrenadaSearch with full contact and location details.
At GOTC itself, Dr. Aymee Aruca Machú provides specialist Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation services. With 20 years of experience across multiple countries, she designs rehabilitation protocols aimed at restoring bodily function and helping patients return to work and daily life. This is particularly valuable for patients recovering from day-case surgery performed at the clinic.
The combination of surgical expertise at GOTC and physiotherapy support from specialist practices means patients on the Spice Isle can complete much of their orthopaedic journey without leaving Grenada.
If your condition involves joint inflammation that may have a systemic cause, such as rheumatoid arthritis, the Grenada Rheumatology Clinic in Morne Rouge is another specialist resource worth knowing about, since rheumatology and orthopaedics often overlap.
Sports injuries in Grenada: when should you see a specialist?
Cricket and football are the dominant sports on the Spice Isle. Both generate a regular pattern of lower limb injuries, shoulder strains, and acute trauma during their respective seasons. You should see an orthopaedic specialist if pain persists beyond a few days, if there is significant swelling, if you cannot bear weight, or if the injury involves a joint that was already compromised.
Grenada takes sport seriously. Cricket is deeply woven into island life across all six mainland parishes, and football is played everywhere from St. Patrick in the north to St. David in the south. Olympic gold medallist Kirani James put Grenada on the global athletics map with his 400-metre win at London 2012, and that sporting spirit runs deep at every level of the community.
Common sports injuries seen in an orthopaedic clinic include:
- Ankle sprains and ligament tears from sudden directional changes in football
- Hamstring strains from explosive running in cricket and track athletics
- Shoulder injuries including rotator cuff strains from bowling or throwing
- Knee injuries, including meniscus damage and ACL tears
- Stress fractures from repetitive loading in runners and athletes
GOTC's Acute Fracture Clinic and PRP therapy are both directly relevant to sports injuries. PRP, in particular, is used widely to accelerate healing in soft tissue injuries that have not responded to rest and standard physiotherapy.
For athletes and coaches across the Spice Isle, early assessment is key. An injury that is ignored for weeks is often harder and more expensive to treat than one addressed promptly. If you are unsure whether your injury warrants specialist attention, contact GOTC directly for an initial assessment.
What to expect at your first orthopaedic consultation
Going to a specialist for the first time can feel daunting. Here is a brief, practical walkthrough.
Before your appointment: Gather any relevant documents, including previous X-rays, MRI or CT scans, GP referral letters, and a list of current medications. If you have health insurance, confirm that specialist orthopaedic consultations are covered and whether you need a pre-approval or referral letter before attending.
At the consultation: Your orthopaedic surgeon will review your medical history and ask detailed questions about your symptoms, how the injury or pain started, and how it affects your daily life. They will perform a physical examination of the affected area, including range-of-motion tests. At GOTC, digital X-ray is available on-site so imaging can often happen at the same visit.
After the assessment: You will receive a diagnosis and a treatment plan. This may involve bracing or splinting, physiotherapy referral, a course of injections, day-case surgery at the clinic, or, for complex cases, referral to a regional specialist in Barbados or Trinidad.
Insurance and costs: Around nine percent of Grenada's population holds private health insurance. Nationals are required to participate in the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), which covers work-related injuries. Expats and visitors should carry comprehensive international health cover that includes specialist consultations and potential surgical costs in the Caribbean region.
For a full directory of health providers operating across St. George's and the rest of the Spice Isle, browse the professional services listings on GrenadaSearch.
Conclusion
Orthopaedic care in Grenada is more accessible than most people realise. The Grenada Orthopaedic and Trauma Centre in St. George's provides the island's most comprehensive specialist musculoskeletal service, from fracture clinics and joint injections to day-case surgery and rehabilitation. The General Hospital handles acute emergencies, and Grenada Physiotherapy Limited offers high-quality post-injury and post-operative rehabilitation support.
Three things to take away:
- For non-emergency bone and joint problems, you can book directly with GOTC without going through A&E.
- Physiotherapy is a critical part of recovery. Grenada Physiotherapy Limited has nearly two decades of experience supporting local patients.
- Sports players across the Spice Isle should seek early orthopaedic assessment after any significant joint or soft tissue injury. Early treatment consistently leads to faster recovery.
Browse all Health & Medical providers in Saint George's on GrenadaSearch to find clinics, specialists, and practitioners across every category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an orthopaedic surgeon in Grenada? Yes. Dr. Kester Dragon MD, FCSOT, LLM is a board-qualified Orthopaedic Surgeon and Traumatologist based at the Grenada Orthopaedic and Trauma Centre (GOTC) on Belmont Road, St. George's. He has over 25 years of experience and can be reached at +1 473 440-3639. GOTC also offers specialist Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation services through Dr. Aymee Aruca Machú.
What is the difference between orthopaedics and physiotherapy? An orthopaedic surgeon diagnoses the root cause of your bone or joint problem and can perform procedures, including surgery and injections. A physiotherapist works on rehabilitation, using exercise, manual therapy, and techniques like dry needling to restore movement and strength. In most cases, both are involved in a full recovery plan. GOTC provides both under one roof, and Grenada Physiotherapy Limited on Woodlands Main Road offers dedicated physiotherapy services independently.
Can I go straight to GOTC or do I need a GP referral? You can contact GOTC directly to book a consultation. A GP referral is not required to access private specialist care in Grenada, though it can be helpful for insurance purposes. If your injury is an acute emergency, go to St. George's General Hospital A&E first.
Does GOTC treat sports injuries? Yes. GOTC's services include Acute Fracture Clinics, PRP therapy for soft tissue injuries, and day-case orthopaedic surgery. These are all commonly used in the management of sports-related injuries including ligament tears, tendon damage, and fractures. The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6:30pm, and Saturday from 9am to 12 noon.
What should I do if I injure myself in Grenada as a tourist or visitor? For a serious injury, go directly to St. George's General Hospital on Grand Etang Road (telephone 473-440-2051). For a non-emergency sports injury or joint problem, contact GOTC at +1 473 440-3639 or email customercare@grenadaotc.com. Visitors should ensure their travel insurance covers specialist medical consultations and potential orthopaedic procedures. The Grand Anse Medical Centre near the beach is also an accessible option for initial assessment before a specialist referral.