Michael Wright, MD

Dr. Michael Wright is a fellowship-trained, board-certified sports medicine doctor with an interest and expertise in arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, hip and knee. Dr. Wright specializes in ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, meniscus knee surgery, shoulder instability, hip labrum surgery, patellar instability, articular cartilage procedures, and shoulder replacement surgery.

Dr. Wright joined the Missoula Bone & Joint team in 2017, after completing his fellowship training in Sports Medicine at UCLA and working with the LA Lakers. The focus of his practice is joint preservation. Dr. Wright works with his patients to explore all treatment options including non-surgical solutions such as physical therapy, oral medications, home exercise programs and injections. Dr. Wright shows patient x-rays and discusses treatment options so the patient can make an informed decision about what is best for them. 

If surgery is necessary, Dr. Wright can perform a variety of open and arthroscopic surgeries at Missoula Bone & Joint’s Outpatient Surgery Center or at Providence St. Patrick's Hospital. Arthroscopic surgery is used to relieve pain, improve joint stability, remove loose bodies within the joint, repair labral tears, and delay the onset of osteoarthritis and possibly delay the need for a total joint replacement. Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows your surgeon to see the structures inside your joint utilizing small incisions and minimally invasive techniques. Common arthroscopic surgeries include rotator cuff repair, ACL knee reconstruction, shoulder labral repairs, hip labral repairs, knee meniscus repairs, to name a few.

He lives in Missoula with his wife and four children. He loves spending time in the outdoors with his family, teaching them to ski and enjoying all the activities Montana has to offer. He volunteers his time as part of the sports medicine team providing medical coverage at Hellgate High School. 

To read what patients are saying about the quality orthopedic care they have received from Dr. Wright please scroll further down this page, or click here.

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle WA 2007-2011

Internship: University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 2011-2012

Residency: University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 2012-2016

Fellowship: Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 2016-2017

Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons

State Licensed: Montana, California

Joined Practice: 2017

Professional Memberships:

• American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
• American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons Board
• Arthroscopy Association of North America

If you were a patient with Dr. Wright at St. Joseph Medical Clinic in Polson, please schedule any future appointments at our Missoula clinic (406)721-4436 or click here to request an appointment

DR. WRIGHT’S TEAM

Jenny is the dedicated orthopedic assistant for Dr. Wright’s patients. Jenny works closely with Dr. Wright to make sure that each patient’s needs are met. If you have questions or concerns you can phone Jenny directly at (406)532-8781.

Jason Enewold is a Physician Assistant, PA-C, who works closely with Dr. Wright in both surgery and the clinic. Jason also evaluates and treats patients who come to our Orthopedic Urgent Care.

ESPN PODCAST: SPORTS MEDICINE JOURNAL WITH DR. MICHAEL WRIGHT AND COLTER NUANEZ

Dr. Wright joins Colter Nuanez of ESPN Missoula on “Nuanez Now” during the Sports Medicine Journal. It is an informative show that discusses a variety of sports injuries that afflict athletes and weekend warriors. Dr. Wright analyzes diagnoses, severity, repair, recovery and much more.

Click the links below to listen to previous podcasts:

Meniscus in the knee – Sept 2022 – the meniscus is a really important part of the anatomy of the knee; the medial (inside) and the lateral (outside) meniscus. It helps with shock absorption and distributes the load that comes down your leg with movement. They are susceptible to injury because of the knee function, particularly twisting. The extent of the injury is dictated by the tear pattern.

Ankle sprains, rotator cuff injuries – January 2022 – high ankle sprains, particularly eversion sprains, along with shoulder rotator cuff injuries and potential minor knee injuries in football games.

Knee injuries, ankle injuries and fractures

Hip and shoulder labrum injuries

Hamstring injuries

PATIENT EDUCATION HANDOUTS AND VIDEOS

IN OUR COMMUNITY

Missoulian Article October 22, 2022 – Dr. Wright was a graduate from the WWAMI Medical Education program in 2011 and was interviewed by The Missoulian for this article. Click here to read page 1 and page 2.

Sports Medicine Coverage: Dr. Wright is providing sports medicine coverage for Hellgate High School in the 2022/2023 school year, working closely with Paul Capp, LAT, Hellgate Athletic Trainer.

Hobbies/Personal Interests: Hiking, backpacking, skiing, hunting, fishing, hanging out with my wife and four children.

Get to know your doc!

• What is your most interesting orthopedic experience? Taking care of the NBA Los Angeles Lakers during fellowship at UCLA was a phenomenal experience. Being able to meet the players and take care of their medical needs on a daily basis was an experience I will always cherish. The player’s level of athleticism on the court is remarkable, and it was fun to get a behind the scenes look at taking care of professional athletes.

ARTICLES

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

1. Wright MP, Michelson JM. Easily Missed? Lisfranc Injuries. British Medical Journal. 347:1-38. No 7928. October 2013.
2. Minehan KJ, Brown PD, Scheithauer BD, Wright MP, Krauss WE. Prognosis and Treatment of Spinal Cord Astrocytoma. Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys. 1;73(3):727-33, March 2009.
3. Wright MP, Gross T. The effects of muscle paralysis on tibial bone structure at one month and one year in skeletally mature rats. Abstract. Journal of Investigative Medicine, Vol. 57(1),435, January 2009.
4. Michelson JD, Wright MP, Blankstein M. Syndesmotic Ankle Fractures: A Systematic Review. Journal of Orthopedic Trauma, Vol.32(1):10-14, January 2018.

BOOK CHAPTERS

Bartlett CS, Wright MP, Monier B, Lesiak A. Management of Gunshot Wounds. Encyclopedia of Trauma Care. Springer publishing, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA. 2015.

PUBLISHED MEDIA

Silverman A, Russell G, feat. Wright MP, Michelson JM. Sharing in Vermont: Committee a ‘conduit’ for goodwill. USA Today. November 27, 2012. 4A. Print

Sutkoski M, Russell G, feat. Wright MP, Michelson JM. Helping Homeless Walk in the Winter. Burlington Free Press. November 22, 2012. 1B. Print

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

1. Wright MP “Evaluation and Mangement of Hamstring Injuries in Athletes” Missoula Bone & Joint, Montana Orthopedic Society Annual Meeting, Big Sky, MT, January 2018
2. Wright MP, Sai Davana B.S, James Chen MD, Andrew Jensen MD, Anthony D’Oro B.S, Frank Petrigliano MD “The Prevalence of Consecutive Procedures Among Patients with Both Shoulder and Cervical Spine Pathology” University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Orthopedic Surgery Sports Medicine Conference. June 28th, 2017
3. Wright MP, Argentieri E, Sturnick D, Gardner-Morse M, Tourville T, Johnson RJ, DeSarno M, Slauterbeck J, Beynnon B. “Tibial Plateau Articular Cartilage Thickness Changes 4-5 years after ACL injury” University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, Department of Orthopedic Surgery Resident Research Day, June 17th, 2016.
4. Wright MP, Gross TS. “The effects of muscle paralysis on tibial bone structure at one month and one year in skeletally mature rats” Western Student Medical Research Forum, Carmel, CA, University of Washington School of Medicine, p.435. January 2009.
5. Minehan KJ, Brown PD, Scheithauer BD, Wright MP, Krauss WE. Prognosis and Treatment of Spinal Cord Astrocytoma. American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting. Los Angeles, CA. November 2007.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

1. Argentiere E, Sturnick D, DeSarno M, Gardner-Morse M, Tourville T, Wright MP, Slauterbeck J, Johnson R, Beynnon R. Within subject changes to tibial articular cartilage thickness 4-5 years post ACL-injury. Orthopedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Las Vagas, NV. March 2015.
2. Wright MP, Poliachik SL, Bremner S, Ward S, Minamoto V, Gross TS. The effects of muscle paralysis on tibial bone structure at one month and one year in skeletally mature rats. Medical Student Poster Session, Seattle, WA, University of Washington School of Medicine. November 17 2008.
3. Wright MP, Teintze M, Wilkinson R, Brewer J, Driggers C. Using NGAL to Mimick the CD4 Binding Site on gp120. Undergraduate Scholars Program Poster Session. Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, April 2006.

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