About Us

Experienced. Innovative. Female-led.

Thunder Orthopedics opened its doors in 2023 and has quickly become renowned for its innovation in musculoskeletal health and is powered by a team with deep experience in orthopedic surgery. Thank you to our patients for recognizing us with the Gold Award for Finest Orthopedic Surgeon for the second year in a row. We are very joyful to serve this community.  We combine over a decade of experience in both direct anterior hip replacements and quad-sparing knee replacements, with cutting edge innovations such as robotic surgery and photo biomodulation therapy.  After surgery, over 85% of our patients feel so well that they can return home the same day.  A seasoned and mature surgeon who has been practicing locally since 2014, Dr. Megan Swanson and her phenomenal staff are committed to providing outstanding patient-centered care. 

“Are you getting your 150?”

At Thunder Orthopedics, we believe that each person is a masterpiece and has their own proverbial race to run.  We consistently seek new ways to keep you moving and enjoying life.  The American Heart Association recommends that adults get 150 minutes of exercise a week.  This helps cardiovascular health but is also essential for mental health.  At Thunder Orthopedics we want to support all your goals. If you are not getting your 150 minutes of exercise, please call us and we can help.  We work with health professionals across the continuum to coordinate a complete musculoskeletal health care plan recognizing that mobility engages the whole body.

Local. Homegrown. Authentic.

Thunder Orthopedics recognizes that local businesses are the backbone of our community, offering unique products and services that reflect the areas’ character and culture… And we are truly “homegrown,” with a staff that graduated from schools such as UVA, JMU, WAHS, CHS, and MHS.  That’s a lot of initials to say: we live here and want to take care of our neighbors. When you walk into Thunder Orthopedics, we know your name and we want to know your dog’s name. We want to know what makes you happy and how we can help you.  We are proud to have provided urgent care to some of the area’s finest athletes with their sports injuries.

Announcements

October 2024

Dr. Megan Swanson, Charlottesville’s Finest Orthopedic Surgeon 2024

Thunder Orthopedics would like to thank our patients and our community for recognizing us with the GOLD award as Charlottesville’s Finest Orthopedic Surgeon.
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March 2024

Dr. Megan Swanson now offering partial knee replacements

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Megan Swanson is now offering partial knee replacements. This innovative procedure can provide significant relief for patients while preserving a healthy joint function

January 2024

Dr. Megan Swanson, named one of 2024 Virginia's Top Orthopedic Surgeons

Thunder Orthopedics is proud to announce that Dr. Megan Swanson is one of a few MDs in Charlottesville and the ONLY female physician in the state… named to the Virginia 2024 Top Doctor list for Orthopedic Surgery.
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September 2023

Dr. Megan Swanson, Charlottesville’s Finest Orthopedic Surgeon 2023

Dr. Megan Swanson, Orthopedic Surgeon and Owner of Thunder Orthopedics, won the Charlottesville’s Finest award for Orthopedic Surgeon of 2023 by the Charlottesville Radio Group. This is an outstanding recognition for Dr. Swanson, as she further demonstrated her investment in and dedication to the Charlottesville community. Dr. Swanson opened the doors to her independent practice, Thunder Orthopedics, at the beginning of 2023.
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Dr. Megan Swanson now offering Mako SmartRobotics for joint replacement population

Soaring Surgery Center is the first Ambulatory Surgery Center in central Virginia to offer Mako SmartRobotics™. This advancement in joint replacement surgery transforms the way joint replacements are performed, by helping surgeons know more and cut less.1-5* In clinical studies, Mako demonstrated the potential for patients to experience less pain, less need for opiate analgesics, less need for inpatient physical therapy, reduction in length of hospital stay, improved knee flexion and greater soft tissue protection in comparison to manual techniques.3,6

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