Dr. Melissa Wright, M.D.
Contact & Location
336-716-8200
Winston Salem, NC 27103
Saint Louis, MO 63110
Dr. Wright performs more shoulder replacement procedures than 78% of orthopedic surgeons in Missouri, based on 2024 Medicare claims volume.Derived from the state ranking shown on this page: #12 of 56 ranked shoulder surgeons in Missouri.
About Dr. Wright
Practice. Dr. Melissa Wright is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon practicing in Saint Louis, Missouri. The latest annual CMS data records 48 shoulder replacements. That is #12 in Missouri for shoulder replacement. A Medicare provider since 2014.
Trend. Medicare records run from 2022 to 2024, 3 years. Volume rose from 26 procedures a year to 48, up 85%.
National context. Among 2,217 shoulder replacement surgeons tracked nationally, 48 procedures is above the national average of 29.
Local context. Saint Louis has 57 orthopedic surgeons in the current Medicare data. Comparing volume and procedure mix across them is one way to narrow a shortlist. Dr. Wright also holds hospital privileges in MO and IL and IA, a practice that extends beyond Missouri.
Verified Case Volume Trends (2013-Current)
| Year | Shoulder Replacement |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 26 |
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 48 |
Verified Medicare Cases
How is this estimated?
Medicare Part B fee-for-service claims are one payer stream among several, and the share they represent differs by procedure. In 2024 it was 29% to 37% for shoulder replacement. Each verified count above is divided by its own procedure's range, and the results are added, to estimate total practice volume across all payers. The verified Medicare count is the definitive, audited figure; this is a range derived from published national volume projections, not a measurement, and an individual practice can sit well outside it: how these ranges are derived, and their sources.
How Dr. Wright Compares
Procedure volume compared to the Missouri state average.
Volume Trend Analysis
Dr. Wright's Medicare-recorded procedure volume has trended upward over 3 years, increasing 85% from 26 procedures in 2022 to 48 in the most recent data.
Hospital Affiliations & Quality
Quality ratings and complication rates are hospital-level metrics from CMS Hospital Compare and do not reflect individual surgeon performance. Star ratings updated quarterly. Complication data covers a rolling 3-year period.
Patient Resources: Preparing for Shoulder Replacement
If you are considering shoulder replacement surgery, these evidence-based guides can help you prepare and recover:
A step-by-step walkthrough of your surgical day, from pre-op preparation through anesthesia, the procedure itself, and the first hours of recovery.
Rehabilitation Roadmap: Your Complete Recovery GuideA structured physical therapy progression from the first post-op exercises through full strength and mobility restoration over 3 to 6 months.
Medicare Coverage for Joint ReplacementWhat Medicare Part A and Part B cover for joint replacement surgery, including hospital stays, surgeon fees, anesthesia, and physical therapy.
Shoulder Replacement Recovery Overview
Recovery timelines vary by patient, but here is a general overview of what to expect after shoulder replacement surgery:
Individual recovery varies based on overall health, age, and adherence to physical therapy. View full shoulder replacement recovery guide and product recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Wright
How does Dr. Wright's procedure volume compare to other Missouri surgeons?
Dr. Wright has performed 48 Medicare-verified joint replacement procedures. This is in line with the Missouri average of 59 procedures per surgeon. Dr. Wright ranks #94 out of 204 orthopedic surgeons in Missouri.
What types of joint replacement does Dr. Wright perform?
Dr. Wright's reported Medicare volume is focused on shoulder replacement, with 48 verified procedures. Some surgeons choose to concentrate on a single joint type to build deep procedural expertise.
How experienced is Dr. Wright with shoulder replacement surgery?
Dr. Wright ranks #12 in Missouri for shoulder replacement with 48 Medicare-verified procedures. This high ranking among 204 state surgeons indicates significant experience with this specific procedure.
Where is Dr. Wright's practice located?
Dr. Wright's current practice address is in Winston Salem, NC. That address is the current practice address in Dr. Wright's own CMS NPPES registry entry, which providers maintain themselves. The Medicare claims data used for the rankings on this page was billed from Saint Louis, Missouri.
What does the Medicare data for Dr. Wright represent?
The procedure counts shown are based on 2024 Medicare Part B fee-for-service claims data, published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare fee-for-service is only one payer stream, and the share of national volume it represents differs by procedure. In 2024 the share was 29% to 37% for shoulder replacement, which puts Dr. Wright's total volume across all insurers at roughly 130 to 170 procedures against the 48 verified here. Those shares are derived from published national volume projections rather than quoted from a single publication, and they are estimates with real uncertainty. The OrthoProcedures methodology page shows the full derivation, the sources, and the limits at orthoprocedures.com/data-methodology.html.
Has Dr. Wright's procedure volume changed over time?
Yes. Dr. Wright's Medicare-recorded volume has increased from 26 procedures in 2022 to 48 in the most recent data, a 85% increase over 3 years. This upward trend suggests an expanding joint replacement practice. Peak volume was 48 procedures in 2024.
Which hospitals is Dr. Wright affiliated with?
According to CMS facility affiliation data, Dr. Wright is affiliated with Barnes Jewish Hospital, Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, Ssm Health St Mary'S Hospital -Centralia, Good Samaritan Regional Hlth Center, St Lukes Regional Medical Center. Dr. Wright maintains hospital privileges across state lines, indicating a practice that serves patients in multiple states.
How does Dr. Wright compare to other orthopedic surgeons in Saint Louis?
Among the 57 orthopedic surgeons in Saint Louis, Dr. Wright ranks #28 by total Medicare procedure volume. The highest-volume surgeon in Saint Louis has 279 verified Medicare procedures.
What are the quality ratings for hospitals where Dr. Wright practices?
Barnes Jewish Hospital (4 out of 5 CMS stars, hip/knee complication rate similar to national average); Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital (4 out of 5 CMS stars, hip/knee complication rate similar to national average); Ssm Health St Mary'S Hospital -Centralia (2 out of 5 CMS stars, insufficient case volume for complication rate comparison). These are hospital-level quality metrics from CMS Hospital Compare and do not reflect individual surgeon outcomes.
Other Orthopedic Surgeons in Saint Louis, Missouri
Dr. Wright's 48 Medicare procedures are below the Saint Louis average of 148. The table below compares verified procedure volumes for orthopedic surgeons practicing in Saint Louis.
| Surgeon | Procedures | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Ryan Nunley | 279 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Christopher Palmer | 160 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Michael Hubbard | 144 | Hip, Knee, Shoulder |
| Dr. Coles L'hommedieu | 139 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Ilya Bendich | 137 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Christopher Mudd | 132 | Hip, Knee |
Patient Resources & Verification
Research reviews, verify credentials, and check official quality data through these trusted sources:
Medicare Care Compare and NPI Registry are official U.S. government sources. Google reviews reflect user-submitted feedback. OrthoProcedures.com does not verify the accuracy of third-party review content.