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Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD

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Specializes in: Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery
University of Washington School of Medicine (1983)
Professional interests include: arthritis, shoulder dislocation, ACL injury, and more.
301 W Northern Lights Boulevard Suite 600
Anchorage, AK 99503

Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD is an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK specializing in orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. He graduated from University of Washington School of Medicine in 1983 and has 43 years of experience. Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD is affiliated with Providence, Alaska Regional Hospital, Providence Alaska Medical Center, Providence Seward Medical Center and TOWER JOINT REPLACEMENT CLINIC.

View Doctor's Full Profile (907) 771-3500

Office Locations

301 W Northern Lights Boulevard Suite 600
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 771-3500
(907) 771-3550
open_in_new

Providence Seward Medical Center

4100 Lake Otis Parkway Suite 302
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 222-2924
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Some issues Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD can help you with:

Joint Injections

A joint is any area of the body where two bones connect. Due to injury or disease, the space between the two bones can sometimes become swollen and inflamed, which leads to pain and a loss of mobility. Injection and aspiration are two tools that physicians use to treat joint pain locally without needing to perform surgery.

Both injection and aspiration are techniques that involve inserting a needle connected to a syringe directly into the joint. Aspiration involves the removal of excess fluid, and injection is the placement of medication directly into the joint space via the needle. Both procedures may be performed at the same time. In both cases a local anesthetic may be used, the skin will be cleaned and disinfected, and then the needle will be inserted. In some cases, especially if the injection or aspiration is in a large and deep joint such as the hip or spine, ultrasound may be used to guide the needle to the exact location desired.

In some cases, irritation to the joint can cause fluid to build up so significantly that the joint hurts and can no longer move well. Aspiration removes some of the excess fluid and relieves the pressure. In addition, aspiration can be used to provide a sample of joint fluid if it needs to be examined microscopically for the presence of white blood cells, bacteria, or crystal formations.

Certain injuries and diseases that affect joints are inflammatory in nature, such as rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis or gout. These diseases may be helped by the local injection of anti-inflammatory medications directly into the affected joint. In this case, corticosteroids such as methylprednisone are usually used. Relief from the pain may be felt right away and may last for weeks or even months.

In some cases, such as with osteoarthritis, the cartilage buffer between the two bones wears down and pain comes from bones rubbing against each other. In this case, injection of a lubricating agent such as hyaluronic acid may be beneficial. It provides a slippery cushion between the bones to relieve pain that can last for months.

Musculoskeletal Problems

The musculoskeletal system refers collectively to the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. It is what gives the body structure and movement. Because this system encompasses so much of the body, musculoskeletal problems are extremely varied and can happen almost anywhere. There are musculoskeletal problems that affect only the joints, those that affect the bones, those that affect tendons and ligaments, and those that can happen in any area of the body but cause pain and numbness.

Joint problems include bursitis and arthritis. Bursitis is the inflammation of a fluid-filled sac cushion on the outside of a joint, causing symptoms including pain and swelling. Arthritis is the inflammation and damage of a joint due to wear and tear or disease. There are several treatments for arthritis, but if the damage progresses far enough, joint replacement may be necessary. In joint replacement, a metal or plastic implant is surgically placed within the joint to make movement easier.

Bone problems include scoliosis, fractures, and osteoporosis. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, making the normally straight spine look like a 'C' or 'S.' It is treated with braces or surgery. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to weaken and break easily. It's most common in women, especially older women. Fully half of all women over 65 have osteoporosis. Fractures are any break in the bone. They can be a simple crack or a severe and complicated shatter. Osteoporosis causes fractures in people who have it, but other causes are trauma (such as a fall) or overuse.

Tendon and ligament problems most often result from injury or overuse. Two good examples are ligament tears and tendonitis. The most common ligament tear is the ACL tear in the knee. This ligament supports and stabilizes the knee and is most often torn during sports activities. Tendonitis happens when a tendon, which connects muscles and bones together, becomes irritated and inflamed. This happens most often in older patients who push their bodies too far, leading to pain and swelling. Treatment for both tendon and ligament problems usually includes rest, ice, and supporting the area to let it heal.

Pain and numbness problems can be caused by overuse, disease, an injury, or a compressed nerve. Lower back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome are two of the most common conditions patients encounter. Lower back pain may be caused by sore muscles that have been overworked, or an injury to the disks separating the vertebrae in the spine. Lower back pain usually goes away on its own within a few days, but it may require medical treatment depending on the cause. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the nerve at the base of the palm becomes trapped or pinched. Symptoms include tingling, pain, numbness, or weakness in the hand. Treatment involves rest and sometimes steroid injections.

Because the musculoskeletal system involves so much of the body, problems here can be incredibly varied in their type and severity. Some musculoskeletal problems will go away on their own or only require rest, while others may require medication, physical therapy, or even surgery.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“Tower's husband, Stephen Tower, works as an orthopedic surgeon and said he was there partly because cuts to the University of Alaska put his medical research in danger.”—"Voters across Alaska sign on to recall Gov. Dunleavy", Anchorage Daily News, August 2019
“Around this time she also watched a 2017 Netflix documentary about the medical device industry called "The Bleeding Edge,"which featured Dr. Stephen Tower, an orthopedic surgeon with...”—"Top local TV anchor plunged into medical nightmare", Associated Press News, March 2019
“When Stephen Tower's right hip gave out in 2006, he asked his surgeon to implant an artificial one - specifically, a metal-on-metal hip called the ASR XL, made by Johnson & Johnson.”—"Opinion | Can Your Hip Replacement Kill You? (Published 2018)", New York Times, January 2018

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 25%

By Volume:

major joint aspiration
major joint injection

In 2012, Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD performed more major joint aspiration, and major joint injection procedures for Medicare patients than 75% of providers in related specialties within Alaska.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2012 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, hip imaging and pelvic imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 54
doctor visit 293
hip imaging 74
injections 54
joint surgery 29
lower extremity surgery 29
musculoskeletal imaging 177
pelvic imaging 62
reconstructive surgery 29
X-rays 239

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2013 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, hip imaging and aspiration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 87
doctor visit 302
hip imaging 105
injections 87
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) 26
musculoskeletal imaging 212
pelvic imaging 53
X-rays 239

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 91
Female 140
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 188
Black 11
Hispanic 14
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 112
From 75 to 84 66
85 and over 24
Less than 65 29

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2013

Hypertension 66
High Cholesterol 45
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 30
Depression 17
Chronic Kidney Disease 19
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 8
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 10
Diabetes 30
Dementia 6
Cancer 10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2014 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, hip imaging and pelvic imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 59
doctor visit 352
hip imaging 144
injections 59
joint surgery 34
lower extremity surgery 34
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) 28
musculoskeletal imaging 296
pelvic imaging 63
reconstructive surgery 34
X-rays 331

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 119
Female 154
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 230
Black 0
Hispanic 14
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 136
From 75 to 84 79
85 and over 29
Less than 65 29

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2014

Hypertension 56
High Cholesterol 39
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 26
Depression 22
Chronic Kidney Disease 22
Asthma 4
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 7
Diabetes 33
Dementia 7
Cancer 11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2015 were X-rays, aspiration, injections and reconstructive surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 41
doctor visit 227
hip imaging 25
injections 41
joint surgery 28
lower extremity surgery 28
musculoskeletal imaging 25
pelvic imaging 23
reconstructive surgery 28
X-rays 48

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 176
Female 254
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 374
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 218
From 75 to 84 102
85 and over 42
Less than 65 68

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2015

Hypertension 63
High Cholesterol 41
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 22
Depression 19
Chronic Kidney Disease 20
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 9
Atrial Fibrilation 7
Heart Failure 16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 7
Diabetes 29
Dementia 7
Cancer 9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2016 were aspiration, injections, reconstructive surgery and joint surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 32
doctor visit 211
injections 32
joint surgery 17
lower extremity surgery 17
reconstructive surgery 17

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 81
Female 101
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 167
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 95
From 75 to 84 54
85 and over 14
Less than 65 19

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2016

Hypertension 57
High Cholesterol 40
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 20
Depression 15
Chronic Kidney Disease 17
Asthma 15
Osteoperosis 8
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 12
Diabetes 22
Dementia 8
Cancer 7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2017 were aspiration, injections, reconstructive surgery and joint surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 34
doctor visit 172
injections 34
joint surgery 27
lower extremity surgery 27
reconstructive surgery 27

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 64
Female 70
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 112
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 69
From 75 to 84 42
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2017

Hypertension 57
High Cholesterol 41
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 21
Depression 19
Chronic Kidney Disease 21
Asthma 10
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 14
Heart Failure 18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 22
Dementia 0
Cancer 8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2018 were aspiration, injections, reconstructive surgery and joint surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 64
doctor visit 343
injections 64
joint surgery 55
lower extremity surgery 55
reconstructive surgery 55
revision surgery 13

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 102
Female 126
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 196
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 116
From 75 to 84 71
85 and over 17
Less than 65 24

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2018

Hypertension 61
High Cholesterol 41
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 24
Depression 20
Chronic Kidney Disease 21
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 11
Heart Failure 14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 8
Diabetes 24
Dementia 8
Cancer 11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2019 were aspiration, injections, reconstructive surgery and joint surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 77
doctor visit 362
injections 77
joint surgery 47
lower extremity surgery 47
reconstructive surgery 47
revision surgery 15

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 105
Female 128
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 196
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 122
From 75 to 84 78
85 and over 13
Less than 65 20

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2019

Hypertension 58
High Cholesterol 42
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 28
Depression 20
Chronic Kidney Disease 24
Asthma 9
Osteoperosis 6
Atrial Fibrilation 9
Heart Failure 13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 9
Diabetes 29
Dementia 8
Cancer 10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2020 were aspiration, injections, reconstructive surgery and joint surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 98
doctor visit 337
injections 98
joint surgery 22
lower extremity surgery 22
reconstructive surgery 22

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 99
Female 123
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 188
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 120
From 75 to 84 66
85 and over 20
Less than 65 16

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2020

Hypertension 54
High Cholesterol 36
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 22
Depression 21
Chronic Kidney Disease 22
Asthma 11
Osteoperosis 9
Atrial Fibrilation 7
Heart Failure 11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 7
Diabetes 21
Dementia 9
Cancer 10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2021 were aspiration, injections, reconstructive surgery and joint surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 109
doctor visit 426
injections 109
joint surgery 21
lower extremity surgery 21
reconstructive surgery 21

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 114
Female 158
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 239
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 146
From 75 to 84 84
85 and over 21
Less than 65 21

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2021

Hypertension 53
High Cholesterol 39
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 28
Depression 22
Chronic Kidney Disease 24
Asthma 9
Osteoperosis 7
Atrial Fibrilation 11
Heart Failure 14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 7
Diabetes 22
Dementia 8
Cancer 9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2022 were aspiration, injections, reconstructive surgery and joint surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 129
doctor visit 366
injections 129
joint surgery 37
lower extremity surgery 37
reconstructive surgery 37

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 100
Female 122
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 202
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 122
From 75 to 84 75
85 and over 11
Less than 65 14

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD in 2022

Hypertension 67
High Cholesterol 60
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 20
Depression 19
Chronic Kidney Disease 14
Asthma 14
Osteoperosis 11
Atrial Fibrilation 13
Heart Failure 12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 10
Diabetes 23
Dementia 0
Cancer 12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, hip imaging and aspiration.

aspiration 71
doctor visit 308
hip imaging 87
injections 71
joint surgery 31
lower extremity surgery 31
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) 27
musculoskeletal imaging 177
pelvic imaging 50
reconstructive surgery 31
revision surgery 14
X-rays 214

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD.

Gender
Male 95
Female 125
Ethnicity
Black / African American 1
Asian / Pacific Islander 0
Non-Hispanic White 190
Hispanic 2
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Other 0
Age
75 to 84 65
85 and over 17
Less than 65 21
65 to 74 114

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 53
High Cholesterol 38
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 21
Depression 17
Chronic Kidney Disease 18
Asthma 8
Osteoporosis 7
Heart Failure 12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 7
Diabetes 23
Atrial Fibrillation 9
Cancer 8
Dementia 5

Education & Training

Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD graduated from University of Washington School of Medicine in 1983. He completed residency at Oregon Health & Science University Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and has a state license in Alaska.

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine (1983)

Residency: Oregon Health & Science University Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery

Licensed In: Alaska

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Providence
Alaska Regional Hospital
Providence Alaska Medical Center
Providence Seward Medical Center
TOWER JOINT REPLACEMENT CLINIC

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Aetna PPO, Medicaid, CIGNA PPO, Medicare and Premera PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Aetna PPO
Medicaid
CIGNA PPO
Medicare
Premera PPO

Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Stephen S. Tower, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc. $307 Trauma
$274 		Early Intervention
$21 		PEAK
$12
Pfizer Inc. $43 COLOGUARD
$23 		REYVOW
$20
Horizon Pharma plc $26 PENNSAID
$26
AbbVie Inc. $20 UBRELVY
$20
Radius Health, Inc. $14 Tymlos
$14
Other $25 Ultiva
$13 		ON-Q* PUMP AND ACCESSORIES
$12
Types of Payments
Food and Beverage $435

Biography

Dr. Stephen Tower's area of specialization is orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. Clinical interests for Dr. Tower include forearm fracture, frozen shoulder, and femur (thigh bone) fracture. He is professionally affiliated with Alaska Regional Hospital and Providence Alaska Medical Center. He attended medical school at the University of Washington School of Medicine. His training includes a residency program at a hospital affiliated with Oregon Health & Science University. Cigna, Aetna, and CIGNA Plans appears to be the insurance carriers that Dr. Tower takes.

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