The newest addition to the CHOC Orthopaedic Institute team, Dr. Jonathan Minor brings a unique expertise in ultrasound-guided injections and procedures, as well as diagnostic ultrasound evaluations. As a non-surgical sports medicine physician, he has a special interest in sports and dance injuries, concussion management and advanced musculoskeletal ultrasound medicine.
Dr. Minor’s commitment to helping young athletes stems from his own experience growing up playing sports. As an adult, he has completed multiple marathons and Ironman triathlons, including three Long Course World Championship races with Team USA.
In addition to recognizing and treating acute injuries, Dr. Minor is dedicated to preventing overuse injuries. His research has been diverse: identifying running gait mechanics related to injuries, reporting of concussions, and evidence-based approaches to joint injections. He presented original work at the 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference showing concussion reporting among high school football players remains problematic, and is trying to shed light on risk factors that may influence reporting.
Dr. Minor’s passion for sports medicine and orthopaedics was inspired by his father, an accomplished orthopaedic surgeon.
“I was moved by my dad being able to take an injury, and just like a carpenter, put it back together,” Dr. Minor said. “As a non-surgeon, I consider myself more like an architect, laying out a floor plan, and bringing together a team of providers to safely return our athletes back to the sports arena. I recognize that often there are multiple ways to solve the same problem.”
Dr. Minor attended medical school at Texas A&M University System
Health Sciences Center, College of Medicine. He completed his residency training at McLane Children’s Hospital Scott & White, followed by a non-surgical sports medicine fellowship and an additional musculoskeletal ultrasound fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital.
During his training in Boston, he served as team physician for several collegiate and high school teams, including Northeastern University men’s and women’s basketball and soccer teams. He also worked closely with the Boston Ballet.
A chance to work with the expert team at CHOC eventually led him back to his native California. He was drawn to the opportunity to help grow the program. The CHOC Orthopaedic Institute plans to expand the footprint of the sports medicine program, with the addition of physical therapists, new regional physical therapy locations, and integrating injury prevention with clinical practice. The department has also added Dr. Jessica McMichael, an orthopaedic surgeon, who will help to develop an osteogenesis imperfecta program at CHOC.
Dr. Minor has quickly become an integral part of the team, treating everything from ankle and knee ligament sprains, to overuse injuries and concussions. Through the use of ultrasound-guided injections, he provides bedside visualization of body tissues, which can confirm the location of pain and assist with surgical decision-making. Classically, injections are performed blindly, with risk of poor accuracy, or with fluoroscopy, with exposure to radiation and often, increased discomfort. The ultrasound-guided injections offer a quicker recovery and can sometimes be used to avoid surgery altogether.
“While cortisone injections are not performed brazenly among pediatric patients, they can be used judiciously here at CHOC to provide cutting-edge care,” Dr. Minor explains.
He offers physicians the following guidelines on when to refer:
- An acute injury or ankle sprain, with negative x-rays and pain after 1-2 weeks.
- Persistence of pain despite rest, ice, compression/bracing, stretching and physical therapy.
- Persistent joint swelling.
- Painful popping and clicking.
Dr. Minor sees patients at CHOC Clinic; CHOC Health Center, Corona; and Adult & Pediatric Orthopaedic Specialists in Mission Viejo. To contact him, please call 949-600-8800, ext. 205.
