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Home > AK Providers > Orthopedic Surgeons

Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD

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Specializes in: Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery

University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine (1983)

Professional interests include: arthritis, shoulder dislocation, ACL injury, and more.

4100 Lake Otis Parkway Suite 220
Anchorage, AK

(907) 563-3145

Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD is an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK specializing in orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. He graduated from University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine in 1983 and has 43 years of experience. Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD is affiliated with Providence, Alaska Regional Hospital and Providence Alaska Medical Center.

Office Locations

4100 Lake Otis Parkway Suite 220
Anchorage, AK

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Providence Alaska Medical Center

4100 Lake Otis Parkway Suite 220
Anchorage, AK 99508

(907) 563-3145

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Some issues Dr. John E. Lapkass, 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

“- John Lapkass, MD, Anchorage.”—"Letter: My parents were welcomed as refugees. Others should be too.", Anchorage Daily News, May 2025

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John E. Lapkass, 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. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	24
doctor visit	138
hip imaging	40
hospital care	16
injections	24
inpatient care	16
musculoskeletal imaging	57
pelvic imaging	37
X-rays	94

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2013 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, pelvic imaging and hip imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	16
doctor visit	152
hip imaging	25
injections	16
musculoskeletal imaging	55
pelvic imaging	29
X-rays	84

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	54
Female	79

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	95
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	21

**Age**
From 65 to 74	68
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD in 2013

Hypertension	56
High Cholesterol	34
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	14
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

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

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	17
doctor visit	196
hip imaging	44
injections	17
joint surgery	17
lower extremity surgery	17
musculoskeletal imaging	72
pelvic imaging	48
reconstructive surgery	17
X-rays	120

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	71
Female	90

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	126
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	22

**Age**
From 65 to 74	73
From 75 to 84	40
85 and over	16
Less than 65	32

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD in 2014

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	38
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	24
Dementia	8
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2015 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	49
doctor visit	213
excision	12
hip imaging	42
injections	49
joint surgery	39
lower extremity surgery	27
minimally invasive procedures	12
musculoskeletal imaging	83
pelvic imaging	43
reconstructive surgery	27
upper extremity surgery	12
X-rays	126

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	150
Female	218

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	308
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	24

**Age**
From 65 to 74	192
From 75 to 84	102
85 and over	22
Less than 65	52

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD in 2015

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	36
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	19
Dementia	0
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2016 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	29
doctor visit	207
injections	29
joint surgery	26
lower extremity surgery	26
musculoskeletal imaging	61
reconstructive surgery	26
X-rays	61

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	74
Female	107

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	157
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	92
From 75 to 84	48
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD in 2016

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	35
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	20
Dementia	7
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2017 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	52
doctor visit	251
injections	52
joint surgery	31
lower extremity surgery	31
musculoskeletal imaging	62
reconstructive surgery	31
X-rays	62

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	68
Female	104

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	144
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	96
From 75 to 84	44
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD in 2017

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	35
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	23
Dementia	6
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2018 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	40
doctor visit	192
injections	40
joint surgery	27
lower extremity surgery	27
musculoskeletal imaging	58
reconstructive surgery	27
X-rays	58

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	81
Female	104

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	163
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	96
From 75 to 84	55
85 and over	12
Less than 65	22

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD in 2018

Hypertension	52
High Cholesterol	36
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	21
Dementia	7
Cancer	7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2019 were aspiration, injections, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	42
doctor visit	237
injections	42
joint surgery	25
lower extremity surgery	25
musculoskeletal imaging	33
reconstructive surgery	25
X-rays	33

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	85
Female	121

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	183
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	114
From 75 to 84	49
85 and over	13
Less than 65	30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD in 2019

Hypertension	56
High Cholesterol	36
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	21
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	5
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	19
Dementia	8
Cancer	7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2020 were aspiration, injections, musculoskeletal imaging and reconstructive surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	91
doctor visit	244
hip imaging	17
injections	91
joint surgery	24
lower extremity surgery	24
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	17
musculoskeletal imaging	39
reconstructive surgery	24
X-rays	22

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	83
Female	118

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	167
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	14
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	109
From 75 to 84	55
85 and over	13
Less than 65	24

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD in 2020

Hypertension	48
High Cholesterol	36
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	5
Diabetes	22
Dementia	6
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK during 2021 were aspiration, injections, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	62
doctor visit	164
injections	62
joint surgery	34
lower extremity surgery	34
musculoskeletal imaging	42
reconstructive surgery	34
X-rays	42

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	78
Female	87

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	144
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	87
From 75 to 84	53
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD in 2021

Hypertension	51
High Cholesterol	40
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	21
Depression	13
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	17
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

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

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	51
doctor visit	149
injections	51
joint surgery	30
lower extremity surgery	30
musculoskeletal imaging	18
reconstructive surgery	30
X-rays	18

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	50
Female	93

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	120
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	70
From 75 to 84	44
85 and over	14
Less than 65	15

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD in 2022

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	11
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	20
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD treated as an orthopedist in Anchorage, AK were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

aspiration	43
doctor visit	194
excision	12
hip imaging	33
hospital care	16
injections	43
inpatient care	16
joint surgery	28
lower extremity surgery	26
minimally invasive procedures	12
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	17
musculoskeletal imaging	52
pelvic imaging	39
reconstructive surgery	26
upper extremity surgery	12
X-rays	65

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD.

**Gender**
Male	72
Female	101

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	1
Non-Hispanic White	146
Native American / Alaskan Native	6
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	47
85 and over	8
Less than 65	15
65 to 74	90

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD From 2012 - 2022

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

Hypertension	50
High Cholesterol	34
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	21
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	6
Osteoporosis	5
Heart Failure	7
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	19
Atrial Fibrillation	6
Dementia	3
Cancer	6

Education & Training

Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD graduated from University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine in 1983. He completed residency at University of Virginia 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 California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine (1983)

Residency: University of Virginia Affiliated Hospitals (1989)

Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery

Licensed In: Alaska

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Providence

Alaska Regional Hospital

Providence Alaska Medical Center

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. John E. Lapkass, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Medicaid, Aetna PPO, CIGNA PPO and Medicare.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. John E. Lapkass, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Medicaid

Aetna PPO

CIGNA PPO

Medicare

Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
Smith & Nephew, Inc.	$4,002 Sports Med Hip $3,778	Recon Knees $148	Journey II BCS $76
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.	$1,836 Fitmore $721	Product Portfolio $215	Persona $186	Comprehensive Reverse $155	Revision $125	Other $434
Stryker Corporation	$331 MAKOplasty $145	BLUEPRINT PATIENT SPECIFIC INSTRUMENTATION $73	LATITUDE EV $32	AEQUALIS PERFORM REVERSED $31	NSE New Product Development $30	Other $19
KCI USA, Inc.	$149 PREVENA $149
Smith+Nephew, Inc.	$145 Regeneten $65	CORI $24	STRAVIX $23	Pico $18	RENASYS GO v2 HOME $15
Other	$917 EUFLEXXA $133	CORAIL $105	Durolane $58	PROCLAIM $56	HTX-011 $50	Other $515

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$3,915
Food and Beverage	$3,023
Education	$441

Biography

Dr. John Lapkass' specialty is orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. Before performing his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Virginia, Dr. Lapkass attended the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine. His clinical interests include total elbow replacement, frozen shoulder, and forearm fracture. Cigna, Aetna, and CIGNA Plans are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Lapkass honors. Dr. Lapkass (or staff) is conversant in Lao and Spanish. He is professionally affiliated with Alaska Regional Hospital and Providence Alaska Medical Center.