Avoid if at all possible. I had never seen a doctor take a female patient by the knee - where the kneecap was visibly out of place and leg unable to hinge - proceed to JIGGLE the entire leg disregarding patient extreme discomfort and say "(paraphrasing) huh, this should bend. You should just bend it. Come on now." (He proceeded to drop the leg, as a test.) Or heard of one using similarly rough to a woman with spine issues. Is this his norm? Both are black women who required extensive surgeries/care, which were delayed by his poor recognition of clear issues and lack of ...something. There are many other doctors to use, don't let your insurance or time constraints make you feel forced to utilize his services. You will regret it. Avoid if at all possible. read more

Don't get faulked by Dr. Faulks and his residents! I went into the GW Hospital ER with a broken tibia and fibula. On the first visit, I apparently didn't meet with any orthopedics and recieved the worst fiberglass splint. The guy who put it on went all the way up above my knee, and he used 6 ace bandages and really stretched them really tight. I was discharged and just hours later my entire leg was in excrutiating pain. I returned to the ER, 2nd visit, 2nd copay, 2nd time they get to bill my insurance and I have to pay a $150 copay. Enter the orthopedic residents. They removed the old splint and admitted it was the wrong type and too tight. They left my leg unsplinted for a while, and the pain went away on its own, but it didn't happen quickly. They put on a new plaster splint that fit great, and they said if I stayed overnight as an inpatient, Dr. Faulks could operate the next day. I stayed the night, my surgery wasn't their highest priority over some of their other cases and it got pushed until around 5pm. I waited in relative comfort in my room, I fasted for 17 hours by the time I went into the OR. This was my first time meeting Dr. Faulks, it seems he has his residents meet with patients before/after surgery. He had never seen my leg, and he didn't bother to examine it before ordering general anesthesia. Next thing I knew, I was waking up, and for some reason already had a sense something was wrong. There was swelling and fracture blisters that made it not possible to operate. Had he examined the leg ahead of time, it would have been apparent. I had a new cast on and I was told the blisters were removed and bandaged. They wheeled me back to my room, and the residents met me there. At this point, I already knew something was wrong. My smallest toe was caught in the cast and I was being crushed, in addition, the cast was applying some amount of pressure to keep my foot at 90°, but rather than applying it across my foot, all the pressure was on the joint below my smallest toe. It seemed like perhaps they started the cast there and pulled everything against it. First it was tingling, then numb, and then painful. When I told the residents they gave me the same dismissive response that should be the motto of the orthopedics team there "it's a broken ankle so it's going to hurt". This is toxic because it completely ignores the fact that the pain isn't in my ankle, it's my toe, and it shifts the blame from them to me. I don't let doctors push me around though and explained that the pain wasn't in my ankle. One of the residents said he needed to go into the OR but would return with a saw to loosen the cast. He was gone for hours and the pain became maddening. The nurse injected painkillers and gave me oxycodone, but it didn't really provide any relieve to this ongoing trauma. I finally took matters into my own hands and used a knife to free my toe from the cast. The nurse seemed kind of nervous about it at first, but then after she saw how it was wrapped in the incompetence of Dr. Faulks and his team, she began assisting and between the two of us we freed it. Nearly 5 hours later the resident returned with a saw. He was not happy about the modifications to the cast. He cut both sides of it open to relieve pressure in general, but with no benefit to the area that was in pain. He refused to give me a new cast despite how poorly it fit. This region is surrounded by talented award winning orthopedic surgeons from top universities. Dr. Faulks is not one of them. He graduated from the University of Nowhere and the certificate he got from it was probably the peak of his career. He's not on any of the Top Orthopedics in DC lists for good reason, he's not one of them. Unless you're interested in smug surgeons who are too busy to care about your surgery only to needlessly deliver recreational anesthesia, look elsewhere. You can't swing a dead cat in this city without hitting a top notch orthopedic. The only reason anyone would go to this guy is if they didn't do any research and took the easy option like I did, and let me tell you, it's not worth it. I'm still imprisoned in this terrible cast that probably some resident who just got out of medical school did her best on, and I've now got to find a new surgeon to clean up his mess. The next time you're looking for an orthopedic surgeon, don't get faulked by Dr. Faulks. read more

Craig R Faulk, MD - His signature on my leg just before he failed to perform surgery, but still had general anesthesia administered. - Orthopedists Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've seen Dr Faulks for years for a variety of issues. He is gentle, a good listener, never rushes to surgery, and when he does perform procedures he is an exceptional surgeon. I highly recommend. He operated in my knee and I'm very pleased. read more

Dr. Faulk himself is a great doctor, but the practice has some issues to work out in terms of patient interactions. When you make an appointment, you are invited to use a portal. The portal is super helpful, but they have a ton of fees that are not posted under "payments and fees" on the website nor are they listed under the portal login. They charge to replace a PT order, they charge for faxing to a specialist, they charge for a bunch of things that are easy to gloss over when you're reading a huge document about copays and insurance. I am glad I got a referral to PT, but might have to think twice before making this my regular doctor for my hip and back issues... read more

Overall super pleased with my experience at the practice. They are CRAZY busy so I think a pro tip is to schedule the first appointment of the day or as early as you possibly can before it gets busy. The staff can be a little rushed and every things always seems kind of to be a flurry. Dr. Faulk seemed a bit rushed but I asked him about 15 questions which kept him from escaping quickly and he was patient and thoughtful about answering everything. So be sure to stop him and get what you need otherwise it could feel short. I wish they didn't schedule so much on top of each other and I wish the process was more seamless, but I like the online portal and so far so good! read more

First off, if YELP offered additional stars, I would give Dr Faulk & Dr. Lutton a "10" rating. These men are extremely skillful within their field of practice. Secondly, I noticed a few reviewers mention the office staff and the less-than perfect customer service they received over the phone. Perhaps, this was the case months, even years ago, but I can assure you, everytime I've called or visited the office, the experience was positive and professional. One particular employee I must mention is Crystal - I love her!! She's highly knowledgeable, patient & very professsional when it comes to explaining patient next steps, or simply comforting any concerns you may have about the office or your procedure. Again, I highly recommend Dr Faulks & Dr. Lutton to anyone. read more

Craig Faulks, MD and his colleague David Lutton, MD completely replaced my right knee joint last December 15, 2016 @ GW Hospital. The guidance these two surgeons offered in preparation for my knee replacement surgery was spot on. The actual surgery was five hours and I was released from the hospital two days after surgery. The surgery was a complete success. The infection mitigation protocols were of the very highest priority and completely effective. I am 72 years of age and delighted that I chose these surgeons and this practice, Washington Circle Orthopedics to perform my joint replacement. read more

First visit - Dr. Faulk reviewed an MRI then took an X-ray. Despite me pointing out two lumps in my ankle, he referred me to physical therapy for posterior tibial tendinitis. I expressed concern several times over the two visible lumps protruding from my ankle which appear to be the source of my pain. Dr. Faulk told me to be patient b/c tendinitis can take up to 12 mo. to heal and tried to sell me several braces for tendinitis via multiple fittings. - After 10 PT sessions, tried to get back to see Dr. Faulk b/c pain the same and lumps growing; front desk staff really rude, long wait times (in the office and on the phone), Dr. Faulk on "vacation," and they refused to refer me for an ultrasound w/o coming in the office & billing my insurance/me for an office visit. Referred myself to Georgetown University Hospital and got an ultrasound revealing two lumps of varying measurements inside my ankle. -Called Dr. Faulk's office 1-week after ultrasound for follow-up; no Friday hours and I was not permitted by the woman who answered the phone to see one of his practicing partners. Gave up, going somewhere else where the front desk staff is polite/helpful, the Dr. actually listens to his patients, and the practice isn't trying to extort every $ they can from your insurance & you. read more

Went back for a follow-up visit and was seen on time. Dr Faulks was spot-on with his assessment, was thorough and attentive in his examination, and made solid recommendations. I still had to make several follow-up calls to the office to ask for some scans to be reviewed. I realize now that their practice is most likely so busy simply because they provide good medical care and have a good reputation. read more

A very nice office, have gone there twice now and was seen on time both times. Dr. Faulk seems very knowledgeable about my knee problem and despite being a surgeon did not recommend surgery at all (some of them are knife happy). Would recommend this doctor to a friend. read more

Dr. Faulk performed full Achilles rupture surgery on my left Achilles. Straightforward doctor who is very experienced and had his Achilles repaired as well. Dr Faulk performed surgery end of June 2017 and I was walking without boot by early September. Physical therapy also helped with the recovery as well. Front office staff Breigh and Kimberly are great in finding solutions and MA Ashleigh is very knowledgeable of surgery, post op procedures, and pain management. Office can get very busy. read more

Dr. Faulks is 5-star, but like some other reviewers here, I had to knock off a star for lack of phone manners and general professionalism from some of the office staff. In my case as well the offender via phone is usually a man, though when I go to the office the desk staff I see are women. In particular, I made a followup appointment a month in advance and confirmed it myself the week of, only to have it canceled the day before due to the doc going on vacation - which surely was on their calendar. However I've been seen within 10 minutes of my appointment time for each of my 8 or so visits, a great record in my experience. The office itself is aging and a bit run-down looking, but seems to meet everyone's needs; and I attribute the shabbiness to keeping costs down, which all patients can appreciate. I'll give a shout out to the x-ray tech as well, he's super nice and usually has some sweet tunes to jam out to while you're getting your x-rays. Dr. Faulks is a great surgeon and has a fantastic reputation among the GWU Hospital staff and DC physios. He did a great job on my clavicle surgery, with props also to the nurses, anaesthesiologist and op team at GWUH for as good a surgery experience as anyone can wish for. He even stitched the wound up from the inside with dissolving sutures, avoiding the unsightly 'pirate scar' look I was dreading; no sutures needed removal and my scar is not noticeable even now, just a few months out. He is fairly conservative, as probably all good surgeons should be, yet for those afraid of not getting a surgery they want (my case), he did recommend it after weighing factors. I would, and have, recommended him to friends in the area. He takes BCBS insurance and maybe others. Although he operates on shoulders and ankles, knees seem to be his specialty. He also has worked on some famous stars, including Bobby Orr, whose signed photo is hanging in one of the patient rooms. Cool beans! read more

I went to see Dr. Faulks for a running related knee-injury that was debilitating when it occurred and still hurt a bit (and prevented me from running) 3 months later. I had a long wait in an office with no AC (AC was down the day of my appt.) and a brief exam. When I told Dr Faulks that my knee was not giving me much pain that day (I stopped running when the injury happened, and now it only hurts when I try to run or play soccer or do anything active), he seemed non-plussed and ended up suggesting I start running full bore again and get a cortisone shot for pain, with no real attempt to diagnose what was going on. I get that it's easier for him to treat people who are in lots of pain, but the visit was of no help to me at all. I'm sure as hell not going to re-injure/inflame my knee for his convenience. Anyway, my main issue was when I called to pay my bill, I was on hold forever, then the person who answered the phone was very, very rude and ended up hanging up on me. Won't be back --- no time for that kind of attitude. read more

I have been seeing Dr. Faulks for treatment for a rare and devastating knee injury, including high grade tears of all four major knee ligaments. I have been very favorably impressed and recommend Dr. Faulks without reservation. I interviewed 5 orthopedic surgeons at the time of my injury and Dr. Faulks stood out from the rest as the doctor that gave me the best chance for a full recovery. I think he is at his best when facing a really complicated case. If you have a severe orthopedic injury, you really want doctor that you like and have confidence in because recovery is a long-term project. These injuries can take many, many months to heal. For me, Dr. Faulks is the guy I want for the long haul. Sometimes the office is running on time and sometimes I have to wait past my scheduled appointment time. At first, I did not really like it when I had to wait. However, I have come to learn that the reason I have to wait sometimes is because they make a huge effort to squeeze in emergencies and post op patients who need a follow up. I have been the guy waiting and the guy who made others wait. Dr. Faulks's examinations are gentle and refined. Some the the examinations that I received from other surgeons that I interviewed were so rough and painful that I was concerned that my injury would be made worse by the doctor. The office staff has gone out of its way for me to fill out all the paperwork that my employers and disability insurers required. They get the job done. read more

Be ready for a long wait. When I arrived for my 10 am appt. other people showed up at the same time for the same appointment (also for a 10 am appt with the same doctor). I sat in the waiting room for more than an hour before I was seen. The entire visit lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes, including Xrays, and I spent well under 10 minutes with the doctor. He also left the examination room right after I arrived for a personal phone call. He might be a good doctor but I don't have time for that kind of nonsense. read more

The esteemed reputation of Washington Circle Orthopaedics' physicians & surgeons precedes them, which is why Drs. Faulks, Lutton & Scanelli repeatedly top many of DC's best-of lists and word-of-mouth recommendations from not just current/former patients but other doctors. As a patient theirs of many years, I'd be remiss if I didn't sing the praises of perhaps the team of unsung heros there: The practice's amazing PAs, managerial & support staff: Kimberley, Breigh, Ashleigh, Aaron (just to name a few) treat you like a welcome guest from the second you walk in the lobby until the moment you leave. Always a smile. Always greeting you by name. You get the feeling that you're a valued member of their family and not just a color-coded patient-folder tab who's next on their list. It's pain that will probably bring you to WCO in the first place; but their team always delivers a pain-free patient experience if not a downright pleasurable one. read more

Dr. Faulks gets 5 stars! He does a great job of discussing what's going on with my knee and how to make it better. I'm dropping a couple of stars because there's one guy in the office staff who is a really jerk! I've had the misfortune to have him answer the phone a few times and wow, he seems determined to be as rude as possible to the patients. Again, Dr. Faulks=5 stars. Rude Office Guy=no stars. read more

Dr. Faulks is one of the best doctors I have met. I would give him 10 stars if I could. He agreed to perform a surgery that some other doctors didn't think was needed/ was too complicated. In doing so, he practically saved my life. He made sure to stop by and visit me in the hospital as I was recovering even after he had to pass on my case to another department. He is such a genuine person. I cant thank him enough! read more

I found Dr. Faulks to be quick and not as thorough as I would have liked in dealing with my knee injury. After visiting him, I sought the advice of two different doctors who both gave a different diagnosis. Over the course of three visits, I got the sense sense that Dr. Faulks was bouncing from patient to patient without spending the quality time needed to truly address the individual's concerns. read more

My experience with Dr. Faulks was exceptional. I came to him for a sports related knee injury and he spent a considerable amount of time explaining to me my injury and the various treatment options. He was kind and compassionate. His bedside manner couln't have been better. I would definitely recommend him to my friends and collegues. My knee is now better and I am back training for another marathon. read more

I had extensive rotator cuff and acromion repair from Dr. Faulks back in 1998 and still over 100% functional. I researched top shoulder MDs in the U.S, locally in Callifornia, even went to Steadman Hawkins in Vail. I read his chapter in an Ortho MD book on rotator cuff repair techniques and flew to D.C. to have him evaluate me. I have been a nationally ranked tennis player & snowboarder, a scratch golfer, and X-sports fanatic, so it was highly imperative to get the right procedures done right the first time. As with most MDs that have a good skill set, they are going to be a bit busy, but when Doc sat down with me, he definitely understood the gravity of my situation. connected with him well. Dr. Faulks followed my PT while I was residing in SanFrancisco to ensure the best outcome.....110% ten years later !!!! read more

Best doctor ever. Really nice. I went to him with a knee injury and he could not have been nicer.

Just made an appointment with Dr. Craig Faulks after researching backgrounds and reviews for over 100 orthopedic surgeons. If Dr. Faulk is as nice, professional, and knowledgeable as the receptionist Kim, than I'm looking forward to my first visit. I'll keep everyone posted! read more

Dr Faulks is a very competent clinician, and is very knowledgeable about options besides surgery. he looked at my hip and foot and recommended I go see a podiatrist and physical therapist. He helped me review my MRI and gave some advice so that I would not have to go under the knife. He is not exactly the most personable, but his professionalism and good judgment more than make up for this. I agree, the office staff can sometimes be a problem. Overall it is a good place to go. read more