Dr. David M. Tainter is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in orthopedic trauma, fractures and injuries. As one of the highest volume orthopedic traumatologists in Delaware, Dr. Tainter focuses exclusively on the treatment of orthopedic injuries, ensuring the highest level of care for patients to restore mobility, relieve pain, and return to active lifestyles. Dr. Tainter creates individual treatment plans for each patient, ranging from advanced, minimally invasive, surgeries to modern, non-surgical treatment plans, to achieve optimal outcomes.
Dr. Tainter, At a Glance
- Board-certified orthopedic surgeon
- Fellowship-trained in orthopedic trauma (orthopedic injuries and fractures)
- Minimally invasive surgery for ankle, pelvis, acetabulum, humerus and forearm and more
- Delaware Today Top Doctor
- 600+ surgeries annually
Specialty Focus
Dr. Tainter focuses on the surgical and non-surgical treatment of orthopedic trauma, injuries and fractures, ranging from automobile or work injuries to falls or sports injuries. Dr. Tainter emphasizes minimally invasive techniques and early recovery protocols.
His clinical focus includes:
- Minimally invasive ankle fracture repair for early weightbearing
- Minimally invasive fixation of the pelvis and acetabulum
- Advanced fixation techniques for the femur, tibia, humerus and forearm to allow for early use and mobilization
- Advanced fixation of patellar and clavicular fractures to avoid secondary removal surgeries
- Outpatient fracture repair
Advanced Techniques
Dr. Tainter utilizes advanced and minimally invasive fixation strategies to allow for earlier weightbearing, mobilization, and return to a normal life sooner. Every patient is treated individually to maximize recovery in the short and long term.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Tainter
- Fellowship-trained trauma and fracture specialist
- High volume
- Personalized care plans
- Advanced and minimally invasive surgical techniques
- Accelerated recovery protocols
Conditions Treated
- Shoulder fractures (clavicle, scapula, proximal humerus)
- Humerus fractures
- Elbow fractures
- Forearm fractures
- Pelvis and acetabulum fractures
- Hip fractures
- Femur fractures
- Patella fractures, patellar tendon and quadriceps tendon injuries
- Tibia fractures
- Ankle fractures
- Foot fractures (talus, calcaneus, lisfranc, metatarsals, etc.)
Dr. Tainter graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. During his senior year, he won a national engineering design competition and was a finalist in a second competition. He then earned his Doctor of Medicine at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, a joint medical school between Duke University and the National University of Singapore.
Upon graduating from medical school, Dr. Tainter completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Duke University Medical Center.
- Fellowship – Virginia Commonwealth Health System
- Residency – Duke University Medical Center
- Medical school – Duke NUS graduate Medical School
- Undergraduate – Duke University
- Top Doctor by Delaware Today: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Board certifications:
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Professional memberships:
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Orthopaedic Trauma Association
- AO Trauma
- Medical Society of Delaware
- Piedmont Orthopaedic Society
Dr. Tainter and his wife, Kim, relocated to Delaware to pursue careers centered around providing exceptional patient care, with Dr. Tainter serving at Christiana Hospital’s Level 1 Trauma Center and Kim working at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Together, they are raising their two children and have embraced the Delaware community as home. Outside of his practice, Dr. Tainter enjoys spending time with loved ones, especially discovering new places together while traveling!
