It’s not uncommon to see Dr. Rocci Trumper on the sidelines of a Windsor High School football game - not only because he loves the sport, but because of his investment in the health and well-being of the players. Dr. Trumper is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at the Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies (OCR). He’s been contributing to the strength and mobility of athletes for the better part of three decades, with an exclusive focus on the evaluation and treatment of knee issues, and he loves it.
Growing up playing sports - football, basketball, and baseball in high school, and continuing with basketball in college - explains Dr. Trumper’s draw to the sports aspect of orthopedics. This background made the field a natural choice for him, and he was particularly drawn to the knee joint because of its complexity. His undergraduate degree in engineering likely fueled this interest in the intricate mechanics of the knee joint and how brilliantly designed it is, despite its frailties.
Dr. Trumper is part of an exceptional and expanding physician-owned team, joining more than 95 providers, including 49 specialized physicians, across six medical campuses - all working together to keep our communities moving.
The most common injuries seen in Dr. Trumper’s practice are ligament and meniscal injuries, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) being of special interest. The team at the Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies are actively involved in research around that ligament and injuries to it, and are proud to note their paper on the subject was presented to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and chosen as one of ten papers highlighted on “specialty day.” They are also involved in technology platforms to improve ACL repairs. Questions like, “How do we improve methods for repairing ligaments and managing meniscus and cartilage injuries? What can we do to increase the chances of full recovery with minimal limitations? What can be done to ensure the other knee isn’t injured?” drive the research. As a result of such focused study, they have a deeper understanding of the injury, are better at diagnosing it, and have improved techniques for repairing it.
Of course, recovery is an essential part of injury, and Dr. Trumper highlights the importance of understanding what the injury is as well as its underlying causes to guide the recovery process. With patience and thoughtful planning, the chances of a full recovery improve while the risk of aggravating the injury or having another one is reduced. Prevention is the best medicine, and Dr. Trumper recommends being properly conditioned for activities to minimize the chance of injury.
Community involvement is the heartbeat of the Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies, and Dr. Trumper admits it’s one of the most rewarding parts of his job. Getting to know the athletes, their families, and the staff members of the athletic organizations they serve integrates the OCR team into the Windsor community. Their impact reaches across Northern Colorado and beyond state lines, and they are grateful for those who travel long distances to be treated by specialists at OCR. The team is dedicated to ensuring their patients receive the highest level of expertise, with subspecialties from head to toe to address a wide range of needs. For 56 years, OCR has been woven into the fabric of the region’s health landscape. Its mission today is the same as it was then - serving and empowering patients to live their best lives with compassionate, high-quality care.
That commitment is felt deeply in Windsor, and it’s clear how far-reaching OCR’s support truly is. In communities across Northern Colorado, it’s almost impossible to talk about injuries or recovery without someone proudly saying, “I went to OCR.” Word of those positive experiences travels fast - high school athletes, parents, coaches, and weekend warriors all share stories of how OCR helped them get back to doing what they love.
Windsor High School’s head football coach, Chris Jones, recalls the level of care provided to his family after significant injuries following a major car accident in 2018, when the OCR team walked alongside them through months of healing and re-learning daily functions. He speaks to the expertise of surgeons like Dr. Hartman and Dr. Beard, whose joint-replacement work helped him return to mobility. Eric Johnson is Windsor High School’s Athletic Director who has experienced OCR’s care firsthand as well - both as a partner in athletics and as a patient.
OCR's physicians provide sideline sports coverage at 25 high schools throughout Northern Colorado and the Front Range, including Windsor High School - an investment in care that has touched countless families. Each school also benefits from a dedicated athletic trainer on campus daily, making sure athletes are supported, protected, and set up for success. Kate Suiter is OCR’s athletic trainer for Windsor High School.
An added bonus for Dr. Trumper is being able to follow young athletes on their journey to becoming professionals in their sport, knowing he and the OCR team had a part in turning their dreams into reality. Dr. Trumper and his colleagues have tended to the knee-related needs of many notable athletic figures, which makes watching these athletes in action all the more rewarding. Fixing a ligament in Seattle Seahawks’ wide receiver Tony Horton connects Dr. Trumper to the professional football player in a unique way and has resulted in the doctor becoming a Seattle Seahawks fan. Staying up late to watch a New York Mets game because of the ACL repair done on outfielder Brandon Nimmo is a highlight for Dr. Trumper. Knowing that he’s responsible for restoring the ACL of an Eagle-turned-Avalanche player makes watching the games even more fun and interesting.
Stories like these solidify OCR as a key contributor to the vitality and strength of the athletic community in Windsor and across Northern Colorado. From injury to full recovery, Dr. Trumper, his colleagues, and their many subspecialties at the Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies are responsible for keeping athletes healthy and on the field.
To learn more about Dr. Trumper and the physicians at OCR, visit orthohealth.com.
"The comebacks are greater than all the setbacks in life." - Windsor High School Head Football Coach, Chris Jones
"It's almost impossible to discuss injuries or recovery without someone proudly saying, 'I went to OCR.'" - OCR's Director of Marketing & Practice Development, Carli Taylor-Drake