Luke M. Elms, MD

Surgeon

9430 Turkey Lake Rd Suite 114 Orlando FL, 32819 Show map

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About

Dr. Luke Elms is a general, minimally-invasive and robotic surgeon practicing in Orlando, FL. Dr. Elms specializes in abdominal wall reconstruction, hernias, and broad-based general surgery such as gallbladder disease, diseases of the small intestines and colon, soft tissue masses and cysts. Dr. Elms also has a special interest in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and multimodal opioid minimizing pain management.

Education and Training

University Of Oklahoma College Of Medicine 2010

Board Certification

American Board of Surgery

Provider Details

Male English

Luke M. Elms, MD

Luke M. Elms, MD's Expert Contributions

My Answers

Is a CT scan of the abdomen accurate?
CT scans of the abdomen are one of the most accurate and sensitive tests we have to look inside the abdomen. As with all tests though, there are a certain amount of things that can be missed, and certain things are not able to be seen as well with CT scans, as with other scans. It is important to consult with your physician to determine which imaging study or test is best to diagnose the problem you are evaluating. READ MORE
Is lymph node biopsy painful?
Many times we are able to perform lymph node biopsies with just a needle which greatly reduces the postoperative recovery and pain. If removal of the entire lymph node or a surgical approach is necessary, it is completely dependent on the location of the lymph node and the size of surgery needed to biopsy it. READ MORE
How long after inguinal hernia repair can I run?
This is a great question. It depends on the type of hernia and the type of repair used. In my patients, I usually restrict running for two weeks after a minimally invasive inguinal (groin) hernia repair. That limitation is six weeks for other types of hernias and for open groin hernia repairs. Ultimately this should be part of the discussion with your surgeon around the time of surgery to determine the expectation for recovery after your specific surgery. READ MORE
What are the different types of pain management techniques used after surgery?
Pain control after surgery is one of the focuses of my practice. I do recommend the use of all available options forpain management after a surgery. It is important to understand that not all pain medications are narcotics (opioids). It is also important to understand that many times medications work better in coordination with one another than they do individually. I also counsel my patients on the fact that there is a certain amount of pain or discomfort that is expected and is a normal part of recovery. Pain doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong. I utilize a pain regimen to reduce the amount of opioids needed if possible. The regimen usually involves acetaminophen, an anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxant, a nerve block and an opioid if needed. Ultimately good pain control is the primary goal is to control pain and the use of an opioid should be considered if pain management cannot be achieved without them. But, there are some side effects of opioids that can slow recovery in certain individuals. Not every patient is a candidate for all of the medications and it is important to consult with your surgeon to determine the appropriate regimen for your specific case. READ MORE
How to fix a stitch infection?
Many times stitch infections are actually just irritation from the sutures as many sutures cause an inflammatory reaction. If there is an actual infection, many times it may require removal of the suture or antibiotics. It is important if you feel like you have a stitch infection to consult with your surgeon and let them know so appropriate treatment can be started. READ MORE
How can I prepare for a hernia surgery?
As a hernia surgeon, I recommend my patients to continue to be physically active with cardiovascular exercise to maintain their health and stamina prior to surgery if possible. I do recommend avoiding heavy, lifting or strenuous activities, depending on the type of hernia. I also recommend a healthy diet with high protein to ensure that you’re not malnourished part of surgery to help with healing. I also recommend stopping the use of nicotine products prior to surgery to also help with healing, reduce infections, and prevent recurrences. as with all hernias, I do recommend you consult with your individual surgeon to make sure that your hernia and situation are appropriate for these recommendations. READ MORE
How long is recovery from abdominal surgery?
This is a great question and depends very much on what type of surgery you underwent whether it was minimally invasive or open. The reason you underwent the surgery is also very important as the different types of surgeries can have different recovery lengths. READ MORE
What foods to avoid after gallbladder removal?
The majority of patients are able to go back to eating a full normal diet. Occasionally, some patients may experience symptoms such as bloating or diarrhea after eating certain foods, especially foods that are high in fat content. If you experience these symptoms, they will resolve the majority of the time after a few weeks after surgery. But if they do not, there are medications that can be used to help with the symptoms. READ MORE
Can I exercise 1 month after hernia surgery?
It is very dependent on the type of hernia repaired. When I perform robotic inguinal hernia surgery, I usually ask patients to avoid strenuous exercise for two weeks. If the surgery needs to be open, or it is a different type of hernia, the time to avoid exercise can be extended to six weeks in many cases. READ MORE
Do you have pain after lipoma surgery?
This can depend on how deep the lipoma extends and how large the incision needs to be. Usually the pain can be treated with a combination of non-opioids medications and occasionally may need an opioids. READ MORE
How long does a colon biopsy take?
There are many factors that play into this type of procedure and how long it takes. It can take on average 15 to 30 minutes from start of anesthesia to finish. READ MORE
How do you know if a hernia needs surgery?
We usually recommend that most hernias be repaired once they are identified to prevent them from becoming an emergency or prevent them from getting larger or more complex to fix. Occasionally, when hernias are small, we are able to fix them without the use of mesh which has benefits. READ MORE
When can I exercise after abdominal hernia surgery?
It depends on the type of surgery performed, and the size of the incisions needed. The majority of patients have a period of two to six weeks that we ask them to avoid lifting more than 15 pounds or straining the abdominal wall. This does not mean bedrest and we still ask patients to walk and perform normal daily activities even the day of surgery. READ MORE
When can I drink alcohol after gallbladder surgery?
After you have recovered fully from surgery and are not taking any pain medications there are usually no limitations to alcohol use. If there is a noted problem with your liver, we may ask that people stop using alcohol altogether. This is not because you no longer have a gallbladder, but because your liver does not work well and alcohol can worsen this. We do recommend that alcohol use be avoided or only consumed in small amounts just for your overall general health.. READ MORE
What is the most common treatment for gallstones?
The only treatment for gallstones that can definitively remove the stones and prevent them from causing future problems is to remove the gallbladder. Some medications claim to dissolve stones or prevent them from forming, but these are not usually successful once stones have already formed. Gallstones cannot be blasted or removed like kidney stones. Unfortunately the only way to fully treat them is to remove the gallbladder. Sometimes if gallstones are causing only minimal symptoms or not causing any symptoms at all, they can just be watched or the patient can try eating a low-fat diet to control symptoms. However, this does not get rid of the stones. READ MORE
How long after appendix surgery can you fly?
When I have patients from out of town that require appendectomy I usually determine when they can fly using a few factors: 1. Was the surgery straightforward or complicated? 2. How long is the flight and are there places to divert? 3. What other factors specific to the individual patient could make it safe or unsafe to travel? Ultimately it will depend on those and other factors and I recommend discussing it with your surgeon to determine the safest time to fly. Best of luck on your travel home! READ MORE
What doctor should I see for appendix pain?
Appendicitis is an emergency and I would recommend being seen in the nearest emergency department to get the right treatment. READ MORE
Is inguinal hernia surgery painful?
You can expect to feel pain after surgery but in my patients I utilize all available pain treatment options in combination to keep the pain controlled and allow patients to continue their non-strenuous daily activities during their recovery. Every case and patient is unique so consultation with your surgeon can give you more specific answers to your individual recovery expectations. READ MORE
When can I exercise after hernia surgery?
It depends on the type of hernia and the type of repair performed. In my patients some inguinal hernias can return to full activity as soon as 2 weeks while other ventral hernias are 6 weeks before full activity. I recommend speaking your surgeon to determine the approach and their recommendations for the best recovery in your individual case. READ MORE
How long is hernia surgery procedure?
It is completely dependent on the size and type of hernia and the type of repair needed to fix it. Some can be fairly quick while others take longer. READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Abdominal Wall ReconstructionUmbilical HerniasIncisional HerniasInguinal/Groin HerniasHerniasGallbladder DiseaseSoft Tissue MassesRobotic Surgery

Faculty Titles & Positions

Chair of the Pain Management Subcommittee Orlando Health 2022 - Present
Chair of the Surgery Operations Committee Dr. P. Phillips Hospital 2021 - Present
Physician Member of Surgical Site Infection Committee Orlando Health 2022 - Present
Physician Member of Surgical Quality Committee Orlando Health 2022 - Present
Physician Member of Perioperative Governance Committee Orlando Health 2018 - Present
Advanced Hernia Surgeon for Orlando Health Complex Hernia Center Orlando Health 2021 - Present
Physician Member of Robotic Surgery Steering Committee Orlando Health 2021 - Present

Treatments

Gallstones
Pain
Hernia
Cellulitis
Umbilical Hernia
Inguinal Hernia
Lipoma

Professional Memberships

American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons, Florida Chapter

Charities and Philanthropic Endeavors

Elms Family Scholarship at Oklahoma City University

Internships

Orlando Health - 2010

Professional Society Memberships

Fellow of American College of Surgeons

What do you attribute your success to?

Strong mentors and family support throughout my life

Hobbies / Sports

Co-Founder, Songwriter, Singer, Guitarist for BlueanimalBasketball

Favorite professional publications

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

Areas of research

Multimodal Pain Control for Surgical Pain

Hernia Surgery

Luke M. Elms, MD's Practice location

Orlando Health Medical Group

9430 Turkey Lake Rd Suite 114 -
Orlando, FL 32819

Get Direction

New patients: 407-354-1202, 407-354-1202

Fax: 407-351-8801

www.orlandohealth.com

Mon:08:00 AM - 04:30 PM
Tue:08:00 AM - 04:30 PM
Wed:08:00 AM - 04:30 PM
Thu:08:00 AM - 04:30 PM
Fri:08:00 AM - 04:30 PM
Sat:Closed
Sun:Closed

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Media Releases

Get to know General Surgeon Dr. Luke M. Elms, who serves patients in Orlando and Winter Garden, Florida.

Dr. Elms is a board-certified general surgeon who joined Orlando Health Medical Group in 2015, seeing patients out of the offices in Orlando and Winter Garden, Florida.

His practice focuses on using ERAS protocol principles, multimodal pain control, and minimally invasive techniques to achieve better postoperative pain control and limit or eliminate the need for narcotics. He performs surgery across all aspects of general surgery but has special interest in robotic surgery, hernia surgery, and abdominal wall reconstruction.

Among his many titles, Dr. Elms is Chair of the Pain Management Subcommittee, Physician Member of the Surgical Site Infection Committee, Physician Member of the Surgical Quality Committee, Physician Member of the Perioperative Governance Committee, and Physician Member of the Robotic Surgery Steering Committee.

Also, he is an Advanced Hernia Surgeon for the Orlando Health Complex Hernia Center, Chair of the Surgery Operations Committee at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, and serves as teaching faculty to the general surgery residency program at Orlando Health.

Having grown up in Oklahoma, Dr. Elms earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Oklahoma City University before earning his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine where he was awarded The Oklahoma City Surgical Society Award. He then completed his residency in general surgery at Orlando Health, where he served as the administrative chief resident during his final year and was awarded the Academic Achievement Award.

During college and residency, Dr. Elms participated in numerous research projects and presentations. He co-authored a paper entitled: “Causes of Small Bowel Obstruction After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Review of 2,395 Cases at a Single Institution that was published in the journal, Surgical Endoscopy.

Holding certification in robotic surgery, the doctor is also board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge.

Among his professional affiliations, Dr. Elms is an active member of the American College of Surgeons, ACS Florida Chapter, and the Florida Medical Association.

Specializing in minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery, his areas of research include multimodal pain control for surgical pain and hernia surgery.

General surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal contents including the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland. A general surgeon performs a wide range of abdominal surgeries for many forms of intestinal and abdominal wall neoplasms, gallbladder disease, gastric and pancreatic disease. They follow the patient through critical care and surgical recovery all the way to outpatient care.

Dr. Elms attributes his success to having strong mentors and family support throughout his life. He is a songwriter, singer, and guitarist. His favorite professional publication is the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.