Jesse C. Botker, MD, FAAOS, CAQ

Dr. Jesse Botker, M.D. is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in arthroscopic minimally invasive joint repair and treating the bone, joint, and muscle needs of athletes and active individuals of all ages. Dr. Botker has served area residents in Mankato and Windom, Minnesota, and the surrounding communities as a provider at Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic since 2010. He also serves as Medical Director of River’s Edge Hospital in St. Peter, Minnesota. He offers surgical and nonsurgical care with personalized treatment plans for the ankle, foot, elbow, hip, knee, and shoulder as well as muscle injuries and conditions.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Dr. Botker received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Macalester College in St. Paul. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota Medical School in Duluth and Minneapolis, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree and completed his internship in general surgery and residency in orthopedic surgery. Dr. Botker was later accepted into the arthroscopy and sports medicine fellowship program at San Diego Sports Medicine & Arthroscopy in California and underwent advanced training in the latest specialized techniques for minimally invasive joint procedures and sports medicine treatments.

Dr. Botker proudly served as an official team physician for Minnesota State University, Mankato Athletics and is a former team physician for the San Diego Padres and San Diego State University. As a team physician, sports medicine specialist, and former college athlete, Dr. Botker understands the importance of staying active and in his free time, he enjoys wakesurfing, weightlifting, golf, hunting, and basketball; he also enjoys following Vikings football.

Dedicated to providing his patients with the highest level of care, Dr. Botker is proud to offer the latest options in total joint care, including:

Arthrex® Virtual Implant Positioning™ (VIP) for Shoulder Replacement: Procedures with the VIP system use precision surgical planning developed through advanced software and imaging of each patient’s shoulder. Dr. Botker then uses surgical instrumentation specific to the patient’s shoulder to place their implant with exceptional accuracy.

Reverse Shoulder Replacement: An innovative alternative to traditional shoulder replacement, a reversed procedure is for patients with shoulder arthritis and significant rotator cuff damage. Dr. Botker reverses the ball and socket replacement components to offer better strength, stability, and range of motion.

ROMTech® PortableConnect® Technology for Total Knee Replacement: A groundbreaking rehab system for knee replacement patients that delivers at-home therapy sessions. Dr. Botker employs this system to improve patients' postoperative outcomes, from increasing range of motion to decreasing pain and swelling.

Zimmer Biomet Persona® Patient Specific Instrumentation (PSI) Knee Replacement: The Zimmer PSI (Patient-Specific Instrumentation) system is an advanced approach to knee replacement that uses a preoperative 3D MRI to create a detailed, patient-specific model of the knee. This allows for the design of custom 3D-printed surgical guides that precisely match each patient’s unique anatomy, helping to optimize implant positioning, alignment, and overall surgical accuracy. By streamlining the procedure and reducing the need for intraoperative adjustments, this technology enhances efficiency while preserving healthy bone and soft tissue. Dr. Botker performs this technique using a muscle- and tendon-sparing subvastus approach, which avoids disruption of the quadriceps muscle, helping to minimize postoperative pain, accelerate recovery, and allows patients to regain strength, range of motion and full function more quickly..

Stryker Mako Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement: The Stryker Mako robotic-assisted knee replacement is an advanced, image-guided technology that allows for highly precise, patient-specific joint replacement. Using a preoperative CT scan, a 3D model of the knee is created to help plan optimal implant positioning, alignment, and ligament balancing. During surgery, the robotic arm assists in executing that plan with real-time feedback, improving accuracy while preserving healthy bone and soft tissue. Dr. Botker performs this procedure using a muscle- and tendon-sparing subvastus approach, which avoids disruption of the quadriceps muscle and tendon. This technique helps reduce postoperative pain, accelerate recovery, and allows patients to regain strength, range of motion and full function more quickly.

Stryker Mako Robotic-Arm “Bikini Incision” Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty: Dr. Botker utilizes an advanced, muscle-sparing technique that allows for precise, minimally invasive hip replacement. Utilizing a preoperative 3D CT scan, a patient-specific surgical plan is created to optimize implant positioning, alignment, and leg length restoration. During surgery, the Mako robotic system provides real-time guidance to enhance accuracy and reproducibility. The anterior approach accesses the hip joint through natural muscle planes rather than cutting or detaching muscle, significantly reducing soft tissue trauma. Combined with a cosmetically appealing “bikini” incision, this approach helps minimize postoperative pain, lowers dislocation risk, and allows for a faster recovery with fewer restrictions, helping patients return to normal function more quickly.