A Brunswick County orthopaedic practice with five doctors is merging with OrthoWilmington as of Jan. 1, 2015, according to a news release issued Monday.

With the addition of Orthopaedic Specialists, currently headquartered at 902 N. Howe St. in Southport, OrthoWilmington will have 23 doctors, 17 physician assistants and three nurse practictioners, officials said. It will also add seven offices in the towns of Southport, Leland, Supply, Sunset Beach and Carolina Beach to its six current locations in New Hanover, Brunswick and Onslow counties, according to the news release.

"The practices will continue to operate independently until Jan. 1,” said Stephen DeBiasi, CEO of OrthoWilmington, which is headquartered at 2716 Aston Drive and 3787 Shipyard Blvd.

“In fact, day-to-day operations at all locations of the two practices will not be significantly affected, so patients should continue to contact their current providers at the same locations, by the same means they currently use," DeBiasi said in the release. "The real change will be OrthoWilmington’s increased reach into southern Brunswick County, and better access to our range of sub-specialists for people living in those areas.”

Officials said that combining would add to both practices' physical therapy services and give OrthoWilmington a "significant presence" at the Brunswick County hospitals Brunswick Novant Medical Center and Dosher Memorial Hospital.

"We already refer patients back and forth to each other," Michael Marushack of Orthopaedic Specialists said in the release, "so joining forces as a single practice will feel very natural."