Two orthopedic medicine groups in the Twin Cities are merging to create one large physician practice with more than 100 orthopedic surgeons.

Twin Cities Orthopedics, which is based in Golden Valley, plans to integrate its practice this summer with St. Croix Orthopaedics, which treats patients in the St. Croix River valley.

The merger will create "one of the largest privately owned orthopedic practices in the United States," the groups said in a news release. It did not disclose financial terms for the deal.

Twin Cities Orthopedics includes about 84 physicians, 24 locations and 970 employees, while St. Croix Orthopaedics has 25 physicians, 11 locations and 170 employees. Immediate staffing changes are not anticipated, the groups said.

"The geographic coverage of the two groups together creates a tremendous opportunity to serve the entire metro area, and western Wisconsin," said Troy Simonson, chief executive at Twin Cities Orthopedics, in a statement.

The announcement was the latest of several ­developments in the local market for orthopedic medicine, which includes hip and knee replacements, as well as spine surgery.

In December, Twin Cities Orthopedics announced plans for a new sports medicine clinic in Eden Prairie. Last fall, Mayo Clinic opened a new sports medicine clinic in downtown Minneapolis.

Also last year, a large physician group in the east metro called Summit Orthopedics opened a new center for orthopedic care in Vadnais Heights.

Christopher Snowbeck • 612-673-4744

Twitter: @chrissnowbeck