Dedicated to a highly individualized, multidisciplinary team approach to address the musculoskeletal needs of each patient as a whole person, NYU Winthrop Hospital’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery combines cutting-edge medical and surgical techniques with proven traditional methods to provide patients with the best orthopedic care possible.

The department is led by James D. Capozzi, MD, chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Winthrop, who is renowned for his expertise in hip and knee joint replacement surgery and providing exceptional care to patients suffering with a range of complex orthopedic conditions.

New Frontiers in Robotic Orthopedic Surgery

A leader in total joint replacement, NYU Winthrop continues to reach new frontiers in total hip replacement surgery, total knee replacements, and joint replacement revision surgery. The joint replacement team also specializes in performing minimally invasive, bonesparing, and tissue-conserving total hip replacements.

With the recent addition of several new physicians, including Jan A. Koenig, MD, chief of joint replacement surgery and director of computer assisted and robotic orthopedic surgery, the department has expanded its already extensive armamentarium of joint replacement services.

Dr. Koenig is an internationally recognized expert in the field of joint replacement, specializing in robotically assisted total knee replacement—a highly accurate approach to knee replacement surgery. In fact, Dr. Koenig pioneered this procedure in New York state and recently performed the hospital’s first computer-assisted total knee replacement utilizing a state-of-the-art robotic cutting guide.

This advanced system works by accurately replicating a patient’s damaged knee joint, helping the surgeon to identify the proper size, position, alignment, and orientation of the implant before any bone cuts are made. The technology enables the surgeon to perform safer, more precise and less invasive procedures, leading to faster recovery times and improved function for patients.

Sports Medicine for Every Athlete

NYU Winthrop’s comprehensive Sports Medicine Center features orthopedic surgeons who focus on every joint in the body, from ankles and wrists to knees and hips, for both adults and children, as well as a sports psychologist.

“The need for sports medicine is great—everybody’s an athlete,” said Mark G. Grossman, MD, chief of sports medicine at NYU Winthrop, noting that many patients today participate in some sort of sporting activity, from competitive sports to low-impact activities. “We strive to accommodate each patient and understand his or her goals. We work with patients individually to attain the highest levels of achievement despite any injury they may have.”

Dr. Grossman treats athletes with a range of injuries, including those of the knee and shoulder. He is an expert in the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and performs ACL reconstruction arthroscopically through small incisions, usually on an outpatient basis. This procedure involves transferring tissue from one part of the knee to another in order to create a new ligament.

Specialized Treatment for Pediatric Patients

Under the leadership of John Gaffney, DO, chief of the Division of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, who treats pediatric patients from newborn to young adulthood and has a special interest in fractures, sports injuries, hip dysplasia and foot deformities, the pediatric orthopedic surgical team is dedicated to treating active pediatric patients.

“Children’s growth plates are delicate and are especially prone to fracture. Because many childhood fractures involve growth plates, it is vital for children to be evaluated quickly when a fracture occurs in order to determine the best course of treatment and avoid growth deformity,” said Dr. Gaffney. “While some fractures can be treated with a cast, more serious injuries may require surgery.”

Hand Injuries Handled with Care

The Hand Service treats children and adults with a variety of bone and soft tissue conditions of the hand and upper extremity. Some of the more common conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome—nerve damage caused by compression and irritation of the median nerve in the wrist; tennis elbow, or inflammation or pain caused by overuse of arm and forearm muscles; and trigger finger, a condition in which one of the fingers locks in a bent position.

The hospital’s Hand Service is led by renowned hand specialist Glenn A. Teplitz, MD, vice chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and chief of hospital’s Hand Service. Dr. Teplitz is well respected for his extensive expertise in the field of orthopedics that is focused on the diagnosis, conservative management, and surgical treatment of common and complex conditions involving the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow. Dr. Teplitz also specializes in the treatment of deformities, reimplantations, metabolic bone disease, complex fractures, and sports-related injuries.

Dr. Teplitz is distinguished for his expertise in treating scapholunate ligament injuries of the wrist in athletes through the use of a procedure called arthroscopic electrothermal collagen shrinkage. This innovative treatment involves the application of heat using a specialized probe to shrink and tighten tissues and rebuild collagen fibers, resulting in a more stable joint. The advantages include minimally invasive surgery and expedited return to physical activities.

Getting Back on Your Feet

Bryan Ding, MD, specializes in foot and ankle orthopedic surgery. Dr. Ding is committed to a conservative, incremental approach to treatment, treating patients nonoperatively when possible, using injections, bracing, physical therapy, and various medications.

“Sports injuries often require special consideration for minimizing recovery time, as well as the importance of regaining full function at a high level,” Dr. Ding said. “Treatments can range from bracing and physical therapy to surgical procedures such as ankle arthroscopy, complex ligament and tendon reconstructions, and osteochondral grafting procedures.”

The Department of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Winthrop is comprised of physicians who are committed to providing patients with exceptional orthopedic care. NYU Winthrop’s orthopedic surgeons address a full range of conditions, using both surgical and nonsurgical procedures to relieve pain, discomfort, and maximize each patient’s mobility. These specialists address several specialty areas of orthopedics: pediatric orthopedics, hand and upper extremity surgery, minimally invasive surgery, arthroscopy, sports medicine, trauma and fracture repair, arthritis treatment, joint replacement and reconstruction surgery, spine surgery, and podiatry.