Orthopedic Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine Expert Witness

An Orthopedic Sports Medicine expert witness is an Orthopedic Surgeon who testifies on medical and surgical treatment of musculoskeletal issues in athletes.  Orthopedic Sports Medicine (commonly spelled “Orthopaedic” in academia) is a subspecialty of Orthopedic Surgery dealing with the medical and surgical treatment of any musculoskeletal structure affecting athletic performance and sports. The term is confusing since the vast majority of Orthopedic Sports Medicine specialists also perform surgery, and because Sports Medicine specialists who are not surgeons can some from the fields of Pediatrics, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, and Internal Medicine. To become an Orthopaedic Sports Medicine specialist, a physician first completes a 5-year Orthopedic Surgery residency program followed by fellowship to subspecialize in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. A qualified Orthopedic Sports Medicine expert witness will have certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery with a subspecialty certificate in Orthopedic Sports Medicine.

Orthopedic Sports Medicine specialists provide both operative and non-operative treatment for athletes. Non-operative care involves conditioning, training, fitness, nutrition, supplements, and management of soft tissue injuries. It may also involve the treatment of concussions, fatigue, muscle strains, and exercise-induced asthma. Operative procedures include arthroscopic surgery, joint replacement surgery (typically hip and knee), carpal tunnel release, treatment of meniscal tears and ligamentous injuries, and fixation of fractures including the wrist, humerus, clavicle, tibia, and hip.  A qualified Orthopedic Sports Medicine expert witness can address any of these areas.

Orthopedic Sports Medicine Case Matter

Litigation in Orthopedic Sports Medicine typically stems from allegations of misdiagnosis or poor surgical outcomes resulting in loss of function or an inability to return to sports. From the treatment of routine soft tissue injury to the most complex procedures in the field, Elite Medical Experts reviews all aspects of Orthopedic Sports Medicine litigation, including:

  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injuries
  • Medical Collateral Ligament (MCL) repairs
  • Meniscal tears, repair, and meniscectomy
  • Shoulder dislocation (Bankart lesions and Hill-Sachs)
  • Arthroscopic surgery on the wrist, shoulder, hip, and knee
  • Patellar instability and dislocation
  • Femoroacetabular impingement
  • Achilles tendon rupture and repair
  • Ankle sprains and ligamentous injuries
  • Disc herniation and disc degeneration disease
  • Hip and knee joint replacement (arthroplasty)
  • Orthopedic trauma
  • Carpal tunnel release
  • Fractures such as femoral neck (hip), radius, ulna, ankle, and tibial plateau
  • Rotator cuff injury and repair
  • SLAP (Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior) injuries

Given the complex issues involved in Orthopedic Sports Medicine, an experienced Board-Certified Orthopedic Sports Medicine expert witness from a top university medical center is an invaluable asset for challenging assignments. To secure an Orthopedic Sports Medicine expert witness for your case, please contact Elite Medical Experts and speak with a physician or nurse on our Case Strategy Team.

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Author Profile

Dr. Burton Bentley II, the CEO of Elite Medical Experts, is a nationally renowned authority on medical liability, informed consent, and complex issues at the intersections of medicine, law, and business. As a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician and entrepreneur, Dr. Bentley founded Elite Medical Experts in 2010 while overseeing nearly a decade of year-over-year growth. Dr. Bentley also developed and patented a commercial medical device and co-founded Consent Spectrum, a state-of-the-art digital platform for informed consent in aesthetic medical procedures.  Outside of Elite, Dr. Bentley can be found spending time with his family and riding horses in Tucson’s riverbeds and deserts.

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