Specialties

Specialties & Rotations

Adult Reconstruction Service

The Adult Reconstruction Service at the University of Utah Department of Orthopaedic Surgery offers a broad exposure to both the primary and revision surgery of the hip and knee. Although the emphasis is on joint replacement methodology, joint-preserving procedures such as surgical dislocation of the hip, periacetabular osteotomies, high tibial osteotomies, and arthroscopy are also emphasized. The residents are actively involved in the operative and perioperative care of these patients. The residents are expected to heavily participate in the preoperative planning of these frequently complex cases. Finally, there is ample opportunity for long-term follow-up of adult reconstructive cases in busy follow-up clinics.

Foot & Ankle Service

The Foot and Ankle Service at the University Hospital focuses on a broad spectrum of pathologic conditions. Areas covered in the educational process include reconstruction for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, arthrodesis techniques for complex hindfoot deformities, operative and nonoperative treatment of rheumatologic conditions, acute reconstruction for complex fractures including pilon fractures, calcaneus fractures and complex midfoot fracture/dislocations, and diagnosis and treatment for diabetic foot conditions. The care and treatment of patients with complex neuromuscular disorders is covered on this service, including adults with cavovarus foot deformities and adult patients with deformities after neuromuscular conditions of childhood.

Hand Surgery Service

The Hand Surgery Service at the University of Utah Department of Orthopaedic Surgery provides intensive education in hand and microvascular surgery. The attending faculty offer excellent and varied teaching throughout the rotation. Residents attend weekly clinics and surgery at the University of Utah Hospital, V.A., and the University Orthopaedic Center. There is a weekly hand surgery conference at the university in which residents are assigned topics on an alternate basis.

Night Float

  • Year: PGY-2
  • Length of Time: 8 weeks

To comply with the 80-hour workweek regulations, a night float system for university-based rotations is used. PGY-2 residents spend 8 weeks on a shift of 5 pm to 7 am covering patient calls and ER calls. Residents participate in any nighttime trauma cases as well.

Pediatric Orthopaedics

Pediatric orthopaedics is jointly taught between Primary Children’s Hospital and the Shriners Hospital for Children. Rotations through Primary Children’s and Shriners Hospital accumulate to six months of exposure. Call is shared between the two hospitals to access the PCH Level 1 pediatric trauma experience. Combined, this is an active pediatric service of ten faculty, which also offers weekly conferences that have been popular with residents. The pediatric service is a comprehensive exposure to all areas of pediatric orthopaedics including limb deformity, neuromuscular disease, congenital deformity, trauma, and spine.

Shoulder & Elbow Service

Residents receive extensive training in the care of acute and chronic shoulder and elbow injuries and problems. The Shoulder and Elbow service is based at the UUOC but also performs cases at the University Hospital, VAMC, and satellite surgery centers. Arthroscopic and open surgery techniques of both the Shoulder and Elbow are performed with an in depth experience in arthroplasty as well as sports related injuries. Residents participate in weekly didactic conferences, cadaver simulation labs, and have the opportunity for weekly research meetings.

Spine Service

Residents spend a total of 20 weeks on the spine service learning detailed anatomy of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, the spinal cord, and the nervous system. Residents become well versed in traditional and cutting edge surgical techniques as they learn to manage patients with spinal cord injuries, degenerative cervical and lumbar pathology as well as complex spinal deformity, tumors and infections.

Sports Medicine Service

Residents receive extensive training in the care of acute and chronic sports injuries and are involved with the care of the University of Utah Athletic teams, Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake & Salt Lake Bees. The Sports Medicine Service is based at the UUOC. Arthroscopic and open surgery techniques for all joints, including the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee are emphasized. There is also ample instruction on the nonsurgical care of sports injuries. Residents participate in a monthly journal club and weekly related sports medicine conferences. Arthroscopic cadaveric and computer simulation labs are available for improving surgical skills.

Trauma Service

The Orthopaedic Trauma Service at the University of Utah takes advantage of our status as a level-1 trauma center and the 2nd largest regional referral center. The broad trauma experience includes injuries ranging from low energy ankle and hip fractures to complex, high-energy pelvic, acetabular, and spine fractures. A close proximity to high performance outdoor recreation provides a broad range of complex injuries in young athletic individuals and a central location near major interstates provides an abundance of high-speed blunt trauma.

Residents are expected to actively participate in the pre-operative planning for all fracture cases and they are actively involved in the operative/nonoperative treatment of these patients. There are weekly conferences devoted to the discussion and evaluation of specific fracture and trauma topics. The entire orthopaedic staff remains continuously available for individual discussion and interaction. There are weekly trauma conferences for all university based residents and a separate trauma lecture series for all residents.

Tumor Service

The Tumor Service is held at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. The service is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of primary and metastatic musculoskeletal malignancies. The resident is responsible for active participation in the pre, intra, and post-op care of these patients with ample opportunities to participate in basic science and clinical research.

Elective Rotation

PGY-5 residents are allowed a four week elective block in orthopaedic surgery. Prior residents have used this time for completion of research, elective rotations in rural communities, subspecialty private practice, and participation in international service. Dr. Rothberg is the international rotation coordinator for the department and can help residents with placement and funding. Recent locations have included: Chile, Nicaragua, Honduras, Ecuador, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Ghana and a European Travelling Fellowship.

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