# S Robert Rozbruch

S Robert Rozbruch is an American orthopedic surgeon and an academic. He is a Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Osseointegration Limb Replacement Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
Robert's research primarily focuses on advancements in orthopedic surgery, with particular emphasis on limb lengthening, deformity correction, external fixation, osseointegration limb replacement for amputees, and innovations in musculoskeletal treatment techniques. He also holds a patent for a lower limb force-sensing system with a flexible sensory insole featuring independently pivoting sensor cells for precise force measurement, applicable in gait analysis, sports tracking, rehabilitation, orthotics, and assistive mobility devices. Moreover, his authored works have been published in leading academic journals, including Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma and Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Moreover, he has written numerous textbook chapters and has edited two major textbooks in his field including the second edition of the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Surgery Case Atlas.
Rozbruch has served on the editorial boards of various academic journals and is an associate editor for the Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics.

## Education

Rozbruch earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985. Subsequently, in 1990, he completed his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree at Weill Cornell Medical College.

## Career

Rozbruch began his academic career in 1996 at Weill Cornell Medical College as a Clinical Instructor in Surgery, a role he held until 1998. He then served as a Clinical Instructor in Orthopaedic Surgery from 1999 to 2001, followed by appointments as Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery from 2001 to 2007 and Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery from 2007 to 2012. Since 2012, he has been Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at the same institution.
Rozbruch also has extensive administrative and professional experience. He served as the Director of the Limb Salvage and Amputation Reconstruction Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Additionally, he has been invited as visiting professor and keynote speaker at many universities and academic meetings around the world including Japan, China, Korea, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, England, and Germany. Since 2005, he has been the Service Chief of the Limb Lengthening and Complex Reconstruction Service there. He has also served as an Attending Orthopedic Surgeon since 2012 and, since 2022, as the Director of the Osseointegration Limb Replacement Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

## Research

Rozbruch’s work spans several critical areas, including surgical methods, biomechanical modeling, and postoperative care strategies. He also addressed the evolution of femoral shaft plating techniques, documenting the shift toward biologic fixation and improved biomechanics. This work demonstrated reductions in complications, faster time to union, and improved surgical outcomes over three decades.
Rozbruch's research extensively explored the Ilizarov method for treating tibial bone and soft-tissue defects, showing its efficacy in limb salvage for patients unsuitable for flap coverage. His findings underscore the method’s success in achieving bony union and soft-tissue closure without requiring amputation. He also studied the Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF), a six-axis correction device, confirming its precision and low complication rates in correcting tibial deformities.
In the field of distraction osteogenesis, Rozbruch introduced the lengthening and then nailing (LATN) technique, which combined external fixation with intramedullary nailing. This approach reduced time in external frames, accelerated bone healing, and decreased refracture risk compared to traditional methods. Similarly, his evaluation of the PRECICE nail, a magnet-operated internal bone lengthening device, demonstrated its high accuracy, precision, and low complication rates, establishing it as a valuable tool for treating limb length discrepancies.
Rozbruch has also contributed to the development of computational knee models, enabling accurate predictions of intra-articular forces and pressures for surgical planning in osteoarthritis treatments. Additionally, his studies on the biomechanics of external fixation and pin site infection prevention emphasize the importance of stability, patient management, and infection control in optimizing treatment outcomes. Through his research, he also explored joint preservation techniques, including distal femoral osteotomy for valgus knee deformities and patellar instability, and ankle distraction arthroplasty, demonstrating improved mechanical alignment, patient outcomes, and intermediate-term success in treating complex orthopedic conditions. Moreover, his work has also focused on osseointegration surgery for lower-limb amputees, addressing surgical techniques, complications, risk factors, and strategies to optimize outcomes and enhance prosthetic integration.

## Awards and honors

* 2016 – Editor’s Choice Awards, JBJS
* 2024 – Invited International Speaker, 6th World Congress of the ASAMI-BR & ILLRS
* 2024 – Recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award, 6th World Congress of the ASAMI-BR & ILLRS
* 2006-2024 – New York Magazine and Castle ConnollyTop Doctors

## Selected articles

* Rozbruch, R. S., Müller, U., Gautier, E., & Ganz, R. (1998). The evolution of femoral shaft plating technique. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (1976-2007), 354, 195-208.
* Rozbruch, S. R., Weitzman, A. M., Watson, J. T., Freudigman, P., Katz, H. V., & Ilizarov, S. (2006). Simultaneous treatment of tibial bone and soft-tissue defects with the Ilizarov method. Journal of orthopaedic trauma, 20(3), 194-202.
* Fragomen, A. T., & Rozbruch, S. R. (2007). The mechanics of external fixation. HSS Journal®, 3(1), 13-29.
* Rozbruch, R. S., Kleinman, D., Fragomen, A. T., & Ilizarov, S. (2008). Limb lengthening and then insertion of an intramedullary nail: a case-matched comparison. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®, 466(12), 2923-2932.
* Kirane, Y. M., Fragomen, A. T., & Rozbruch, R. S. (2014). Precision of the PRECICE® internal bone lengthening nail. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®, 472(12), 3869-3878.