Hip replacement implant installed in the pelvis bone. X-ray view

Orthopaedic Surgery

The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery aims to provide world-class medical care for patients in the Ottawa-Carleton region. We strive to foster a climate of creative learning and innovative research so as to continually enhance the quality of care that we deliver.

uOttawaOrtho Website

The University of Ottawa's Division of Orthopaedic Surgery has 22 surgeons, 18 of whom are involved with adult orthopaedics at The Ottawa Hospital (General and Civic campuses), and four of whom are dedicated to pediatric orthopaedics at the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Our surgeons have a range of expertise that includes all the subspecialties of orthopaedic surgery. The faculty members of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery perform more than 6,000 operations annually.

A consolidation of services at the two campuses of The Ottawa Hospital adult spine and major trauma at the Civic Campus, and total joint arthroplasty, upper limb surgery, foot and ankle surgery and musculoskeletal oncology at the General Campus provides a critical mass of patients and clinical activity, and improves the efficiency of service delivery and potential research.

Our faculty members are engaged in a broad range of research activities at both The Ottawa Hospital and at CHEO. In support of our research activities, there is a biomechanical lab with a full-time biomechanical engineer, a histology lab with a full-time histology lab technician, and a clinical epidemiology unit with a total of six research assistants at both The Ottawa Hospitals General and Civic campuses.

Adult Reconstruction Service

Over the last decade, our leading group of physicians, nurses and physiotherapists have been revolutionizing joint replacement surgery of the hip and knee. Our multi-disciplinary approach in developing our care maps have led to rapid recovery program where patient go home the same day or shortened hospital stay with minimal side effects of surgery (i.e. less pain, nausea/vomiting) and have practically eliminated the need for blood transfusion. We study and implement the latest in surgical technology by participating and leading clinical trials for the advancement of the field. Our team of surgeons are dedicated in providing world-class care here in our Nation’s Capital.

Foot and Ankle Service

The Ottawa Hospital Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle group aims to provide excellent clinical care while contributing to innovative and collaborative research and a focused educational mission. On the clinical front, our group provides a comprehensive tertiary level program for foot and ankle pathologies. Specialized surgical services include complex deformity correction, diabetic foot care, post traumatic reconstruction, ankle arthritis care, ankle arthroscopy and treatment of athletic injuries. Our surgeons work in close collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team of physiotherapists, chiropodists, wound care specialists, cast technicians, nurses and orthotists to deliver world-class care to the patients of eastern Ontario and beyond.

Hand and Wrist - Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery

The Ottawa Hospital Hand and Wrist Program is a collaborative effort between the Divisions of Plastic and Orthopaedic Surgery. Together we provide specialized tertiary care to the patients of Ottawa, Southeastern Ontario and Nunavut. All aspects of our subspecialty are expertly delivered, including fracture care/deformity correction, microsurgical repair/reconstruction, small joint arthroscopy and hand/wrist arthroplasty. We work in concert with the Riverside Hand Therapy Group to optimize rehabilitation after hand injury and surgery. Our comprehensive clinical, educational and research program continues to strive for excellence in patient care and outcomes.

Knee Preservation/Sports Medicine Unit

Our group has four sports medicine and knee fellowship trained surgeons providing a comprehensive approach to knee injuries involving articular cartilage and meniscal damage as well as collateral and cruciate ligament instabilities, ensuring that nonoperative conditioning and physical therapy modalities have been fully explored before any considerations of surgery. In addition, realignment osteotomies both the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joint as required for concerns of both stability and management of early degenerative change are done. Educational rounds are provided regularly with our highlight being the annual Don Johnson Visiting Professor in sport medicine taking place in the fall. In alternate years we host a comprehensive knee symposium with outstanding national and international faculty.  Fellowship positions are offered in comprehensive knee surgery.  Clinical and basic science research opportunities are available and in collaboration with our University partners in human kinematics and physical therapy.

Musculoskeletal Oncology Service

The Ottawa Hospital Sarcoma Program at The University of Ottawa provides comprehensive tertiary and quaternary care for patients with sarcoma and related musculoskeletal tumors from Ottawa and eastern Ontario, including the pediatric population at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Our multidisciplinary sarcoma unit has been actively involved with Cancer Care Ontario’s reorganization of Sarcoma services in Ontario and has been designated as one of three host Sarcoma Centers of Excellence in Ontario. A full spectrum of limb salvage surgery is offered as well as advanced chemotherapy, image guided intensity modulated radiation therapy, and advanced rehabilitation and physical therapy. Support services are coordinated though a sarcoma designated advanced practice nurse.

Pediatric Orthopaedics Service

Pediatric Orthopaedics at the University of Ottawa is housed at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). We are the region’s Pediatrics Trauma Centre and referral centre for eastern Ontario, western Quebec and Nunavut. Comprehensive care in all aspects of musculoskeletal disease and disorders is provided by six full-time fellowship trained pediatric orthopaedic surgeons. Conditions seen and managed at CHEO include pediatric trauma, spinal deformities, pediatric hip disorders, neuromuscular disorders and all aspects of limp deformity including clubfeet, limb length discrepancy and other abnormalities. We treat approximately 1200 cases surgically per year and see close to 20, 000 patients in our outpatient clinic annually.

Integrated Spine Program - Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics

The Ottawa Hospital Combined Adult Spinal Surgery Program is an integrated program led by spine focused orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. It provides all spinal surgical care for the entire Champlain region. Over 1000 spinal surgeries are performed annually and encompasses the entire range of spine procedures. Complex procedures performed include minimally invasive decompressions and fusions, osteotomies, wide excision of tumours and neuromodulation. Along with focused expertise, there are many ongoing initiatives to improve overall quality of care. In 2017, The multidisciplinary Inter-disciplinary Spine Assessment and Education Clinic to optimize primary care of spine patients has been fully operational since 2017.will be piloted with full implementation expected in 2018. The Combined Program is fully involved in the residency training of orthopaedic and neurosurgical candidates and also trains 3 international fellows annually.

Trauma Service

The Ottawa Hospital is the primary level one trauma centre providing coverage for eastern Ontario, western Quebec, and Nunavut. The Orthopaedic Trauma Service at The Ottawa Hospital provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to ensure each patient receives the treatment they need to optimize outcomes and avoid complications. We treat over 2000 injuries annually at all 3 adult campuses, with the Civic Campus receiving all the multi-system trauma patients and the vast majority of patients with multiple orthopaedic injuries. Subspecialized orthopaedic trauma care is also provided at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Patients with multi-system injuries are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit or Trauma Unit at the Civic Campus with care supervised by General Surgery and orthopaedics directing the care of musculoskeletal injuries. Patients with isolated musculoskeletal injuries are triaged and either admitted for surgery or treated through our outpatient surgical system.

Upper Extremity Service

The Upper Extremity Service sees approximately 5500 patient visits and performs more than 1200 surgical procedures annually. In addition, members of our service treat a significant number of patients with complex upper extremity trauma referred to our Service from eastern Ontario. We continue to maintain a prospective database on the functional and quality of life outcomes of upper extremity surgical procedures including conditions related to the rotator cuff, instability, shoulder arthroplasty, shoulder fractures, elbow and wrist pathology. The service offers a fellowship-training program in advanced shoulder and elbow reconstruction and arthroscopy. The Upper Extremity Service has hosted the national Canadian Shoulder and Elbow Society (CSES) course, held at the University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Centre in 2014, 2015, and 2016.