Geoffrey H. Westrich, MD

Dr. Geoffrey Westrich is an accomplished orthopedic surgeon, specializing in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases of the hip and knee and in complex knee and hip replacements. He performs more than 400 surgeries a year: minimally invasive total hip and knee replacements, partial knee replacements, as well as arthroscopic hip and knee surgery, and trauma and fracture treatment. Dr. Westrich has more than 10 years of experience providing the highest level of care while treating his patients with compassion and respect.

Dr. Westrich is among a select group of orthopedic surgeons featured in Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors: New York Metro Area, and has won awards for research studies that have advanced the field of orthopedic surgery. He also trains other doctors and has written numerous articles for prestigious medical journals.

With a background in engineering in addition to his medical degree, Dr. Westrich is highly knowledgeable of the latest advances in implants and techniques. Companies that make hip and knee implants have called on him for his expertise in developing state-of-the-art joint replacements and surgical instrumentation.

Members of the press often call on Dr. Westrich for his expertise; he has been featured in numerous print and broadcast reports, including “Medical Marvels” in New York magazine in 2006. In the article, a patient recounts how Dr. Westrich saved her leg after five doctors told her it would need to be amputated from the hip. Dr. Westrich performed a rare and complex procedure called a total femur replacement, replacing her thigh bone and performing a hip and knee replacement at the same time.

Appointments

Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Co-Director of Joint Replacement Research, Hospital for Special Surgery
Assistant Scientist, Hospital for Special Surgery
Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College

Specialty

Orthopedic Surgery

Subspecialty

Hip
Knee

Special Expertise

Hip & Knee Pain and Injuries
Arthritis Management
Hip and Knee Replacement
Minimally Invasive Total Joint Replacement
Arthroscopic Hip and Knee Surgery
Partial Joint Replacement
Custom Knee Replacement
Revision Joint Replacement Surgery
Complex Hip and Knee Reconstruction
Complicated, Difficult Cases
Trauma & Fracture Treatment

Awards

The Nicolas Andry Award, 2006
The Hip Society, The John Charnley Award, 2005
8th International Symposium on Thromboembolism, Best Poster: Effect Of Preoperative Autologous Blood Donation On Deep Venous Thrombosis After Total Hip Replacement, 2001
Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, The Hip Society Recipient, 1998
Fellow Award Paper, Eastern Orthopaedic Association, 1996
Resident Award Paper, Smith & Nephew Richards Inc., 1995
Resident's Award New York Academy of Medicine, 1994
Alpha Omega Alpha, 1995
"Best Doctors in New York," New York Magazine, 2010, 2011 

Education

BS, Engineering (with honors), Tufts University School of Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts
MD, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

Internship

General Surgery, North Shore Hospital-Cornell University Program, Manhasset, New York

Residency

Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery/New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York

Fellowship

Orthopedic Trauma, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
Adult Hip/Knee Reconstruction, Hospital For Special Surgery, New York

Certification

American Board of Orthopedic Surgery

State Licensure

New York  

Geoffrey H. Westrich, MD has contributed to the following articles on HSS.edu:

Selected Publications

Sherman S, Cunneed KP, Walcott-sapp S, Brause B, Westrich G. Custom Total Femur Spacer and Second Stage Total Femur Replacement as a Novel Approach to Infection and Periprosthetic Fracture. Journal of Arthroplasty, Journal of Arthroplasty, 2008.

Watson D, Walcott-sapp S, Westrich G. Symptomatic Labral Tear Post-femoral Shaft Fracture: A Case Report. Journal of Orthopedic Trauma 2007;21:731-733.

Salvati EA, Sharrock NE, Westrich G, Potter HG, Gonzalez Della Valle A, Sculco TP. The Nicholas Andry Award: Three Decades of Clinical, Basic, and Applied Research on Thromboembolic Disease After Tha. Cinical Orthopedics and Related Research 2007; 459:246-254.

Mahoney C, Heitenberger S, Sanchez P, Schaefer S, Sculco TP, Westrich G.  Ultimate Outcome in Immediate Postoperative Total Hip Replacement Instability. Journal of Arthroplasty 2007; 22(1): 79-82.

Westrich G, Boettner F, Windsor RE, Laskin RS, Haas SB, Sculco TP. Venaflow Plus Lovenox Versus Venaflow Plus Aspirin for Thromboembolic Disease Prophylaxis in Total Knee Arthroplasty. Journal of Arthroplasty Special Supplement 2006; 21(6S): 139-143.

Westrich G, Winiarsky R, Betsy M, Maun L, Sculco TP. Effect on Deep Venous Thrombosis with Flexion During Total Knee Arthroplasty. Hospital for Special Surgery Journal 2006; 2(2): 148-153.

Della Valle AG, Rana A, Nestor B, Bostrom M, Westrich G, Salvati EA. Metallic Shedding, Surface Finish Changes, and Extensive Femoral Osteolysis in the Loose Spectrum EF Stem. Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research 2006; 442: 165-170.

Salvati EA, Della Valle AG, Westrich GH, Rana A, Specht L, Weksler BB, Wang P, Glueck CJ.   The John Charnley Award:  Heritable thrombophilia and development of thromboembolic disease after total hip arthroplasty. Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research 2005; 441: 40-55.

Pagnano M, Westrich G. Successful Nonoperative Management of Chronic Osteoarthritis Pain of the Knee: Safety and Efficacy of Retreatment with Intra-articular Hyaluronans. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2005; 751-761.

Nejat EJ, Meyers A, Sanchez PM, Schaefer SH, Westrich G. Total Hip Replacement and Physical Therapy in Lower Extremity Amputees: A Case Study. Iowa Orthopedic Journal, 2005; 38-41.

Terry MA, Westrich G, Taveras NA, Rana AJ, Kapoor K, Helfet DL. Thromboembolic Disease Prophylaxis in Hip Fracture Patients: A Multimodal Approach. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2005; 234-240.

Westrich G, Sculco T,  Sharrock NE, Potter H, Salvati EE, Sanchez P. The Effect of Intraoperative Heparin Administered During Total Hip Arthroplasty on the Incidence of Proximal Deep Vein Thrombosis Assessed by Magnetic Resonance Venography. Journal of Arthroplasty 2005; 20 (1): 42-50.

Westrich G, Su E, Helfet D. Operative Treatment of Tibial Plateau Fractures in Patients Older Than 55 years. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 2004; 421: 240-248.

Westrich G, Jhon PH, Sanchez PM. Compliance in Using a Pneumatic Compression Device After Total Knee Arthroplasty. The American Journal of Orthopedics 2003: 32(3): 135-140.

Westrich G, Weksler BB, Glueck CJ, Blumenthal BF, Salvati EA. Correlation of Thrombophilia and Hypofibrinolysis with Pulmonary Embolism Following Total Hip Arthroplasty: An Analysis of Genetic Factors. Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (American) 2002; 84-A(12): 2161-2167.

Westrich G, Sculco TP. Prophylaxis Against Venous Thromboembolic Disease: Costs and Controversy. Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (American) 2002; 84-A(12): 2306-2307.

Ryan MG, Westrich G, Potter HG, Sharrock N, Maun LM, Macaulay WB, Katkin P, Sculco TP, Salvati EA. Effect of Mechanical Compression on the Prevalence of Proximal Deep Venous Thrombosis as Assessed by Magnetic Resonance Venography. Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (American) 2002; 84-A(11): 1998-2004.

Macaulay W, Westrich G, Sharrock N, Sculco TP, Jhon PH, Peterson M, Salvati EA. Effect of Pneumatic Compression on Fibrinolysis After Total Hip Arthroplasty.  Clinical Orthopedics & Related Research 2002; 399: 168-176.

Sculco TP, Colwell CW Jr., Pellegrini VD Jr., Westrich G, Boettner F. Prophylaxis Against Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Patients Having a Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty. Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (American) 2002; 84-A(3): 466-477.

Boettner F, Sculco TP, Sharrock NE, Westrich G, Steinbeck J. Thomboseprophylaxe in Der Hüftendoprothetik (Prevention of Thrombosis in Hip Prosthesis Implantation). Der Orthopäde 2001; 30(11): 890-896.

For more publications, please see the PubMed listing.  

Research Description

Dr. Geoffrey Westrich’s research has centered on how to prevent complications in hip and knee surgery. He is a leader in the field of thromboembolic research which emcompasses such topics as prevention of blood clots and prevention of pulmonary embolism. One of Dr. Westrich’s studies found that patients who donate their own blood prior to hip replacement have a lower incidence of blood clots.

Dr. Westrich frequently gives presentations related to his research at national and international orthopedic courses conferences.

Clinical Trials

• Analgesia after Total Knee Arthroplasty: Peri-Articular Injection vs. Epidural + Femoral Nerve Blockade
• Effects of Pregabalin on Pain after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Dose-Response Study
• Prospective Evaluation of the Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Total Joint Replacement: The HSS Shoulder Arthroplasty Cohort
• A Prospective Study of the Restoration Anatomic Dual Mobility (ADM) X3 Acetabular System
• Hyalgan Treatment of Osteoarthritis in Post-Operative Knee Arthroplasty Patients
• The Genetic Factor: Identifying Patients at High Risk for Developing Pulmonary Embolism (PE) After Orthopedic Surgery (Upper Extremity, Spine, THR, TKR) Using A Molecular Screening Test