Conditions Treated

Below are examples of types of conditions that Dr. Blumenthal treats.

$X-ray of shoulder joint show fracture clavicle _edited.jpg$

Fractures

These injuries involve all extremities, upper and lower, as well as the pelvis. They may be traumatic or chronic.

Arthritis at hip joint . Film x-ray show inflamed of hip joint and blank area at right sid

Hip arthritis

This condition results in pain; there are operative and nonoperative options. Dr. B offers posterior hip replacements.

$Hip and thigh x-ray showing closed fracture at shaft of right femur. The patient has under$

Nonunions & Malunions

These are fractures that did not heal properly and may require further surgeries.

$plain radiograph of foot and ankle showing multiple fracture and dislocation treated with$

Deformity Correction

Congenital or traumatic deformities may require correction, as mal-alignment results in arthritis long-term.

$A lateral radiograph or x-ray of foot and ankle showing severe open fracture and dislocati$

Dislocations

Joint dislocations often coincide with fractures, in which case surgical intervention may be recommended.

Quadriceps tendon tear, knee, MRI_edited

Tendon Ruptures

Ruptures of the quadriceps, patellar, achilles, or triceps tendon may often benefit from surgical repair.

IM Nail Placement for Femur Fracture X-r

Limb Lengthening

Limb lengthening may be performed for cosmetic reasons or to correct deformity from prior trauma.

Anterior view of Human pelvis bone with red highlight on joint pain area- Healthcare-Human

Sacroiliac Dysfunction

Chronic sacroiliac pain can result in significant dysfunction. Options for treatment include sacroiliac fusion.

Infections & osteomyelitis

Bone infections may be difficult to treat. Sometimes they require multiple procedures.

Screenshot 2025-10-20 at 3.26_edited.jpg

Heterotopic Ossification

Heterotopic bone formation may be physiologic or pathologic. At times, resection increases motion.

Fracture Care

Dr. Blumenthal's specialty is trauma and fracture care. Fractures may occur anywhere in the body, but common places in the upper extremity include:

Clavicle
Shoulder (proximal humerus or humeral shaft)
Elbow (distal humerus, proximal radius, radial head or neck, coronoid, olecranon)
Forearm (radius or ulna fractures)
Wrist (distal radius)

Common places in the lower extremity include:

Hip (proximal femur)
Thigh (femoral shaft)
Knee (distal femur, patella, tibial plateau)
Tibia
Ankle (medial and/or lateral and/or posterior malleoli)
Foot (calcaneus, talus, lisfranc)

Hip Arthritis

Hip arthritis is a degenerative condition involving the hip joint. Cartilage acts as a cushion in joints between bony surfaces, and arthritis is a loss of cartilage. Over time, the loss of joint space results in erosion or bony surfaces leading to pain and dysfunction. In severe case, the affected leg may even become shorter than the unaffected leg.

Treatment options include anti inflammatories, injections, physical therapy, weight loss, and ultimately hip replacement surgery if all else fails. Hip replacement surgery, or hip arthroplasty, involves resecting the affected bone and replacing it with metal, ceramic, and plastic components. In most patients these components will last the rest of their lives.

Nonunions and Malunions

Sometimes fractures do not heal properly. This can happen for a variety of recents, whether a fracture was treated with or without surgery. These conditions can be very challenging to treat and require mutual decision-making.

Nonunions:

Are fractures that did not heal
Have persistent fracture motion, resulting in pain
May be atrophic, oligotrophic, or hypertrophic depending on whether the body was able to form new bone
Can also result from endocrine disturbances or other patient factors

Malunions:

Are fractures that healed, but in mal-alignment (i.e. the bones did not end up where they are "supposed" to be)
Do not always require intervention
May occur in different places of the body with varied symptoms
Have treatment tailored to patients' symptoms and concerns

Deformity Correction

Sometimes patients are born with congenital conditions that result in abnormal bone formation. At other times, prior trauma may heal in a way that results in limb deformity. There may be surgical options for treatment, but these will vary on a case-by-case basis.

Joint Dislocations

Dislocations may be congenital or traumatic. Dr. Blumenthal treats traumatic dislocations, which may have fractures as well. Examples of dislocations would be the elbow, ankle, shoulder, etc. When a joint is dislocated, native structures are placed under tension. Joint dislocations require urgent "reduction" or manipulation to re-align the bones so that soft tissue structures (nerves, arteries, veins) are returned to their native length and location. Typically, acute (traumatic) dislocations require that a patient go to the emergency department for reduction to be performed. Sometimes surgery may additionally be required at a later time point. Sometimes when there is no accompanying fracture, dislocations can be treated with reduction followed by later mobilization and physical therapy.

Tendon Ruptures or Injuries

Trauma may also result in tendon ruptures. An example would be the knee flexing suddenly in response to trauma and a patient sustaining a quadriceps tendon rupture. If the rupture is incomplete, these injuries sometimes can be treated non-operatively. More often with "complete" ruptures, patients will undergo surgical repair or reconstruction. Examples of tendon injuries that Dr. Blumenthal treats are the quadriceps, patellar tendon, Achilles, triceps tendon, and distal biceps ruptures. Some tendon injuries may require treatment by other sub-specialists.

Rehabilitation protocols vary but often involve a period of immobilization followed by therapy. The speed at which a patient rehabs depends on the quality of the tendon and the location of the rupture. Tendon healing can be slow at time, and aggressive motion risks re-rupture. Recovery is a balance between maximizing function and motion while limiting the risk of re-injury.

Limb Lengthening

Limb lengthening or shortening may be performed in the setting of trauma in order to achieve fracture union, or fracture healing. Some patients may also be interested in limb lengthening for other reasons. These surgeries are complex and require careful planning and discussion to understand risks and benefits. Often, multiple procedures are needed.

Examples of techniques used for lengthening include acute correction with osteotomies, the use of circular ring fixators, or even the insertion of intramedullary nails that lengthen over time via communication with an external magnet. This field is constnantly changing and growing!

Sacroiliac Dysfunction

Sacroiliac dysfunction may result from a variety of conditions. Pain tends to localize to the posterior sacral area. It may worsen with certain movements, such as external rotation of the leg.

Pain results from excess motion. While the sacroiliac joint is not a particularly mobile articulation, any ligamentous instability can lead to motion that causes pain. One option is a fusion surgery involving percutaneous placement of fusion implants to reduce the motion at the sacroiliac joint.

Infections and Osteomyelitis

Bone infections have many different names. You may hear them called any of the following:

Osteomyelitis
Brodie's abscess
Septic nonunion
Septic arthritis

These conditions typically require treatment with a combination of surgery and antibiotics. When hardware is involved, antibiotics do not penetrate bacterial biofilms very well, and operative debridement may be required. These problems are challenging ones to treat, and it can be difficult to find a specialist.

Heterotopic Ossification

Heterotopic ossification is a medical condition characterized by the abnormal formation of bone tissue in areas where bone typically does not exist, such as soft tissues or around joints. This condition can occur after traumatic injuries, or in certain neurological disorders. Heterotopic bone may lead to stiffness, pain, and reduced mobility. The exact cause of heterotopic ossification is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a complex interplay of biological processes. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for affected individuals.

Treatment options vary depending on the location of the heterotopic bone. Surgical resection is one option, but the heterotopic bone formation may recur.

Still not sure whether we treat your condition?

Call the office staff who can provide you with additional details about which provider may be most appropriate for you! Or click here to request more information:

Chat