MEDICAL SERVICES
Specialties
Departments
Programs
- Maternal Fetal Care Center
- Child and Young Adult Hip Preservation Program
- Lower Extremity Program
- Orthopedic Trauma Program
Languages
-
English
EDUCATION
Medical School
- Tufts University School of Medicine , 1976 , Boston , MA
Internship
- Maine Medical Center , 1977 , Portland , ME
Residency
- New England Medical Center , 1981 , Boston , MA
Fellowship
- Alfred I. Dupont Institute , 1982 , Wilmington , DE
Philosophy of Care
I was born in Pittsburgh, PA, the second of four children and the son of an engineer. Following completion of high school, I earned a degree in mechanical engineering at Lehigh University. Rather than return to Pittsburgh to pursue an engineering career in the metals industry, I switched to bioengineering and then to medicine, moving to Boston in 1972 and attending Tufts University School of Medicine. It was at Tufts that I was exposed to Dr. Henry Banks and a number of outstanding orthopedic surgery mentors who set me on a career in academic orthopedic surgery.
After completing my residency, I did a fellowship at DuPont Institute in Wilmington, DE. Rather than being enthralled with the rapidly developing innovations in total joint reconstruction and arthroscopy, I was motivated by caring for young children with congenital deformities, growth abnormalities and leg length differences.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Dr. James R. Kasser is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, working at Boston Children’s Hospital for the past 33 years. He is the Ormandy Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kasser’s primary clinical focus has been on lower extremity congenital abnormalities and trauma. His academic work has focused on clinical research related to orthopedic practice.
He is presently the Surgeon-in-Chief and has served in this capacity for seven years. He was the Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery from 1994-2013. Nationally, he has served as the President of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) and been on the boards of both POSNA and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). He served as a director of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery for 10 years and was president of that accrediting organization in 2011. He is presently on the boards of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and Boston Children’s Hospital.
CERTIFICATIONS
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, General Orthopaedics
PUBLICATIONS
Publications powered by Harvard Catalyst Profiles
- Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Fibula: Controlling Ankle Valgus in a Heterogenous Condition. J Pediatr Orthop. 2020 Aug; 40(7):e647-e655. View abstract
- Prospective evaluation of parental anxiety related to newborn foot disorder. J Child Orthop. 2019 Oct 01; 13(5):500-507. View abstract
- Multisource Evaluation of Surgeon Behavior Is Associated With Malpractice Claims. Ann Surg. 2019 07; 270(1):84-90. View abstract
- Reconstruction of Symptomatic Congenital Anterior Cruciate Ligament Insufficiency. J Pediatr Orthop. 2019 Feb; 39(2):59-64. View abstract
- A comparison of screw versus drill and curettage epiphysiodesis to correct leg-length discrepancy. J Child Orthop. 2018 Oct 01; 12(5):509-514. View abstract
- Lower-extremity growth patterns and skeletal maturation in children with unilateral fibular hemimelia. Pediatr Radiol. 2019 01; 49(1):122-127. View abstract
- Commentary. J Pediatr Orthop. 2018 07; 38 Suppl 1:S4. View abstract
- Constant inhibition in congenital lower extremity shortening: does it begin in utero? Pediatr Radiol. 2018 09; 48(10):1451-1462. View abstract
- Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning of Pediatric Supracondylar Humeral Fractures. JBJS Essent Surg Tech. 2018 Jun 27; 8(2):e10. View abstract
- Spinal dysraphism and dislocated hip: Beware of anomalous sciatic nerve through Ilium, a case report. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Mar; 97(12):e9770. View abstract
- Clubfoot relapse: does presentation differ based on age at initial relapse? J Child Orthop. 2017 Oct 01; 11(5):367-372. View abstract
- Subtalar Coalitions: Does the Morphology of the Subtalar Joint Involvement Influence Outcomes After Coalition Excision? J Foot Ankle Surg. 2017 Jul - Aug; 56(4):797-801. View abstract
- Surgical Reconstruction of Metatarsal Type Preaxial Polydactyly Using an Amalgamating Osteotomy. J Pediatr Orthop. 2016 Sep; 36(6):e66-70. View abstract
- Evaluation of Brace Treatment for Infant Hip Dislocation in a Prospective Cohort: Defining the Success Rate and Variables Associated with Failure. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016 Jul 20; 98(14):1215-21. View abstract
- Treatment dilemma in multiple metatarsal fractures: when to operate? J Pediatr Orthop B. 2016 Jul; 25(4):354-60. View abstract
- Boston Children's Hospital orthopedic surgery program. J Pediatr Orthop B. 2016 Jul; 25(4):289-91. View abstract
- Patient-reported Outcomes of Tarsal Coalitions Treated With Surgical Excision. J Pediatr Orthop. 2015 Sep; 35(6):583-8. View abstract
- Likelihood of surgery in isolated pediatric fifth metatarsal fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2015 Apr-May; 35(3):296-302. View abstract
- Medial versus anterior open reduction for developmental hip dislocation in age-matched patients. J Pediatr Orthop. 2015 Jan; 35(1):50-6. View abstract
- Maternal cigarette, alcohol, and coffee consumption in relation to risk of clubfoot. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2015 Jan; 29(1):3-10. View abstract
- Complications after modified Dunn osteotomy for the treatment of adolescent slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Pediatr Orthop. 2014 Oct-Nov; 34(7):661-7. View abstract
- Satisfactory patient-based outcomes after surgical treatment for idiopathic clubfoot: includes surgeon's individualized technique. J Pediatr Orthop. 2014 Sep; 34(6):631-8. View abstract
- Medication use in pregnancy in relation to the risk of isolated clubfoot in offspring. Am J Epidemiol. 2014 Jul 01; 180(1):86-93. View abstract
- Anesthetic considerations in Sheldon-Hall syndrome. Paediatr Anaesth. 2014 May; 24(5):538-40. View abstract
- Prenatal screening for clubfoot: what factors predict prenatal detection? Prenat Diagn. 2014 Apr; 34(4):389-93. View abstract
- Fibro-adipose vascular anomaly: clinical-radiologic-pathologic features of a newly delineated disorder of the extremity. J Pediatr Orthop. 2014 Jan; 34(1):109-17. View abstract
- Is it worthwhile to routinely ultrasound screen children with idiopathic clubfoot for hip dysplasia? J Pediatr Orthop. 2013 Dec; 33(8):847-51. View abstract
- Prospective evaluation of a prenatal sonographic clubfoot classification system. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2013; 34(4):236-40. View abstract
- Descriptive epidemiology of idiopathic clubfoot. . 2013 Jul; 161A(7):1569-78. View abstract
- Changing practice patterns: the impact of a randomized clinical trial on surgeons preference for treatment of type 3 supracondylar humerus fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2012 Jun; 32(4):340-5. View abstract
- Primary lyme arthritis of the pediatric hip. J Pediatr Orthop. 2011 Oct-Nov; 31(7):787-90. View abstract
- Misdiagnosis of knee venous malformation as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. J Pediatr Orthop. 2011 Sep; 31(6):683-90. View abstract
- A policy-based intervention for the reduction of communication breakdowns in inpatient surgical care: results from a Harvard surgical safety collaborative. Ann Surg. 2011 May; 253(5):849-54. View abstract
- Loss-of-function mutations in PTPN11 cause metachondromatosis, but not Ollier disease or Maffucci syndrome. PLoS Genet. 2011 Apr; 7(4):e1002050. View abstract
- Complications of talus fractures in children. J Pediatr Orthop. 2010 Dec; 30(8):779-84. View abstract
- Unilateral subtalar coalition: contralateral sustentaculum tali morphology. Radiology. 2010 Dec; 257(3):830-5. View abstract
- Prenatally diagnosed clubfeet: comparing ultrasonographic severity with objective clinical outcomes. J Pediatr Orthop. 2010 Sep; 30(6):606-11. View abstract
- Maintenance of certification for pediatric orthopaedists. J Pediatr Orthop. 2009 Dec; 29(8):844-6. View abstract
- Diffuse lipofibromatosis of the lower extremity masquerading as a vascular anomaly. Ann Plast Surg. 2009 Jun; 62(6):703-6. View abstract
- Post-closed reduction perfusion magnetic resonance imaging as a predictor of avascular necrosis in developmental hip dysplasia: a preliminary report. J Pediatr Orthop. 2009 Jan-Feb; 29(1):14-20. View abstract
- Orthopedic board certification and physician performance: an analysis of medical malpractice, hospital disciplinary action, and state medical board disciplinary action rates. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2008 Feb; 37(2):73-5. View abstract
- Prediction of spatial orientation and morphology of calcaneonavicular coalitions. Foot Ankle Int. 2008 Feb; 29(2):205-12. View abstract
- Does swaddling influence developmental dysplasia of the hip? Pediatrics. 2008 Jan; 121(1):177-8. View abstract
- Operative treatment of intraarticular calcaneal fractures in the pediatric population. J Pediatr Orthop. 2007 Dec; 27(8):856-62. View abstract
- Lateral entry compared with medial and lateral entry pin fixation for completely displaced supracondylar humeral fractures in children. A randomized clinical trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007 Apr; 89(4):706-12. View abstract
- Increased blood lead levels in an adolescent girl from a retained bullet. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006 Dec; 88(12):2726-9. View abstract
- Proximal femoral epiphysiolysis during reduction of hip dislocation in adolescents. J Pediatr Orthop. 2006 May-Jun; 26(3):371-4. View abstract
- Osteotomy does not improve early outcome after slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Pediatr Orthop B. 2006 Mar; 15(2):87-92. View abstract
- Hip arthroscopy in children and adolescents. J Pediatr Orthop. 2005 Sep-Oct; 25(5):680-6. View abstract
- Location of treatment of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005 May; (434):110-3. View abstract
- Serum levels of nickel and chromium after instrumented posterior spinal arthrodesis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005 Apr 15; 30(8):923-6. View abstract
- Waterproof casts for immobilization of children's fractures and sprains. J Pediatr Orthop. 2005 Jan-Feb; 25(1):56-9. View abstract
- Prophylactic pinning of the contralateral hip after unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004 Dec; 86(12):2658-65. View abstract
- Analysis of 51 tibial triplane fractures using CT with multiplanar reconstruction. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2004 Nov; 183(5):1489-95. View abstract
- Validation of a clinical prediction rule for the differentiation between septic arthritis and transient synovitis of the hip in children. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004 Aug; 86(8):1629-35. View abstract
- Delay in diagnosis of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Pediatrics. 2004 Apr; 113(4):e322-5. View abstract
- Wilms tumor screening is unnecessary in Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. Pediatrics. 2004 Apr; 113(4):e326-9. View abstract
- A clinical practice guideline for treatment of septic arthritis in children: efficacy in improving process of care and effect on outcome of septic arthritis of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2003 Jun; 85(6):994-9. View abstract
- Osteopetrosis. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2003 May; 32(5):222-8. View abstract
- Use of an abduction brace for developmental dysplasia of the hip after failure of Pavlik harness use. J Pediatr Orthop. 2003 Mar-Apr; 23(2):175-7. View abstract
- Coxa vara with proximal femoral growth arrest in patients who had neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. J Pediatr Orthop. 2003 Jan-Feb; 23(1):20-6. View abstract
- Prospective reevaluation of the association between thrombotic diathesis and legg-perthes disease. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002 Sep; 84(9):1613-8. View abstract
- Virtual reality simulation of arthroscopy of the knee. Arthroscopy. 2002 Jul-Aug; 18(6):E28. View abstract
- Pediatric floating elbow. J Pediatr Orthop. 2001 Jul-Aug; 21(4):456-9. View abstract
- Early failure of Pavlik harness treatment for developmental hip dysplasia: clinical and ultrasound predictors. J Pediatr Orthop. 2001 May-Jun; 21(3):348-53. View abstract
- Osteonecrosis of the femoral head associated with slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Pediatr Orthop. 2001 Mar-Apr; 21(2):189-93. View abstract
- Wagner multiple K-wire osteosynthesis to correct coxa vara in the young child: experience with a versatile 'tailor-made' high angle blade plate equivalent. J Pediatr Orthop B. 2001 Jan; 10(1):43-50. View abstract
- Titanium elastic nails for pediatric femur fractures: a multicenter study of early results with analysis of complications. J Pediatr Orthop. 2001 Jan-Feb; 21(1):4-8. View abstract
- Development of a virtual reality arthroscopic knee simulator. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2000 Oct; 82(10):1495-9. View abstract
- Flexon-type Salter-Harris I injury of the proximal tibial epiphysis. J Orthop Trauma. 2000 May; 14(4):302-5. View abstract
- Massive subperiosteal hemorrhage and femoral shaft osteonecrosis: a complication of tissue plasminogen activator therapy for purpura fulminans. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2000 Apr; 29(4):315-9. View abstract
- Orthopaedic aspects of child abuse. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2000 Jan-Feb; 8(1):10-20. View abstract
- Development of a virtual reality arthroscopic knee simulator. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2000; 70:192-4. View abstract
- Differentiating between septic arthritis and transient synovitis of the hip in children: an evidence-based clinical prediction algorithm. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1999 Dec; 81(12):1662-70. View abstract
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: MR imaging evaluation during manual positioning of the hip--comparison with conventional arthrography. Radiology. 1999 Aug; 212(2):519-25. View abstract
- Radiologic case study. Infantile cortical hyperostosis (Caffey's disease). Orthopedics. 1999 Jul; 22(7):712, 707-8. View abstract
- Radiographic appearance of the normal distal tibiofibular syndesmosis in children. J Pediatr Orthop. 1999 Jan-Feb; 19(1):14-21. View abstract
- Femur fractures in children: treatment with early sitting spica casting. J Pediatr Orthop. 1998 Jul-Aug; 18(4):481-7. View abstract
- Protrusio acetabuli and bilateral basicervical femoral neck fractures in a patient with Marfan syndrome. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 1997 Oct; 26(10):689-91. View abstract
- Postreduction computed tomography in developmental dislocation of the hip: part II: predictive value for outcome. J Pediatr Orthop. 1997 Sep-Oct; 17(5):631-6. View abstract
- Postreduction computed tomography in developmental dislocation of the hip: part I: analysis of measurement reliability. J Pediatr Orthop. 1997 Sep-Oct; 17(5):626-30. View abstract
- Chronic physeal fractures in myelodysplasia: magnetic resonance analysis, histologic description, treatment, and outcome. J Pediatr Orthop. 1997 Sep-Oct; 17(5):615-21. View abstract
- Accuracy of leg length prediction in children younger than 10 years of age. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1997 May; (338):9-13. View abstract
- Supracondylar Fractures of the Humerus in Children. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1997 Jan; 5(1):19-26. View abstract
- Ulnar nerve instability in children. J Pediatr Orthop. 1996 Sep-Oct; 16(5):567-9. View abstract
- MR imaging in congenital lower limb deformities. Pediatr Radiol. 1996; 26(6):381-7. View abstract
- Cartilaginous abnormalities and growth disturbances in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: evaluation with MR imaging. Radiology. 1995 Dec; 197(3):767-73. View abstract
- The Pavlik harness and developmental dysplasia of the hip: has ultrasound changed treatment patterns? J Pediatr Orthop. 1995 Nov-Dec; 15(6):729-35. View abstract
- Osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in children: appropriate use of imaging to guide treatment. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1995 Aug; 165(2):399-403. View abstract
- Symposium: femoral fractures in children. Contemp Orthop. 1995 May; 30(5):427-30, 433, 437-8 passim. View abstract
- Fractures about the elbow. Instr Course Lect. 1995; 44:199-215. View abstract
- Neurovascular injury and displacement in type III supracondylar humerus fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 1995 Jan-Feb; 15(1):47-52. View abstract
- Osteochondroma formation after a Salter II fracture. J Orthop Trauma. 1994 Oct; 8(5):437-9. View abstract
- Brachial plexus palsy as a complication of Pavlik harness use. J Pediatr Orthop. 1994 Sep-Oct; 14(5):677-9. View abstract
- Percutaneous pinning in the treatment of displaced lateral condyle fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 1994 Jul-Aug; 14(4):462-5. View abstract
- Spinal deformity associated with neurenteric cysts in children. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1994 Jul 01; 19(13):1445-50. View abstract
- Uniplanar supracondylar humeral osteotomy with preset Kirschner wires for posttraumatic cubitus varus. J Pediatr Orthop. 1994 Jul-Aug; 14(4):471-8. View abstract
- Leg length discrepancy associated with vivid cutis marmorata. J Pediatr Orthop. 1993 Jul-Aug; 13(4):456-8. View abstract
- The function of the quadriceps muscle after a fracture of the femur in patients who are less than seventeen years old. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1993 Apr; 75(4):508-13. View abstract
- Reinfusion of shed blood after orthopaedic procedures in children and adolescents. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1993 Mar; 75(3):363-71. View abstract
- Incidence of spondylolisthesis in ambulatory cerebral palsy patients. J Pediatr Orthop. 1993 Jan-Feb; 13(1):37-40. View abstract
- Reevaluation of the use of the Risser sign in idiopathic scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1992 Mar; 17(3):359-61. View abstract
- Forearm fractures. Instr Course Lect. 1992; 41:391-6. View abstract
- Femur fractures in children. Instr Course Lect. 1992; 41:403-8. View abstract
- Percutaneous pinning of supracondylar fractures of the humerus. Instr Course Lect. 1992; 41:385-90. View abstract
- Slipped capital femoral epiphysis. A quantitative analysis of motion, gait, and femoral remodeling after in situ fixation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1991 Jun; 73(5):659-66. View abstract
- The shoulder, elbow, and forearm in Apert syndrome. Clin Plast Surg. 1991 Apr; 18(2):381-9. View abstract
- The foot in Apert syndrome. Clin Plast Surg. 1991 Apr; 18(2):391-7. View abstract
- Neurologic complications after K-wire fixation of supracondylar humerus fractures in children. J Pediatr Orthop. 1991 Mar-Apr; 11(2):191-4. View abstract
- Acute septic arthritis in infancy and childhood. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990 Aug; (257):212-25. View abstract
- Infection of the infrapatellar bursa. A report of two cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1990 Aug; 72(7):1095-6. View abstract
- Physeal bar resections after growth arrest about the knee. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990 Jun; (255):68-74. View abstract
- Management of vascular injuries in displaced supracondylar humerus fractures without arteriography. J Orthop Trauma. 1990; 4(1):25-9. View abstract
- Self-administered nitrous oxide for fracture reduction in children in an emergency room setting. J Orthop Trauma. 1990; 4(1):35-8. View abstract
- The triceps-dividing approach to open reduction of complex distal humeral fractures in adolescents: a Cybex evaluation of triceps function and motion. J Pediatr Orthop. 1990 Jan-Feb; 10(1):93-6. View abstract
- Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis. A case report and review of musculoskeletal manifestations. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1989 Jul; 71(6):941-4. View abstract
- Physeal arrest about the knee associated with non-physeal fractures in the lower extremity. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1989 Jun; 71(5):698-703. View abstract
- Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis. Association with vertebra plana. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1989 Jan; 71(1):105-12. View abstract
- Tibial tubercle apophysitis in cerebral palsy treated with proximal tibial epiphysiodesis: report of two cases with 3-year follow-up. J Pediatr Orthop. 1988 Nov-Dec; 8(6):704-6. View abstract
- The association of femoral retroversion with slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1986 Sep; 68(7):1000-7. View abstract
- Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: assessment of epiphyseal displacement and angulation. J Pediatr Orthop. 1986 May-Jun; 6(3):259-64. View abstract
- Varus derotation osteotomy in the treatment of persistent dysplasia in congenital dislocation of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1985 Feb; 67(2):195-202. View abstract
- Hematogenous osteomyelitis. Untangling the diagnostic confusion. Postgrad Med. 1984 Sep 15; 76(4):79-86. View abstract
- Tendon injuries about the ankle. Clin Sports Med. 1983 Nov; 2(3):631-41. View abstract
- Examination of the cerebral palsy patient with foot and ankle problems. Foot Ankle. 1983 Nov-Dec; 4(3):135-44. View abstract
- Osteomyelitis caused by Capnocytophaga ochracea. J Pediatr Orthop. 1983 Nov; 3(5):613-5. View abstract
- Tendon injuries about the ankle. Orthop Clin North Am. 1980 Oct; 11(4):801-11. View abstract