James Kasser, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department; Emeritus Surgeon-in-Chief
Catherine Ormandy Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
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James Kasser, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department; Emeritus Surgeon-in-Chief
Catherine Ormandy Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Medical Services
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
Aldred I. Dupont Institute
1982
Wilmington
DE
Media
Answers Blog
Generations of excellence in lower extremity care: Dr. Kasser and Dr. May
Answers Blog
Limb-lengthening surgery: A look at the pros and cons
Certifications
American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (General)
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.
Approach to 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.
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.
Publications
Hazard of Failed Nonoperative Management for Symptomatic Accessory Navicular in Children and Adolescents: A Population-Based Case-Cohort Study. View Abstract
MRI of the Spine in Patients who Toe Walk: Is There a Role? View Abstract
Jumping on the Bandwagon: Comparing the Efficacy of Chlorhexidine Versus Povidone-Iodine Preoperative Skin Antiseptic in Preventing Surgical Site Infections Following Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery. View Abstract
Prospective Evaluation of Tarsal Coalition Excision Show Significant Improvements in Pain and Function. View Abstract
Epiphysiodesis for Leg Length Discrepancy: A Cost Analysis of Drill Versus Screw Technique. View Abstract
Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Fibula: Controlling Ankle Valgus in a Heterogenous Condition. View Abstract
Prospective evaluation of parental anxiety related to newborn foot disorder. View Abstract
Multisource Evaluation of Surgeon Behavior Is Associated With Malpractice Claims. View Abstract
Reconstruction of Symptomatic Congenital Anterior Cruciate Ligament Insufficiency. View Abstract
A comparison of screw versus drill and curettage epiphysiodesis to correct leg-length discrepancy. View Abstract
Lower-extremity growth patterns and skeletal maturation in children with unilateral fibular hemimelia. View Abstract
Commentary. View Abstract
Constant inhibition in congenital lower extremity shortening: does it begin in utero? View Abstract
Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning of Pediatric Supracondylar Humeral Fractures. View Abstract
Spinal dysraphism and dislocated hip: Beware of anomalous sciatic nerve through Ilium, a case report. View Abstract
Clubfoot relapse: does presentation differ based on age at initial relapse? View Abstract
Subtalar Coalitions: Does the Morphology of the Subtalar Joint Involvement Influence Outcomes After Coalition Excision? View Abstract
Surgical Reconstruction of Metatarsal Type Preaxial Polydactyly Using an Amalgamating Osteotomy. View Abstract
Evaluation of Brace Treatment for Infant Hip Dislocation in a Prospective Cohort: Defining the Success Rate and Variables Associated with Failure. View Abstract
Treatment dilemma in multiple metatarsal fractures: when to operate? View Abstract
Boston Children's Hospital orthopedic surgery program. View Abstract
Patient-reported Outcomes of Tarsal Coalitions Treated With Surgical Excision. View Abstract
Likelihood of surgery in isolated pediatric fifth metatarsal fractures. View Abstract
Medial versus anterior open reduction for developmental hip dislocation in age-matched patients. View Abstract
Maternal cigarette, alcohol, and coffee consumption in relation to risk of clubfoot. View Abstract
Complications after modified Dunn osteotomy for the treatment of adolescent slipped capital femoral epiphysis. View Abstract
Satisfactory patient-based outcomes after surgical treatment for idiopathic clubfoot: includes surgeon's individualized technique. View Abstract
Medication use in pregnancy in relation to the risk of isolated clubfoot in offspring. View Abstract
Anesthetic considerations in Sheldon-Hall syndrome. View Abstract
Prenatal screening for clubfoot: what factors predict prenatal detection? View Abstract
Fibro-adipose vascular anomaly: clinical-radiologic-pathologic features of a newly delineated disorder of the extremity. View Abstract
Is it worthwhile to routinely ultrasound screen children with idiopathic clubfoot for hip dysplasia? View Abstract
Prospective evaluation of a prenatal sonographic clubfoot classification system. View Abstract
Descriptive epidemiology of idiopathic clubfoot. View Abstract
Changing practice patterns: the impact of a randomized clinical trial on surgeons preference for treatment of type 3 supracondylar humerus fractures. View Abstract
Primary lyme arthritis of the pediatric hip. View Abstract
Misdiagnosis of knee venous malformation as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. View Abstract
A policy-based intervention for the reduction of communication breakdowns in inpatient surgical care: results from a Harvard surgical safety collaborative. View Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in PTPN11 cause metachondromatosis, but not Ollier disease or Maffucci syndrome. View Abstract
Complications of talus fractures in children. View Abstract
Unilateral subtalar coalition: contralateral sustentaculum tali morphology. View Abstract
Prenatally diagnosed clubfeet: comparing ultrasonographic severity with objective clinical outcomes. View Abstract
Maintenance of certification for pediatric orthopaedists. View Abstract
Diffuse lipofibromatosis of the lower extremity masquerading as a vascular anomaly. View Abstract
Post-closed reduction perfusion magnetic resonance imaging as a predictor of avascular necrosis in developmental hip dysplasia: a preliminary report. View Abstract
Prediction of spatial orientation and morphology of calcaneonavicular coalitions. View Abstract
Orthopedic board certification and physician performance: an analysis of medical malpractice, hospital disciplinary action, and state medical board disciplinary action rates. View Abstract
Does swaddling influence developmental dysplasia of the hip? View Abstract
Operative treatment of intraarticular calcaneal fractures in the pediatric population. View Abstract
Lateral entry compared with medial and lateral entry pin fixation for completely displaced supracondylar humeral fractures in children. A randomized clinical trial. View Abstract
Increased blood lead levels in an adolescent girl from a retained bullet. A case report. View Abstract
Proximal femoral epiphysiolysis during reduction of hip dislocation in adolescents. View Abstract
Osteotomy does not improve early outcome after slipped capital femoral epiphysis. View Abstract
Hip arthroscopy in children and adolescents. View Abstract
Location of treatment of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children. View Abstract
Serum levels of nickel and chromium after instrumented posterior spinal arthrodesis. View Abstract
Waterproof casts for immobilization of children's fractures and sprains. View Abstract
Prophylactic pinning of the contralateral hip after unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis. View Abstract
Analysis of 51 tibial triplane fractures using CT with multiplanar reconstruction. View Abstract
Validation of a clinical prediction rule for the differentiation between septic arthritis and transient synovitis of the hip in children. View Abstract
Delay in diagnosis of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. View Abstract
Wilms tumor screening is unnecessary in Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. 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. View Abstract
Osteopetrosis. View Abstract
Use of an abduction brace for developmental dysplasia of the hip after failure of Pavlik harness use. View Abstract
Coxa vara with proximal femoral growth arrest in patients who had neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. View Abstract
Prospective reevaluation of the association between thrombotic diathesis and legg-perthes disease. View Abstract
Virtual reality simulation of arthroscopy of the knee. View Abstract
Pediatric floating elbow. View Abstract
Early failure of Pavlik harness treatment for developmental hip dysplasia: clinical and ultrasound predictors. View Abstract
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head associated with slipped capital femoral epiphysis. 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. View Abstract
Titanium elastic nails for pediatric femur fractures: a multicenter study of early results with analysis of complications. View Abstract
Development of a virtual reality arthroscopic knee simulator. View Abstract
Flexon-type Salter-Harris I injury of the proximal tibial epiphysis. View Abstract
Massive subperiosteal hemorrhage and femoral shaft osteonecrosis: a complication of tissue plasminogen activator therapy for purpura fulminans. View Abstract
Development of a virtual reality arthroscopic knee simulator. View Abstract
Orthopaedic aspects of child abuse. View Abstract
Differentiating between septic arthritis and transient synovitis of the hip in children: an evidence-based clinical prediction algorithm. View Abstract
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: MR imaging evaluation during manual positioning of the hip--comparison with conventional arthrography. View Abstract
Radiologic case study. Infantile cortical hyperostosis (Caffey's disease). View Abstract
Radiographic appearance of the normal distal tibiofibular syndesmosis in children. View Abstract
Femur fractures in children: treatment with early sitting spica casting. View Abstract
Protrusio acetabuli and bilateral basicervical femoral neck fractures in a patient with Marfan syndrome. View Abstract
Chronic physeal fractures in myelodysplasia: magnetic resonance analysis, histologic description, treatment, and outcome. View Abstract
Postreduction computed tomography in developmental dislocation of the hip: part I: analysis of measurement reliability. View Abstract
Postreduction computed tomography in developmental dislocation of the hip: part II: predictive value for outcome. View Abstract
Accuracy of leg length prediction in children younger than 10 years of age. View Abstract
Supracondylar Fractures of the Humerus in Children. View Abstract
Ulnar nerve instability in children. View Abstract
MR imaging in congenital lower limb deformities. View Abstract
Cartilaginous abnormalities and growth disturbances in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: evaluation with MR imaging. View Abstract
The Pavlik harness and developmental dysplasia of the hip: has ultrasound changed treatment patterns? View Abstract
Osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in children: appropriate use of imaging to guide treatment. View Abstract
Symposium: femoral fractures in children. View Abstract
Fractures about the elbow. View Abstract
Neurovascular injury and displacement in type III supracondylar humerus fractures. View Abstract
Osteochondroma formation after a Salter II fracture. View Abstract
Brachial plexus palsy as a complication of Pavlik harness use. View Abstract
Spinal deformity associated with neurenteric cysts in children. View Abstract
Percutaneous pinning in the treatment of displaced lateral condyle fractures. View Abstract
Uniplanar supracondylar humeral osteotomy with preset Kirschner wires for posttraumatic cubitus varus. View Abstract
Leg length discrepancy associated with vivid cutis marmorata. View Abstract
The function of the quadriceps muscle after a fracture of the femur in patients who are less than seventeen years old. View Abstract
Reinfusion of shed blood after orthopaedic procedures in children and adolescents. View Abstract
Incidence of spondylolisthesis in ambulatory cerebral palsy patients. View Abstract
Reevaluation of the use of the Risser sign in idiopathic scoliosis. View Abstract
Percutaneous pinning of supracondylar fractures of the humerus. View Abstract
Forearm fractures. View Abstract
Femur fractures in children. View Abstract
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis. A quantitative analysis of motion, gait, and femoral remodeling after in situ fixation. View Abstract
The shoulder, elbow, and forearm in Apert syndrome. View Abstract
The foot in Apert syndrome. View Abstract
Neurologic complications after K-wire fixation of supracondylar humerus fractures in children. View Abstract
Acute septic arthritis in infancy and childhood. View Abstract
Infection of the infrapatellar bursa. A report of two cases. View Abstract
Physeal bar resections after growth arrest about the knee. View Abstract
The triceps-dividing approach to open reduction of complex distal humeral fractures in adolescents: a Cybex evaluation of triceps function and motion. View Abstract
Management of vascular injuries in displaced supracondylar humerus fractures without arteriography. View Abstract
Self-administered nitrous oxide for fracture reduction in children in an emergency room setting. View Abstract
Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis. A case report and review of musculoskeletal manifestations. View Abstract
Physeal arrest about the knee associated with non-physeal fractures in the lower extremity. View Abstract
Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis. Association with vertebra plana. View Abstract
Tibial tubercle apophysitis in cerebral palsy treated with proximal tibial epiphysiodesis: report of two cases with 3-year follow-up. View Abstract
The association of femoral retroversion with slipped capital femoral epiphysis. View Abstract
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: assessment of epiphyseal displacement and angulation. View Abstract
Varus derotation osteotomy in the treatment of persistent dysplasia in congenital dislocation of the hip. View Abstract
Hematogenous osteomyelitis. Untangling the diagnostic confusion. View Abstract
Examination of the cerebral palsy patient with foot and ankle problems. View Abstract
Tendon injuries about the ankle. View Abstract
Osteomyelitis caused by Capnocytophaga ochracea. View Abstract
Tendon injuries about the ankle. View Abstract