Harvard Orthopedic Trauma Research Division

The Harvard Orthopedic Trauma Service Research Unit is an inter-institutional effort between four core institutions: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Children’s Hospital. It is our mission to improve the clinical, functional and quality of life outcomes of patients with traumatic musculoskeletal injuries through novel and innovative clinical research. The Harvard Orthopedic Trauma Service has a history of successful research collaborations with investigators from many medical and surgical specialties, including emergency medicine, general surgery, endocrinology, physical therapy, biomechanics, and psychometrics.

Research Projects

A sample of our current research topics:

• Patient reported outcomes after fracture surgery
• Management and outcomes of geriatric fracture patients
• Pain management and opioid use after fracture surgery

Research Positions

Harvard Orthopaedic Trauma Undergraduate Summer Research Internship Program

Select Publications

Liu C, Von Keudell A, McTague M, Rodriguez EK, Weaver MJ. Ideal length of thread forms for screws used in screw fixation of nondisplaced femoral neck fractures. Injury. 2019 Jan 31.

Alvarez-Nebreda ML, Heng M, Rosner B, McTague M, Javedan H, Harris MB, Weaver MJ. Reliability of Proxy-reported Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function and Pain Interference Responses for Elderly Patients With Musculoskeletal Injury. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019 Feb 15;27(4):e156-e165.

Usoro AO, Bhashyam A, Mohamadi A, Dyer GS, Zirkle L, von Keudell A. Clinical Outcomes and Complications of the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) Intramedullary Nail: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Orthop Trauma. 2019 Jan;33(1):42-48.

Ochen Y, Beks RB, van Heijl M, Hietbrink F, Leenen LPH, van der Velde D, Heng M, van der Meijden O, Groenwold RHH, Houwert RM. Operative treatment versus nonoperative treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2019 Jan 7;364:k5120.

Bhashyam AR, Basilico M, Weaver MJ, Harris MB, Heng M. Using historical variation in opioid prescribing immediately after fracture surgery to guide maximum initial prescriptions. J Orthop Trauma. 2018 Dec 12.

Bhashyam AR, Heng M, Harris MB, Vrahas MS, Weaver MJ. Self-Reported Marijuana Use Is Associated with Increased Use of Prescription Opioids Following Traumatic Musculoskeletal Injury. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 Dec 19;100(24):2095-2102.

van der Vliet QMJ, Hietbrink F, Casari F, Leenen LPH, Heng M. Factors Influencing Functional Outcomes of Subtalar Fusion for Posttraumatic Arthritis After Calcaneal Fracture. Foot Ankle Int. 2018 Sep;39(9):1062-1069.

Mohamadi A, Chan JJ, Lian J, Wright CL, Marin AM, Rodriguez EK, von Keudell A, Nazarian A. Risk Factors and Pooled Rate of Prolonged Opioid Use Following Trauma or Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-(Regression) Analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 Aug 1;100(15):1332-1340.

van der Vliet QMJ, Lucas RC, Velmahos G, Houwert RM, Leenen LPH, Hietbrink F, Heng M. Foot fractures in polytrauma patients: Injury characteristics and timing of diagnosis. Injury. 2018 Jun;49(6):1233-1237. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2018.04.009. Epub 2018 Apr 17.

Weaver MJ, Smith RM, Lhowe DW, Vrahas MS. Does Total Hip Arthroplasty Reduce the Risk of Secondary Surgery Following the Treatment of Displaced Acetabular Fractures in the Elderly Compared to Open Reduction Internal Fixation? A Pilot Study. J Orthop Trauma. 2018 Feb;32 Suppl 1:S40-S45.

Heng M, McTague MF, Lucas RC, Harris MB, Vrahas MS, Weaver MJ. Patient Perceptions of the Use of Medical Marijuana in the Treatment of Pain After Musculoskeletal Trauma: A Survey of Patients at 2 Trauma Centers in Massachusetts. J Orthop Trauma. 2018 Jan;32(1):e25-e30.

Serino J, Mohamadi A, Orman S, McCormick B, Hanna P, Weaver MJ, Harris MB, Nazarian A, von Keudell A. Comparison of adverse events and postoperative mobilization following knee extensor mechanism rupture repair: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Injury. 2017 Dec;48(12):2793-2799. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2017.10.013. Epub 2017 Oct 16. Review.

Gleason LJ, Benton EA, Alvarez-Nebreda ML, Weaver MJ, Harris MB, Javedan H. FRAIL Questionnaire Screening Tool and Short-Term Outcomes in Geriatric Fracture Patients. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2017 Dec 1;18(12):1082-1086. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.07.005. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

Hayden BL, Theriault R, Bramlett K, Lucas R, McTague M, Bedi HS, Flacke S, Weaver MJ, Marcantonio AJ, Ryan SP. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Trauma Patients Treated With Contemporary External Fixation Devices: A Multicenter Case Series. J Orthop Trauma. 2017 Nov;31(11):e375-e380.

Shoji K, Heng M, Harris MB, Appleton PT, Vrahas MS, Weaver MJ. Time from injury to surgical fixation of diaphyseal humerus fractures is not associated with an increased risk of iatrogenic radial nerve palsy. J Orthop Trauma. 2017 Apr 25.

Gitajn IL, Heng M, Weaver MJ, Casemyr N, May C, Vrahas MS, Harris MB. Mortality Following Surgical Management of Vancouver B Periprosthetic Fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 2017 Jan;31(1):9-14.