Our Orthopaedic Surgery Specialties
Brigham and Womens Hospital is a clinical, scientific, and academic leader with a long history of firsts in surgical and medical care. Our surgeons and physicians are advancing the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions for patients in Boston, across the country, and around the world.
Composed of 10 specialty divisions, the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery provides diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal system diseases and injuries. At the Brigham and Womens Hospital Orthopaedic & Arthritis Center of Excellence, specialists in Orthopaedic Surgery, Physiatry, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation work together with dedicated nurses, Physician Assistants, and other professionals, to provide state-of-the-art evaluation and treatment for thousands of patients annually.
Can Vaccinated People Still Get Covid
While vaccinated people can still be infected, the good news is the vaccines will give you excellent protection. Infections in vaccinated people so-called breakthrough infections tend to be mild or with no symptoms. However, infected people, even if they have had the vaccine, can still spread the disease to others.
If you have or have been exposed, follow public health guidance regarding isolation, quarantine, and .
Vaccination is still the best protection against the virus.
What Happens If I Have A Reaction To The Covid
Because most allergic reactions happen within the first 1530 minutes, all patients are observed for 15 minutes after getting vaccinated to watch for an allergic reaction. If you have a history of anaphylaxis, you may have a 30-minute observation period after getting vaccinated. If you do have an allergic reaction, medical staff will treat you immediately. All vaccine locations can diagnose and manage allergic reactions and have medications, including epinephrine , available.
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Should I Get Vaccinated If I Am Actively Receiving Cancer Treatment Or Should I Wait Until My Treatment Course Is Done
If your current treatment includes chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, or radiation therapy, you should talk with your care team in deciding when to get vaccinated.
In making your decision, you should consider your risk of exposure to the virus, what your chances of getting very sick might be if you do get the virus, and when you will finish treatment.
If you are done with treatment, you should get vaccinated. This includes patients who are still being seen as part of post-treatment or are thought of as being in the survivorship part of their journey.
Health Policy Research Assistant At Brigham And Womens Hospital Department Of Orthopedic Surgery

Two year commitment, Application deadline: March 15, applications reviewed on rolling basis
TITLE: Health Policy Research Assistant at Brigham and Womens Hospital, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Description:We are presently seeking a full-time, health policy-oriented Research Assistant to work with an internationally recognized, multidisciplinary health policy and clinical outcomes research team at the Orthopaedic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research as well as the Policy and Innovation eValuation in Orthopaedic Treatments Center, both in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The incumbent will be essential to the research operations of OrACORe/PIVOT and will be an integral member of the centers.
The Research Assistant will work directly with Principal Investigators of the center, as well as numerous other faculty and staff members, to conduct health policy evaluations of musculoskeletal diseases using computer simulation modeling. There will be opportunities to collect data, synthesize literature, conduct modeling analyses with guidance from the rest of the team, and write manuscripts and sections of grant proposals. The Research Assistant will also participate in the design and implementation of clinical research studies.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
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Do I Need A Covid Antibody Test Before Or After I Get A Covid
Antibody testing is not currently recommended to assess for immunity to COVID-19 following COVID-19 vaccination or to assess the need to vaccination in an unvaccinated person. Antibody testing for the anti-Spike antibody testing is available at MGB through approved clinical research studies and clinical pathways only.
Can Children Get Vaccinated
The CDC recommends that patients ages 6 months and older receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are approved and recommended for patients in this age group.
Children older than 6 months old need a signed by a parent to receive a vaccine at a Mass General Brigham location. Patients age 16 and over do not need a consent form because the Pfizer vaccine has been approved by the FDA. However, patients 16 and 17 years old must have a completed consent form to receive a booster dose.
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Do I Need An Additional Primary Dose
People ages 5 and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should get an additional primary dose. These are people who:
- Are actively being treated for cancer
- Have received a solid organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Have received a stem cell transplant within in the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system after a stem cell transplant
- Have received CAR-T cell therapy
- Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency patients with other underlying immune deficiencies not receiving IgG replacement can be counseled on a case-by-case basis)
- Have advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Are taking high-dose corticosteroids
- Are getting other drugs that may suppress the immune response
I Am Pregnant Should I Get The Covid
Vaccinations are considered a safe and routine part of prenatal care. For example, the flu shot is not only offered during pregnancy but recommended.
Based on data that demonstrates that pregnant people are at increased risk of severe illness with COVID-19 and new data that shows that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in pregnancy, the two largest OB/GYN organizations, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine , now strongly recommend this vaccine for all pregnant people.
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Are The Vaccines Safe And Effective
We will not recommend any vaccine that has not been shown to be safe and effective. All COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. These results were consistent across gender, age, race, and ethnicity. It is important for everyone ages 18 and older to get a booster shot as studies have shown that vaccine effectiveness against infections declines over time. See more information on the CDC website.
The FDA has granted full approval to two COVID vaccines: Pfizer and Moderna.
- The FDA granted the Pfizer vaccine full approval for patients over age 16 on August 23, 2021. It is now called Comirnaty. The vaccine is still available under emergency authorization for children ages 5-15 and for the administration of an additional primary dose to certain immunocompromised patients.
- The FDA also granted the Moderna vaccine full approval for patients 18 years and older on January 31, 2022. It will now be called Spikevax.
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is being used under emergency authorization by the FDA.
Every vaccine goes through a strict regulatory review process. We continually monitor any clinical or safety concerns for all vaccines.
I Am Immunocompromised Should I Get A Covid
Yes, it is very important for you to get vaccinated. People who are immunocompromised are at higher risk of severe, even life-threatening, infection and hospitalization from COVID-19 infection. The COVID-19 vaccines can be safely given to people who are immunocompromised. For questions about allergies related to COVID-19 vaccination, please see the .
Patients who are immunocompromised include people who:
- Are actively being treated for cancer
- Have received a solid organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Have received a stem cell transplant within in the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system after a stem cell transplant
- Have received CAR-T cell therapy
- Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
- Have advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Are taking high-dose corticosteroids
- Are getting other drugs that may suppress the immune response
The CDC recommends that people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised get an additional primary shot of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, including those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for their primary vaccine series.
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What About Masking And Social Distancing
The CDC has . The CDC recommendations on masking, and other measures, depend on the COVID-19 community level. You can check the COVID-19 community level with the CDCs tool. Please check your state or town resources for details as rules that govern required masking can vary.
What Is A Vaccine Allergy

Similar to medication or food allergies, people can be allergic to an ingredient in a vaccine. About half of allergic reactions to vaccines happen in the first 15 minutes after receiving vaccination, and 90% occur within the first 30 minutes. Most vaccine allergic reactions are mild, such as hives.
A severe allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis, which are very rare, occurring in one in a million people for most vaccines. Symptoms of anaphylaxis almost always occur within 4 hours of vaccination, most often within minutes. Symptoms usually include multiple parts of the body: hives on the skin swelling of mouth, lips, tongue or throat shortness of breath, wheezing, or chest tightness or low blood pressure or loss of consciousness.
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Should I Take Ivermectin To Prevent Or Treat Covid
There are reports in the media that some people may be using Ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19. Ivermectin is a medication used to treat parasites. There is no data that supports using Ivermectin for prevention or treatment of COVID-19. It is not approved by the FDA for prevention or treatment of COVID-19. There are reports of people being harmed when they take Ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID. Please see the FAQ by the FDA and the NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines for more information.
Who Can Get An Updated Booster
Patients ages 5 years and up are eligible for the updated booster if:
- You completed a primary vaccination series with one of the COVID-19 vaccines AND
- At least 2 months have passed since the last dose of your primary vaccine series or any booster dose
Please note you are eligible for this updated booster no matter how many previous booster shots you have received.
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What Is The Difference Between An Additional Primary Dose And A Booster
A booster and an additional primary dose are not the same. An additional primary dose is recommended for people who have compromised immune systems. It is recommended that patients with compromised immune systems receive an additional primary dose to increase their level of protection from the virus. This additional dose completes these patients primary vaccine series.
A booster is an extra dose of vaccine meant to boost a patients immune system because of decreased immunity over time.
Customized Treatment For Each Patient
Our orthopaedic surgeons provide the exceptional clinical care that you expect from a world-renowned medical institution, but we also approach care for each patient on an individual level across the entire spectrum of orthopaedic diseases and conditions.
We spend extra time with you to understand and solve the orthopaedic problem that has put your life on pause. We work with you to understand your goals and tailor the treatment approach to best address your needs. We want to get you better as quickly as possible, so you can get home and back to doing the things you love.
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Hip And Knee Replacement Program
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has long been at the forefront of joint pain treatment and surgical care. We provide innovative treatments that have helped make our orthopaedic program one of America’s best, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Our Center for Joint Health and Mobility offers a full range of treatment options, from non-surgical care, like physical therapy and injections, to innovative total and partial joint replacements. We can help you review the advantages of one or more approaches for your unique situation, including preservation, joint replacement surgery, revision, and restoration.
We employ the latest technology, such as custom 3D-printed knee implants, robotic navigation for surgeries, and imaging capabilities that allow us to better evaluate the condition of each patients injured joint and recommend a treatment approach tailored to their needs.
Our hip and knee replacement surgeons are pioneers in the use of advanced, minimally invasive procedures that are less disruptive to our patients lives, resulting in less pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery. We have replaced the joints of thousands of patients, including former NFL players and Olympic athletes. In every case, our goal is to eliminate pain, improve mobility, and get you back to doing the things you love as quickly as possible.
Brigham And Womens Orthopaedic Center At Bwfh
Orthopaedic care at Brigham and Womens Faulkner Hospital is an integral part of Brigham Healths Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, with the same faculty and care standards across all three locations: here in Jamaica Plain at Brigham and Womens Faulkner Hospital, at Brigham and Womens Hospital in the Longwood area of Boston and in Foxborough.
Orthopaedic care across Brigham Health is delivered with the expertise, innovation and commitment you would expect from a program that has more than 40 physicians who are committed to doing everything possible to provide patients with expert, comprehensive care.
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Who Should Talk To A Physician Before Receiving The Vaccine
Allergy/immunology consultation may be useful for you if you have the following issues:
- Prior history of vaccine allergy with reactions such as itching, rash, hives, swelling/angioedema, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or anaphylaxis
- History of allergy to polyethylene glycol or polysorbate, with reactions such as itching, rash, hives, swelling/angioedema, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness or anaphylaxis
- A reaction to a dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Female Orthopedic Surgeons Blaze New Trails At The Brigham

Women constitute about 6% of practicing orthopedic surgeons, but at the Brigham, the ratio is 6 out of 34, or 17.6%. Meet three of the Brighams female orthopedic surgical facultyAntonia Chen, MD, Elizabeth Martin, MD, ScM, and Elizabeth G. Matzkin, MDall of whom are innovators in research and clinical care.
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I Heard That The Time Between The First Two Primary Doses Can Be Extended Should I Wait 8 Weeks Between My 1st And 2nd Doses Of Mrna Covid
The CDC has updated vaccine intervals for people 12 years and older. For non-immunocompromised people 12 years and older, especially males ages 12-39 years, there is more flexibility in timing for the second dose for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. An 8-week interval is recommended between first and second doses.
- Second dose for Pfizer can be given between 3-8 weeks after the first dose
- Second dose for Moderna can be given between 4-8 weeks after the first dose
Please note that certain people should continue with the 3-week interval for Pfizer and 4-week interval for Moderna. This includes:
- People who are immunocompromised. Recommendations for immunocompromised people can be found on the CDCs website.
- Adults ages 65 years and older
- Others who need rapid protection due to increased concern about community transmission or risk of severe disease
Remember getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent severe illness from COVID-19. Please make sure everyone in your household is vaccinated and up to date with booster recommendations. This is especially important if you or a family member has conditions that put them at high-risk.
What Is The Updated Covid
- On September 1, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended updated boosters for patients ages 12 and older. On October 12, 2022 the CDC expanded the use of updated boosters to children ages 5-11.
- The updated boosters are bivalent. Bivalent vaccines protect against two different viruses or two strains of the same virus. This type of vaccine is not new. Many common vaccines can protect against even more than two types of viruses or virus strains, like the flu vaccine. The updated COVID-19 boosters target the original COVID-19 strain and the newer omicron variant. Reported side effects seem to be the same as the original vaccine.
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Will Getting Vaccinated Affect My Chance Of Getting Pregnant In The Future
Studies of mating animals have demonstrated no evidence that COVID vaccines affect fertility. Follow-up data from vaccinated individuals of reproductive age as well as studies on patients before and after vaccination do not show any evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems in women or men.
Advanced Medical Care Based On Cutting
At the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, outstanding clinical and basic research forms the foundation of our orthopaedic care. As a center of innovation, we are constantly translating new findings from clinical and basic research into new treatment options for bone and joint health, including joint replacement and repair surgeries.
Our patients benefit from the research conducted at the world-renowned Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, where our orthopaedic surgeons and researchers develop new treatment options for patients with joint conditions. The Musculoskeletal Research Center at the Brigham Research Institute is also focused on cross-collaborative research that focuses on bones, joints, muscles and the disorders that affect them.
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Brigham And Womens Hospital Partners With Stonehill College
Stonehill College has announced that it is partnering with Brigham and Womens Hospital to provide sports medicine services for its 450 student-athletes. Elizabeth G. Matzkin, M.D., a sports medicine specialist in the Department of Orthopedics at BWH, will serve as the team physician, with supporting coverage from other orthopedic experts from BWH through its Health Care Center.
We are committed to providing our student-athletes with the highest quality of medical attention and are thrilled to be partnering with Brigham and Womens Hospital to provide this care, said Brendan Sullivan, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Stonehill, in the November 26, 2013 news release.
BWH will provide coverage for all Stonehill home football and ice hockey games and an orthopedic specialist is available 24/7 for student-athletes. Additionally, BWH specialists host a training clinic at the Stonehill campus every Sunday morning.
Student-athletes have unique needs and we are excited about the opportunity to work with the Stonehill College Skyhawks and streamline their medical care through this partnership, said Dr. Matzkin.