Orthopaedic Trauma Program Approach

The UCLA Orthopaedic Trauma Service provides 24-hour state-of-the art care for all orthopaedic-trauma-related emergencies as well as complex tertiary trauma reconstructive procedures.

The UCLA Trauma Service was established in 1978 to provide dedicated faculty leadership and support to UCLA's Level 1 Trauma Center. Dr. Eric Johnson has developed the service since 1982 with specialization in axial skeletal fractures, extremity nonunion and malunion, pelvic and acetabular fractures and complex poly-trauma management. The Orthopaedic Trauma Service has extensive experience in salvage of previous failed orthopaedic trauma surgery with an international reputation in reconstructive expertise in malunion, nonunion, and correction of deformity.

The orthopaedic trauma team has tremendous experience with fractures and is highly integrated with the general surgery, hand surgery, spine surgery, and neurosurgery trauma teams.

The orthopaedic trauma team maintains an aggressive surgical approach to all fractures admitted to the UCLA Emergency Medicine Center either as paramedic transports or as transfers from community hospitals. AO Surgical Principles are used in all fracture stabilization procedures. Minimally invasive approaches are utilized whenever possible. Physicians and hospitals receiving complex orthopaedic trauma cases are encouraged to call for consultation 24 hours a day.

Comprehensive treatment is available for the following conditions:

Pelvis, Acetabulum and Hip 

• Acetabular fractures
• Femoral acetabular impingement, osteochondroplasty and labral repair
• Hip pain in the young adult
• Hip dysplasia - periacetabular osteotomy
• Hip fractures
• Letournel anterior total hip arthroplasty - minimally invasive
• Malunion / nonunion hip and femoral neck
• Osteotomy of the proximal femur
• Pelvic fractures
• Pelvic malunion / nonunion
• Traumatic osteoarthritis of hip

Femur

• Articular fractures of the knee
• Distal femur fractures
• Distal femoral osteotomy for malunion
• Femoral shaft fracture
• Femoral shaft nonunion
• Malunion of femoral shaft and distal femur
• Post-traumatic lengthening of femoral fracture

Tibia

• Ankle fractures
• Complex tibial plateau fractures
• Limb reconstruction - microvascular free flap
• Open fractures
• Pilon fractures
• Tibial shaft fractures

Foot

• Calcaneal fractures
• Hind, mid and forefoot fractures
• Lisfranc fractures and salvage procedures
• Ligament reconstruction of ankle

Upper Extremity

• Elbow fracture / dislocation
• Forearm fractures and soft-tissue trauma
• Intra-articular distal humeral fractures
• Proximal humerus fractures, 3-4 part intra-articular shoulder fractures
• Scapular fractures
• Segmental humeral shaft fractures, malunions and nonunions
• Wrist fractures

Physicians

Eric D. Farrell, MD
Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Trauma

Devon Jeffcoat MD
Health Sciences Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Trauma

Eric E. Johnson, MD, FRCSI (Hon)
Mullikin Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Chief, UCLA Orthopaedic Trauma Service
Trauma Reconstruction and Anterior Hip Replacement

Christopher Lee, MD
Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Trauma

Contact Us

Appointments: 310-319-1234
Radiology imaging: (310) 794-1450
Physical therapy: (310) 794-1323
Santa Monica Radiology imaging: (310) 319-5164 x249

On-line appointment request form