Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Robert J. Goitz, MD

  • Professor
  • Chief, Division of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery

Education & Training

  • MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Fellowship: Indiana Hand Center, Indianapolis, IN

Representative Publications

  1. Yoon AP, Wang Y, Wang L, Chung KC, Wrist Group. What are the Tradeoffs in Outcomes after Casting Versus Surgery for Closded Extraarticular Distal Radius Fractures in Older Patients? A Statistical Learning Model. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 479:2691-2700, 2021 PMID 34142664
  2. Chung KC, Kim HM, Malay S, Shauver MJ; Wrist Group. Comparison of 24-Month Outcomes After Treatment for Distal Radius Fracture: The Wrist Randomized Clinical Trial JAMA Netw Open 4(6), 2021 PMID34137830
  3. Hacker E, Goitz RJ, Fowler JR. Does Patient Sex Affect Ultrasound Cutoff Values for Severity Grading of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? J Hand Surg Am. 46(10): 862-867, 2021 PMID: 34103184
  4. Smith W, Hirsch D, Osei-Hwedich D, Fowler J, Goitz RJ: A Comparison of Changes in Median Nerve Cross-Sectional Area Between Endoscopic and Mini-Open Carpal Tunnel Release.  JHS Global Online  2:80-83, 2020
  5. Fowler JR, Byraek, Pan T, Goitz RJ.  Accuracy of Surgeon Diagnosis in Predicting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Hand 2019 PMID 31208208
  6. Nkrumah G, Blackburn AR, Goitz RJ, Fowler JR. Ultrasonography Findings in Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Hand 2018 PMID 30027757.
  7. Awan H, Goitz R: MRI Correlation of Radial Head Fractures and Forearm Injuries. Hand 12(2):145-149, 2017.
  8. Fowler JR, Henry SE, Xu P, Goitz RJ: Outcomes Following Radial Head Arthroplasty. Orthopaedics 1:39(3):153-60, 2016.
  9. Fowler JR, Lavasani M, Huard J, Goitz RJ: Biologic Strategies to Improve Nerve Regeneration after Peripheral Nerve Repair. J Reconstr Microsurg 31(4):243-8, 2015.
  10. Chou FH, Irrgang JJ, Goitz RJ: Long-Term Followup of First Metacarpal Extension Osteotomy for Early CMC Arthritis. Hand 9 (4): 478-483, 2014.
  11. Prodromo J, Goitz RJ: Management of Radial Nerve Palsy Associated with Humerus Fracture. J Hand Surg (Am) 38(5):995-8, 2013.
  12. Azari KK, Imbriglia JE, Goitz RJ, Shores JT, Balk ML, Barndacher G, Schneeberger S, Gorantla V, Lee WP: Technical Aspects of the Recipient Operation in Hand Transplantation. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, 28(1):27-34, 2012.
  13. Lavasani M, Gehrmann S, Gharaibeh B, Clark KA, Kaufmann RA, Peault B, Goitz RJ, Huard J: Venous Graft-Derived Cells Participate in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. PloS One 6(9): e24801, 2011.
  14. Martin DE, English JC, Goitz RJ: Subungual Malignant Melanoma. Journal of Hand Surgery 36A(4):704-707, 2011.

Research Interests

Basic Science:

  1. Nerve Repair:
    1. Studying the potential for vascular stem cells to improve nerve recovery.
    2. Multicenter study evaluating allograft nerve for grafting large motor defects.
  2. DIP Joint Anatomy and Kinematics:  Using micro-CT analysis, evaluating the anatomy and biomechanics of the DIP joint.  Characterizing wear characteristics of the DIP joint and developing a model to study osteoarthritis.  Also developing implants for replacement of the DIP joints.
  3. Carpal Tunnel Morphology:  Rigorously characterized the transverse carpal ligament, the carpal canal and the change in dimensions related to wrist motion.

Clinical Research:

  1. Hand Transplantation: Participated in development and implementation of hand transplant program. Completed eight limbs in five patients
  2. Ulnar-sided wrist pain:  Studying outcome of nonoperative treatment for patients presenting with ulnar-sided wrist pain.
  3. TFCC tears:  Prospective study of differing operative techniques to treat peripheral traumatic TFCC tears.
  4. Wrist fractures in elderly:  Outcome of elderly treated for distal radius fracture.