SUMMARY
Mark J. Spangehl, M.D., is an academic orthopaedics surgeon with a subspecialty practice focusing exclusively on diseases of the hip and knee. Dr. Spangehl has been engaged in clinical practice and research for more than 15 years. His expertise is in total hip and knee replacement, including research into optimal strategies for managing pain and other potential complications after surgery.
Dr. Spangehl is also highly involved in medical and scientific education, having founded both the Orthopedic Surgery Residency and the Adult Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship at Mayo Clinic's campus in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. He supervises both resident and fellow education and research and is the program director of the Orthopedic Surgery Residency in Arizona.
Focus areas
- Postoperative pain management. Dr. Spangehl is particularly focused on evaluating methods of improving postoperative pain management for patients undergoing total knee replacement. Recent award-winning research compared periarticular wound infiltration to peripheral nerve blocks for patients undergoing total knee replacement.
- Periprosthetic joint infection. Dr. Spangehl has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on both the diagnosis and management of periprosthetic joint infection. Additionally, he served on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons committee that provided national guidelines to surgeons for the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Spangehl's research is aimed at improving diagnostic, surgical and postoperative treatment strategies for patients undergoing total knee replacements in order to improve outcomes and quality of life.
Professional highlights
- Associate editor, Arthroplasty Today journal, 2014-present
- Member, editorial board, Journal of Arthroplasty, 2010-present
- Principal investigator and lead author, Chitranjan Ranawat Award Paper, Knee Society Annual Open Meeting, 2014
- Co-leader, Wound Management Workgroup, International Consensus Meeting on Periprosthetic Joint Infection, 2013