Orthopedic Expert Witness

Who retains an orthopedic expert

Plaintiff and defense attorneys, insurance carriers, employers, third-party administrators and workers' compensation professionals retain an orthopedic expert when the medical questions in a matter exceed what the treating records alone resolve.

Typical triggers include disputed causation, disagreement over whether recommended surgery is reasonable and necessary, questions about permanency or work restrictions, or a need to reconcile inconsistent opinions among treating physicians.

Matters commonly evaluated

• Rotator cuff tears, shoulder dislocation and instability, labral injury
• ACL, meniscus, patellar instability and other knee injuries
• Hip labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement, hamstring and gluteal tendon injuries
• Achilles rupture, distal biceps rupture and other tendon injuries
• Fractures and orthopedic trauma, including post-traumatic arthritis
• Aggravation of pre-existing degenerative change

What the opinion addresses

Opinions are framed around the specific questions posed by the retaining party and are supported by the records, imaging and, where applicable, the examination findings. Where the evidence does not support a conclusion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the report says so.

• Diagnosis and the objective findings supporting it
• Mechanism of injury and causation, including pre-existing conditions
• Reasonableness and necessity of past and proposed treatment
• Impairment, functional limitation and work capacity
• Prognosis and anticipated future care

Engagement and materials

An engagement begins with a conflict check and confirmation of scope, timeline and fees. Useful materials include the pleadings or claim summary, complete medical records, imaging studies and radiology reports, operative reports, prior IME reports, employment or job-description material where work capacity is at issue, and the specific questions to be answered.

Fees for review, examination and deposition are set out in the published fee schedule. Case inquiries are coordinated through Delaney Loprieno at dloprieno@genesisortho.com.

Scope and limits

Opinions are offered only within Dr. Horner's areas of orthopedic training and practice. Standard-of-care opinions are considered where the care at issue falls within that scope. Matters outside orthopedics, or outside his subspecialty experience, are declined rather than accepted with qualification.