MEET DR. WOLFSON

“I offer state-of-the-art, customized solutions and ask that my patients are integral partners in their treatment”

DR. NIKOLAJ WOLFSON

DR. NIKOLAJ WOLFSON

MD, FRCSC, FACS
Orthopedic Surgeon | San Francisco, CA

Dr. Wolfson is a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon with vast experience in orthopedic reconstruction surgery, joint replacement, and orthopedic and sports trauma.

Dr. Wolfson was one of the first orthopedic surgeons to implement Direct Anterior Approach for hip replacement surgery. After over 1500 hip replacements he has made definitive conclusions that this particular technique of hip joint replacement, gives patients a faster and least painful way to return to their daily activities.

Dr. Wolfson was also one of the first surgeons in San Francisco to use ConforMIS – knee implants, that are patient-specific and designed to fit perfectly to each patient’s unique knee anatomy.

In the late 80s, he studied The Ilizarov Technique under the tutorage of Professor G.A. Ilizarov, and was one of the few in North America to begin practicing this groundbreaking procedure for Limb Lengthening and extremity reconstruction. He is one of the first in the nation who was trained to utilize The Ilizarov Technique for limb lengthening and deformity correction in both children and adults.

After over 25 years in reconstructive orthopedic surgery Dr. Wolfson is providing more and more second opinions to patients with challenging conditions. He has developed an expertise in taking care of patients that require revisions (re-operation) of hip or knee replacements. These patients come not only from the San Francisco Bay Area but also from all over the nation and abroad.

At his private practice in San Francisco, Dr. Wolfson puts his patients first and develops highly effective and customized treatment plans.

In his practice, Dr. Wolfson and his team treat every patient based on their specific condition and individual needs and lifestyle, in a passionate and caring way. His patients are seen in his office and, when needed, Dr. Wolfson visits his patients at their home. To ensure the highest quality of care possible, Dr. Wolfson uses safe, evidence based, passionate, and proven cutting-edge technology.

Dr. Wolfson is Fellowship trained and certified by American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Being an elite sportsman himself with two National titles as a former boxer, Dr. Wolfson treats both professional and recreational athletes. His expertise covers a variety of injuries, from sprains to cartilage damage, meniscus and ligament injuries.

Dr. Wolfson is recognized around the world for his many contributions to the field of orthopedic trauma surgery.

Dr. Wolfson continually volunteers his time and expertise to natural disaster missions around the world. When a massive earthquake struck Haiti in 2010 and Nepal in 2015, he traveled to these devastated areas with groups of other dedicated surgeons, working tirelessly to treat those who were critically injured. He is a member of Disaster Orthopedic Initiative with the world’s oldest and largest international orthopedic organization, SICOT, where he serves on the Trauma Committee. He is an author and Chief Editor of the first of its kind book “Orthopedics in Disasters” published by Springer Nature.

Dr. Wolfson is passionate about technology and involved in several Startups. He has contributed to the development of unique metal alloys at California Institute of Technology ( Caltech)  in Pasadena and is author of many patents related to orthopedic technology.

“I am fortunate to have an opportunity to take care of our patients and do it together with wonderful and dedicated healthcare providers both locally and around the world. Being a surgeon is not just a profession, it is a lifestyle.

I will quote W.J Mayo: The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered…”.

Dr. Wolfson received his medical degree from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel, and after completing his residency at the University of Western Ontario, he undertook a fellowship in Adult Joint Replacement and Orthopaedic Trauma at the University of Toronto. He has also served as a full-time Faculty member and Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He was a Visiting Fellow at Caltech (California Institute of Technology) developing a new generation of metal alloys for use in the medical field.

Education & Experience

Undergraduate
University of Grodno, Belarus, 1976

Medical School
Tel Aviv University, Medical Doctor, 1981

Internship
University Of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 1989
Rotating

Residency
University of Western Ontario, 1993
London, Ontario, Canada
Orthopedic Surgery

Fellowship
University of Toronto, 1994
Orthopaedic Reconstruction and Trauma

Publications

Zinman C, Wolfson N, Reis ND.
Osteochondritis dissecans of the dome of the talus.
Computed tomography scanning in diagnosis and follow-up.
J Bone Joint Surg Am 70(7):1017-9, 1988

Wolfson N, Hearn T, Thomason J, Armstrong PF.
Force and stiffness changes during Ilizarov leg lengthening.
Clin. Orthop Relat Res 250: 58-60, 1990

Wolfson N, Galpin RD, Hearn TC, Willis RB.
Control of interfragmentary micromotion in Ilizarov distractional osteogenesis.
Bull Hosp Jt Dis 52(1):36-8, 1992

Hearn TC, Schatzker J, Wolfson N.
Extraction strength of cannulated cancellous bone screws.
J Orthop Trauma 7(2): 138-41, 1993

Chakarun CJ, Wolfson N.
Adult male with right shoulder pain: posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation.
Ann Emerg Med. 2009 Jun; 53(6):714,745

Demetriou MD, Wiest A, Hofmann DC, Johnson WL, Han B, Wolfson N, Wang G and Liaw PK:
Amorphous metals for hard-tissue prosthesis.
JOM, submitted for publication, 2009

Abstracts

Chakarun CJ, Tumyan L, Wolfson N, White EA, Forrester D.
Lisfranc fracture-dislocation: imaging findings with intraoperative correlation and postoperative imaging follow-up.
Educational exhibit presented at American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) 2009.

Chakarun CJ, Tumyan L, Demetriades D, Wolfson N, White EA.
Sternoclavicular joint dislocations: imaging findings with intraoperative correlation.
Educational exhibit presented at American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) 2009.

Koo J, Tumyan L, Chakarun CJ, White EA, Wolfson N.
Musculoskeletal corticosteroid injections: a step-by-step guide to common and innovative applications for the practicing radiologist.
Accepted, Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2009.

Koo J, Tumyan L, Chakarun CJ, White EA, Wolfson N.
Musculoskeletal corticosteroid injections: a step-by-step guide to common and innovative applications for the practicing radiologist.
Educational exhibit presented at American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) 2009.

Chakarun CJ, Tumyan L, Wolfson N, White EA, Forrester D.
Lisfranc fracture-dislocation: imaging findings with intraoperative correlation and postoperative imaging follow-up.
American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) 2009.

Chakarun CJ, Tumyan L, Demetriades D, Wolfson N, White EA.
Sternoclavicular joint dislocations: imaging findings with intraoperative correlation.
American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) 2009.

Books

Amputation in combat trauma, Wolfson N and Schecter S, Chapter 21, in Armed Conflict Injuries to the Extremities
by Lerner A and Soudry M (Editors)

Distraction Arthroplasty in Soft Tissue Reconstruction in the Upper Extremity 
by Richards RR, Churchill Livingstone Inc. 1995

Orthopedics in Disasters
by Nikolaj Wolfson, Alexander Lerner, Leonid M. Roshal

CERTIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

American  Board OF Orthopaedic Surgery Logo

American Board OF Orthopaedic Surgery

www.abos.org
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery Logo

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery

www.AAOS.Org
Medical Board of California Logo

Medical Board of California

www.mbc.ca.gov
American College of Surgery Logo

American College of Surgery

www.facs.org
California Orthopaedic Association Logo

California Orthopaedic Association

www.coa.org
Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society Logo

Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society

www.LLRS.org
Israeli Orthopaedic Association Logo

Israeli Orthopaedic Association

www.israel-ortho.org.il
Canadian Orthopaedic Association Logo

Canadian Orthopaedic Association

www.coa-aco.org
Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons Logo

Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons

www.somos.org
University of Southern California Logo

University of Southern California

www.keck.usc.edu
Stanford University Logo

Stanford University

www.stanford.edu
CALTECK University Logo

CALTECK University

www.Caltech.edu

Personal Interests

Outside of the office, Dr. Wolfson is a published writer, authoring numerous abstracts on orthopedics, in addition to co-authoring the book Orthopedics in Disasters. He’s also involved in San Francisco FleetWeek, a unique training and education program that brings together civilian and military forces to develop and share best practices in humanitarian assistance and emergency disaster response. While he enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and traveling, medicine is Dr. Wolfson’s number one hobby, and he happily commits personal time to the study of new orthopedic technology as an expert Orthopedic Surgeon. Making sure he can always offer patients the best possible care. When he’s not studying, he’s inventing medical devices that help improve the efficacy of orthopedic procedures. Dr. Wolfson is also a former boxer with two national championships under his belt.

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