Expert Witness Case Types — Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Nikolaj Wolfson, MD, FRCSC, FACS reviews orthopedic cases for plaintiff and defense counsel throughout California and nationwide. The categories below reflect the areas of his active surgical practice. To discuss a specific matter, email [email protected] or call (415) 221-4400.

Failed Hip and Knee Replacement & Revision Arthroplasty

A hip or knee replacement that remains painful, loosens, dislocates, becomes infected, or wears prematurely raises questions about implant selection, surgical technique, and follow-up care. Dr. Wolfson performs revision (re-operation) of hip and knee replacements in his own practice and receives revision patients from across the nation and abroad. As an expert, he reviews imaging, operative reports, and implant records to explain why a replacement failed, whether the failure was avoidable, and what corrective surgery and recovery realistically involve.

Orthopedic Trauma

Dr. Wolfson is fellowship trained in orthopaedic reconstruction and trauma and is recognized internationally for his contributions to orthopedic trauma surgery, including service on the Trauma Committee of SICOT and editorship of the Springer Nature textbook “Orthopedics in Disasters.” He evaluates fractures, dislocations, and complex extremity injuries: the mechanism of injury, the appropriateness and timing of fixation, complications such as infection or nonunion, and the permanence of resulting impairment.

Car Accident Injuries

Motor vehicle collisions produce a wide spectrum of orthopedic injuries, from sprains and soft tissue damage to fractures, dislocations, and injuries that later require joint replacement. Dr. Wolfson addresses causation — whether a claimed orthopedic condition is consistent with the collision or reflects pre-existing degeneration — along with the reasonableness of treatment received, the necessity of future care, and the lasting effect of the injury on work and daily activities.

Workplace Injuries

Occupational injuries to the shoulders, hips, knees, and extremities often involve disputes over causation, apportionment, and functional capacity. Drawing on more than 25 years of reconstructive orthopedic practice, Dr. Wolfson examines injured workers, reviews their treatment histories, and provides clear opinions on diagnosis, the relationship of the condition to the workplace incident, appropriate treatment, and realistic work restrictions and prognosis.

Surgical Standard of Care

In professional liability matters, the central question is whether the orthopedic care provided met the accepted standard. As a surgeon certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, with academic experience as a former Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California, Dr. Wolfson reviews records for both plaintiff and defense and gives balanced, well-supported opinions on indications for surgery, technique, and perioperative management.

Limb Deformity and Malunion

Fractures that heal in poor alignment (malunion), fail to heal (nonunion), or leave a limb shortened or deformed can produce lifelong disability. Dr. Wolfson studied the Ilizarov technique under Professor G.A. Ilizarov and was among the first in North America to practice this method of limb lengthening and deformity correction in children and adults. He evaluates whether a deformity was preventable, and what reconstruction it requires.

Independent Medical Examinations & Second Opinions

Dr. Wolfson performs independent medical examinations and record-based reviews for attorneys, insurers, and claims professionals. His busy second-opinion practice — serving patients with challenging conditions from the Bay Area and beyond — translates directly to litigation work: a careful history, a focused examination, a review of imaging and records, and a written report that explains its conclusions in plain language. Examinations can be conducted in English, Russian, Arabic, or Hebrew.

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