J. Todd Lawrence, MD, PhD
Areas of expertise: ACL reconstruction in patients with open growth plates including All Epiphyseal ACL reconstruction that does not injure the growth plates, Arthroscopy, Athletic injuries in the knee, Athletic injuries in the shoulder, Athletic injuries in the elbow, Athletic injuries in the ankle, Meniscus repair, Pediatric fractures and trauma, Shoulder dislocations and instability repair, Sports medicine, Treatment of cartilage lesions (OCD lesions) of the knee and elbow, Patella dislocation and instability repair/reconstruction, Elbow injuries, throwing and the overhead athlete
Locations: Specialty Care, Virtua, Middleman Family Pavilion, Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care, Specialty Care, Abington
About J. Todd Lawrence, MD, PhD
J. Todd Lawrence, MD, PhD, is an attending orthopedic surgeon with the Orthopedic Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and an assistant professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Lawrence obtained his medical training at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. While there, he also earned a PhD in cell and molecular biology. He completed both his internship in general surgery and residency in orthopedic surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Lawrence further specialized in pediatric sports surgery with a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and then a second fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC. At Duke, Dr. Lawrence cared for two NCAA tournament championship teams including the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship team.
Dr. Lawrence has a highly specialized skill set and is dedicated to the care of high-level pediatric and adolescent athletes. He has particular expertise in the arthroscopic treatment of injuries to the knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle. He helped develop a now common technique of reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in patients who are still growing and developing that does not disturb the patient's growth plates. He cares for patients at CHOP locations in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Dr. Lawrence's research interests center around determining the optimal treatment strategies for a number of sports-related injuries in children. With his background in basic science research, he is working to develop a novel stem cell and cartilage repair strategy for adolescents. With collaborators from Drexel University, he is working to translate that to clinical practice.
Titles
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Certifications
Orthopaedic Sports Medicine – American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery – American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Editorial and Academic Positions
Editorial positions
2009-2015, Guest editor, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Symposium on Emerging Research Ideas in Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Medicine
2006-2007, Editor, University of Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Journal, 2007 Edition
Academic positions
2009-2010, Director, Resident and Fellow Sports Medicine Bioskills Lab (Fresh Tissue/Cadaver), Duke University
2015-present, Director of Resident Education, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Orthopedics Center
Research Interests
Clinical outcomes and determining the optimal treatment for young patients with ACL tears and cartilage lesions Developing new and improved strategies for cartilage restoration and meniscus healing Methods for enhancing orthopedic fellow, resident and medical student surgical education and training
Education & training
Undergraduate Degree
BA - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Graduate Degree
PhD - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Medical Degree
MD - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Internship
General Surgery - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Residency
Orthopedic Surgery - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship
Pediatric Orthopedics - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery - Duke University, Durham, NC
Publications
Publications
2023
Oganezova, Karina; Houlihan, Nathan; Maguire, Kathleen J.; Lawrence, John T.; Ganley, Theodore J.; Williams, Brendan A. Quantifying the impact of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic on youth sports-related injuries in the USA. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics B ():10.1097/BPB.0000000000001096, June 05, 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/BPB.0000000000001096.
Lakomkin N, Swarup I, Lawrence JTR. Prolonged Length of Stay and Readmissions Following In Situ Pinning of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis An Analysis of Incidence and Predictive Factors. Bull Hosp Jt Dis (2013). 2023 Jun;81(2):136-140. PMID: 37200332.
Ashebo, Leta BA*; Stevens, Alexandra C. BS*; MacAlpine, Elle M. BA†; Wittstein, Jocelyn R. MD†; Bradley, Kendall E. MD†; Lawrence, J. Todd R. MD, PhD*. Achilles Tendon Injuries in the Pediatric Population. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 43(7):p e513-e518, August 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002437
2022
Baghdadi S, Harwood K, Greenberg E, Baldwin KD, Lawrence JTR. Effects of Therapeutic Ultrasound on Growth Plates: A Systematic Review. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2022 Jan 1;34(1):2-8. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000846. PMID: 34958326.
Lawrence JTR, MacAlpine EM, Buczek MJ, Horn BD, Williams BA, Manning K, Shah AS. Impact of Cost Information on Parental Decision Making: A Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating Cast Versus Splint Selection for Pediatric Distal Radius Buckle Fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2022 Jan 1;42(1):e15-e20. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001980. PMID: 34889832.
Baghdadi, Soroush MD*; Weltsch, Daniel MD†,‡; Arkader, Alexandre MD*; Lawrence, John T.R. MD, PhD*. He likes it! Mikey likes it!. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 42(1):p e101-e102, January 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002007.
Baghdadi S, Ganley TJ, Wells L, Lawrence JTR. Early Identification of Arthrofibrosis in Adolescents Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Is Associated With the Need for Subsequent Surgery: A Matched Case-Control Study. Arthroscopy. 2022 Jul;38(7):2278-2286. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2022.01.043. Epub 2022 Feb 12. PMID: 35157965.
Baghdadi S, Isaacs D, Chan CT, Wells L, Ganley TJ, Lawrence JTR. Arthroscopic Drilling for Stable Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee Is Safe and Patients Reliably Return to Daily Activities by 3 Months. Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2022 Feb 15;4(2):e645-e651. doi: 10.1016/j.asmr.2021.12.006. PMID: 35494308; PMCID: PMC9042903.
Kathleen Harwood, Daniel Weltsch, Nathan D. Markiewitz, Kassidy Manning, Isabella Pincay, Pavithra Vinnakota, Brendan A. Williams, John T. Lawrence; Pediatric Sports Medicine Patients' and Caregivers' Explicit and Implicit Preferences for Physician Appearance. Pediatrics February 2022; 149 (1 Meeting Abstracts February 2022): 790.
John T. Lawrence, Elliot Greenberg, Eric Greenberg, Theodore J. Ganley; Understanding Youth Athlete Motivation, Training and Activity Progression During and After the COVID-19 Sports Interruption. Pediatrics February 2022; 149 (1 Meeting Abstracts February 2022): 219.
Magee LC, Piazza B, Harwood K, Lawrence JTR. C-arm contamination of the surgical field: Can contamination be reduced with an intervening drape? Injury. 2022 Jun;53(6):1994-1998. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2022.03.046. Epub 2022 Mar 26. PMID: 35414407.
Guzek RH, Harwood K, Isaacs D, Talwar D, Edmonds EW, Fabricant PD, Joughin VE, Latz KH, Mayer SW, McKay S, Pacicca DM, Saper M, Lawrence JTR. A Corresponding Point Measurement System Provides Reliable Measurement of Displacement for Medial Epicondyle Fractures. JB JS Open Access. 2022 Nov 18;7(4):e22.00039. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.22.00039. PMID: 36404950; PMCID: PMC9671750.
Lee, Julianna BA; Guzek, Ryan H. BS; Shah, Neal S.; Lawrence, J. Todd R. MD, PhD; Ganley, Theodore J. MD; Shah, Apurva S. MD, MBA. How Much Will My Child’s ACL Reconstruction Cost? Availability and Variability of Price Estimates for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the United States. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 42(10):p 614-620, November/December 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002254.
Fury MS, Paschos NK, Fabricant PD, et al. Assessment of Skeletal Maturity and Postoperative Growth Disturbance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Skeletally Immature Patients: A Systematic Review. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022;50(5):1430-1441. doi:10.1177/03635465211008656.
Baghdadi S, Williams BA, Lawrence JTR, Maguire KJ, Wells L, Ganley TJ. Quadriceps Tendon Autograft in Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Graft Dimensions and Prediction of Size on Preoperative Mri. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022;10(5_suppl2). doi:10.1177/2325967121S00374.
Greenberg E, Greenberg E, Lawrence JT, Ganley T. Understanding Youth Athlete Motivation, Training, and Activity Progression During and After the COVID-19 Sports Interruption. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2022 Dec 1;17(7):1396-1403. doi: 10.26603/001c.40372. PMID: 36518827; PMCID: PMC9718718.
Nissen C, Bohn DC, et al. Reliability of Radiographic Imaging Characteristics for Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Capitellum. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022;50(14):3948-3955. doi:10.1177/03635465221130452.
Isaacs, D. ., Baghdadi, S., Lee, A. ., Woodard, T. ., Mehta, N. N., Talwar, D., Morsink, S., & Lawrence, J. T. (2022). Age as a Prognostic Factor in Arthroscopic Drilling of Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee: A National Database Review: Original Research. Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.55275/JPOSNA-2022-503.
Orellana, K.J., Batley, M.G., Lawrence, J.T.R. et al. Radiographic Evaluation of Pediatric Patients with Patellofemoral Instability. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 15, 411–426 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-022-09780-5.
Badrinath, R., Ashebo, L., & Lawrence, J. T. (2022). High-Fidelity Simulation Training for Closed Reduction and Casting of Distal Radius Fractures . Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, 4(S1). https://doi.org/10.55275/JPOSNA-2022-0069.
Nguyen, J.C., Guariento, A., Williams, B.A. et al. MRI evaluation of pediatric tibial eminence fractures: comparison between conventional and “CT-like” ultrashort echo time (UTE) images. Skeletal Radiol 51, 1603–1610 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-022-04000-0.
Lawrence, J. T., Greenberg, E., Greenberg, E., & Ganley, T. J. (2022). Understanding youth athlete motivation, training and activity progression during and after the COVID-19 sports interruption. Pediatrics, 149(1), p. 219.
Gendler, L., Ho-Fung, V., Grady, M., Lawrence, J.T., Ganley, T.J., Nguyen, J. (2022). Sports Injuries: Knee. In: Otero, H.J., Kaplan, S.L., Medina, L.S., Blackmore, C.C., Applegate, K.E. (eds) Evidence-Based Imaging in Pediatrics. Evidence-Based Imaging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38095-3_88-1.
2021
Nguyen JC, Bram JT, Lawrence JTR, Hong S, Leska TM, Ganley TJ, Ho-Fung V. MRI Criteria for Meniscal Ramp Lesions of the Knee in Children With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2021 Mar;216(3):791-798. doi: 10.2214/AJR.20.23389. Epub 2021 Jan 13. PMID: 32755180.
LeBrun DG, DeFrancesco CJ, Fabricant PD, Lawrence JTR. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Nonoperative Management Versus Early Drilling for Stable Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions of the Knee in Skeletally Immature Patients. Arthroscopy. 2021 Feb;37(2):624-634.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2020.09.020. Epub 2020 Dec 1. PMID: 33271176.
Nguyen JC, Baghdadi S, Lawrence JTR, Sze A, Guariento A, Ganley TJ, Johnson AM. Lateral Meniscus Posterior Root Injury: MRI Findings in Children With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2021 Oct;217(4):984-994. doi: 10.2214/AJR.21.25554. Epub 2021 Mar 17. PMID: 33728972.
Weltsch D, Chan CT, Mistovich RJ, et al. Predicting Risk of Recurrent Patellofemoral Instability With Measurements of Extensor Mechanism Containment. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;49(3):706-712. doi:10.1177/0363546520987007.
Yellin JL, Fabricant PD, Anari JB, et al. Increased Glenoid Index as a Risk Factor for Pediatric and Adolescent Anterior Glenohumeral Dislocation: An MRI-Based, Case-Control Study. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;9(3). doi:10.1177/2325967120986139.
Baghdadi S, Shah AS, Lawrence JTR. Open reduction of radial neck fractures in children: injury severity predicts the radiographic and clinical outcomes. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2021 Oct;30(10):2418-2427. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2021.04.037. Epub 2021 May 18. PMID: 34020001.
Baghdadi S, Harwood K, Arkader A, Lawrence JT. OPEN REDUCTION OF MEDIAL EPICONDYLE FRACTURES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: SUPINE VERSUS PRONE POSITION. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;9(7_suppl3). doi:10.1177/2325967121S00100.
Williams BA, Mehta N, Ganley TJ, Lawrence JT, Kim SH, Nguyen JC. LIMITED INTER-RATER RELIABILITY IN ANTEROLATERAL LIGAMENT DETECTION IN PEDIATRIC KNEE MRIS. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;9(7_suppl3). doi:10.1177/2325967121S00073.
Baghdadi S, Isaacs D, Chan C, Wells L, Ganley TJ, Lawrence JT. COMPLICATIONS OF ARTHROSCOPIC DRILLING IN THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS OF THE KNEE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;9(7_suppl3). doi:10.1177/2325967121S00099.
Leung A, Greenberg E, Dyke J, Lawrence JT, Ganley T. DEFINING LIMB DOMINANCE: A COMPARISON OF PERFORMANCE-BASED AND SELF-SELECTED MEASURES. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;9(7_suppl3). doi:10.1177/2325967121S00052.
Weltsch D, Chan C, Dale KM, et al. Reduction in Diameter of Hamstring Autograft With Additional Circumferential Preconditioning During ACL Reconstruction in a Pediatric Population. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;9(8). doi:10.1177/23259671211025497.
Baghdadi S, VanEenenaam DP, Williams BA, et al. Quadriceps Tendon Autograft in Pediatric ACL Reconstruction: Graft Dimensions and Prediction of Size on Preoperative MRI. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;9(12). doi:10.1177/23259671211056678.
James EW, Dawkins BJ, Schachne JM, et al. Early Operative Versus Delayed Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment of Pediatric and Adolescent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;49(14):4008-4017. doi:10.1177/0363546521990817.
Johnson MA, Park K, Talwar D, Maguire KJ, Lawrence JTR. Predicting Outcomes of Talar Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions in Children. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;9(11). doi:10.1177/23259671211051769.
A. Watson, Pengyuan L., Elliot G., J. Todd R. L., Theodore J. G., Insup L., James W. "RT-ACL: Identification of High-Risk Youth Patients and their Most Significant Risk Factors to Reduce Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reinjury Risk," 2021 IEEE/ACM Conference on Connected Health: Applications, Systems and Engineering Technologies (CHASE), Washington, DC, USA, 2021, pp. 35-45, doi: 10.1109/CHASE52844.2021.00012.
2020
Jackson, Taylor J. MD; Shah, Apurva S. MD, MBA; Buczek, Matthew J. BS; Lawrence, John Todd R. MD, PhD. Simulation Training of Orthopedic Residents for Distal Radius Fracture Reductions Improves Radiographic Outcomes. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 40(1):p e6-e13, January 2020. | DOI: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001387.
Swarup, Ishaan MD; Meza, Blake C. BS; Weltsch, Daniel MD; Jina, Asmita A. DO; Lawrence, John T. MD, PhD; Baldwin, Keith D. MD, MPH, MSPT. Septic Arthritis of the Knee in Children: A Critical Analysis Review. JBJS Reviews 8(1):p e0069, January 2020. | DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.19.00069.
Mellor X, Buczek MJ, Adams AJ, Lawrence JTR, Ganley TJ, Shah AS. Collection of Common Knee Patient-reported Outcome Instruments by Automated Mobile Phone Text Messaging in Pediatric Sports Medicine. J Pediatr Orthop. 2020 Feb;40(2):e91-e95. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001403. PMID: 31107346.
Patel NM, Bram JT, Talathi NS, DeFrancesco CJ, Lawrence JTR, Ganley TJ. Which Children Are at Risk for Contralateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury After Ipsilateral Reconstruction? J Pediatr Orthop. 2020 Apr;40(4):162-167. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001364. PMID: 30882565.
Ranade SC, Refakis CA, Cruz AI Jr, Leddy KL, Wells L, Lawrence JT, Ganley TJ. Validated Pediatric Functional Outcomes of All-epiphyseal ACL Reconstructions: Does Reinjury Affect Outcomes? J Pediatr Orthop. 2020 Apr;40(4):157-161. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001217. PMID: 32132445.
Greenberg EM, Fernandez-Fernandez A, Lawrence JT, McClure P. THE EFFECT OF HUMERAL RETROTORSION ON PITCH VELOCITY IN YOUTH BASEBALL PLAYERS. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2020 May;15(3):380-387. PMID: 32566374; PMCID: PMC7296997.
Urwin JW, Trionfo A, Storey EP, Brusalis CM, Gajewski C, Lawrence JTR. A Novel Low-Cost Surgical Simulation Tool for Pinning Supracondylar Humerus Fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2020 May/Jun;40(5):e317-e321. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001460. PMID: 31633592.
Fabricant PD, Brusalis CM, Schachne JM; PLUTO Study Group; Matava MJ. Which Metrics Are Being Used to Evaluate Children and Adolescents After ACL Reconstruction? A Systematic Review. Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2020 Jul 22;2(4):e417-e428. doi:10.1016/j.asmr.2020.04.006. PMID: 32875306; PMCID: PMC7451873.
Gajewski, Christopher R. MD; Vaz, Jason A. MD, FRCPC; Williams, Brendan A. MD; Muhly, Wallis T. MD; Lawrence, J. Todd R. MD, PhD. Dynamic intraoperative assessment of patellar tracking using a stimulating nerve catheter for the surgical management of patellofemoral instability: a case report. Current Orthopaedic Practice 31(6):p 612-615, November/December 2020. | DOI: 10.1097/BCO.0000000000000925.
Greenberg EM, Dyke J, Leung A, Karl M, Lawrence JT, Ganley T. Uninjured Youth Athlete Performance on Single-Leg Hop Testing: How Many Can Achieve Recommended Return-to-Sport Criterion? Sports Health. 2020;12(6):552-558. doi:10.1177/1941738120911662.
Patel, M., Francavilla, M.L., Lawrence, J.T.R. et al. Osteochondral lesion of the talus in children: Are there MRI findings of instability?. Skeletal Radiol 49, 1305–1311 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-020-03436-6.
Aoyama JT, Bram JT, Lawrence JTR, Ganley TJ. ACLR GRAFT STRAND NUMBER: LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP ON 400 PATIENTS. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2020;8(4_suppl3). doi:10.1177/2325967120S00174.
Greenberg EM, Julie Dyke, Karl M, Leung A, Lawrence JT, Ganley T. LIMB SYMMETRY IS NOT ENOUGH: ESTABLISHMENT OF HEIGHT NORMALIZED HOP DISTANCES WITHIN HEALTHY YOUTH ATHLETES. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2020;8(4_suppl3). doi:10.1177/2325967120S00190.
Chan C, Mistovich J, Urwin J, et al. Novel MRI Measurements of Extensor Mechanism Containment Can Predict Recurrent Patellar Instability. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2020;8(7_suppl6). doi:10.1177/2325967120S00343.
2016
Greenberg, E. M., Lawrence, J. T. R., Fernandez-Fernandez, A., & McClure, P.: "Humeral Retrotorsion and Glenohumeral Motion in Youth Baseball Players Compared With Age-Matched Non-throwing Athletes." The American Journal of Sports Medicine 2016.
Dua K, O'Hara N, Brighton B, Lawrence JT, Mehlman C, Shrader W, Smith B, Sponseller P, Otsuka NY: "Variation Amongst Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons When Diagnosing and Treating Pediatric and Adolescent Distal Radius Fractures" Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics December 2016.
Cruz AI, Steere JT, Lawrence JT: "Medial Epicondyle Fractures in the Pediatric Overhead Athlete" J Pediatric Orthop 36(1): 56-62, June 2016.
Cruz AI Jr, Lakomkin N, Fabricant PD, Lawrence JT: Physeal Disruption During ACL Reconstruction in Skeletally Immature Patients: Does Independent Femoral Tunnel Drilling Place the Physis at Greater Risk? Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine 4(6), June 2016. PMCID: 27331075
Aristides I. Cruz, Jr., MD, J. Todd R. Lawrence, MD, PhD, Theodore J. Ganley, MD: Prone Positioning for Open Reduction Internal Fixation of Pediatric Medial Epicondyle Fractures. The University of Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Journal 26: 34, June 2016.
Fabricant PD, Lakomkin N, Cruz Jr AI, Spitzer E, J Todd R Lawrence, Robert G Marx: Early ACL Reconstruction in Children Leads to Less Meniscal and Articular Cartilage Damage when Compared With Conservative or Delayed Treatment. Journal of ISAKOS Page: 10-15, February 2016 Notes: DOI: 10-1136/jisakos-2015-000012.