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Alejandro Gonzalez Della Valle, MD

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Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez Della Valle has been fully devoted to orthopedic surgery since 1993. He is an expert in adult reconstructive surgery of the hip and knee, including joint reserving procedures (osteotomies and arthroscopy), as well as hip and knee replacement surgery (see “Special Expertise” below). Dr. Gonzalez Della Valle has surgically treated over 5,000 patients with numerous hip and knee disorders ranging from straightforward procedures to complex revision surgery of hip and knee replacements. He believes in understanding his patients’ symptoms, complaints, limitations and expectations for function before recommending a surgical or non-surgical treatment. He received the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Patients' Choice Award from Vitals.com for being one of New York's favorite physicians.

Based on his clinical and research experience, Dr. Gonzalez Della Valle is aware of his patients’ wide range of expectations for function and activity following surgery.  He says: “Patients undergoing joint replacement surgery today are not the same as those who underwent surgery 20 years ago. Today, the enthusiastic baby boomers, post- baby boomers and young patients who receive a joint replacement expect a short hospital stay, a fast recovery, and a prompt return to their regular activities and active lifestyles. I believe that the well informed, motivated patient and the physician can come to an agreement regarding the expectations of surgery. This will ultimately increase patients’ satisfaction”.

Dr. Gonzalez Della Valle combines classic concepts of total joint replacement surgery that have proven to be successful over the last 40 years, with the newest techniques, technologies and materials, and adapts the surgery to meet each patient’s realistic demands. He is a firm believer in discussing the benefits and drawbacks of classic and new techniques for total joint replacement and in deciding upon a surgical plan that will meet the individual patient’s needs for function and activity. His decisions are based on a thorough physical examination and discussion with the patient, a deep understanding of the classic and newest surgical techniques, and a robust body of research, which includes over 100 published papers and book chapters authored by him.

For additional information on Dr. Gonzalez Della Valle's approach to treating young patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and the knee, please refer to the section "For My Patients."

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dr. Gonzalez Della Valle graduated with honors from the University of Buenos Aires. He trained in prestigious institutions in North and South America including Hospital for Special Surgery and the Italian Hospital in Buenos Aires. He received grants from the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, the American Hip Society, and the Knee Society. He also received numerous awards including the prestigious Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica Research Award; the Sir John Charnley Award, which is awarded by the American Hip Society; and the Nicholas Andry Award, which is awarded by the American Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.

Dr. Gonzalez Della Valle is a peer reviewer for ten medical journals, including the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. He lectures extensively in the United States and abroad.

Appointments

Associate Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College

Specialty

Orthopedic Surgery

Subspecialty

Hip, Knee

Special Expertise

Hip and knee early and late osteoarthritis, congenital hip dysplasia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, avascular necrosis, fractures, and sequelae of hip conditions such as Perthe’s disease and slipped capital femoral epiphysis

Primary hip and knee arthroplasty (replacement). Revision hip and knee surgery to address acute or late failures of total hip and knee arthroplasties (prosthetic infection, loosening, dislocations/instability, painful stiff knee replacement, periprosthetic fractures, as well as mechanical failure of the implants). Minimally invasive surgery, total hip replacement, hip resurfacing, total and partial knee replacement. Surgical navigation (computer assisted surgery) for hip and knee replacements. 

Adult non-arthroplasty reconstructive and reparative procedures including osteotomies for hip and knee deformities, bone grafting for avascular necrosis, and arthroscopy.

Awards

Diploma of Honor. University of Buenos Aires Medical School, 1992

Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica Research Award. Buttaro M, González Della Valle A, Morandi A, Mocetti E, Piñeyro L, Piccaluga F. Incorporation of vancomycin-loaded bone graft. 2002

The Hip Society Grant. Salvati E, González Della Valle A, Westrich G, Weksler B, Glueck C, Bass A, Peterson M. The role of genetic thrombophylia and hypofibrinolysis in patients who develop a pulmonary embolus following total hip arthroplasty. 2003

The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation – Zimmer Career Development Award. González Della Valle A, Salvati EA, Potter H. The utility and precision of standard and computerized preoperative planning for primary total hip arthroplasty. 2004

The Hip Society John Charnley Award. Salvati EA, González Della Valle A, Westrich GH, Rana AJ, Specht L, Weksler BB, Wang P, Glueck CJ. Heritable thrombophilia and development of thromboembolic disease following total hip arthroplasty. 2005

Nicholas Andry Award of the American Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. Salvati E, Sharrock NE, Westrich G, Potter H, González Della Valle A, Sculco TP. Three decades of clinical, basic and applied research on thromboembolic disease after total hip arthroplasty. 2007

Affiliations

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie
Argentine Orthopedic Association
Argentine Hip and Knee Society

Languages

English, Spanish

Education

MD, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1992

Internship

Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, General Surgery, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1993

Residency

Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Orthopaedics, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1997

Fellowship

Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Hip Surgery, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1998
Hospital for Special Surgery, Research Hip and Knee, New York, 1999
Hospital for Special Surgery, Hip and Knee, New York, 2002-2004

Certification

Argentine Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Argentine Board of Hip and Knee Surgery

State Licensure

New York  

Alejandro Gonzalez Della Valle, MD has contributed to the following articles on HSS.edu:

For Patients

For Professionals

 

Selected Publications

González Della Valle, A, Rana A, Furman B, Sculco TP, Salvati EA. Backside wear is low in modern modular and non modular acetabular liners. Clin Orthop 2005;440:184-191.

Salvati EA, González Della Valle A, Westrich GH, Rana AJ, Specht L, Weksler BB, Wang P, Glueck CJ. The Hip Society's John Charnley Award. Heritable thrombophilia and development of thromboembolic disease following total hip arthroplasty. Clin Orthop 2005;441:40-55.

González Della Valle A, Rana A, Nestor B, Bostrom M, Westrich G, Salvati EA. Metallic shedding and surface finish changes in the loose Spectron EF stem. Clin Orthop 2006;442:165-170.

González Della Valle A, Beksac B, Anderson J, Wright T, Nestor B, Pellicci P, Salvati EA. Fatigue fracture of a modern forged cobalt chrome stem for total hip for total hip arthroplasty. J of Arthroplasty 2006;20(8):1084-1088.

González Della Valle A, Serota A, Go G, Sorriaux G, Sculco TP, Sharrock NE, Salvati EA. Venous thromboembolism is rare after total hip arthroplasty with a multimodal prophylaxis protocol. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 2006;443:146-153.

González Della Valle A, Walter WL, Swanson K, Peterson MGE, Pellicci PM, Sculco TP, Salvati EA. Infection in single stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty. J of Arthroplasty 2006;21(2):157-160.

For more publications, please see the PubMed listing.  

Dear Patient, Family and Friends,

Welcome to my website and to Hospital for Special Surgery. I have been fully devoted to orthopedic surgery since 1993 and I specialize in the diagnosis and the treatment of hip and knee conditions in adult patients. I am committed to providing excellence in musculoskeletal care.

The surgical procedures that I most frequently perform are primary and revision hip and knee replacements, partial knee replacements, hip resurfacing, fixation of hip and knee fractures, and arthroscopy. I have treated thousands of patients with numerous hip and knee disorders, performing procedures that range from straightforward interventions to complex revision surgery of hip and knee replacements. I believe that patients with joint pain can be treated with or without surgery. I make my recommendations based on understanding your symptoms, complaints, limitations and expectations for function.

Below you will find the necessary information to make an appointment. In addition, you will find extensive information on the hip and knee conditions that I treat, and on hip and knee replacement surgery. You will be able to access the written information that I give to my patients based on their individual needs. This content is for your information only – It should not be used for patient care unless specifically instructed by me.

Please click on the following options based on your needs:

2. Read about my rationale for the treatment of young patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and the knee.

Alejandro González Della Valle, MD
Orthopaedic Surgeon - Hospital for Special Surgery
Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery - Weill Cornell Medical College