Lee M. Zuckerman, MD

Lee Zuckerman, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in treating both benign and malignant tumors in the arms, legs, and pelvis in both adults and children, including primary tumors and metastatic disease. His clinical focus is to not only help cure patients, but to help facilitate multidisciplinary care and treat the long-term musculoskeletal effects caused by their disease. By focusing on individual goals and customizing care, Dr. Zuckerman works with each patient to maximize their function both during and after their cancer treatment is complete.

Dr. Zuckerman’s research focuses on improving treatments and outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal tumors. He has pioneered the use of magnetic lengthening nails for bone reconstruction in cancer patients and specializes in joint-preservation surgery and limb-lengthening in addition to limb-salvage surgery. He is the author of multiple articles and book chapters regarding the use of these nails and is an international expert on the topic, giving lectures throughout the United States and abroad.

Beyond his work at USC, he has performed limb-salvage surgery in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Guyana, and has published both videos and articles of the topic of performing these complex surgeries in underserved countries.

Dr. Zuckerman also works to raise awareness in the treatment of sarcomas and other cancers and has completed multiple Ironman distance triathlons for this purpose.

• Part of expert panel in Australia where he discussed the use of distraction osteogenesis for reconstruction of the bones in cancer patients. This was at the International Society of Limb Salvage meeting. (10/9/2024)
• Member of AAOS group that advocated for better access to medical care for patients in Washington DC (9/1/2024)
• Presented paper at internationally at the 36th Annual Meeting of the European Musculo-Skeletal Oncology Society: 2. Reconstruction of bony defects with intercalary allografts using magnetic intramedullary nails in compression (7/13/2024)
• Presented paper at internationally at the 36th Annual Meeting of the European Musculo-Skeletal Oncology Society: 1. All internal distraction osteogenesis after tumor resection with magnetic intramedullary nails (7/13/2024)
• Best Paper for presentation “Compression of Intercalary Allografts with Magnetic Lengthening Nails, Mid–term Results with a Comparison of Techniques” at the 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society (7/12/2024)
• “All internal distraction osteogenesis after tumor resection” presenter at AAOS (2/1/2024)
• “Reconstruction of bony defects with motorized intramedullary nails: State of the art” presenter, moderator AAOS (2/1/2024)

• Patterson, Joseph
• Powers, Christopher
• Hammoudeh, Jeff
• Armstrong, David
• Kay, Robert
• Navid, Fariba