When a patient suffers a complex, shattered fracture — the kind that results from a high-speed collision, a serious fall, or a crushing injury — the surgeon who repairs it needs not only exceptional technical skill but deep knowledge of how bones heal and how the most difficult injuries can be reconstructed. In the field of orthopedic trauma, few surgeons in the world carry more authority than Dr. Paul Tornetta III.

Named to the Boston Magazine Top Doctors list every year since 2006 and a Castle Connolly Top Doctor annually since 1999, Dr. Tornetta is Chief of Orthopedic Surgery and Director of the Orthopedic Trauma Program at Boston Medical Center, and Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. In 2024, he was named the 92nd President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons — the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists, with more than 39,000 members. That distinction places him at the very pinnacle of his profession.

Clinical Expertise: Complex Fracture and Trauma Care

Dr. Tornetta’s clinical practice is focused on orthopedic trauma — the surgical treatment of fractures and injuries to the musculoskeletal system, particularly the most complex and challenging cases. His specific areas of expertise include trauma and complex articular fractures (fractures that involve the joint surface), fracture healing, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and fractures in the elderly.

His fellowship training under the renowned Dr. Joel Matta at the Hospital of the Good Samaritan in Los Angeles focused specifically on acetabular and pelvic fractures — among the most technically demanding injuries in all of orthopedic surgery, involving the complex bony architecture of the hip socket and pelvis. These injuries require specialized surgical approaches that relatively few surgeons in the country are equipped to handle, and they are a core part of Dr. Tornetta’s practice.

Patients referred to Dr. Tornetta are frequently those with the most serious orthopedic injuries: multiple fractures from major trauma, fractures that have failed to heal properly after previous treatment, complex fractures involving joint surfaces, and fragility fractures in older patients whose bone quality complicates surgical repair. His self-description as a “blue-collar surgeon” reflects a practical, patient-centered approach built around shared decision-making — involving patients directly in the choices about their care.

A Globally Recognized Academic and Researcher

Dr. Tornetta is one of the most prolific and influential researchers in orthopedic trauma. He has authored more than 350 peer-reviewed publications over the course of his career, contributing foundational knowledge to the understanding of how fractures heal and how surgical techniques can be improved.

He is a lead editor of Rockwood and Green’s Fractures in Adults — widely regarded as the standard reference textbook in fracture care, used by orthopedic surgeons and trainees worldwide. Being entrusted with the editorship of this industry-defining text is itself a marker of his standing in the field. He has edited more than 25 textbooks and book series in total.

A particular area of his expertise is multicenter clinical trial methodology — the science of designing and conducting large-scale studies across multiple hospitals to generate reliable evidence about what surgical approaches actually work best. He has served on the executive committees of several landmark orthopedic trauma trials including SPRINT, FAITH, TRUST, and FLOW, studies that have shaped evidence-based practice in fracture care. He leads the Orthopaedic Trauma Research Consortium and served on the executive committee of the Department of Defense-funded METRC consortium, which focuses on improving outcomes for severe extremity trauma.

His research has been recognized with some of the most prestigious awards in the field, including the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Clinical Research Award and two Kappa Delta Awards — among the highest honors in orthopedic research. He has received the Bovill Award, given to the top paper at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association annual meeting, on multiple occasions.

National Leadership: President of the AAOS

In 2024, Dr. Tornetta reached the highest leadership position in his profession when he was named the 92nd President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons for the 2024–2025 term. The AAOS, with more than 39,000 members, is the world’s largest association of musculoskeletal specialists and the leading voice in advancing orthopedic education, research, and patient care.

His presidency was the culmination of four years of volunteer service on the AAOS Board of Directors. His leadership contributions to the organization have been substantial. He chaired the AAOS Education Council for four years, served as chair of the Annual Meeting Committee and the Evaluations Committee, and was instrumental in launching the AAOS Resident Orthopaedic Core Knowledge (ROCK) Curriculum — a comprehensive educational program now used to train orthopedic residents nationwide, released under his co-editorship.

Beyond the AAOS, Dr. Tornetta is a past president of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and served on the executive committee of the American Orthopaedic Association for more than a decade. This breadth of national leadership across the major orthopedic organizations is exceptionally rare and reflects the trust his peers have placed in him over decades.

A Dedicated Educator

Throughout his career, Dr. Tornetta has been recognized as an exceptional teacher. As Director of the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program at Boston University, he shapes the training of the next generation of orthopedic surgeons. Boston University orthopedic residents have selected him four times to receive the annual Robert E. Leach, MD, Resident Teacher of the Year Award — a recognition that comes directly from the trainees who learn from him daily.

He has served on the faculty of more than 250 AAOS, Orthopaedic Trauma Association, and international continuing medical education symposia and skills courses, and has lectured extensively worldwide on orthopedic trauma, evidence-based literature application, and surgical education. His commitment to teaching extends globally, having served as an American British Canadian traveling fellow earlier in his career.

Notably, Dr. Tornetta earned his PhD from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands in 2022 — pursuing doctoral-level research training decades into an already distinguished career, a reflection of his lifelong commitment to learning and rigorous scholarship.

Boston Medical Center Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Tornetta leads the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Boston Medical Center, the largest safety-net hospital in New England and a Level I trauma center. As a Level I trauma center, BMC receives the most severe injuries in the region, making it a fitting home for one of the world’s leading orthopedic trauma surgeons.

Under Dr. Tornetta’s leadership, the department delivers comprehensive orthopedic care across every subspecialty, including joint replacement, sports medicine, spine surgery, hand surgery, foot and ankle surgery, and pediatric orthopedics, in addition to the trauma care for which he is personally renowned. BMC’s mission as a safety-net hospital means this expert orthopedic care is available to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

How to See Dr. Tornetta

Dr. Tornetta sees patients at Boston University Orthopaedic Surgical Associates, located at 725 Albany Street on the 4th floor of the Shapiro Center, Suite 4B, in Boston’s South End on the Boston Medical Center campus.

For complex fracture cases, out-of-state referring physicians can call 617-638-5633 directly to arrange consultations and patient transfers. For acute traumatic injuries requiring emergency care, Boston Medical Center operates a Level I trauma center with around-the-clock orthopedic trauma coverage.

Preparing for Your Appointment

For patients seeking consultation with Dr. Tornetta for a complex or non-healing fracture, bringing all relevant imaging including X-rays, CT scans, and any prior operative reports is essential. For patients who have had previous fracture surgery elsewhere, the original surgical records and hardware details are particularly valuable in planning revision or reconstruction. A complete medication list and history of any conditions affecting bone health, such as osteoporosis, should also be provided.

Dr. Paul Tornetta III is recognized on the Boston Magazine Top Doctors list, produced in collaboration with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. based on peer nomination and review of qualifications, appointments, outcomes, and professional reputation. Boston Health Journal profiles physicians from this list to help Greater Boston residents connect with the region’s most distinguished specialists.