Stephen J. Incavo, MD

Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery, Academic Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College


Biography

Stephen J. Incavo, MD is an Orthopaedic Surgeon and Section Chief of Adult Reconstructive Surgery at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. He specializes in joint reconstruction and total joint replacement of the hip and knee, as well as partial knee replacement. He utilizes the latest technology and minimally invasive techniques to treat arthritis of the hip and knee. He provides both consult on failed joint replacement procedures and performs revision surgery to repair failed joint replacements. Committed to excellence, he strives to achieve optimal, long term results in the treatment of both immediate and chronic problems. He integrates prevention into all of his treatment plans to reduce risk of future problems.

Dr. Incavo has been listed in the “Guide to America’s Top Surgeons” and featured among H Texas Top Doctors. He is dedicated to research to improve hip and knee replacement outcomes, internationally publishing scientific articles and book chapters on treatment outcomes. He is one of only a few surgeons worldwide to be a member of both The Hip Society and The Knee Society and is regularly invited to present his work at industry conferences and annual meetings.

Teaching residents and fellows his hip and knee replacement techniques for over 20 years, Dr. Incavo frequently serves as an invited lecturer for other orthopedic departments and institutions. He has worked closely with the orthopedic medical device industry to improve treatment and patient outcome and holds multiple patents. He also serves as a primary referral source for complex reconstructive hip and knee problems and serves on the editorial board for several scientific publications.

Description of Research

Dr. Incavo’s research projects focus on primary and revision total hip replacement and total knee replacement procedures.  He and his research team examine the causes of failed joint replacement procedures, as well as the long term viability of prosthetic devices, corrosion and wear of implants and components, adverse local tissue reaction in total hip replacement, range of motion after dual mobility total hip arthroplasty (effect of femoral head size and surgical approach), length of hospital stay causes and impact, accelerated physical therapy rehabilitation following elective primary hip and knee arthroplasty, and imaging and diagnostics.

Education & Training

Clinical Fellowship, University of Vermont College of Medicine
Residency, Fletcher Allen Health Care/Medical Ctr Hosp of VT
MD, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University
Publications

Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty Can Increase Frequency of Achieving Target Limb Alignment in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty for Preoperative Valgus Deformity
Wininger, AE, Lambert, BS, Sullivan, TC, Brown, TS, Incavo, SJ & Park, KJ 2023, , Arthroplasty Today, vol. 23, 101196, pp. 101196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artd.2023.101196

Management of Hip Abductor Tears and Recalcitrant Trochanteric Bursitis in Native Hips
Harper, KD, Park, KJ & Incavo, SJ 2023, , Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, vol. 31, no. 19, pp. E769-E777. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-D-23-00224

A multimodal intraosseous infusion of morphine and ketorolac decreases early postoperative pain and opioid consumption following total knee arthroplasty
McNamara, CA, Laurita, J, Lambert, BS, Sullivan, TC, Clyburn, TA, Incavo, SJ & Park, KJ 2023, , Knee, vol. 43, pp. 129-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knee.2023.06.002

Greater Trochanteric Fixation Using Cable Plate Devices in Complex Primary and Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty
Schafer, P, Sullivan, TC, Lambert, B, Park, KJ, Clyburn, TA & Incavo, SJ 2023, , Arthroplasty Today, vol. 20, 101103, pp. 101103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artd.2023.101103

Alignment options and robotics in total knee arthroplasty
Aflatooni, JO, Wininger, AE, Park, KJ & Incavo, SJ 2023, , Frontiers in Surgery, vol. 10, 1106608, pp. 1106608. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2023.1106608

Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of a Monoblock Fluted Titanium-Tapered Stem for Paprosky IIIa, IIIb, and IV Femoral Bone Defects
Passano, B, Oakley, CT, Lutes, WB, Incavo, SJ, Park, KJ & Schwarzkopf, R 2023, , Journal of Arthroplasty, vol. 38, no. 7, pp. 1342-1348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2023.01.034

Otto Aufranc Award: Intraosseous Vancomycin in Total Hip Arthroplasty — Superior Tissue Concentrations and Improved Efficiency
Harper, KD, Park, KJ, Brozovich, AA, Sullivan, TC, Serpelloni, S, Taraballi, F, Incavo, SJ & Clyburn, TA 2023, , Journal of Arthroplasty, vol. 38, no. 7, pp. S11-S15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2023.04.028

Patient Perceptions of Same-Day Discharge Versus Overnight Stay After Total Joint Arthroplasty: Results of a Survey
O’Brien, DF, Sullivan, TC, Lambert, BS, Brown, TS, Incavo, SJ & Park, KJ 2024, , HSS Journal, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 96-101. https://doi.org/10.1177/15563316231218249

Health Status of Total Hip Versus Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients and Possible Effects on Decisions Regarding Surgical Location, Cost, and Access to Care
Harper, KD, Sullivan, TC, Wininger, A, Incavo, SJ & Lambert, BS 2023, , HSS Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/15563316231209308

Clinical Outcomes for Open Hip Abductor Repair Using Tenodesis and Bone Trough Repair Techniques
Harper, KD, Park, KJ, Rodriguez-Perez, MA, Lambert, BS, Gilcrease-Garcia, B, Sullivan, TC & Incavo, SJ 2022, , Journal of Arthroplasty, vol. 37, no. 7, pp. S444-S448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2022.01.083

Intraosseous Morphine Decreases Postoperative Pain and Pain Medication Use in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial
Brozovich, AA, Incavo, SJ, Lambert, BS, Sullivan, TC, Wininger, AE, Clyburn, TA, Taraballi, F & Park, KJ 2022, , Journal of Arthroplasty, vol. 37, no. 6S, pp. S139-S146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2021.10.009

Evaluation of local tissue peri-implant reaction in total knee arthroplasty failure cases
Brozovich, A, Clyburn, T, Park, K, Harper, KD, Sullivan, T, Incavo, S & Taraballi, F 2022, , Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease, vol. 14, pp. 1759720X221092263. https://doi.org/10.1177/1759720X221092263

Cement use in total knee arthroplasty: 40 versus 80 grams
ODowd, JA, Park, KJ, Clyburn, TA, Sullivan, TC, Lambert, BS & Incavo, SJ 2021, , Knee, vol. 31, pp. 110-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knee.2021.05.002

2021 Chitranjan S. Ranawat award: Intraosseous vancomycin reduces periprosthetic joint infection in primary total knee arthroplasty at 90-day follow-up
Park, KJ, Chapleau, J, Sullivan, TC, Clyburn, TA & Incavo, SJ 2021, , Bone and Joint Journal, vol. 103-B, no. 6 Supple A, pp. 13-17. https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.103B6.BJJ-2020-2401.R1

Postoperative alignment in revision total knee arthroplasty, a comparison between intra and extra-medullary tibial alignment
Chapleau, J, Sullivan, T, Lambert, B, Clyburn, TA & Incavo, SJ 2021, , Knee, vol. 28, pp. 319-325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knee.2020.12.013

DEXA overestimates bone mineral density in adults with knee replacements
Harper, KD, Clyburn, TA, Incavo, SJ & Lambert, BS 2020, , Sports Medicine and Health Science, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 211-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2020.10.002

Open Hip Abductor Tendon Repair into a Bone Trough: Improved Outcomes for Hip Abductor Tendon Avulsion
Incavo, SJ & Harper, KD 2020, , JBJS Essential Surgical Techniques, vol. 10, no. 2, e0042, pp. e0042. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.ST.19.00042

The continuum of hip range of motion: From soft-tissue restriction to bony impingement
Han, S, Owens, VL, Patel, RV, Ismaily, SK, Harrington, MA, Incavo, SJ & Noble, PC 2020, , Journal of Orthopaedic Research, vol. 38, no. 8, pp. 1779-1786. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.24594

Clinical outcome evaluation of intraosseous vancomycin in total knee arthroplasty
Harper, KD, Lambert, BS, ODowd, J, Sullivan, T & Incavo, SJ 2020, , Arthroplasty Today, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 220-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artd.2020.02.001

Preoperative Warming Reduces Intraoperative Hypothermia in Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients
Kay, AB, Klavas, DM, Hirase, T, Cotton, MO, Lambert, BS & Incavo, SJ 2020, , Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. E255-E262. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-D-19-00041