Joseph Letzelter III, MD

Languages:
English, Spanish
Service: Orthopaedics and sports Medicine
Specialty/Profession:
Orthopaedic Surgery
Board Certifications:
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Subspecialty in Hand Surgery
Areas of Clinical Interest:
Upper extremity injuries, congenital hand deformities, neuromuscular injuries (spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries), nerve injuries, fractures
Education:

Fellowship: New York University Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship (2018); New Zealand Institute of Hand Surgery (2018); Shriners Pediatric Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery (2019)
Residency: Georgetown University Hospital (2017)
Internship: Georgetown University Hospital (2013)
Medical School: Georgetown University (2012)
Undergraduate: Georgetown University (2008)

Awards & Recognition:

American Society for Surgery of the Hand Young Leader (2022)
String of Pearl Teach Award Nominee (2013, 2016)

Clinic Locations: Fairfax

Keystone Publications:

Letzelter JP, Samora JB. LGBTQ+ Perspective in Hand Surgery: Surgeon and Patient. Hand Clin. 2023 Feb;39(1):79-86. doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2022.08.005. PMID: 36402529.

Bellamy JL, Fralinger D, Schultzel M, Hammouri Q, Letzelter J, Bridges CM, Odum SM, Samora J. New Beginnings and Revealing Invisible Identities. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2022 Sep 21;104(18):e79. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.22.00144. Epub 2022 Apr 5. PMID: 35383663.

Manske MC, Abarca NE, Letzelter JP, James MA. Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Scores for Children With Brachial Plexus Birth Injury. J Pediatr Orthop. 2021 Mar 1;41(3):171-176. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001754. PMID: 33448721.

Letzelter J, Hill JB, Hacquebord J. An Overview of Skin Antiseptics Used in Orthopaedic Surgery Procedures.  Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019 Aug 15;27(16):599-606.   (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30531238)

Goodwin D, Baecher N, Pitta M, Letzelter J, Marcel J, Argintar E. Driving after orthopedic surgery. Orthopedics. 2013 Jun;36(6):469-74.  (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23746011)

Feder OI, Letzelter JP, Hacquebord JH. Dorsal Dislocation of the Trapezoid with Metacarpal Instability: A Boxing Injury. J Wrist Surg. 2021 Jun;10(3):245-248. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1715801. Epub 2020 Aug 27. PMID: 34109069; PMCID: PMC8169159.

Sherman T, Letzelter J, Ryan J, Schectel J, Postma W. Large Synovial Chondroma of the Infrapatellar Fat Pad: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Prog Orthop Sci. 2016; 2(3): 23-29  (https://www.bibliomed.org/?mno=230897)

Patient Reviews:
"Dr. Letzelter was the first doctor to spend a large amount of time listening to our concerns and not brushing them off. I'm so thankful we finally found someone who cared and listened. Advocating for a child who doesn't have any outwardly sick symptoms is a hard job as a parent. Very thankful to have found a provider with a listening ear."

"We had a wonderful experience with Dr. Letzelter, and we're just thankful for his care and attention. We had a great experience at Pediatric Specialists of Virginia."

"Every member of the staff was most helpful and kind! We loved Dr. Letzelter who was very thorough and I didn’t feel I was just another face. He took his time, which was refreshing in today's medicine. He practiced the way it should be practiced!" 

Service: Orthopaedics and sports Medicine
Where did you grow up?
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Why did you become a doctor and why did you choose your specialty?
I chose to become a doctor because of the immediate impact I can make on the lives of patients as well as my love for being at the frontline of medicine. Orthopaedics combined my love for science and problem solving with the creativity of figuring out ways to make someone get back to activity.
How long have you practiced in the Washington, DC area and what do you like most about it?
I moved to Washington, DC for college when I was 18 and have called it home since. I love the fact that we live in an urban city but are surrounded by amazing outdoor activities at any time of the year.
What do you most enjoy doing outside of your clinical practice, when you’re not working?
I enjoy spending time with my family, running, reading novels, skiing, hiking, and exercising.
Describe your proudest accomplishment as a provider and/or in your personal life:
I get the most fulfillment from improving a patient’s life. Some of my most significant moments in medicine have been seeing my patients back after a procedure and seeing them be able to do something they weren’t able to do before.