Brian Butzen MD, FAAOS
Double Board certified in orthopedic surgery and hand surgery
Fellow of the american academy of orthopedic surgeons
Fellowship-trained in severe upper extremity conditions requiring complex surgery
Specializes in Injuries and Conditions from the shoulder to the finger tips
Top rated for accesibility, bedside manner, surgical expertise and outcomes
The only surgeon in the region offering shoulder tendon transfers for rotator cuff injuries
Performs over 300 shoulder surgeries and 350 hand/wrist surgeries per year
the only surgeon in the region offering cutting edge hand and wrist procedures such as bone-sparing basilar joint arthroplasty, total wrist replacement, arthroscopic scaphoid nonunion surgery
provides platelet-rich plasma, bone marrow aspirate (stem cell) treatments for patients trying to avoid surgery
Offers in-office surgery for less complicated surgeries, saving patients time and money
Highlights
Video Review of Shoulder Surgery
For arthroscopic (camera-based) shoulder surgeries, such as rotator cuff repair, Doctor Butzen records a custom video after surgery that reviews the details of the surgery. He has developed this technology and technique, and is unavailable elsewhere. In the video, he goes through the details of the surgery and explains each photograph taken at the time of surgery. He has found this to be the best way to communicate these details to the patient, family, and other caregivers (physical therapists, family doctors).
Templated Shoulder Replacement
An important part of a shoulder replacement is to most accurately place the implant. This accuracy is increased with using a CT (CAT) scan to take an impression of your shoulder and use this to plan the placement of the implant. Doctor Butzen routinely uses this technology, with excellent outcomes.
Procedure Room Surgery
Doctor Butzen performs many surgeries in his in-office procedure room. This is convenient to patients, safer , and with cost savings up to 85% compared to the same procedure in the operating room.
For more information about this surgery option, CLICK HERE to see the Procedure Room Handout
My office is in the Animas Surgical Hospital building. The address is:
575 Rivergate Lane
Suite 105
Durango, CO 81301
To get there from downtown Durango, follow Highway 3 (East 8th Avenue) South. Turn Right onto Sawmill Road. Follow the road down hill and bear right onto Rivergate Lane. Our building is located at the end of the strip on the right.
About Doctor Brian Butzen
Doctor Butzen is a fellowship-trained board-certified orthopedic surgeon in Durango, Colorado. He specializes in upper extremity diseases and trauma from the shoulder to finger tips, and sports injuries of the upper and lower extremity. His fellowship training (an additional year of training beyond a 5-year orthopedic surgery residency) was in hand and upper extremity surgery and microsurgery (use of a surgical microscope for nerve and blood vessel repairs).
Doctor Butzen was born and raised in Wisconsin, where he was active in sports and outdoor activities, traveling to Colorado and Durango many times for hiking and backpacking, falling in love with the area. He completed his undergraduate training at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. His medical school (MD) training was at the Medical University of Ohio. He completed his 5-year orthopedic surgery residency at State University of New York - Upstate Medical University in Syracuse in 2012, and completed his one year fellowship at the University of Southern California (training at Los Angeles County Hospital in downtown Los Angeles) in 2013. He eagerly made the move to Durango to join Animas Orthopedic Associates after his graduation.
His residency in orthopedic surgery was well-rounded with great exposure to all facets of orthopedic training including total joint replacement, pediatric orthopedic surgery, foot and ankle surgery, and musculoskeletal trauma. His residency experience with high level sports injuries was excellent, providing sports team coverage to Syracuse University, Cortland College, Minor-league baseball team the Syracuse Chiefs, AHL hockey team the Syracuse Crunch, and Cornell University. Through this training, Doctor Butzen has developed surgical skills utilizing minimally-invasive techniques to maximize surgical outcomes, primarily of the shoulder, knee, and ankle.
Following residency training, he attended the Hand and Upper Extremity fellowship at the University of Southern California, with training at the busy Los Angeles County Hospital. This training focused on trauma and conditions of the upper extremity, from the shoulder to finger tips. His fellowship also provided training in peripheral nerve injuries, microsurgery, and soft tissue reconstruction of the upper and lower extremities.
His hobbies include downhill and nordic skiing, mountain and road biking, trail running and spending time outdoors with his wife and two young sons. He is happy to be in Durango, and is committed to providing quality medical care to his patients.
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (BS - Chemistry)
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI
MEDICAL DEGREE (MD)
Medical University of Ohio
Toledo, OH
ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY RESIDENCY
State University of New York - Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, NY
HAND & UPPER EXTREMITY FELLOWSHIP
University of Southern California / Los Angeles County Medical Center
Los Angeles, California
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
Colorado Medical Society
La Plata County Medical Society
Four Corners Hand Center