About Dr. 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
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI
MEDICAL DEGREE
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