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Thomas Christensen, MD

  • Specialities

    Shoulder, Elbow, & Hand Disorders, Injuries, Reconstruction including Shoulder and Elbow Joint Replacement, Microvascular Surgery

  • Fellowship

    Hand & Microvascular Surgery, Open & Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

  • Residency

    University of Utah, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

  • Medical School

    University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine

  • Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery with Added Qualifications in Hand Surgery

About Thomas Christensen, MD

Dr. Christensen received his medical degree from the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, where he graduated number one in his class. His orthopedic residency was completed at the University of Utah, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. After residency, Dr. Christensen completed a fellowship in Hand and Microvascular Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, as well as a fellowship in Open and Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery with Dr. Laurent Lafosse at the Alps Surgery Institute in Annecy, France.

He is the only surgeon at the Reno Orthopedic Center Board Certified by both the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and the American Board of Hand Surgery. He is also a volunteer at the University of California, Davis where he visits monthly as a visiting clinical professor, assisting in teaching resident orthopaedic surgeons. He is currently the President of the Nevada Orthopaedic Society.

Dr. Christensen specializes in shoulder, elbow and hand disorders, injuries, reconstruction, and microvascular surgery.

He began practicing at the Reno Orthopedic Center in 2013.

Dr. Christensen has been performing anatomic, reverse, and revision total arthroplasties for over a decade. After he finished his shoulder fellowship with Dr. Laurent Lafosse in France, he met with Channel 2 news to share his expertise on Health Watch. Click here to watch the video.

Publications

  • Textbook Publications

    2015 Christensen TJ, Bishop A, Spinner R, Shin, A. Adult Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries AAOS Orthoinfo: http://www.orthoinfo.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00678

  • 2014 Christensen TJ, Kubiak EN. Epidemiology, Clinical Evaluation, Imaging and Classification of Scapular Fractures. Disorders of the Shoulder: Diagnosis and Management. Third Edition, Iannotti, Williams Jr., LWW. Chapter 11: 153-166.

  • 2014 Christensen TJ, Kubiak EN. Non-operative management of Scapular Fractures: Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes. Disorders of the Shoulder: Diagnosis and Management. Third Edition, Iannotti, Williams Jr., LWW. Chapter 11: 167-175.

  • 2014 Christensen TJ, Elhassan B. Tendon transfers for Shoulder Winging. AAOS Orthopaedic Knowledge Online 2014: http://orthoportal.aaos.org/oko/article.aspx?article=OKO_SHO053#article

  • 2014 Christensen TJ, Bishop, A, Spinner R, Shin A. AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review 2, chapter 96: Adult Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries. 2015.

  • 2012 Christensen TJ, Bishop AT, Spinner RJ, Shin AY: Traumatic injuries of the adult brachial plexus. AAOS: Orthopaedic Knowledge Online 2012; http://orthoportal.aaos.org/oko/article.aspx?article=OKO_HAN035.

  • Podium Presentations

    2016 Christensen TJ. Distal Radius Fractures: A Radiographic Analysis. Lake Tahoe, CA

  • 2016 Christensen TJ. Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy: Indications & Techn. Lake Tahoe, CA

  • 2015 Christensen TJ. Total Elbow Arthroplasty—Current Indications, Trends, and Controversies. Western Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting, July 2015

  • 2014 Christensen TJ. The Influence of Microsurgical Training on the Practice of Hand Surgeons. Podium Presentation ASSH Annual Meeting, September 2014.

  • 2013 Christensen TJ. Management of Chronic DRUJ Instability. Mayo Clinic, Grand Rounds, February, 2013.

  • 2013 Christensen TJ. Management of Swan Neck Deformity. Mayo Clinic, Grand Rounds, February, 2013.

  • 2012 Christensen TJ, Shin AY, Bishop AT. Free Vascularized Bone Grafting for Segmental Defects. Mayo Clinic, Grand Rounds, December 2012.

  • 2012 Christensen TJ, Horwitz D, Higgins T, Kubiak E. Natural History of Anterior Chest Wall Numbness after Plating of Clavicle Fractures: Educating Patients. Podium presentation AAOS Annual Meeting, February 2012

  • 2011 Christensen TJ, Thorum T, Kubiak K. Lidocaine Analgesia for Removal of Wound Vacuum-Assisted Closure Dressings: a Randomized Double Blinded Placebo Controlled Trial. Podium presentation, AAOS Annual Meeting, February, 2011

  • 2011 Christensen TJ. Tendon Transfers about the Shoulder. University of Utah, Grand Rounds. September 2011.

  • 2010 Christensen TJ. Corticosteroid Injections for Musculoskeletal Disorders. University of Utah, Grand Rounds. December 2010.

  • Poster Presentations

    2016 Christensen TJ, Vo A, Lafosse L. The V-shaped Subscapularis Tenotomy for Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. AAOS Annual Meeting, March 2016.

  • 2014 Rice C, Christensen TJ, Fitzpatrick D, Kubiak EN. Excellent Results with Treatment of Bicondylar Tibia Plateau (41C) Fractures using Far Cortical Locking (FCL) Implants. AAOS Annual Meeting, March 2014.

  • 2013 Christensen TJ, Horwitz D, Kubiak EN. Prospective Comparison Of Percutaneous Versus Open Technique For The Treatment Of Clavicle Fracture Yields Decreased Anterior Chest Wall Numbness. OTA Annual Meeting, September 2013

  • 2012 Christensen TJ, Horwitz D, Higgins T, Kubiak E. Natural History of Anterior Chest Wall Numbness after Plating of Clavicle Fractures: Educating Patients. ASSH Annual Meeting, September 2012

  • 2012 Christensen TJ, Horwitz D, Higgins T, Kubiak E. Natural History of Anterior Chest Wall Numbness after Plating of Clavicle Fractures: Educating Patients. AAOS Annual Meeting, February 2012

  • Manuscript Publications

    2019 Mullett P, Willems J, Christensen TJ. Total Distal Radioulnar Joint Arthroplasty for Paget’s Disease of Bone. J Wrist Surg 2019; DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3400509

  • 2017 Christensen TJ, Samant SA, Shin AY. Making Sense of Metal Allergy and Hypersensitivity to Metallic Implants in Relation to Hand Surgery. J Hand Surg Am 2017; 42: 737-746.

  • 2016 Christensen TJ, Sarfani S, Shin AY, Kakar S. Long-term Outcomes of Primary Repair of Chronic Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries. Hand 2016; 11: 303-309.

  • 2016 Rice C, Christensen TJ, Bottlang M, Fitzpatrick D, Kubiak E. Treating Tibia Fractures with Far Cortical Locking Implants. Am J Orthop 2016; 45: 143-147.

  • 2015 Christensen TJ, Anding W, Shin AY, Bishop AT, Moran SL. The Influence of Microsurgical Training on the Practice of Hand Surgeons. J Reconstr Microsurg 2015; 31: 442-449.

  • 2014 Wagner E, Christensen TJ, Elhassan B. Feasibility of Latissimus and Teres Major Transfer to Reconstruct Irreparable Subscapularis Tendon Tear: An Anatomic Study. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2014; 23: 492-499.

  • 2014 Christensen TJ, Horwitz D, Kubiak EN. Natural History of Anterior Chest Wall Numbness after Plating of Clavicle Fractures: Educating Patients. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2014; 28(11): 642-647.

  • 2014 Christensen TJ, Hohl J, Patel A. Neuroforaminal Chondrocyte Metaplasia and Clustering Associated with Recombinant Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Usage in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion. Spine J 2014; 14: e23-e28.

  • 2013 Christensen TJ, Thorum T, Kubiak EN. Lidocaine Analgesia for Removal of Wound Vacuum-Assisted Closure Dressings: a Randomized Double Blinded Placebo Controlled Trial. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2013; 27: 107-112.

  • 2009 Zalavras CG, Christensen TJ, Patzakis MJ, et al. Infections Following Operative Management of Ankle Fractures. Clin Ortho Rel Res 2009; 467: 1715-1720.

  • 2005 Christensen TJ, Selby R, Sher L, et al. Iatrogenic Pseudoaneurysms of the Extrahepatic Arterial Vasculature: Management and Outcome. Journal of the International Hepatobiliary Association (IHPB) 2006; 8: 458-464.

Journal of Wrist Surgery Case Study by Thomas Christensen, M.D. Click Here to View

Click Here for ABOS Hand Brochure

Dr. Thomas Christensen probably one of the best, if not the best orthopedic surgeon in Northern Nevada. Great work on both my complete shoulder implants. I had my right shoulder replaced in 2019 with a reverse shoulder implant and in 2024, the left was done with an anatomic Implant, with both outstanding results.

Anonymous

I couldn’t be more pleased with results of my two hand/ thumb/elbow surgeries. No more pain, no more tingling and full use of both hands. Dr. Christensen has been wonderful to work with through the entire process.

Casey

My first visit to the Carson City ROC facility met my needs. I have been a patient at the Reno clinic for 13 years- and appreciated my knee/hip surgeon making appointments with me in Fallon. The Carson City staff were well-organized, helpful, and handled their individual administrative tasks efficiently. Dr. Tom Christensen takes time to explain his diagnosis, different treatments available, and what to expect. The paperwork was simple, and staff explained it well. I needed injections & received them. I also needed a brace and received it while there. It was a good health care experience for me.

Anonymous