WilliamOppenheimMD

Pediatric Orthopedics

Margaret Holden Jones Kanaar Chair Distinguished Professor, Cerebral Palsy, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA past President American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Board of Directors, Momentum Wheel Chairs for Humanity Georgetown Alumni Board of Governors, Established UCLA Presidential Chair in Cerebral Palsy, Georgwtown Medical School Annual Lecture in Pediatric Orthopedic

Join to view full profile

Dr. Oppenheim is on Doximity

As a Doximity member you'll join over two million verified healthcare professionals in a private, secure network.

Gain access to free telehealth tools, such as our “call shielding” and one-way patient texting.
Connect with colleagues in the same hospital or clinic.
Read the latest clinical news, personalized to your specialty.

See Dr. Oppenheim's full profile

Already have an account?

Office
1225 15th St. Suite G129
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone+1 424-259-9830

Fax+1 424-259-9830

Summary

William L. Oppenheim, MD is Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Orthopedic Surgery, the Margaret Holden Jones Kanaar Professor of Cerebral Palsy and former Chief of Pediatric Orthopedics at the Orthopaedic Institute for Children / UCLA Department of Orthopaedics at the Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles. He founded and is Emeritus Director of the UCLA / OIC Center for Cerebral Palsy which now includes the Kameron Functional Assessment Gait Laboratory and the Cerebral Palsy Muscle Disease Laboratory. After graduating from the University of Maryland in College Park, he attended medical school at Georgetown University in Washington, DC graduating Magna Cum Laude. After military service with the US Air Force, he resumed his medical training in orthopedic surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle, and then as the Girdlestone Scholar in Oxford England at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. He subsequently studied Pediatric Orthopaedics as a Fellow at The Orthopaedic Hospital in Los Angeles in 1978, following which he, joined the Faculty of the UCLA School of Medicine where he has practiced for 43 years, He is a member of the Pediatric Orthopedic Association of North America, a Past President of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AAACPDM), and a Past President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Western Orthopaedic Association. He is a former American Orthopaedic Society North American Traveling Fellow; a recipient of the Los Angeles based Abilities First White Swan Award and has been named multiple times as one of America’s Best Doctors. He was the recipient of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and a Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2018. He is a current member of GUAA Board of Governors; A UCLA Presential Chair in Cerebral Palsy was dedicated in 2022, and an annual Georgetown Pediatric Lectureship established in 2021.

Education & Training

Orthopaedic HospitalFellowship, Pediatric Orthopaedics, 1978 - 1979
University of WashingtonChief Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery, 1977 - 1978
University of WashingtonResidency, Orthopaedic Surgery, 1974 - 1978
Nuffield Orthopaedic CentreGirdlestone Fellow, 1976 - 1977
University of California (San Francisco)Internship, Surgery, 1970 - 1971
Georgetown University School of MedicineClass of 1970, Magna Cum Laude
University of Maryland, College ParkBsc, Chemistry, High Honors, 1966 - 1966

Certifications & Licensure

CA State Medical License 1971 - 2027
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Orthopaedic Surgery

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Top Doctors:LA Area Castle Connolly, 2022
Historian American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
Named to The Best Doctors in America Boston, MA, 1999, 2004, 2007-2021
America’s Top Doctors Castle Connolly, Boca Raton, FL, 2009-2021
Oppenheim Presidential Chair Geffen School of Medicine, 2021
Distinguished Service Award, American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Orthopaedics, Orlando, 2018 American Academy of Pediatrics, 2018
Lifetime Achievement Award, American Academy for Cerebral Palsy, Austin American Academy for Ceebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, 2015
President American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, 2006
Marquis Who’s Who in the World 28th Edition. 890 Mountain Ave. Suite 300, New Providence, NJ, 2011-2014, 2013
Southern California Super Doctors Key Professional Media, Inc, Los Angeles Magazine, 2010-2013, 2013
Endowed Chair Margaret Holden Jones Kanaar Chair in Cerebral Palsy, 2004
White Swan Award, Cerebral Palsy Abilities First Foundation, Beverly Hills, 2000
Bay Surgical Society 1989
North American Traveling Fellow American Orthopaedic Association, 1979
Girdlestone Scholar Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford England, 1976, 1977
Marquis Who’s Who in America Providence, NJ
Who’s Who in America 2009-2013 Edition
Super Doctor SuperDoctors.com
Whos Who in Medicine and Healthcare Marquis Whos Who
Join now to see all

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

4 citations
Brain Metabolism During A Lower Extremity Voluntary Movement Task in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy.
Eileen Fowler, William L. Oppenheim, Marcia B. Greenberg, Loretta A. Staudt, Shantanu H. Joshi
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2020-05-25
2 citations
A novel method for determining sagittal pediatric patellar height with the Blumensaat-Epiphyseal Containment of the Knee Angle.
Jennifer J. Beck, Daniel V. Boguszewski, Nirav B. Joshi, Edward C. Cheung, Richard E. Bowen
Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics. Part B. 2018-11-01
12 citations
Bone density in premenopausal women and men under 50 years of age with cerebral palsy.
Eileen Fowler, Sandhya Rao, Aurelia Nattiv, Kent Heberer, William L. Oppenheim
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2015-07-01

Journal Articles

Management of Childhood Spasticity.
Oppenheim, W.L., Staudt, L., and Peacock, W.J, Advances in Operative Orthopedics. 1:313-335
The Internet 2006.
Oppenheim, WL, Dev Med Child Neurol; 48(9):707
Case Reports: The Influence of Selective Voluntary Motor Control on Gait After Hamstring Lengthening Surgery.
Goldberg EJ, Fowler EG, Oppenheim WL, Clin Orthop Relat Res; 470(5):1320-6
Guideline #3, Surgical Management of Renal Osteodystrophy.
Bowen, RB and Oppenheim, WL, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Vol 46, No 4, Suppl 1: pp S23-S25
K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease.
Bowen, RB and Oppenheim, WL, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Vol 46, No 4, Suppl 1: pp S23-S25
The Posteroperative Total Febrile Response in the Pediatric Orthopedic Population.
Merjanian, R., Kinakos, C., Dorrey, F., and Oppenheim, W.L, J. Pediat. Ortho. 18:497-501
Energy consumption in Van Nes versus Syme amputations for Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency.
Fowler, I., Setoguchi, Y., and Oppenheim, W.L, J Bone Joint Surg., JBJS, 78A::1857-1871
Musculoskeletal Coccidiomycosis. A review of 25 Patients.
Kushwaha, V, Shaw, B., and Oppenheim, W.L, Clin. Ortho. Rel. Res. 332:190-199
Measurement of Error in Spondylolisthesis.
Wall, M., and Oppenheim, W.L, J. Pediatr Ortho. 15(2):193-198
La desarticulación del tobillo en los niños, según la téchnica de Syme.
Oppenheim, W.L, Ortopedia y Traumatologia. 3(1):48-53
A Comparsion Study of Two Treatment Approaches to Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency.
Setoguchi, Y., Zernicke, R., Fowler, E., and Oppenheim, W. L, Ass. Child. Pros. Clinics 28(1):32-33
Die Exartikulation im Sprunggelenk nach Syme im Kindesalter.
Oppenheim, W.L, Operative Orthopädie und Traumatologie, Standardeingriffe und neue Verfahren. 5(2):124-29
Biochemistry and Injury Severity in Man.
Oppenheim, W.L., Williamson, D., and Smith, R, Journal of Trauma, 20(2):135-140
Technique of Closed Femoral Shortening.
Oppenheim, W.L. and Gautsch, T, Operative Techiques in Orthopedics. 3(2): 174-181
The Technique of Childhood Ankle Disarticulation.
Oppenheim, W.L., and Dauer, M.S, Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 1(4): 283-288
Fibula Deficiency and the Indications for Syme's Amputation.
Oppenheim, W.L, Prosthetics and Orthotics International. 15:131-136
Congenital Glenoid Hypoplasia, Case Report.
Borenstein, Z., Mink, J., Oppenheim, W., Rimoin, D., and Lachman, R, Skeletal Radiology 20:134-136
The Role of Selective Posterior Rhizotomy in the Management of Cerebral Palsy.
Staudt, L., Peacock, W.J., and Oppenheim, W.L, Infants and Children. 2(3):48-58
Posterior Rhizotomy in the Treatment of Spastic Cerebral Palsy.
Oppenheim, W.L, Clin. Ortho. Rel. Res. 253:20-29
The Van Nes Procedure in the Treatment of Proximal Femoral Focal Femoral Deficiency.
Oppenheim, W.L., Moseley, C., and Friscia, D, J. Bone and Joint Surg. 71A:1386-392
The Chiari Osteotomy, Long Term Follow-up.
Graham, S., and Oppenheim, W.L, Clin. Ortho. and Related Research, 208:249-257
Orthopedic Consultation--Supracondylar Fracture of the Elbow in a Child.
Oppenheim, W.L., and Johnson, E, Hospital Practice, 6(3):8-12
Purpura Fulminans: Medical, Surgical, and Rehabilitative Management.
Silbart, S., and Oppenheim, W.L, Clin. Ortho. and Related Research, 193:206-213
Bladder Diverticulum Simulates Metastatic Tumor on Bone Scan.
Oppenheim, W.L., and Greenlee, T, Ortho. Review, 9(8):69-71
Join now to see all

Books/Book Chapters

Essentials in Musculoskeletal Care.
Chapter: Congenital Reduction Deformities
Oppenheim, W.LEditors: W. Greene.American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, Chicago
Pediatric Orthopedic Secrets.
Chapter: Child Abuse
Page 114 - 119Oppenheim, W.L and Bowen, REditors: Staheli, L.Hanley & Belfus, PhiladelphiaEdition Thir,
Orthopedic Pocket Procedures.
Chapter: Technique of Supracondylar Osteotomy of the Humerus
Page 90 - 93Shin E and Oppenheim, WLEditors: C Lewis.McGraw Hill
Orthopedic Pocket Procedures.
Chapter: Technique of Deep Bone Biopsy
Page 12 - 15Shin E and Oppenheim, WLEditors: C Lewis.McGraw Hill
Pediatric Surgery.
Chapter: Osteomyelitis
Page 1879 - 1891Oppenheim, W.L., and Kay, SMosby, PhiladelphiaEdition Sixt,
Pediatric Orthopedic Secrets.
Chapter: Child Abuse
Page 114 - 119Oppenheim, W.LEditors: Staheli, L.Hanley & Belfus, PhiladelphiaEdition Seco,
Orthopedics.
Chapter: Arthrogryposis, Overview, Etiology and Treatment
Bernstein, M., and Oppenheim, W.LEditors: Fitzgerald, Kaufer and Malkani.Mosby, St. Louis
Operative Orthopedics.
Chapter: Congenital Malformations of the Lower Extremities
Oppenheim, W.L., Watts, H.G.,Bernstein, R., and Setogucchi, YEditors: Chapman, M.Lippincott, PhiladelphiaEdition 2nd,
Pediatric Surgery.
Chapter: Osteomyelitis
Page 1879 - 1891Oppenheim, W.L., and Kay, SMosby, PhiladelphiaEdition Fift,
The Child with a Limb Deficiency.
Chapter: Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency, Overview and Comparison of Syme Amputation and Knee Fusion with the Van Nes Rotationplasty Procedure
Page 73 - 86Oppenheim, W.L., Setoguchi, Y, and Fowler, EAmerican Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Chicago
Pediatric Orthopedic Secrets.
Chapter: Child Abuse
Page 105 - 109Oppenheim, W.LEditors: Staheli, L.Hanley & Belfus, Philadelphia
Pediatric Update.
Chapter: The Pitfalls of Pediatric Office Orthopedics
Oppenheim, W.L., and Silbert, SElsevier Science Publishing, New York, NY
Selected Bibliography of Pediatric Orthopedics With Commentary.
Chapter: Tumors
Oppenheim, W.L., and Bernstein, MEditors: Beatty, JH and Price, CT.American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, Chicago
Operative Orthopedics.
Chapter: Congenital Malformations of the Lower Extremities
Page 3223 - 3249Oppenheim, W.LEditors: Chapman, M.Lippincott, Philadelphia
The Management of Limb Length Inequality.
Chapter: Shortening Procedures
Page 95 - 107Menelaus, M., Doig, W.G., and Oppenheim, W.LEditors: M. Menelaus.Churchill Livingstone, London
Complications in Orthopedics.
Chapter: Complications of Foot and Ankle Trauma in Children
Page 219 - 247Oppenheim, W.L. and Gautsch, TEditors: Epps, C.Lippincott, New York, NY
The Management of Limb Length Inequality.
Chapter: Lengthening of the Upper Extremity
Oppenheim, W.LChurchill Livingstone, London
Hip Arthroplasty.
Chapter: Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses
Severt, R. and Oppenheim, W.LEditors: Amstutz, H.C.Churchill Livingstone
Hip Arthroplasty.
Chapter: Pelvic Osteotomies
Severt, R. and Oppenheim, W.LEditors: Amstutz, H.C.Churchill Livingstone
Metabolic Bone Disease In Children.
Chapter: Treatment of Childhood Renal Osteodystrophy
Oppenheim, W.L., Kaplan, D., Salusky, I., and Fine, REditors: S. Castells and L Finberg.Marcel Dekker, New York
Behavior of the Growth Plate.
Chapter: Blounts Disease, Etiology and Prevalence
Oppenheim, W.LEditors: H.K. Uhtoff and J. Wiley.Raven Press, New York
Join now to see all

Abstracts/Posters

Antiarrhythmic Effects of Methyl-lidocaine.
Oppenheim, W.L., and Raines, A, The Pharmacologist, 12(2):304
Osteotomies in the Treatment of Knee Flexion Contracture.
Oppenheim, W.L., Zimmerman, M.T., and Smith, C.F, Orthopedic Transactions, 4(1):105
The Battered Child Syndrome Revisited.
Galleno, H. and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 4(13):368
The Battered Child Syndrome Revisited.
Galleno, H., and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 5(1):78
Restoring Elbow Flexion in the Developmentally Disabled.
Dutton, R. and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 6(1):121
Operative Treatment of Unicameral Bone Cysts.
Galleno, H., Eckardt, J., and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 6(3):372
Muscular Torticollis, a Modified Surgical Approach and the Los Angeles Shriners Hospital Experience.
Ferkel, R., Westin, G.W., Dawson, E.G. and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 6(3):444
Recurrent Patella Subluxation and Dislocation.
Oppenheim, W.L. and Galleno, H, Orthopedic Transactions, 6(3):449
Muscular Torticollis: Cosmetic Considerations and Late Follow-Up.
Oppenheim, W.L., Ferkel, R., and Westin, G.W, Orthopedic Transactions, 7(1):67
Congenital Vertical Talus; the Los Angeles Shriners Hospital Experience.
Christie, W., Smith, C. and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 7(1):166
Congenital Dislocation of the Knee.
Oppenheim, W.L., and Johnson, E, Orthopedic Transactions, 7(3):444
Recurrent Patella Subluxation and Dislocation.
Oppenheim, W.L., Smith, C., and Galleno, H, Orthopedic Transactions, 7(3):504
Early Physical Signs in Child Battering.
Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 8(1):84
Chiari Osteotomy and Its Supplementation.
Oppenheim, W.L., and Westin, G.W, Orthopedic Transactions, 8(1):98
A Simplified Classification of Blount's Disease.
Oppenheim, W.L., Westin, G.W., and Bernstein, M, Orthopedic Transactions, 8(3):378
The Chiari Osteotomy: Review of 58 Procedures.
Graham, S., Westin, G.W., Dawson, E., and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 8(3):394
The Orthopedic Management of Purpura Fulminans.
Oppenheim, W.L., and Silbart, S, Orthopedic Transactions, 8(3):459
Closed Intramedullary Femoral Shortening.
Oppenheim, W.L., and Ouzounian, T, Orthopedic Transactions, 8(3):463
Both Bone Midshaft Forearm Fractures in the Skeletally Immature.
Oppenheim, W.L., and Kay, S, Orthopedic Transactions, 9(3):506
Shoulder Arthrodesis in Children.
Jinnah, R., Lewis, K., Dawson, E., and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 9(3):535
The Chiari Osteotomy for Hip Containment in Cerebral Palsy.
Grogan, T.J., Krom, W., and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 10(1):148
The Knee in Arthrogyposis.
Schopler, S., Thomas, B., and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 10(1):153
Medical and Surgical Management of Osteoid Osteoma.
Grogan, T.J., Eckardt, J., and Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 11(1):42
Modification of the Method of Closed Femoral Shortening to Facilitate Separation of the Napkin Ring Fragment.
Oppenheim, W.L., and Namba, R, Orthopedic Transactions, 11(3):524
The Hip in Renal Osteodystrophy.
Oppenheim, W.L, Orthopedic Transactions, 12(3):578
Join now to see all

Lectures

Complimentary and Alternative Methods in Cerebral Palsy.
Multiple locations, 2002
Achondroplasia, an Orthopedic Perspective.
Japanese Skeletal Dysplasia Society
The management of Spasticity and Timing of Lower Extremity Surgery in Cerebral Palsy.
Mexican Orthopedic Society, Update on Rhizotomy. Morelia, Mexico
Achondroplastic Leg Lengthening, Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency and the Van Nes Procedure.
Denver Children’s Hospital
Selective Posterior Rhizotomy; Evolution of the Technique and The Decision between Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Surgery.
National Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, and Georgetown University Hospital
Selective Posterior Rhizotomy, Current Indications and Late Results.
National Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, and Georgetown University Hospital
The Treatment of Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency, The treatment of Leg Length Discrepancy.
XII Annual Conference North Zone I.O.A. Post Graduate Institue of Medical Education and Research
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip, Growth and Development From the Orthopedic Standpoint, Congenital Malformations of the Lower Extremities.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Current Advances in Pediatrics, Pan Pacific Hotel, Anaheim, CA
Leg Lengthening in Achondroplasia, Elbow Fractures in Children, Congenital Malformations of the Lower Extremity.
Spokane Shriner’s Hospital Norman R. Brown Lectureship
Orthopedic Aspects of Renal Osteodystrophy.
Mexican Orthopedic Society, Mexico City
Angular and Torsional Defects of the Lower Extremities.
Mexican Orthopedic Society, Mexico City
Treatment of Spastic Cerebral Palsy.
Mexican Orthopedic Society, Mexico City
Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency.
Mexican Orthopedic Society, Mexico City
Congenital Malformations of the Lower Extremities.
Mexican Orthopedic Society, Mexico City
Formal presentations included Evaluation and Treatment of Leg Length Discrepancy.
National Defense Medical Center, Tri Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Congenital Hip Dysplasia.
National Defense Medical Center, Tri Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Club Feet.
National Defense Medical Center, Tri Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Congenital Lower Extremity Malformations.
National Defense Medical Center, Tri Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Pediatric Fractures.
National Defense Medical Center, Tri Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Legg Perthes Disease.
National Defense Medical Center, Tri Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Infections in Pediatric Orthopedics.
National Defense Medical Center, Tri Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Congenital Malformations of the Lower Extremities.
Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH
Selective Posterior Rhizotomy and its Relation to Orthopedic Surgery in Cerebral Palsy.
Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH
Leg Length Discrepancy.
The Nuffield Orthopaedic Center, Oxford, England
The Future: Rhizotomy and Other Modalities for Cerebral Palsy.
Osgood Day, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass
Join now to see all

Press Mentions

William Oppenheim, M.D., Director of the Cerebral Palsy Program at Orthopaedic Institute for Children, Honored by the American Academy of PediatricsMay 11th, 2018