Dr. Alexander McLawhorn has been selected as a 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking his first time receiving this prestigious designation that places him among an elite group of physicians, as only 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians are chosen annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties within their regions. Dr. McLawhorn practices as an orthopedic surgeon and joint reconstruction specialist at Hospital for Special Surgery, an institution nationally recognized as a Gold Standard Top Hospital for hip and knee replacement surgery, providing specialized care to patients throughout the tri-state area.
His clinical expertise centers on direct anterior total hip replacement, particularly the integration of the bikini incision anterior approach with robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty. This technique avoids cutting through major muscles, offering significant patient benefits. Dr. McLawhorn explains that the bikini incision follows the natural inguinal skin crease, providing a cosmetically appealing, low-profile scar while facilitating faster functional recovery, reducing postoperative pain, and lowering the risk of dislocation. As one of the most experienced surgeons in the country, Dr. McLawhorn performs over 600 joint replacements and more than 400 robotic hip surgeries annually, with his surgical repertoire including robotic and computer-assisted hip replacement, hip resurfacing, partial knee replacement, minimally invasive total knee replacement, and rapid-recovery joint replacement.
The integration of robotic technology provides measurable advantages in surgical precision, with Dr. McLawhorn noting that when combined with robotic assistance, surgeons can achieve precise and accurate implant positioning and leg length restoration, optimizing hip biomechanics and joint stability while lowering the risk of dislocation and leg length discrepancy. Dr. McLawhorn's medical education includes a Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, followed by an orthopedic surgery residency and fellowship in adult reconstruction and joint replacement at Hospital for Special Surgery, with additional roles as an Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and as the Director of Research and Innovation for Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement at HSS.
The Castle Connolly Top Doctor selection process involves peer physician nominations followed by review by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team, with selection criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at castleconnolly.com and through various print and online partner publications, with no financial payment required or accepted for inclusion in the Top Doctors list. This recognition matters because it validates advanced surgical techniques that directly impact patient recovery times and outcomes, particularly important as joint replacement procedures become increasingly common among aging populations seeking improved mobility and quality of life.
