Meet the Surgeon

Joseph Letzelter, MD

Board-Certified Hand & Pediatric Hand Surgeon · Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics, INOVA Fairfax · Children's National Hospital

Dr. Joseph Letzelter, MD
Joseph Letzelter, MD
Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery
Leadership
Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics
INOVA Fairfax
Languages
English · Spanish

A Career Built on Precision & Compassion

Dr. Joseph Letzelter III is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity conditions at Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) and Children's National Hospital. Board-certified in orthopaedic surgery with a subspecialty in hand surgery, he has a particular interest in treating upper extremity injuries, congenital hand deformities, and neuromuscular conditions such as cerebral palsy and brachial plexus injuries.

Dr. Letzelter completed fellowships at New York University, the New Zealand Institute of Hand Surgery — where he focused on wrist and forearm post-traumatic pathology — and Shriners Pediatric Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery in Northern California. He earned his medical degree from Georgetown University, where he also completed his residency and internship, and his undergraduate degree.

Recognized as a leader in his field, Dr. Letzelter has received the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Young Leader Award and has been named a Top Doctor by Arlington Magazine, Washingtonian, Northern Virginia Magazine, and Castle Connolly. Outside of his clinical work, he enjoys spending time with his family, running, and outdoor activities.

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
  • ABOS Subspecialty in Hand Surgery

Fellowship Training

  • NYU Hand & Upper Extremity Fellowship2018
  • New Zealand Institute of Hand Surgery2018
  • Shriners Pediatric Hand & UE Surgery2019

Academic Training

  • Residency — Georgetown University Hospital2017
  • Internship — Georgetown University Hospital2013
  • Medical School — Georgetown University2012
  • Undergraduate — Georgetown University2008

Awards & Recognition

  • Arlington Magazine Top Doctor
  • Northern Virginia Top Doctor
  • Washingtonian Top Doctor
  • Castle Connolly Top Doctor
  • ASSH Young Leader Award2022
  • String of Pearl Teach Award Nominee2013, 2016

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Hand Clinics · 2023

Letzelter JP, Samora JB. LGBTQ+ Perspective in Hand Surgery: Surgeon and Patient. Hand Clin. 2023 Feb;39(1):79-86.

doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2022.08.005 · PMID: 36402529
J Bone Joint Surg Am · 2022

Bellamy JL, Fralinger D, Schultzel M, Hammouri Q, Letzelter J, et al. New Beginnings and Revealing Invisible Identities. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2022 Sep 21;104(18):e79.

doi: 10.2106/JBJS.22.00144 · PMID: 35383663
J Wrist Surg · 2021

Feder OI, Letzelter JP, Hacquebord JH. Dorsal Dislocation of the Trapezoid with Metacarpal Instability: A Boxing Injury. J Wrist Surg. 2021 Jun;10(3):245-248.

doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1715801 · PMID: 34109069
J Pediatr Orthop · 2021

Manske MC, Abarca NE, Letzelter JP, James MA. PROMIS Scores for Children With Brachial Plexus Birth Injury. J Pediatr Orthop. 2021 Mar 1;41(3):171-176.

doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001754 · PMID: 33448721
Am Acad Orthop Surg · 2019

Letzelter J, Hill JB, Hacquebord J. An Overview of Skin Antiseptics Used in Orthopaedic Surgery Procedures. Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019 Aug 15;27(16):599-606.

Prog Orthop Sci · 2016

Sherman T, Letzelter J, Ryan J, Schectel J, Postma W. Large Synovial Chondroma of the Infrapatellar Fat Pad: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Prog Orthop Sci. 2016;2(3):23-29.

Orthopedics · 2013

Goodwin D, Baecher N, Pitta M, Letzelter J, Marcel J, Argintar E. Driving After Orthopedic Surgery. Orthopedics. 2013 Jun;36(6):469-74.

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