Dr. McLawhorn Named 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Dr. Alexander McLawhorn, an orthopedic surgeon and joint reconstruction specialist at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), has achieved the prestigious honor of being named a 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctor. This marks his first year receiving this distinguished designation, which is awarded to only 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians annually. Dr. McLawhorn practices at HSS, recognized as a Gold Standard Top Hospital for hip and knee replacement surgery, serving patients through offices and surgical facilities in New York City and Stamford while providing specialized care to communities throughout the tri-state area, including Greenwich, Fairfield County, and Southern Connecticut.

Dr. McLawhorn's expertise centers on advanced joint replacement techniques, particularly the bikini incision anterior approach with robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty (THA), a method that avoids cutting through major muscles. He explains that this technique follows the natural inguinal skin crease, creating a cosmetically appealing scar while facilitating faster functional recovery, reducing postoperative pain, and lowering dislocation risks. His comprehensive skill set also includes robotic and computer-assisted hip replacement, hip resurfacing, partial knee replacement, minimally invasive total knee replacement, and rapid-recovery joint replacement. As one of the country's most experienced surgeons, he performs over 600 joint replacements and more than 400 robotic hip surgeries annually, emphasizing that robotic assistance enables precise implant positioning and leg length restoration, optimizing hip biomechanics and joint stability while reducing common concerns like dislocation and leg length discrepancy.

The Castle Connolly Top Doctor selection process involves peer physician nominations followed by evaluation from the physician-led Castle Connolly research team, which assesses candidates based on medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Dr. McLawhorn's credentials include his Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, residency and fellowship at HSS, board certification from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and professional fellowships with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. Beyond clinical practice, he serves as Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and Director of Research and Innovation for Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement at HSS. Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at castleconnolly.com and maintains strict integrity by ensuring doctors cannot pay for selection.