Faculty Appointments
Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Education
M.D., University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Rockford, IllinoisB.S., Wheaton College , Wheaton, Illinois
Office Address
1215 21st Ave S
Medical Center East
South Tower, Suite 4200
Nashville, TN 37232
Medical Center East
South Tower, Suite 4200
Nashville, TN 37232
Research Description
My primary research interest is studying the oncologic, functional and patient-reported outcomes of patients with bone and soft tissue sarcoma. In particular, we have used very large patient cohorts to assess the effect of treatment delay on patient survival. Currently, we are prospectively seeking to improve the clinical outcome and patient experience of patients with soft tissue sarcoma by studying the following:
1. The efficacy of an enhanced recovery after surgery perioperative pain management pathway
2. The efficacy of 5-day hypofractionated neoadjuvant radiation instead of typical longer courses
3. The use of telemedicine for sarcoma surveillance visits.
Lastly, we are currently investigating the use of medical image processing or machine learning to better understand advanced imaging while making the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors.
1. The efficacy of an enhanced recovery after surgery perioperative pain management pathway
2. The efficacy of 5-day hypofractionated neoadjuvant radiation instead of typical longer courses
3. The use of telemedicine for sarcoma surveillance visits.
Lastly, we are currently investigating the use of medical image processing or machine learning to better understand advanced imaging while making the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors.
Clinical Description
Joshua M. Lawrenz, MD joined the Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Institute as an orthopaedic oncologist in 2020. His clinical interests include limb salvage surgery for pelvic and extremity soft tissue and bone sarcomas. He also treats patients with benign bone and soft tissue tumors, as well as metastatic bone disease. In addition, he has an elective primary and revision total joint replacement practice.
Research Keywords
sarcoma, limb salvage surgery, orthopaedic oncology, clinical outcomes, patient reported outcomes, enhanced recovery after surgery, hypofractionated radiation, machine learning and soft tissue diagnosis
Clinical Research Keywords
bone sarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, limb salvage surgery, metastatic bone disease, primary and revision total joint replacement
Publications
Lawrenz JM, Johnson SR, Hajdu KS, Chi A, Bendfeldt GA, Kang H, Halpern JL, Holt GE, Schwartz HS. Is the Number of National Database Research Studies in Musculoskeletal Sarcoma Increasing, and Are These Studies Reliable?. Clin Orthop Relat Res [print-electronic]. 2022 Jun 6/21/2022; PMID: 35767810, PII: 00003086-990000000-00790, DOI: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000002282, ISSN: 1528-1132.
Lawrenz JM, Gordon J, George J, Haben C, Rubin BP, Ilaslan H, Mesko NW, Nystrom LM. Does PET/CT Aid in Detecting Primary Carcinoma in Patients with Skeletal Metastases of Unknown Primary?. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2020 Nov; 478(11): 2451-7. PMID: 33112582, PMCID: PMC7571878, PII: 00003086-202011000-00010, DOI: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000001241, ISSN: 1528-1132.
Parsai S, Lawrenz J, Kilpatrick S, Rubin B, Hymes C, Gray M, Mesko N, Shah C, Nystrom L, Scott JG. Early Outcomes of Preoperative 5-Fraction Radiation Therapy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma Followed by Immediate Surgical Resection. Adv Radiat Oncol. 2020 Nov; 5(6): 1274-9. PMID: 33305088, PMCID: PMC7718495, PII: S2452-1094(20)30173-1, DOI: 10.1016/j.adro.2020.06.024, ISSN: 2452-1094.
Karnuta J, Featherall J, Lawrenz J, Gordon J, Golubovsky J, Thomas J, Ramanathan D, Simpfendorfer C, Nystrom LM, Babic M, Mesko NW. What Demographic and Clinical Factors Are Associated with In-hospital Mortality in Patients with Necrotizing Fasciitis?. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2020 Aug; 478(8): 1770-9. PMID: 32168071, PMCID: PMC7371088, DOI: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000001187, ISSN: 1528-1132.
Lawrenz JM, Mesko NW, Marshall DC, Featherall J, George J, Gordon J, Vijayasekaran A, Nystrom LM, Schwarz GS. Immediate Versus Staged Soft Tissue Reconstruction After Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection Has Similar Wound and Oncologic Outcomes. Ann Plast Surg. 2020 Aug; 85(2): 163-70. PMID: 31913884, DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000002192, ISSN: 1536-3708.
Lawrenz JM, Featherall J, Curtis GL, George J, Jin Y, Anderson PM, Shepard DR, Reith JD, Rubin BP, Nystrom LM, Mesko NW. Time to Treatment Initiation and Survival in Adult Localized High-Grade Bone Sarcoma. Sarcoma. 2020; 2020: 2984043. PMID: 32454786, PMCID: PMC7222487, DOI: 10.1155/2020/2984043, ISSN: 1357-714X.
Fox MA, Berger RJ, Wright KA, Lawrenz JM, Sultan AA, Day C, Farrow LD, Ilaslan H, Mesko NW. Osteoid Osteoma Masquerading as Cholelithiasis: A Case Report. JBJS Case Connect. 2020 Jan; 10(1): e0090. PMID: 32044770, PII: 01709767-202003000-00006, DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.19.00090, ISSN: 2160-3251.
Lawrenz JM, Norris JP, Tan MC, Shinohara ET, Block JJ, Davis EJ, Keedy VL, Halpern JL, Holt GE, Schwartz HS. Inadvertent Inguinal Sarcoma Excision during Hernia Surgery: Outcomes, Gender Analysis, and Prevention. Int J Surg Oncol. 2020; 2020: 8374790. PMID: 33489372, PMCID: PMC7787872, DOI: 10.1155/2020/8374790, ISSN: 2090-1410.
Featherall J, Curtis GL, Lawrenz JM, Jin Y, George J, Scott J, Shah C, Shepard D, Rubin BP, Nystrom LM, Mesko NW. Time to treatment initiation and survival in adult localized, high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. J Surg Oncol [print-electronic]. 2019 Dec; 120(7): 1241-51. PMID: 31587292, DOI: 10.1002/jso.25719, ISSN: 1096-9098.
Cantrell WA, Lawrenz JM, Vallier HA. Positive "Surprise" Broth Cultures in Nonunion Surgery Do Not Require Antibiotic Treatment. Orthopedics [print-electronic]. 2019 Nov 11/1/2019; 42(6): e532-e538. PMID: 31587078, DOI: 10.3928/01477447-20191001-04, ISSN: 1938-2367.
Curtis GL, Lawrenz JM, George J, Styron JF, Scott J, Shah C, Shepard DR, Rubin B, Nystrom LM, Mesko NW. Adult soft tissue sarcoma and time to treatment initiation: An analysis of the National Cancer Database. J Surg Oncol [print-electronic]. 2018 Jun; 117(8): 1776-85. PMID: 29949654, DOI: 10.1002/jso.25095, ISSN: 1096-9098.
Koech H, Lawrenz JM, Mesko DR, Molloy RM. A novel use of a tibial cone in a proximal femoral replacement. Arthroplast Today. 2018 Jun; 4(2): 175-9. PMID: 29896548, PMCID: PMC5994599, PII: S2352-3441(17)30182-6, DOI: 10.1016/j.artd.2017.12.006, ISSN: 2352-3441.
Lawrenz JM, Styron JF, Parry M, Grimer RJ, Mesko NW. Longer duration of symptoms at the time of presentation is not associated with worse survival in primary bone sarcoma. Bone Joint J. 2018 May 5/1/2018; 100-B(5): 652-61. PMID: 29701086, DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.100B5.BJJ-2017-1235.R1, ISSN: 2049-4408.
Mesko NW, Wilson RJ, Lawrenz JM, Mathieu JL, Ghiam MK, Mathis SL, Halpern JL, Schwartz HS, Holt GE. Pre-operative evaluation prior to soft tissue sarcoma excision - Why can't we get it right?. Eur J Surg Oncol [print-electronic]. 2018 Feb; 44(2): 243-50. PMID: 29269109, PII: S0748-7983(17)30959-9, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2017.11.001, ISSN: 1532-2157.
Lawrenz JM, Curtis GL, Styron JF, George J, Anderson PM, Zahler S, Shepard DR, Rubin BP, Nystrom LM, Mesko NW. Adult Primary Bone Sarcoma and Time to Treatment Initiation: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database. Sarcoma. 2018; 2018: 1728302. PMID: 30533997, PMCID: PMC6252187, DOI: 10.1155/2018/1728302, ISSN: 1357-714X.
Lawrenz JM, Frangiamore SJ, Rane AA, Cantrell WA, Vallier HA. Treatment Approach for Infection of Healed Fractures After Internal Fixation. J Orthop Trauma. 2017 Nov; 31(11): e358-e363. PMID: 28650945, DOI: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000000929, ISSN: 1531-2291.
Lawrenz JM, Mesko NW, Higuera CA, Molloy RM, Simpfendorfer C, Babic M. Treatment Challenges of Prosthetic Hip Infection with Associated Iliacus Muscle Abscess: Report of 5 Cases and Literature Review. J Bone Jt Infect. 2017; 2(3): 127-35. PMID: 28540149, PMCID: PMC5441144, PII: jbjiv02p0127, DOI: 10.7150/jbji.16429, ISSN: 2206-3552.
Lawrenz J, Tomal J, Towne J, Johnson B, Rieger B. ALK+ Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma With Bladder Involvement Presenting as Fever of Unknown Origin: A Case Report and Literature Review. World J Oncol [print-electronic]. 2013 Apr; 4(2): 95-101. PMID: 29147338, PMCID: PMC5649675, DOI: 10.4021/wjon644w, ISSN: 1920-454X.
Katrangi W, Lawrenz J, Seegmiller AC, Laposata M. Interactions of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids in the development of fatty acid alterations in cystic fibrosis. Lipids [print-electronic]. 2013 Apr; 48(4): 333-42. PMID: 23440519, DOI: 10.1007/s11745-013-3768-4, ISSN: 1558-9307.
Lawrenz J, Puetz J, Kuschel S, Rudzinski J. A community outreach influenza vaccination drive as a model for mass disaster prophylaxis. Am J Disaster Med. 2013; 8(4): 287-92. PMID: 24481894, PII: ajdm.2013.0136, DOI: 10.5055/ajdm.2013.0136, ISSN: 1932-149X.
Lawrenz J, Herndon B, Kamal A, Mehrer A, Dim DC, Baidoo C, Gasper D, Nitz J, Molteni A, Baybutt RC. Dietary Flaxseed Oil Protects against Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats. Pulm Med [print-electronic]. 2012; 2012: 457031. PMID: 22919480, PMCID: PMC3423954, DOI: 10.1155/2012/457031, ISSN: 2090-1844.
Lawrenz JM, Gordon J, George J, Haben C, Rubin BP, Ilaslan H, Mesko NW, Nystrom LM. Does PET/CT Aid in Detecting Primary Carcinoma in Patients with Skeletal Metastases of Unknown Primary?. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2020 Nov; 478(11): 2451-7. PMID: 33112582, PMCID: PMC7571878, PII: 00003086-202011000-00010, DOI: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000001241, ISSN: 1528-1132.
Parsai S, Lawrenz J, Kilpatrick S, Rubin B, Hymes C, Gray M, Mesko N, Shah C, Nystrom L, Scott JG. Early Outcomes of Preoperative 5-Fraction Radiation Therapy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma Followed by Immediate Surgical Resection. Adv Radiat Oncol. 2020 Nov; 5(6): 1274-9. PMID: 33305088, PMCID: PMC7718495, PII: S2452-1094(20)30173-1, DOI: 10.1016/j.adro.2020.06.024, ISSN: 2452-1094.
Karnuta J, Featherall J, Lawrenz J, Gordon J, Golubovsky J, Thomas J, Ramanathan D, Simpfendorfer C, Nystrom LM, Babic M, Mesko NW. What Demographic and Clinical Factors Are Associated with In-hospital Mortality in Patients with Necrotizing Fasciitis?. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2020 Aug; 478(8): 1770-9. PMID: 32168071, PMCID: PMC7371088, DOI: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000001187, ISSN: 1528-1132.
Lawrenz JM, Mesko NW, Marshall DC, Featherall J, George J, Gordon J, Vijayasekaran A, Nystrom LM, Schwarz GS. Immediate Versus Staged Soft Tissue Reconstruction After Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection Has Similar Wound and Oncologic Outcomes. Ann Plast Surg. 2020 Aug; 85(2): 163-70. PMID: 31913884, DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000002192, ISSN: 1536-3708.
Lawrenz JM, Featherall J, Curtis GL, George J, Jin Y, Anderson PM, Shepard DR, Reith JD, Rubin BP, Nystrom LM, Mesko NW. Time to Treatment Initiation and Survival in Adult Localized High-Grade Bone Sarcoma. Sarcoma. 2020; 2020: 2984043. PMID: 32454786, PMCID: PMC7222487, DOI: 10.1155/2020/2984043, ISSN: 1357-714X.
Fox MA, Berger RJ, Wright KA, Lawrenz JM, Sultan AA, Day C, Farrow LD, Ilaslan H, Mesko NW. Osteoid Osteoma Masquerading as Cholelithiasis: A Case Report. JBJS Case Connect. 2020 Jan; 10(1): e0090. PMID: 32044770, PII: 01709767-202003000-00006, DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.19.00090, ISSN: 2160-3251.
Lawrenz JM, Norris JP, Tan MC, Shinohara ET, Block JJ, Davis EJ, Keedy VL, Halpern JL, Holt GE, Schwartz HS. Inadvertent Inguinal Sarcoma Excision during Hernia Surgery: Outcomes, Gender Analysis, and Prevention. Int J Surg Oncol. 2020; 2020: 8374790. PMID: 33489372, PMCID: PMC7787872, DOI: 10.1155/2020/8374790, ISSN: 2090-1410.
Featherall J, Curtis GL, Lawrenz JM, Jin Y, George J, Scott J, Shah C, Shepard D, Rubin BP, Nystrom LM, Mesko NW. Time to treatment initiation and survival in adult localized, high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. J Surg Oncol [print-electronic]. 2019 Dec; 120(7): 1241-51. PMID: 31587292, DOI: 10.1002/jso.25719, ISSN: 1096-9098.
Cantrell WA, Lawrenz JM, Vallier HA. Positive "Surprise" Broth Cultures in Nonunion Surgery Do Not Require Antibiotic Treatment. Orthopedics [print-electronic]. 2019 Nov 11/1/2019; 42(6): e532-e538. PMID: 31587078, DOI: 10.3928/01477447-20191001-04, ISSN: 1938-2367.
Curtis GL, Lawrenz JM, George J, Styron JF, Scott J, Shah C, Shepard DR, Rubin B, Nystrom LM, Mesko NW. Adult soft tissue sarcoma and time to treatment initiation: An analysis of the National Cancer Database. J Surg Oncol [print-electronic]. 2018 Jun; 117(8): 1776-85. PMID: 29949654, DOI: 10.1002/jso.25095, ISSN: 1096-9098.
Koech H, Lawrenz JM, Mesko DR, Molloy RM. A novel use of a tibial cone in a proximal femoral replacement. Arthroplast Today. 2018 Jun; 4(2): 175-9. PMID: 29896548, PMCID: PMC5994599, PII: S2352-3441(17)30182-6, DOI: 10.1016/j.artd.2017.12.006, ISSN: 2352-3441.
Lawrenz JM, Styron JF, Parry M, Grimer RJ, Mesko NW. Longer duration of symptoms at the time of presentation is not associated with worse survival in primary bone sarcoma. Bone Joint J. 2018 May 5/1/2018; 100-B(5): 652-61. PMID: 29701086, DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.100B5.BJJ-2017-1235.R1, ISSN: 2049-4408.
Mesko NW, Wilson RJ, Lawrenz JM, Mathieu JL, Ghiam MK, Mathis SL, Halpern JL, Schwartz HS, Holt GE. Pre-operative evaluation prior to soft tissue sarcoma excision - Why can't we get it right?. Eur J Surg Oncol [print-electronic]. 2018 Feb; 44(2): 243-50. PMID: 29269109, PII: S0748-7983(17)30959-9, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2017.11.001, ISSN: 1532-2157.
Lawrenz JM, Curtis GL, Styron JF, George J, Anderson PM, Zahler S, Shepard DR, Rubin BP, Nystrom LM, Mesko NW. Adult Primary Bone Sarcoma and Time to Treatment Initiation: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database. Sarcoma. 2018; 2018: 1728302. PMID: 30533997, PMCID: PMC6252187, DOI: 10.1155/2018/1728302, ISSN: 1357-714X.
Lawrenz JM, Frangiamore SJ, Rane AA, Cantrell WA, Vallier HA. Treatment Approach for Infection of Healed Fractures After Internal Fixation. J Orthop Trauma. 2017 Nov; 31(11): e358-e363. PMID: 28650945, DOI: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000000929, ISSN: 1531-2291.
Lawrenz JM, Mesko NW, Higuera CA, Molloy RM, Simpfendorfer C, Babic M. Treatment Challenges of Prosthetic Hip Infection with Associated Iliacus Muscle Abscess: Report of 5 Cases and Literature Review. J Bone Jt Infect. 2017; 2(3): 127-35. PMID: 28540149, PMCID: PMC5441144, PII: jbjiv02p0127, DOI: 10.7150/jbji.16429, ISSN: 2206-3552.
Lawrenz J, Tomal J, Towne J, Johnson B, Rieger B. ALK+ Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma With Bladder Involvement Presenting as Fever of Unknown Origin: A Case Report and Literature Review. World J Oncol [print-electronic]. 2013 Apr; 4(2): 95-101. PMID: 29147338, PMCID: PMC5649675, DOI: 10.4021/wjon644w, ISSN: 1920-454X.
Katrangi W, Lawrenz J, Seegmiller AC, Laposata M. Interactions of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids in the development of fatty acid alterations in cystic fibrosis. Lipids [print-electronic]. 2013 Apr; 48(4): 333-42. PMID: 23440519, DOI: 10.1007/s11745-013-3768-4, ISSN: 1558-9307.
Lawrenz J, Puetz J, Kuschel S, Rudzinski J. A community outreach influenza vaccination drive as a model for mass disaster prophylaxis. Am J Disaster Med. 2013; 8(4): 287-92. PMID: 24481894, PII: ajdm.2013.0136, DOI: 10.5055/ajdm.2013.0136, ISSN: 1932-149X.
Lawrenz J, Herndon B, Kamal A, Mehrer A, Dim DC, Baidoo C, Gasper D, Nitz J, Molteni A, Baybutt RC. Dietary Flaxseed Oil Protects against Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats. Pulm Med [print-electronic]. 2012; 2012: 457031. PMID: 22919480, PMCID: PMC3423954, DOI: 10.1155/2012/457031, ISSN: 2090-1844.