About Hospital for Special Surgery

Best Hospital, Best Results

HSS is nationally ranked #1 in orthopedics, #2 in rheumatology, and #19 in neurology by U.S.News & World Report (2011-2012). HSS has been top-ranked in the Northeast for both orthopedics and rheumatology for the 21st consecutive year. In addition, Consumer Reports ranked Hospital for Special Surgery the best hospital in New York City according to their patient satisfaction study.

Because an infection can be a devastating outcome for an orthopedic patient, Hospital for Special Surgery takes infection control extremely seriously and is proud of the recognition received for our significantly low infection rates. 

Learn more about why you should entrust HSS with your care.

Unmatched Experience

Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery is the nation’s oldest orthopedic hospital. More than 25,000 surgical procedures are performed annually. HSS performs more hip surgeries and more knee replacements than any other hospital in the nation. Every HSS surgeon who specializes in joint replacement performs more than 320 operations every year. Compare this to the fact that, nationwide, 5 out of 6 hip replacements are done by surgeons who perform fewer than 50 per year. Compare our volumes to other hospitals.

Nursing’s Highest Honor

Hospital for Special Surgery was the first hospital in New York City to receive the Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence and the first Hospital in the State of New York to be re-designated with Nursing’s highest honor.

Pioneering Research

With its state-of-the-art technology, large patient volume, and special “bench to bedside” teams of doctors and scientists, HSS can swiftly translate scientific breakthroughs into clinical treatments. HSS is one of only two facilities in the nation selected by the National Institutes of Health to be a Musculoskeletal Repair and Regeneration Core Center. HSS has partnered with Weill Cornell CERT program to study the outcomes of joint replacement patients and has established the most comprehensive registry of its kind in the country.

Leading the Field in Radiology

Hospital for Special Surgery is one of the world’s largest academic centers devoted to orthopedic imaging. HSS radiologists have developed new protocols for the diagnostic imaging of bones, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues, including MRIs of metal implants and cartilage.

World Leaders in Regional Anesthesiology

HSS anesthesiologists are globally recognized leaders in regional anesthesia. This technque, pioneered at HSS, has been shown to reduce bleeding, minimize post-operative pain, and shorten surgical time. Most importantly, the use of regional anesthesia reduces the chance of having a surgical infection by 50%! They train other doctors from around the globe, including residents from Johns Hopkins and Weill Cornell Medical College.

Training Tomorrow’s Leaders

Every HSS doctor holds an appointment on the faculty of Weill Cornell Medical College. HSS has one of the most sought after orthopedic residency programs with over 500 applicants competing for eight spots in 2009. Today, over 400 of its 500+ graduates hold positions in major orthopedic departments, many serving as department heads.

Treating Professional and Elite Athletes

Doctors and therapists from Hospital for Special Surgery have the distinction of being the team physicians and athletic trainers for the followng professional and college sports teams:

• New York Giants
• New York Mets
• New York Knicks
• Nets Basketball
• New York Liberty
• New York Red Bulls
• USRowing
• USA Swimming 
• Association of Tennis Professionals
• Federation Cup Tennis athletes
• National Retired Basketball Players Association
• Major League Baseball Players Alumni
• St. John's University Athletes
• CUNY Athletic Conference
• Iona College Athletes
• Saint Peter's College
• Wendy Hilliard Rhythmic Gymnastics Foundation