Brian R. Hatten, M.D.

About Dr. Brian R. Hatten

Dr. Brian R. Hatten is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in personalized knee, hip and shoulder joint replacements. He optimizes patients outcomes with same day surgical discharge, rapid recovery protocols, advanced technology and minimally invasive techniques. He also has considerable expertise in managing athletic injuries including rotator cuff tears, meniscal injuries, and tendon tears of the elbow. Dr. Hatten has been in practice with The Orthopedic Clinic since 2004.

Dr. Hatten is a nationally recognized leader and educator of his advanced knee replacement techniques. He performs surgery from the medial side approach (subvastus)1, using a complete quadriceps muscle and tendon sparing technique. He further protects the quadriceps muscles by avoiding the use of a tourniquet. Dr. Hatten uses the personalized kinematic alignment technique to precisely resurface the replaced knee to the patient’s unique anatomy, creating a natural balance to the knee ligaments. Patients have quicker recoveries, reduced pain, better motion and a more natural feel to the replaced knee.

In July 2024, Dr. Hatten sat on the Johnson & Johnson MedTech Kinematic Alignment Advisory Board, providing his expertise on integrating kinematic alignment2 into both instrumented and VELYS robotic-assisted3 knee replacements. In October 2025, Dr. Hatten served as faculty, teaching the VELYS robotic-assisted kinematic alignment technique at the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) national conference. While his clinical credentials are extensive, Dr. Hatten’s influence on the field is best told through his dual focus on teaching and technology, including his expertise in the subvastus approach. Visit the My Knee Guide About Dr. Hatten page to read the full story of his career and learn how his dedication to educating patients paved the way for his leadership in training surgeons on the latest robotic and muscle-sparing advancements.

Since 2012, Dr. Hatten has performed thousands of anterior approach total hip replacements. This approach allows for a complete muscle and tendon sparing minimally invasive technique. Dr Hatten also uses advanced intra-operative computer guidance (Velys Hip Navigation) to perform precise and personalized component positions. This promotes faster recovery while providing excellent patient outcomes with less complications.

Dr. Hatten has extensive experience with arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs and performs bone preserving anatomic shoulder replacements. He has expertise in reverse total shoulder replacements for patients with more complicated conditions. Dr. Hatten uses CT scans and pre-operative computer analysis to create patient specific surgical guides to personalize the position of the reconstruction components.

Clinical Expertise:

• Hip: Anterior hip replacement, computer guided surgery, and abductor tendon repair.
• Knee: Kinematically aligned knee replacement with subvastus approach, robotic assisted surgery (Velys and Mako), knee arthroscopy, and meniscal repair.
• Shoulder: Arthroscopic rotator cuff and SLAP repairs, bone preserving anatomic and reverse total shoulder replacements.
• Elbow: Tennis and golfers elbow repair, biceps tendon repair and reconstruction, and ulna nerve transposition.
• Wrist/Hand: Carpal tunnel release, De Quervain’s release, and trigger finger release.
• Fractures: Treatment of upper and lower extremity fractures. Performed 20 years of Level II trauma call coverage at Halifax Medical Center, including orthopedic surgical management of complex multi-trauma patients.