News


September 17, 2024

Meet Aaron Huser, DO

Pediatric and Adolescent Specialist 

Dr. Huser is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon specializing in lower extremity limb deformities and limb length discrepancies in both children and adults. He completed an additional year of training specifically for limb deformity and limb lengthening, and has experience caring for patients with rare or complex disorders that require limb reconstruction.


Where are you from? 

I’m from Stevens Point, WI which is right in the middle of the great state of Wisconsin. I grew up in the country outside of the city limits and in my free time built forts with my best friend and played football, basketball and soccer.

Two fun facts about Stevens Point: in 2010, New York City was found to have the second best tasting water in the country; the first place honors were given to a small town in Wisconsin called Stevens Point. Also, the actor, Peter Weller, who played RoboCop in the movie RoboCop hails from Stevens Point.

What made you choose limb deformity and limb lengthening as a specialty? 

I studied biomedical engineering as an undergraduate student and have always been a student of math – my favorite branch being geometry. During my residency training, a grand rounds/visiting professor discussed deformity analysis/correction and I became enamored with discipline. The field of limb deformity and lengthening matched my skill and curiosity, and I started seeking out lectures, articles and chapters to delve into. Taking care of patients who have these differences is rewarding because I get to know the patient, their families and tailor innovative treatments to their needs.

What brought you to Washington University Orthopedics? 

The team of orthopedic surgeons at Washington University is first rate and the research department is top in the country. I had the pleasure of working with many of the pediatric orthopedic surgeons during my fellowship and have wonderful memories of that training here. Additionally, I have two girls, ages 2 and 4, and St. Louis is a wonderful place to raise children with a wide range of opportunities.

What aspect of your practice do you find most rewarding? 

Taking care of patients and their families is the most rewarding part of my career. There is nothing like seeing a patient after an operation and hearing them say, “Wow, my leg looks so much better!” or “Oh my gosh, I don’t have the pain I had before surgery.” I don’t want to mislead anyone, surgery is not painless, but many patients differentiate between the pain they had before an operation and the postoperative pain from making an incision etc. Additionally, solving problems through research and machine learning is extremely satisfying.

Is there a patient who made a lasting impact on you?

Multiple patients have made a lasting impact on me, but there are two patients that always come to mind. The first patient is a young child who had a deep infection in their bone and ended up coming to the ER requiring intubation and admittance in the ICU. This child required multiple wash-outs of the leg and femur (thigh bone). Prior to my first surgery with the child, I spoke with the parents about expectations in the near future (days, weeks) and distant future (months, years) – knowing that these types of infections can cause fractures and affect the growth plates. After recovering from the infection, the patient experienced a fracture which we were able to heal and eventually required limb lengthening. This happened early in my career, but the father thanked me for giving him a complete picture and setting the expectation for the future. The family continues to reach out keep me up to date on their child.

The second patient has a condition called multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE). In this condition, boney tumors grow from the growth plates. This was a pediatric patient who had a fair amount of pain preoperatively and when I came up to their room the following day after surgery the patient said to me, “Thank you, 98% of my MHE pain is gone.” I was taken aback by this patient, a child, who was able to differentiate what they were feeling preoperatively with what they felt postoperatively. The surgery was fairly extensive and involved removing many tumors and I expected this patient to be in pretty significant pain; instead, I was thanked and then quickly asked if they could be discharged home.

What's on the horizon for limb deformity and limb length difference care? 

Over the past 15 years, limb deformity and lengthening has evolved from devices that are outside the body to devices that are now inside the body. Currently, these internal devices are secondarily controlled by a device that the patient must activate 2-6 times per day. The future will eliminate those devices. The current implants allow different levels of weight bearing; the future will eliminate weight bearing restrictions. Some conditions are genetic and do not have a cure; the future will have medicines to treat these and techniques to re-engineer the genes IF a patient and family chooses to. Deformity correction will be computer enhanced to a degree superior to any surgeon alone and artificial intelligence will likely play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

What's the best advice you ever received? 

There are two pieces of advice that stick with me. The first one comes from a mentor of mine during my pediatric orthopedic fellowship. He always told us (residents/fellows) during educational conferences that the only person who cares if you get something wrong is you and no one will remember it tomorrow. There is a vulnerability to being wrong and it can have a positive effect on you and those around you – learning. The other piece of advice that's been given to me, which is very simple, is don't settle for mediocrity. The best advice I can give to mentees/trainees – ask questions, work hard, acknowledge weaknesses and try to improve. No matter what training program you are in, you are responsible for your education – your success is up to you.

What's your favorite thing to do outside of work?

I like working out. I like sweating, getting my heart rate elevated and working my body. That can mean doing high intensity interval training (HIIT) like 10 rounds of: run 100m, 10 push-ups and 10 weighted back squats or it can mean helping a neighbor move a bunch of heavy items. I like hanging out with my family at a park or doing a puzzle. And I like statistics, computer programming, tranquility and outdoor challenges.

If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be doing?

Playing professional soccer. 

Anything else you'd like to share?

I love my wife and kids!


Learn why patient's choose Washington University Orthopedicsrequest an appointment online or call (314) 514-3500.

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