Lawson Ashley Bragg Copley, MD
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon
Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Languages Spoken:
- English
Biography
Lawson Copley, M.D., is an Orthopedic Surgeon and Director of the Musculoskeletal Infection (MSI) Program at Children’s Health℠. He is also part of the orthopedic medical staff at Texas Scottish Rite for Children.
Dr. Copley graduated magna cum laude from Wheaton College and received his medical degree from Kansas University Medical Center. He completed both his internship in general surgery and his residence in orthopedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed the Dorothy and Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopaedics and Scoliosis at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
Dr. Copley started the MSI Program after noticing how often children within our community were admitted with deep infections in their bones, joints or muscles. Under Dr. Copley’s direction, the MSI Program has adopted a family-centered model, which constantly strives to achieve clinical excellence and family satisfaction.
“Families come into the hospital with a lot of uncertainty because their child was fine the day before but suddenly can’t use their arm or leg,” says Dr. Copley. “I generally see a lot of relief when we show them the lab results and images, explain the diagnosis and tell them how their child is going to get better. They now know they’re in the right place.”
Dr. Copley is a veteran of the United States Air Force and served as Chief of Surgical Services, 96th Medical Group. He continues to serve in the Air Force Reserves and says it gives him the opportunity to serve the country.
Outside of his practice, Dr. Copley enjoys spending time with his three children who lead extraordinary lives, having graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado School of Mines, and Kenyon College.
Education and Training
- Medical School
- University of Kansas School of Medicine (1991)
- Internship
- University of Pennsylvania Medical Center (1992), General Surgery
- Residency
- University of Pennsylvania Medical Center (1996), Orthopaedic Surgery
- Fellowship
- Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (1997), Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
- Graduate School
- Kellogg School of Management (2007)
- Board Certification
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Conditions
Departments and Programs
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Research Interests
- Orthopedic trauma
- Musculoskeletal infection
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Publications
- Ojeaga P, Wyatt CW, Wilson P, Ho CA, Copley LAB, Ellis HB Jr. Pediatric type II supracondylar humerus fractures: Factors associated with successful closed reduction and immobilization. J Pediatr Orthop 2020. epub ahead of print
- Shaw KA, Sanborn R, Shore B, Truong W, Murphy JS, and CORTICES Study Group. Current Variation in Joint Aspiration Practice for the Evaluation of Pediatric Septic Arthritis. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2020; 4(9): 1-7.
- Villani MC, Hamilton EC, Klosterman MM, Jo CH, Kang LH, Copley LAB. Primary septic arthritis among children 6 to 48 months of age: Implications for PCR acquisition and empiric antimicrobial selection. J Pediatr Orthop 2021; 41: 190-166. DOI: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001744
- Hamilton EC, Klosterman MM, Villani MC, Jo CH, Copley LAB. Distinctions between primary confirmed septic arthritis and septic arthritis with contiguous osteomyelitis reveal a lower risk of adverse outcomes for children with primary septic arthritis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2021; 103: 1229- 1237.
- Hamilton EC, Klosterman MM, Villani MC, Jo CH, Copley LAB. Distinctions between primary confirmed septic arthritis and septic arthritis with contiguous osteomyelitis reveal a lower risk of adverse outcomes for children with primary septic arthritis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2021; 103: 1229- 1237.
- Ellis HB, Copley L, Pennock A, Nepple JJ, Willimon C, Mayer SW, Yen YM. Tractionless hip arthroscopy for septic arthritis in children. Arthroscopy Techniques 2021; in press https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eats.2020.10.079
- Klosterman MM, Villani MC, Hamilton EC, Jo CH, Copley LA. Primary Septic Arthritis in Children Demonstrates Presumed and Confirmed Varieties Which Require Age-specific Evaluation and Treatment Strategies. J Pediatr Orthop 2022; 42(1): e27-e33.
- Upasani VV, Burns JD, Bastrom TP, Baldwin KD, Schoenecker JG, Shore BJ; CORTICES Study Group. Practice Variation in the Surgical Management of Children With Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis. J Pediatr Orthop. 2022;42(5):e520-e525. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002123.
- Sanchez MJ, Patel K, Lindsay EA, Tareen NG, Jo C, Copley LA, Sue PK. Early Transition to Oral Antimicrobial Therapy Among Children with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia and Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2022; 41: 690-695 Jun 13. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003594.
- Van der Laan L, Van Horn N, Gaines N, Ma Y, Jo CH, Copley LA. Comparison of procalcitonin with commonly used biomarkers and algorithms for evaluating suspected pediatric musculoskeletal infection in the emergency department. J Pediatr Orthop. 2023 Feb 1; 43(2): e168-e173. Doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002303. Epub 2022 Nov 24. PMID: 36607929.
- Burns JD, Upasani VV, Bastrom TP, Baldwin KD, Schoenecker JG, Shore BJ, Brighton BK, Goldstein RY, Heyworth BE, Miller ML, Sanders JS, Truong WH; Childrens ORthopedic Trauma and Infection Consortium for Evidence-Based Study. Age and CRP Associated With Improved Tissue Pathogen Identification in Children With Blood Culture Negative Osteomyelitis: Results From the CORTICES Multicenter Database. J Pediatr Orthop. 2023 Jun 5. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002448. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37278086.
- Hachem A and Copley LA. What’s New in Pediatric Septic Arthritis? A Review of Pertinent Clinical Questions. J Pediatr Orthop in press 2023.
- Burns JD, Upasani VV, Bastrom TP, Baldwin KD, Schoenecker JG, Shore BJ, Brighton BK, Goldstein RY, Heyworth BE, Miller ML, Sanders JS, Truong WH; Childrens ORthopedic Trauma and Infection Consortium for Evidence-Based Study. Age and CRP Associated With Improved Tissue Pathogen Identification in Children With Blood Culture Negative Osteomyelitis: Results From the CORTICES Multicenter Database. J Pediatr Orthop. 2023 Jun 5. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002448. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37278086.
- Hachem AA, Filkins LM, Kidane YH, Raj P, Tareen NG, Arana CA, Muthukrishnan G, Copley LA. Staphylococcus aureus isolates from children with clinically differentiated osteomyelitis exhibit distinct transcriptomic signatures. PLoSONE 2023 18(8):e0288758. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288758.
- Challa L, Villani MC, Hachem AA, Ma Y, Jo C, Patel K, Firmani S, and Copley LA. Mitigating risk of acute kidney injury among children with MRSA osteomyelitis. J Pediatr Orthop. In press
- Jahan TA, Lapin NA, O’Connell MT, Jo CH, Ma Y, Tareen NG, and Copley LA. Accelerated Severity of Illness Score Enhances Prediction of Complicated Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis in Children. J Pediatr Infect Dis. In Press.
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Professional Activities
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (1995-Present)
- American Medical Association (1987-Present)
- Dallas County Medical Society (2005-Present)
- Musculoskeletal Infection Society (2013-Present)
- National Association of Doctors (1998-2001)
- Orthopaedic Research Society (2014-Present)
- Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons of North American (2005-Present)
- Society of American Family Physicians (1989-1991)
- Texas Orthopaedic Association (2004-Present)
- Texas Society of Sports Medicine (2005-Present)
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Awards and Honors
- D Magazine Best Pediatric Specialists (2010-2013, 2015, 2018-2021)
- 96 Air Base Wing Commander’s Recognition Award (2001)
- Fellow of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2001)
- Meritorious Service Medal - Surgical Operations Squadron Medical Group Eglin AFB Florida (2001)
- ARCENT Kuwait Command Surgeon’s Recognition Award (2000)
- Commander in Chief’s Special Recognition for Installation Excellence (2000)
- Stanley M.K. Chung Award Excellence in Pediatric Orthopaedic Research
- Joint Service Achievement Award