Meet Shawn Price, MD

About Dr. Price

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Price earned his Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and his Doctor of Medicine from The Ohio State University, where he was a recipient of the OSU College of Medicine and Public Health Achievement Award. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and then his Sarcoma Advanced Research and Clinical Fellowship at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.

The Huntsman fellowship is among the most respected sarcoma training programs in the United States. Dr. Price trained under Drs. R. Lor Randall and Kevin B. Jones - Dr. Randall is the editor of the Springer textbook Metastatic Bone Disease: An Integrated Approach to Patient Care, to which Dr. Price has contributed two book chapters on metastatic bone disease of the femur. Sarcoma surgeons are extremely rare nationally - most states have only a handful of formally fellowship-trained musculoskeletal oncologists - and Dr. Price is one of the few in the Kentucky and Indiana region with both the adult and pediatric oncology training.

He has practiced in Louisville and central Kentucky for over 14 years. He served as Staff Physician/Surgeon at Norton Healthcare and the Norton Cancer Institute from 2011 to 2018, founded Fortis Orthopaedic and Sarcoma Group in Louisville (2012-2019), and held a clinical assistant professor appointment with the University of Louisville Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He has published peer-reviewed work in journals including the Annals of Surgical Oncology, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, and Frontiers in Oncology, and has presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting and the Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium.

Dr. Price is a member of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) - the national society for orthopedic oncologists - and serves on the MSTS Advocacy Task Force. He also holds active memberships in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Connective Tissue Oncology Society.

Conditions Treated & Specialized Procedures

Conditions Treated:

Hip arthritis (osteoarthritis, post-traumatic, avascular necrosis)

Knee arthritis

Shoulder arthritis

Bone sarcomas (osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma)

Soft tissue sarcomas

Metastatic bone disease (breast, lung, prostate, kidney, thyroid, multiple myeloma)

Pathologic fractures

Benign bone tumors and lesions

Bone cysts (unicameral, aneurysmal)

Giant cell tumor of bone

Pediatric musculoskeletal tumors

Failed prior joint replacement requiring revision

Complex joint deformity

Acute orthopedic injuries and fractures

Overuse and sports-related musculoskeletal injuries

Anterior Approach Total Hip & Joint Replacement

Most orthopedic surgeons who perform total hip replacement learned the procedure during residency and selected one approach - usually posterior - that they continue to use throughout their career. Dr. Price's path was different. He trained as a sarcoma surgeon at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute, where the patients had metastatic bone disease, failed prior reconstructions, large skeletal defects, and constructs no general orthopedic surgeon would ever encounter. He learned to plan and execute hip and joint replacement in patients with compromised bone, prior radiation, prior surgical hardware, and pathologic fractures - the hardest cases an orthopedic surgeon can be handed.

Surgeons who have done a fellowship in this kind of complex reconstruction develop a particular kind of expertise. They understand bone stock, implant fixation in difficult anatomy, soft tissue handling, custom and revision constructs, and the biomechanics of how a joint replacement holds up over years and decades. That training transfers directly to routine primary hip and knee replacement - because the surgeon who has done the hardest version of the operation routinely does the easier version exceptionally well.

Dr. Price specializes in the minimally invasive anterior approach to total hip replacement. The anterior approach uses an incision at the front of the hip and works between muscle groups rather than cutting through them. For appropriately selected patients, this technique offers several advantages over the traditional posterior approach: faster early recovery, fewer movement restrictions in the first weeks after surgery, lower risk of hip dislocation, and earlier return to walking and daily activity. Not every patient is a candidate for the anterior approach - body habitus, prior hip surgery, and individual anatomy all factor in - and Dr. Price discusses approach selection openly with each patient based on what will produce the best long-term outcome for that specific case.

For patients facing complex hip or knee replacement - revision surgery, severe bone loss, prior failed implants, or joint replacement in the setting of cancer history - Dr. Price's oncology training is a meaningful credential. Complex reconstruction is what he was trained to do.

Orthopedic Oncology & Sarcoma Care

Orthopedic oncology - also called musculoskeletal oncology - is the surgical care of tumors and cancer-related conditions that affect bone, muscle, cartilage, and other musculoskeletal tissues. It is one of the smallest orthopedic subspecialties in the United States. Formal sarcoma fellowship training takes a full additional year after orthopedic surgery residency, and only a handful of programs nationally offer it. Most regions have only a few formally fellowship-trained musculoskeletal oncologists; Kentucky and Indiana together have a very small number.

Dr. Price treats both adult and pediatric musculoskeletal oncology patients, including:

• Bone sarcomas in adults and children, including osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma

• Soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities and trunk

• Metastatic bone disease - cancers from breast, lung, prostate, kidney, thyroid, and other primary sites that have spread to bone

• Multiple myeloma with bone involvement

• Pathologic fractures - fractures that occur in bone weakened by tumor

• Benign bone tumors and lesions, including giant cell tumor of bone, osteochondromas, enchondromas, fibrous dysplasia, and unicameral and aneurysmal bone cysts

• Bone and soft tissue masses requiring biopsy and diagnostic workup

A defining feature of modern sarcoma care is limb-sparing surgery. In past decades, most extremity sarcomas were treated with amputation. Today, with advances in chemotherapy, surgical technique, and reconstruction, the large majority of bone and soft tissue sarcomas can be resected and reconstructed while preserving the limb. Dr. Price performs limb-sparing surgery for bone and soft tissue sarcomas across both adult and pediatric patient populations.

Dr. Price has contributed two chapters on metastatic bone disease of the femur to the Springer textbook Metastatic Bone Disease: An Integrated Approach to Patient Care (editions 2016 and 2023), edited by Dr. R. Lor Randall - his fellowship mentor and one of the leading figures in American musculoskeletal oncology. He has presented research on metastatic disease reconstruction at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting and the Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium, and has published peer-reviewed work in journals including the Annals of Surgical Oncology, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, and Frontiers in Oncology.

Second opinions are welcome and common. Patients with a new diagnosis of bone sarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, or metastatic bone disease frequently come to Dr. Price for a second opinion on treatment options, the role of surgery, the choice of reconstruction, and whether limb-sparing approaches are feasible. Bringing prior imaging (MRI, CT, bone scan, PET), pathology reports, and oncology notes makes the consultation most useful.

Certifications & Memberships

• American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons (Board Certified through 2033)

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

• Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) - MSTS Advocacy Task Force Member; former MSTS Practice Management Committee Member

• Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS)

• Active medical licenses in Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee

Education & Training

• Sarcoma Advanced Research and Clinical Fellowship - University of Utah Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT - 2010 to 2011 (mentors: Drs. R. Lor Randall and Kevin B. Jones)

• Orthopaedic Surgery Residency - Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA - 2006 to 2010

• Surgery Internship - Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA - 2005 to 2006

• Doctor of Medicine - The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, Columbus, OH - 2001 to 2005

• Bachelor of Science in Nutrition - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH - 1996 to 2000

Selected Publications & Presentations

Book chapters

• Price SL. Metastatic Bone Disease: Femur. In: Randall RL, ed. Metastatic Bone Disease: An Integrated Approach to Patient Care. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science and Business Media; 2023.

• Price SL. Metastatic Bone Disease: Femur. In: Randall RL, ed. Metastatic Bone Disease: An Integrated Approach to Patient Care. New York: Springer Science and Business Media; 2016. p. 279-288.

Peer-reviewed journal articles

• Bernthal NM, Price SL, Monument MJ, Wilkinson B, Jones KB, Randall RL. Outcomes of Modified Harrington Reconstructions for Nonprimary Periacetabulars: An Effective and Inexpensive Technique. Ann Surg Oncol. 2015 Nov;22(12):3921-8.

• Price SL, Farukhi MA, Jones KB, Aoki SK, Randall RL. Complications of Cemented Long-Stem Hip Arthroplasty in Metastatic Bone Disease Revisited. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2013 Oct;471(10):3330-7.

• Spraker HL, Price SL, Chaturvedi A, Schiffman JD, Jones KB, Lessnick SL, Beckerle M, Randall RL. The Clone Wars - Revenge of the Metastatic Rogue State: The Sarcoma Paradigm. Frontiers in Oncology. January 16, 2012.

• Factor RE, Layfield LJ, Grossmann AH, Crim JR, Price SL, Randall RL. Fine-Needle Aspiration Diagnosis of an Intraosseous Amyloidoma. Diagnostic Cytopathology. 2012 August;40 Supplemental 2:E114-7.

• Roopnariane A, Freed RJ, Price S, Fox EJ, Ritty TM. Osteosarcoma in a Marfan Patient with a Novel Premature Termination Codon in the FBN1 gene. Connective Tissue Research. 2011 Apr;52(2):157-65.

Selected oral presentations

• Acetabular Reconstructions for Metastatic Disease in the Era of Cost Containment: Revisited. AAOS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. March 2014.

• Complications of Cemented Long-Stem Hip Arthroplasty in Metastatic Bone Disease: Revisited. AAOS Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. February 2012.

Where Dr. Price Sees Patients

1. Louisville - Central: 3615 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218. Tel: 502-909-0772

2. Louisville - East: 10100 Linn Station Road, Suite 1A, Louisville, KY 40223. Tel: 502-909-0772

How to Schedule a Consultation

Patients see Dr. Price for two main reasons. The first is joint replacement - hip, knee, or shoulder arthritis that has progressed past the point where conservative treatment is providing relief, particularly patients interested in the minimally invasive anterior approach to total hip replacement or facing a complex or revision joint replacement. The second is orthopedic oncology - a new bone or soft tissue mass, a known sarcoma diagnosis, suspected metastatic bone disease, or a pathologic fracture that requires surgical evaluation. Dr. Price also frequently sees patients for second opinions on bone tumor diagnoses, on the role of surgery in sarcoma treatment, and on prior joint replacement that has not produced the expected outcome.

A first visit includes a full history of the condition, a physical examination, review of any prior imaging and pathology reports, and a written treatment plan. Bringing all prior imaging (MRI, CT, bone scan, PET, X-rays), pathology reports, and notes from any prior oncology or orthopedic providers makes the consultation most useful. Dr. Price sees patients with commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, workers' compensation, auto accident coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay.

Schedule your appointment today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions does Dr. Price treat?

Dr. Price treats two main categories of patients. The first is patients needing joint replacement surgery - hip, knee, or shoulder arthritis that has progressed past conservative treatment, including primary minimally invasive anterior approach total hip replacement and complex or revision joint replacement. The second is orthopedic oncology - patients with bone sarcomas, soft tissue sarcomas, metastatic bone disease, pathologic fractures, benign bone tumors and cysts, and other musculoskeletal tumor conditions in both adults and children.

What is minimally invasive anterior approach total hip replacement?

Anterior approach total hip replacement is a technique that performs the hip replacement through an incision at the front of the hip, working between muscle groups rather than cutting through them. For appropriately selected patients, this technique offers faster early recovery, fewer movement restrictions in the first weeks after surgery, lower risk of hip dislocation, and earlier return to walking and daily activity compared with traditional posterior approach. Not every patient is a candidate - body habitus, prior hip surgery, and individual anatomy factor into approach selection, and Dr. Price discusses this openly with each patient.

Why does Dr. Price's oncology background matter for routine joint replacement?

Sarcoma surgeons routinely operate on patients with metastatic bone disease, failed prior reconstructions, large skeletal defects, and constructs no general orthopedic surgeon would encounter. They develop deep expertise in bone stock, implant fixation in difficult anatomy, soft tissue handling, and the biomechanics of how a joint replacement holds up over time. That training transfers directly to routine primary joint replacement - the surgeon who routinely handles the hardest version of an operation does the easier version exceptionally well. It is the reason Dr. Price was specifically asked to highlight his joint replacement expertise alongside his oncology specialty.

What is musculoskeletal oncology?

Musculoskeletal oncology - also called orthopedic oncology - is the surgical specialty that treats tumors and cancer-related conditions affecting bone, muscle, cartilage, and other musculoskeletal tissues. It is one of the smallest orthopedic subspecialties in the country. Becoming a musculoskeletal oncologist requires a full additional year of sarcoma fellowship after completing an orthopedic surgery residency, and only a handful of training programs nationally offer it. Dr. Price completed his fellowship at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute - one of the premier sarcoma training programs in the United States.

How rare are sarcoma surgeons?

Very rare. Sarcomas account for roughly 1 percent of adult cancers, and the surgical specialty that treats them is correspondingly small. Most states have only a handful of formally fellowship-trained musculoskeletal oncologists. Kentucky and Indiana together have a very small number of surgeons with the formal sarcoma fellowship credential. Dr. Price is one of them, and is among the few in the region with training in both adult and pediatric musculoskeletal oncology.

Does Dr. Price treat pediatric patients?

Dr. Price's sarcoma fellowship at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute included training in both adult and pediatric musculoskeletal oncology. He has experience treating pediatric bone and soft tissue sarcomas, pediatric pathologic fractures, and benign pediatric bone tumors and cysts. Confirm pediatric scheduling availability with the Aptiva Health office when booking.

Does Dr. Price perform limb-sparing surgery?

Yes. Limb-sparing surgery - resecting a sarcoma and reconstructing the limb rather than amputating - is a defining feature of modern sarcoma care. With advances in chemotherapy, surgical technique, and reconstruction, the large majority of bone and soft tissue sarcomas can be treated with limb-sparing surgery. Dr. Price performs limb-sparing procedures for adult and pediatric sarcoma patients.

Is Dr. Price accepting new patients?

Yes. Dr. Price is accepting new patients at Aptiva Health. Same-day appointments are often available - call the office or schedule online.

Can I see Dr. Price for a second opinion on a bone tumor or sarcoma?

Yes - second opinions are common and welcome. Patients with a new diagnosis of bone sarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, or metastatic bone disease frequently come to Dr. Price for a second opinion on treatment options, the role of surgery, the type of reconstruction, and whether limb-sparing approaches are feasible. Bringing all prior imaging (MRI, CT, bone scan, PET), pathology reports, and oncology notes makes the consultation most useful.

Is Dr. Price board-certified?

Yes. Dr. Price is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons, with certification valid through 2033. He holds active medical licenses in Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, and is a member of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS).

What insurance does Dr. Price accept?

Dr. Price accepts most major commercial insurance plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Kentucky Medicaid (Passport Molina, United Healthcare Medicaid, Anthem Medicaid, Aetna Better Health, CareSource), Indiana Medicaid, workers' compensation, auto accident coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay arrangements. Aptiva Health is in-network with Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, United Healthcare, and the VA and Humana Military.

Questions? Call us today! 502-909-0772