Roger Vernal Larson, M.D., orthopedic surgeon and pioneer in knee arthroscopy, passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, in Redmond, Washington, at the age of 78 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Knee Arthroscopy Pioneer Roger Vernal Larson Dies at 78
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Remembrances#obituary#rogerlarson
He was an associate professor of orthopedics and sports medicine at the University of Washington and served patients at University of Washington Medical Center for 33 years until he retired in 2015.
A constant innovator, he developed several techniques and technologies to improve knee arthroscopy. He loved teaching and was a mentor to many orthopedics residents at the university. Larson spent time as the team physician for the school as well.
Larson earned his medical degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1973. Afterwards, he completed an internship at Harbor General in Los Angeles in 1973 and an orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Utah between 1974 and 1978.
He did a fellowship at the Cincinnati Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center. He first set up practice in Payson, Utah, but then in 1982, he joined the medical and teaching staff at the University of Washington.
Larson was born on September 28, 1944, to Bernice Smith and Vernal C. Larson in Murray, Utah. Growing up, he excelled in school and sports while also working at his parents’ diner from a young age. He attended Murray High where he played baseball, basketball, and football. His passion for sports and fitness would stay with him the rest of his life, a passion he passed on to his children and grandchildren.
His path to a career in orthopedics and sports medicine was not straight and narrow, however. He first earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and then went to work for the Eastman Kodak Company. A few years later, he decided to listen to his heart and go to medical school, becoming a prominent figure in knee arthroscopy.
His family wrote, “His generosity and dedication to medical research and education will continue after his death, as he gifted his brain to the UCLA Human Brain and Spinal Fluid Resource Center for Parkinson’s research.”
He is survived by his three children, Kim Norris, Christian Larson and Michelle Larson; seven grandchildren, Kate, Emma, Jane and Sara Norris and Jessie, Aaron and Jake Larson; and his sisters Sharon Brownlee and Bonnie Young.
He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother Cory Setterberg.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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