Pioneer in Pediatric Limb Reconstruction Kenneth Brown Dies at 71

Kenneth L.B. Brown, M.D., MSc, FRCSC, a pioneer in pediatric limb reconstruction, passed away from stroke at the age of 71 on March 20, 2023.

In his orthopedic practice, he focused on the treatment of skeletal deformities in children, musculoskeletal tumors and reconstructive microsurgery. He helped advance surgeons’ understanding of the benefits of using rotationplasty in the limb reconstruction of children.

Brown was president of the International Society of Limb Salvage from 1989 to 1991 and a member of the Children’s Oncology Group. He was the recipient of the American-British-Canadian Traveling Fellowship in 1991, and he received the Edward Samsom Award for research from the Canadian Orthopaedic Association for his advancements in growth plate transplantation.

Brown earned his medical degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. While there, he also earned a Master of Science in Experimental Surgery.

Afterwards he received a Samuel McLaughlin traveling fellowship which allowed him to study pediatric orthopedics at the AI Dupont Institute in Wilmington, Delaware, in the U.S. Forever the student, he also studied musculoskeletal oncology at the University of Florida with Dr. Bill Enneking and with Professor Mario Campanacci at the Rizzoli Institute in Bologna, Italy.

When he was finished with his fellowship training, Brown returned to McGill University to begin his practice. In 1993, he moved to Vancouver to treat patients at the BC Children’s Hospital there. In 2003, he became a UBC Orthopaedics Clinical Professor and when he retired in 2014, he was awarded the title Clinical Professor Emeritus.

Brown was born on May 27, 1951, in Oxbow, Saskatchewan in Canada. He grew up in Winniepeg, Manitoba.

Besides medicine, he had a passion for cars. He and wife Trish were antique car collectors and traveled throughout North America to attend car rallies. He restored his 1959 Mercedes that he bought at the age of 16.

Brown also was a member of the Vancouver Curling Club and the Marpole Masters League. He also loved photography and to travel.

Brown leaves behind his wife of 50 years, Trish; his daughters Alix, Katie, and Meg; and his grandsons, Mateo, Liam and Lucas. He is also survived by his sister Rona Lynn.