About

Balazs Galdi, MD is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School. He is originally from the North Jersey area, growing up in North Bergen and attending Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, where he was a First Team All-County Athlete in tennis. Dr. Galdi received his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, graduating Summa Cum Laude with highest honors, and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society. During his time at Rutgers, he was Captain and Most Valuable Player of the Division I Men’s Varsity Tennis Team and received multiple academic awards, including the Big East Conference Scholar-Athlete and Rutgers College Scholastic Excellence awards. He earned his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and named a Golding Distinguished Scholar. Dr. Galdi completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark and completed the Charles Neer Fellowship in Shoulder, Elbow, and Sports Medicine at Columbia University, during which he assisted in the care of the New York Yankees. His areas of interest include athletic injuries, shoulder arthritis, shoulder instability, shoulder and elbow replacement surgery, and advanced arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, elbow, and knee.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Medical education
• Surgery
• Internal medicine
• Family medicine
• Demography
• Physical therapy

Selected publications

• The Association Between Early Sport Specialization and Injury and Career Outcomes Among National Football League Athletes

  European Journal of Sport Science · 2026-01-12

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Early sport specialization during adolescence has been linked to overuse injuries in several sports, yet its long-term impact in American football remains underexplored. The purpose of this study is to examine whether early specialization in football during high school is associated with higher injury rates and shorter careers than multi-sport participation. This is a retrospective cohort study with level of evidence 3. We analyzed all NFL players drafted from 2011 to 2023 (n = 2556) who played ≥ 16 career games. Athletes were classified as multisport or single-sport based on high school varsity participation using public records. Injury data were obtained from validated online databases. The primary outcome was injury incidence, measured as injuries per 1000 snaps (defined as individual plays participated in). Secondary outcomes included career length, total games played, and weighted career approximate value (AV). Injury rates were compared with position-stratified incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Multisport athletes (63.6%) sustained fewer total injuries (IRR, 0.80, 95% CI, 0.76-0.85, and p < 0.001) and major injuries (IRR, 0.77, 95% CI, 0.71-0.82, and p < 0.001) compared to single-sport athletes. Multisport athletes also played 12.2 more NFL games (95% CI, 9.2-15.1, p < 0.001, and d = 0.32) and had 0.7 additional career years (95% CI, 0.5-0.9, p < 0.01 and d = 0.28). NFL players who participated in multiple sports during high school had significantly lower injury rates and greater career durability. These findings support the body of evidence discouraging early sport specialization.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Orthopaedic injuries in pickleball players: A 10-year epidemiologic study

  Sports Orthopaedics and Traumatology · 2025-07-24

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Pickleball has grown rapidly in popularity, particularly among older adults. Due to the sport’s demands on footwork, balance, and agility, players are prone to musculoskeletal injuries. This study aimed to evaluate trends in orthopaedic injuries among recreational pickleball players presenting to emergency departments (EDs) from 2012–2022, as well as demographic patterns and commonly injured body parts. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried using product code 3235. Narrative fields were reviewed to isolate pickleball-related injuries. Only orthopaedic injuries were included; cases involving non-orthopaedic pathology were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. From 2012 to 2022, 1,264 pickleball-related ED visits were identified, of which 867 (68.6 %) were orthopaedic injuries. Annual incidence increased substantially over the study period. The average age of injured patients was 67 years, with a slight female predominance (51.2 %). The most common injuries were fractures and sprains/strains, primarily affecting the lower trunk, lower leg, and knee. Most injuries occurred in recreational settings. Notably, 91 % of patients were treated and discharged without requiring hospitalization. Pickleball-related orthopaedic injuries are on the rise, especially among older adults. Fractures and sprains/strains to the lower extremity and trunk are most common. As participation continues to grow, particularly among seniors, it is essential for healthcare providers to promote injury prevention and emphasize safety in this population. Insbesondere bei älteren Erwachsenen hat Pickleball zuletzt stark an Popularität gewonnen. Da in dieser Sportart Beinarbeit, Balance und Beweglichkeit gefordert sind, sehen sich die Spieler einer erhöhten Neigung zu muskuloskelettalen Verletzungen gegenüber. Ziel dieser Studie war eine Bewertung von Trends unter den orthopädischen Verletzungen bei Freizeit-Pickleball-Spielern, die zwischen 2012 und 2022 in Notaufnahmen vorstellig wurden, sowie demografische Muster und eine Übersicht über die verletzten Körperteile. Eine Abfrage mit dem Produktcode 3235 wurde über das System NEISS (National Electronic Injury Surveillance System) gestartet. Basierend auf einer Durchsicht der Textfelder wurden Pickleball-bezogene Verletzungen isoliert. Lediglich orthopädische Verletzungen wurden eingeschlossen, Fälle mit nicht-orthopädischer Pathologie wurden ausgeschlossen. Für die Datenanalyse wurde deskriptive Statistik angewendet. Zwischen 2012 und 2022 wurden 1.264 Besuche der Notaufnahme mit einem Bezug zu Pickleball identifiziert. Hier zeigten sich in 867 (68,6 %) Fällen orthopädische Verletzungen. Die jährliche Inzidenz stieg über die Dauer der Studie substantiell an. Das Durchschnittsalter der verletzten Patienten lag bei 67 Jahren, der Anteil weiblicher Patienten überwog leicht (51,2 %). Die häufigsten Verletzungen waren Frakturen sowie Verstauchungen und Überlastungen, die hauptsächlich den unteren Rumpf, Unterschenkel und Knie betrafen. Die meisten Verletzungen traten im Freizeitbereich auf. 91 % der Patienten wurden behandelt und wieder entlassen, ohne dass ein Krankenhausaufenthalt erforderlich war. Pickleball-bezogene orthopädische Verletzungen befinden sich im Anstieg, insbesondere bei älteren Erwachsenen. Frakturen und Verstauchungen/ Überlastungen von unteren Extremitäten und Rumpf waren am weitesten verbreitet. Da die Teilnahme an diesem Sport insbesondere unter Senioren weiterhin wächst, ist eine Förderung von Verletzungsprävention und ein besonderes Augenmerk auf die Sicherheit in dieser Bevölkerungsschicht durch Gesundheitsdienstleister essentiell.

  PublisherDOI

• An Analysis of Fencing Injuries in the United States: A 10-Year Database Review

  Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine · 2025-04-01 · 4 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior author

  Background: Fencing has maintained sustained popularity in the United States and internationally. However, there is limited information regarding acute injury patterns among fencing athletes. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of fencing injuries evaluated at emergency departments in the United States from 2013 to 2023 and analyze trends in diagnosis by demographics, mechanism of action, and disposition status. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiological study. Methods: The US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was queried in June of 2024 using the product code 3260–Fencing (activity/apparel/equipment). The analysis included descriptive statistics for diagnosis prevalence and demographics, univariate analysis utilizing diagnosis and demographic data, and a text analysis of the narrative descriptions. Results: From 2013 to 2023, 129 fencing-related injuries were reported from US emergency departments, representing an NEISS national estimate of 3418 (95% CI, 2200-4636). The most common age group affected was 11 to 15 years (35.7%), followed by 16 to 20 years (29.5%), with a median age of 16 years. Most injured individuals were White (49.65%) and male (56.5%). However, there was an upward trend in injuries among female athletes throughout the study. The most frequent injuries were strains or sprains (26.4%), lacerations (15.5%), fractures (11.6%), and contusions/abrasions (10.9%). Fracture prevalence was higher in females than males (14.4% vs 9.6%; P 1 = .04). Males experienced a higher laceration prevalence (21.9% vs 7.1%; P = .02). The most affected body part was the finger (14%), followed by the wrist (8.5%), leg (8.5%), and head (7.8%). Most injuries occurred in sports-specific facilities (70%), followed by personal homes. Regarding disposition, 97.7% of all patients were treated and released. Fencing injuries rose steadily until the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decline, but they have since rebounded. Conclusion: Fencing injuries decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic but have since become more prevalent. Fractures were more prevalent among females, whereas males had a higher prevalence of lacerations. Understanding the epidemiology and nature of fencing injuries can help inform coaches, athletes, and health care providers about potential risks and injury prevention strategies.

  PublisherDOI

• Methylprednisolone after shoulder arthroplasty leads to decreased opioid prescriptions without an increased risk of infection: A matched cohort analysis

  Journal of Orthopaedics · 2025-05-20 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Background: Due to the increasing demand for total shoulder arthroplasty, safe opioid stewardship paired with appropriate pain management is imperative for long-term patient care. A recent study has shown the potential for methylprednisolone use in the peri-operative period in order to decrease opioid consumption postoperatively. Methods: The large TriNetX database was queried to identify all patients who were methylprednisolone naïve that underwent total shoulder arthroplasty with a minimum follow-up of 3 months. These patients were then further separated into two cohorts - those who received post-operative methylprednisolone within 7 days of the arthroplasty procedure and those who did not. After 1:1 propensity score matching, 1304 patients were included in each cohort for analysis. The primary outcome was opioid prescription within the 30- and 90-day postoperative period. Additional hospitalization, surgical, and medical outcomes were analyzed at 30-day, 90-day, 1-year, and 2-year time points. Results: For patients who received methylprednisolone, there were significantly fewer opioid prescriptions at 30 days (1.4 ± 1.6 versus 1.5 ± 1.8, p = 0.033) and 90 days (1.8 ± 2.3 versus 2.0 ± 3.4, p = 0.026). At both 30 and 90 day time points, there was no significant difference in the risk for medical complications like acute kidney injury, deep venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, glucose values, and A1C. between the two groups. At 1 year and 2 year time points, there was no significant difference in the risk of surgical complications like need for revision, prosthetic joint infection, surgical site infection, dislocation, wound complications, mechanical failure, periprosthetic fracture, and polywear/osteolysis. Conclusion: Methylprednisolone use in the peri-operative period may lead to a decrease in the number of opioid prescriptions needed for patients post-operatively with no increased risk of surgical or medical complications. As opioids carry their own inherent risks, safe stewardship with multimodal pain regimens that include methylprednisolone may be beneficial in both the short and long term for patients. Level of evidence: Level III Retrospective Cohort Comparison Using Large Database Prognosis Study.

  PublisherDOI

• Postoperative bleeding complications in total shoulder arthroplasty patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter: a matched cohort analysis

  Seminars in Arthroplasty JSES · 2025-10-10

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is becoming an increasingly common procedure done for a variety of indications, including proximal humerus fractures and glenohumeral osteoarthritis. The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the general population is also increasing, posing the question of anticoagulation use in patients undergoing TSA. This study aims to assess postoperative outcomes in patients with AF or atrial flutter undergoing TSA. The TriNetX database was queried for all patients undergoing TSA who had a concurrent diagnosis of AF or atrial flutter on anticoagulants (rivaroxaban, apixaban, warfarin). Patients were grouped based on their exposure to each medication and were followed for 30 and 90 days postoperatively. Outcomes collected include prosthetic joint infection, wound complications, thrombotic events (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism), bleeding events (intracranial, respiratory, and gastrointestinal bleeding), ischemic events (myocardial infarction and stroke), and laboratory measures of hemoglobin and hematocrit. A total of 3,334 propensity-matched patients were included in the study. At 30 and 90 days, rivaroxaban compared to warfarin was associated with a significantly lower rate of intracranial bleeds ( P < .01) and higher mean hemoglobin ( P < .01) and hematocrit levels ( P < .01). In addition, patients on warfarin had a higher risk of ischemic stroke ( P = .032). Rivaroxaban and apixaban showed similar bleeding, ischemic, and embolic events at 90 days. However, patients on rivaroxaban had a higher rate of death within 30 days when compared to patients on apixaban ( P < .01), but after 90 days, there was no significant difference. At the 30- and 90-day follow-up, apixaban was associated with fewer pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thrombosis ( P < .05), bleeding complications, including intracranial bleed ( P < .05) and gastrointestinal bleed ( P < .01) when compared to warfarin. There was no significant difference found between any group for prosthetic joint infection, wound breakdown, hematoma, respiratory bleed, myocardial infarction, revision, and death. Rivaroxaban and apixaban demonstrated fewer postoperative bleeding and embolic events when compared to warfarin. This may indicate their superiority in the treatment of AF and atrial flutter in the perioperative period for patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. However, further research is indicated to understand the causes of these differences and whether preoperative anticoagulation medication changes should be considered among patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.

  PublisherDOI

• Ketorolac use following operative clavicle fracture fixation is not associated with increased nonunion or surgical complications: A propensity-matched analysis

  Injury · 2025-09-30 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVES: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ketorolac, are commonly used for postoperative pain management. Concerns about their potential impact on bone healing have been raised. This study investigated the relationship between ketorolac use and postoperative complications following clavicle surgery, including nonunion rates. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX Research Database to identify patients who underwent surgical fixation of clavicle fractures between 2002 and 2022. Two propensity-matched cohorts were created: patients who received postoperative ketorolac and those who did not. Primary outcomes included nonunion diagnosis and revision surgery; secondary outcomes included opioid use, wound disruption, surgical site infection, and infected hardware at 30 days, 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: 5,264 patients were in each cohort after matching. Nonunion diagnosis was similar between the ketorolac and no-ketorolac groups at 30 days (16 vs. 18, P=0.731), 90 days (31 vs. 40, P=0.284), 1 year (93 vs. 88, P=0.708), and 2 years (104 vs. 100, P=0.777). Similarly, revision surgery for nonunion was comparable between the two groups at all time points, 30 days (<10 vs <10, P=1), 90 days (<10 vs <10, P=1), 1 year (24 vs. 20, P=0.546), and 2 years (27 vs 26, P=0.890). Opioid prescription rates were comparable across all time points but trended lower in the ketorolac group: 30 days (1,827 vs. 1,906, P=0.108), 90 days (1,967 vs. 2,051, P=0.092), 1 year (2,340 vs. 2,428, P=0.085), and 2 year (2,574 vs 2,642, P=0.185). CONCLUSION: Ketorolac use following clavicle surgery was not associated with increased nonunion or revision surgery rates. Although opioid prescription rates trended lower in the ketorolac group, the difference was not statistically significant.

  PublisherDOI

• Fencing Injuries Treated In US Emergency Departments

  Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2025-09-16

  articleSenior author

  Fencing has sustained popularity among US athletes of all ages and a significant international presence. It is important to evaluate injuries sustained by fencers, an athlete population left largely unstudied in the present sports medicine literature. PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of injuries of fencers presenting to the emergency department (ED) from 2013-2022, along with analyzing demographic trends, gender and age group disparities, and the most frequent injury patterns. METHODS: The US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was queried in January 2024 using the product code, 3260 - Fencing (activity/apparel/equipment). Variables included injury type, age, race, body part injured, primary and secondary diagnosis, and discharge disposition. Narrative descriptions were used to elucidate mechanisms of injury and re-classify patients with primary diagnosis of “Other”. Statistical tests were performed using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS v29. RESULTS: From 2013-2022, 110 fencers presented to emergency departments. Most fencing injuries occurred in those 11-15 years old, followed by 16-20 years. More males than females experienced fencing injuries (59% v. 40.9%) (p < 0.05) and most patients were Caucasian (47.3%) (p < 0.001). Most injuries were to the finger (14.5%) and hand (8.2%) followed by the wrist (7.3%), then the head (7.3%). The most common injury was strain/sprain followed by laceration. Females had a higher fracture incidence than males (13.3% v. 9.2%) (p = 0.03). Males had a higher laceration incidence (21.50% v. 8.9%) (p < 0.001). Fencing injury incidence decreased during this period. The NEISS national estimate of total number of fencing-related injuries in US EDs during this period was 3402. CONCLUSIONS: Fencers experience significant injuries. In this study, most patients were teenagers, suggesting that research focus should be directed toward younger athletes and how to reduce fencing-related trauma. Gender disparities in injury patterns warrant additional inquiry. The decrease in overall injury incidence demonstrates that the preventative measures made by the sport over the past 9 years have made a positive impact.

  PublisherDOI

• Interference Screw versus Cement Fixation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Soft Tissue Grafts: A Biomechanical Study

  The Journal of Knee Surgery · 2023-05-16

  article

  Abstract Shortcomings of fixation have been reported as a source of graft failure in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. While interference screws have long been used as fixation devices for ACL reconstruction, they are not without complications. Previous studies have highlighted the use of bone void filler as a fixation method; however, no biomechanical comparisons using soft tissue grafts with interference screws exist to our knowledge. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the fixation strength of a calcium phosphate cement bone void filler compared with screw fixation in an ACL reconstruction bone replica model with human soft tissue grafts. In total, 10 ACL grafts were constructed using semitendinosus and gracilis tendons harvested from 10 donors. Grafts were affixed with either an 8–10 mm × 23 mm polyether ether ketone interference screw (n = 5) or with approximately 8 mL of calcium phosphate cement (n = 5) into open cell polyurethane blocks. Graft constructs were tested to failure in cyclic loading under displacement control at a rate of 1 mm per second. When compared with screw construct, the cement construct showed a 978% higher load at yield, 228% higher load at failure, 181% higher displacement at yield, 233% higher work at failure, and a 545% higher stiffness. Normalized data for the screw constructs relative to the cement constructs from the same donor showed 14 ± 11% load at yield, 54 ± 38% load at failure, and 172 ± 14% graft elongation. The results of this study indicate that cement fixation of ACL grafts may result in a stronger construct compared with the current standard of fixation with interference screws. This method could potentially reduce the incidence of complications associated with interface screw placement such as bone tunnel widening, screw migration, and screw breakage.

  PublisherDOI

• Is Insurance Status Associated With Likelihood of Operative ACL Injury Treatment Compared With Nonoperative Treatment?

  Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine · 2022-03-01 · 6 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Background: While many factors inform the choice of operative versus nonoperative treatment of injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee, socioeconomic status influences this decision, as has been reported with other procedures. Purpose: To identify any associations between insurance status and likelihood of operative treatment of ACL injuries. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was queried using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes for ACL injuries and reconstruction from 2001 to 2013. Chi-square analysis was performed to determine significant predictors of operative intervention. Binary logistic regression was used to account for demographic and significant predictor variables. Results were recorded as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. Significance was defined as P &lt; .05. Results: A total of 32,541 patients with ACL injuries were included in the final analysis. Overall incidence of surgical reconstruction was 85.4% (n = 27,805). Multivariable regression revealed that nonprivate insurance types were associated with lower likelihoods of operative reconstruction compared with private insurance: the lowest likelihood of operation was seen in uninsured patients (OR, 0.31; P &lt; .01), followed by Medicare (OR, 0.33; P &lt; .01) and Medicaid (OR, 0.51; P &lt; .01) patients. There was also a decreased likelihood of surgery for elderly (OR, 0.0 [for age ≥75 years]; P &lt; .01) and Black patients (OR, 0.65; P &lt; .01). An increased likelihood of surgery was seen with female patients (OR, 1.14; P &lt; .01). Patients in the highest median household income quartile were more likely to undergo surgery than those in the lowest (OR, 1.36; P &lt; .01). Conclusion: Compared with privately insured patients, patients with nonprivate insurance had lower likelihood of surgery. Furthermore, patients in higher income quartiles were more likely to undergo operative fixation. These findings may suggest a need for more precise treatment guidelines and studies that investigate causes of such differences.

  PublisherDOI

• Assessing the recognition of female orthopaedic surgeons in Castle Connolly's “America's Top Doctors” from 2000 to 2020

  Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma · 2021-10-15 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Kathleen S. Beebe

  Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

  8 shared

• Dominick V. Congiusta

  Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

  8 shared

• William N. Levine

  Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  8 shared

• Christopher S. Ahmad

  Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  7 shared

• Eugene W. Brabston

  University of Alabama at Birmingham

  6 shared

• Nicole D. Rynecki

  6 shared

• Kang Li

  Sichuan University

  6 shared

• Manish S. Noticewala

  Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  6 shared

Education

• B.A.

  Rutgers University

  2004

• M.D.

  Albert Einstein College of Medicine

  2008

Awards & honors

• Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society
• Big East Conference Scholar-Athlete
• Rutgers College Scholastic Excellence awards
• Dean's List (eight semesters)
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society