Karl M. Larsen, MD

Dr. Karl Larsen is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS). He is one of an elite group of surgeons who have achieved the esteemed Certificate of Added Qualification in Surgery of the Hand. Dr. Larsen specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries. He commonly treats patients for athletic injury and overuse conditions of the wrist, disorders of the elbow, shoulder fractures, and work-related injuries as well as upper extremity trauma reconstruction and complex hand surgery. Dr. Larsen has been honored as one of Colorado Springs Style magazine’s Top Docs, a listing of Colorado Springs physicians recommended by their colleagues, for the past 8 years.

Dr. Larsen earned his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, followed by a hand and microvascular surgery fellowship at the Indiana Hand Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. Larsen served in the United States Air Force and United States Air Force Reserve from 1989 until his retirement at the rank of Colonel in 2015. He served three years as a flight surgeon for the 352d Special Operations Group at RAF Mildenhall, England, before returning stateside to complete his orthopedic training. After completing his orthopedic and hand surgery training he was stationed at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs from 2002 until 2008. At USAFA Dr. Larsen performed both general orthopedic and hand surgery. He also held numerous leadership positions including Flight Commander for Inpatient and Emergency Services, Deputy Squadron Commander for Medical Operations, Deputy Chief of Medical Staff, and Chief of Orthopedic Surgery. In 2004 Dr. Larsen participated in a MIA-POW recovery mission in the mountains of Tibet. In 2007 he served as a Mobile Forward Surgery Team Commander in Kirkuk, Northern Iraq. Dr. Larsen was named Air Force Special Operations Command Flight Surgeon of the Year in 1995 and United States Air Force Academy Clinical Surgeon of the Year in 2005. In addition, he received many decorations throughout his military career including Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and NATO Medal.

Education

• Fellowship: Hand and Microvascular Surgery, Indiana Hand Center, Indianapolis, IN
• Residency: Orthopedic Surgery, SAUSHEC/Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas
• Medical School: MD: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD
• Undergraduate School: BS: Biological Sciences and Modern Chinese, University of California at Santa Barbara

Board Certifications

• American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) Diplomate
• Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Surgery of the Hand
• Colorado Division of Workers Compensation Level II Certified

Team Physician

• 2010 – Present: Orthopedic Consultant, United States Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs; Part of Team USA Olympic and Paralympic National Medicine Network
• 2012 – Present: Team Physician, Club Lewy Field Hockey Club, Monument, Colorado

Memberships & Organizations

• American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Fellow
• American Society for Surgery of the Hand, Fellow
• Society of Military Orthopedic Surgeons
• Indianapolis Hand Society
• Colorado Medical Society
• El Paso County Medical Society