Christa LiBrizzi

Christa LiBrizzi, MD

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Bone cancers and conditions
  • Soft tissue sarcomas
  • Pediatric bone tumors

My Specialties

  • Limb salvage surgery
  • Extremity reconstruction
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Get to Know Me

I’m an orthopaedic surgeon who is an expert in treating cancerous and non-cancerous bone and soft tissue tumors and conditions. I care for both children and adults who have bone cancer and soft tissue cancers (sarcomas). This includes osteosarcoma and other cancers that have spread to the bones from other parts of the body. I’m also an expert in complex joint replacements, including repairing or replacing tumor prosthesis (artificial implants) from previous cancer surgeries. 

I see patients at Memorial Hospital, the main hospital at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and the Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion in New York City. I also see patients at MSK Monmouth in New Jersey.

I focus on complex surgeries of the arms, legs, and pelvis. Whenever possible, my goal is to remove the tumor completely while saving the limb and preserving function. I perform limb-sparing procedures using advanced reconstructive techniques tailored for each person. This includes joint replacements and custom implants. I also perform biologic reconstruction using cadaver bone or allograft (using bone of tissue from a donor) as a replacement for the removed bone or tendons.

I also focus on revision surgery for tumor reconstructions. This involves replacing older tumor implants or allograft reconstructions that have worn out over time or failed.

Before I went into medicine, I trained as an architect. Architecture taught me the principle of “form follows function.”  That philosophy has shaped my approach to surgery. It taught me to plan thoughtfully and think creatively to solve complex problems that seldom have a single correct answer.

Tumor surgery is rarely simple. It requires precision, attention to detail, and unique solutions. Our first goal in orthopaedic cancer surgery is to remove the tumor completely, with clean, clear margins around it. An equally important goal is to make sure you can still move independently and have a good quality of life.

No two patients or tumors are alike. This means that every surgery and reconstruction must be designed around your specific anatomy, diagnosis, treatment plan, and your personal goals.

My approach to care is grounded in three main pillars: exceptional patient care, continuous learning, and research. I believe the best surgical care is compassionate, personal, and based on high-quality research. My research focuses on finding ways to improve surgical results and quality of life for people with bone and soft tissue sarcomas.

I have a special focus on osteosarcoma and how to better predict if a tumor may return or if a patient may develop complications such as blood clots. This research is deeply personal to me. In the past, I have cared for a loved one through their surgery and treatment for osteosarcoma. This experience gives me a unique lens. It shapes how I approach osteosarcoma research, make surgical decisions, and care for every person and family facing this disease.

Most importantly, I believe in walking with my patients and their families at every step of their treatment. Orthopaedic oncology can be a long journey, and I consider it a privilege to guide you through it. My goal is to not just remove the tumor but also protect your function, independence, and quality of life.

What I Do at MSK

I'm an orthopaedic (OR-thuh-PEE-dik) surgeon, which is a doctor with special training in surgery on the musculoskeletal system. This includes the bones, joints, tendons, and muscles.

  • Assistant Attending Physician
Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Bone cancers and conditions
  • Soft tissue sarcomas
  • Pediatric bone tumors
  • Common pediatric soft tissue sarcomas
  • Osteosarcoma
  • Benign bone tumors and noncancerous bone conditions
  • Bone metastases
  • Pediatric orthopedic surgery

My Specialties

  • Limb salvage surgery
  • Extremity reconstruction
This list shows some key areas of focus, but it may not cover all expertise. When making an appointment, you will be matched with the best healthcare provider for your needs.
Education & Honors

Education

  • Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture, North Carolina State University
  • Doctor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Residencies

  • Orthopedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital

Fellowships

  • Musculoskeletal Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Awards and Honors

  • C. McCollister Evarts Resident Leadership Forum, American Orthopaedic Association (2025)
  • Resident Research Grant, Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (2022-2025)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (2020)

Insurance Information

Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.

Learn more about the insurance plans that participate with MSK.

If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.

Health plans can change at any time. Call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your plan covers. Make sure it covers the MSK location where you’ll get care.

If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.

Make an Appointment

Current Patients
Request an appointment by calling your Care Team or messaging them in MSK MyChart.

Contact and Location

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
Middletown, NJ
1275 York Avenue New York NY 10065
160 East 53rd Street New York NY 10022
480 Red Hill Road Middletown NJ 07748

Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.

Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

See all Orthopaedic Service doctors

Clinical Trials

Smiling doctors in the lab
Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

Search clinical trials

Research and Publications

  1. LiBrizzi CL, Wang Z, Sulam J, James AW, Levin AS, Morris CD. The use of weakly supervised machine learning for necrosis assessment in patients with osteosarcoma: A pilot study. J Orthop Res. 2024 Feb;42(2):453-459. doi: 10.1002/jor.25693. Epub 2023 Oct 5. PMID: 37799037.
  2. LiBrizzi CL, Agarwal AR, Chiu AK, Morris CD, Thakkar SC, Levin AS. The efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants compared with low-molecular-weight heparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after surgical resection of primary lower extremity bone or soft-tissue sarcoma. J Surg Oncol. 2024 Mar;129(3):537-543. doi: 10.1002/jso.27519. Epub 2023 Nov 20. PMID: 37985245.
  3. LiBrizzi CL, Sabharwal S, Forsberg JA, Leddy L, Doung YC, Morris CD, Levin AS; PARITY Investigators. Does the Use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy and Postoperative Drains Impact the Development of Surgical Site Infections?: A PARITY Trial Secondary Analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2023 Jul 19;105(Suppl 1):34-40. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.22.01185. Epub 2023 Jul 19. PMID: 37466578.
  4. LiBrizzi CL, Vankara A, Meyer CF, Levin AS, Morris CD. Bone Metastases in Patients with Leiomyosarcoma: A Retrospective Analysis of Survival and Surgical Management. Sarcoma. 2022 May 6;2022:6806932. doi: 10.1155/2022/6806932. PMID: 35570847; PMCID: PMC9106492.
Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. LiBrizzi’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed