About

Dr. Zachary Cavanaugh is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and a fellowship-trained orthopaedic oncologist. He specializes in the treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors, both benign and malignant. He manages the complexities of metastatic bone disease, working hand in hand with local oncologists and the Middlesex Health Cancer Center to provide holistic, multidisciplinary care tailored to the needs of each patient.

He has residency training and prior work experience at Level 1 trauma centers in Hartford and is capable of handling everything from every day, routine broken bones to more complicated intra-articular and periprosthetic fractures. His training in oncology provides comprehensive anatomic expertise to address the complete spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions of both the upper and lower extremities.

Dr. Cavanaugh’s unique skill set also lends itself to providing support to local orthopaedic surgeons, managing unanticipated issues with total joint replacements including prosthetic joint infections, severe bone loss or need for revision surgery. He is an expert in the use of mega-prosthesis joint replacement and acetabular reconstructions. He has a special interest in limb salvage surgery for painful or failed total joint replacements, and often provides a second opinion when patients feel they have limited options. In managing osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, Dr. Cavanaugh works closely with each individual patient, often exhausting all nonoperative treatment options.

After growing up in nearby Rhode Island, Dr. Cavanaugh became a UConn “lifer.” He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in Exercise Science and earned his medical degree from the UConn School of Medicine, receiving the Faculty Award for Overall Academic Excellence. He continued at the UConn School of Medicine to complete his orthopaedic surgery residency. Dr. Cavanaugh completed a one-year fellowship in musculoskeletal oncology at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Dr. Cavanaugh is excited to join Middlesex Orthopedic & Spine Associates and work in the community where he lives with his wife and two young children. As a former marathon runner, he often runs both by himself and with his three-year-old daughter. In his spare time Dr. Cavanaugh can be found outdoors enjoying Lake Pocotopaug with his family, doing puzzles, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers.