Dr. Vilas Saldanha, MD FACS

Dr. Vilas Saldanha moved to Texas after serving at the rank of Major in the United States Air Force as an Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon. Dr. Saldanha is fellowship trained in both Orthopaedic Traumatology and Adult Reconstruction.

Following completion of training, Dr. Saldanha volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he spent more than six months in a surgical squadron. He successfully performed more than 350 operations while overseas. He founded the first orthopaedic humanitarian clinic treating women and children displaced by the war at a partner clinic on Bagram Air Force Base.

After returning to the United States, Dr. Saldanha was assigned to the 99th Surgical Operations Squadron in Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He helped develop the Sustained Medical Airman Readiness Trained (SMART) program; a military-civilian partnership with Nevada’s only Level 1 trauma center. He served as an Orthopaedic Traumatologist ,where he trained Active Duty Airmen in war trauma techniques to maintain clinical currency.

From 2013-2016, Dr. Saldanha served as Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery with the University of Nevada School of Medicine. He trained numerous surgical trainees in fracture surgery. In 2015, Dr. Saldanha pursued further education in complex Adult Reconstruction under the expertise of world-renowned surgeon Anthony Hedley.

Dr. Saldanha is actively involved in orthopaedic research. He serves as associate editor for the International Journal of Advanced Joint Reconstruction. His specific interests are in improving clinical outcomes of our war-wounded soldiers. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and lectured extensively on management of war trauma. Dr. Saldanha is expected to complete his master’s in business administration in 2019

Dr. Saldanha has received several awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, induction into the American Orthopaedic Association- Emerging Leaders Program, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He is a member of numerous medical organizations including the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Saldanha is board certified in orthopaedic surgery and enjoys treating all traumatic orthopaedic injuries. He has particular interest in fractures about the pelvis and acetabulum, non-united fractures, per-articular fractures and adult reconstructions including primary and revision hip and knee replacements.