Melodie Metzger, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineer & Biomechanics Expert

Investigates and analyzes biomechanical and biomedical injuries; injury causation; and medical equipment, devices and implants.

Assesses Injuries: Applying physics, anatomy and physiology, assesses injuries involving:

• skull fractures
• neck, back and spinal cord injuries
• orthopedic and neurologic injuries
• vascular ruptures
• abdominal organs
• heart, lungs, skin (including burns) and other organs
• musculo-skeletal injuries including joints (i.e., shoulders, knees, ankles and elbows), soft tissues (i.e., rotator cuff, tendons and ligaments), and fracture patterns (torso, long bone, hand, foot or skull)

Determines Cause: Applying engineering principles, determines:

• the manner in which tissue failed: the type of loading, the direction of loading and magnitude or size of the load that caused the injury
• if injury patterns are causally related or consistent with the hazardous condition or circumstances claimed
• whether there was sufficient force in the right direction to cause an injury
• the presence of pre-existing conditions and how they affect the injury
• who and/or what action contributed to the injuries
• what could have been done to prevent the injuries

Typical Personal Injury Cases Involve:

• motor vehicle collisions
• slips, trips and falls
• medical malpractice or device failures
• occupational and work place injuries
• sports and recreational injuries

Professional Experience

Provide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation involving injury analysis and causation, medical equipment, medical devices, and procedures.

Research Scientist II, Associate Professor 2024-present
Director of the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory

Research Scientist II, Assistant Professor 2018-present
Director of the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory

Faculty Research Scientist 2015-2018
Director of the Spine Biomechanics Laboratory

Project Scientist, Instructor 2009-2015
Director of the Spine Biomechanics Laboratory

Dissertation entitled: “Evaluation of Spinal Reconstructive Surgeries Using Multi-Body System Dynamics.” Developed multi-scale models of the human spine to show the effects of total disc replacement on the mechanics and stability of the spine.

Oversee administration, supervise and coordinate all projects, which include fabrication, device design, and experimental studies on an aneurysm treatment device.

Design, fabrication and experimental testing of several neuro-interventional shape memory polymer devices.

Research Assistant, Medical Technology Program Summer 2000
Functional testing of several neuron-interventional shape memory polymer devices.

Coordinate and manage a three-site NIH clinical study of the impact of nutritional supplements on chronic fatigue syndrome.

Research Assistant Summer 2009
Prepared blood and urine samples, proctored computerized cognitive performance tests, and organized paperwork for an NIH study as well as an open label and double blind study on an experimental drug for the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Teaching Experience

Didactic Lecture on Biomechanics and Biomaterials for Residents

Dissertation committee for Cesar Lopez, "Composite Mechanics of Annulus Fibrosus of Intervertebral Disc," CSUN Mechanical Engineering

Didactic Lecture for Cedars-Sinai Spine Fellows

Graduate Student Instructor, Bioengineering 10: Introduction to Biomedicine

Organic Chemistry tutor, UC Berkeley

Professional Credentials

Management of Technology Certificate, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, California

Education

Ph.D., Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, CA
B.S., Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA

Professional Memberships

Orthopaedic Research Society, member, 2012-present

Committee Appointments

• 2024-present Member, Editorial Board for the American Journal of Sports Medicine
• 2023-present Steering Committee, Cedars Sinai Medical Center’s Translational Research in BioEngineering (TRiBE)
• 2022-present Steering Committee, Cedars Sinai Medical Center’s Center for Womens Research and Health Science (CREWHS)
• 2021-present Abstract Reviewer, Orthopaedic Research Society
• 2020-present Scientific Reviewer for The Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
• 2020-present Scientific Reviewer for The Journal of Biomechanics
• 2020-present Editorial Board member, Arthroscopy
• 2018-2020 Member, Board of Trustees, Ocean Charter School, Los Angeles, CA
• 2017-2020 Governor, All Community Group, Ocean Charter School, Los Angeles, CA
• 2016-2018 Grant Reviewer, UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute
• 2015-present Scientific Reviewer for Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering
• 2015-present Scientific Reviewer for Journal of Engineering in Medicine
• 2014-present Scientific Reviewer for American Journal of Sports Medicine
• 2014-present Fellow Research Committee, Kerlan-Jobe Institute
• 2011-present Resident Research Committee, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• 2011-present Resident Education Committee, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• 2009-2014 Scientific Reviewer, Spine Arthroplasty Society's Research Committee
• 2005-2008 UCSF Graduate Student Association, Bioengineering representative

Peer Reviewed Publications

• Dansby J, Huang DT, Nakla A, Battan CG, J Tibone, Metzger MF. “Biomechanical Comparison of Full-Thickness versus Partial-Thickness Quadricep Tendon Grafts for ACL Reconstruction” to be accepted to OJSM May 2025.
• Finkel RA, Narendran N, Farivar D, Metzger MF, Skaggs, DL, Illingworth KD. “Lumbosacral anatomy is unique in pediatric spondylolysis” Spine Deform https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-025-01084-1 (2025)
• Malige A, Carbone A, Huang DT, Kanjiya S, Rahman O, Banffy M, Metzger MF. “Biomechanical Evaluation of Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction with Suture Augmentation in a PLC and PCL Deficient Knee Model” Accepted to Clinical Biomechanics v.123, 106461, doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2025.106461 (2025).
• Metzger MF, Huang DT, Kaneda G, Pham N, Gonzalez AR, Tawackoli W, Lee S, Suzuki M, Nelson TJ, Glaeser JD, Millecamps M, Stone LS, Sheyn D. “Exercise Improves Load Bearing Bone Structural Properties in Female SPARC-/- Mice but not in Males” J Orthop Res Dec;42(12):2725-273 (2024).
• Shah S, Huang DT, Marecek G, Huang K, Metzger MF. “Biomechanical Evaluation of a Central Collinear Entry Reconstruction Nail for Femoral Neck Fracture Prophylaxis” Injury. 55(8): 111640, doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2024.111640 (2024).
• Shi BY, Wu SY, Sriram V, Huang D, Metzger MF, Sundberg O, Lyons K, McKenna C, Nishimura I, Kremen TJ “Bisphosphonate Chaperones Effectively Target the Enthesis Without Impairing Soft Tissue-to-Bone Repair Integrity” Feb 16:12:1308161, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1308161. (2024)
• Pattisapu N, Huang DT, Giselle P, Charlton T, Owhonda R, Thordarson D, Metzger MF. “Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Augmentation Improves the Strength of Midfoot Beam Constructs for Treatment of Charcot Neuroarthropathy: A Biomechanical Study” accepted to Foot Ankle Int November Feb 2024.
• Stone MA, Chao L, Huang DT, Sun M, Kulber D, Metzger MF. “Biomechanical Comparison of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction Between Palmaris Longus Autograft and Knee Medial Collateral Ligament Allograft” accepted to Ortho J of Sports Med Sept 2023. 
• Lim DP, Kyhos J, Kyhos JF, Lazaro LE, Ladnier K, Nelson TJ, Eberlein SA, Banffy MB, Metzger MF., “Abductor Muscles Increase Hip Stability Against Rotational and Distractive Forces” Accepted to Ortho J of Sports Med August 2023. 
• Später T, Kaneda G, Chavez M, Sheyn J, Wechsler J, Yu V, Del Rio P, Huang D, Metzger MF, Tawackoli W, Sheyn D “Retention of human iPSC-derived or primary cells following xenotransplantation into rat immune-privileged sites” Bioengineering Sep 6;10(9):1049. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering10091049 (2023)
• Haruno L, Chen X , Metzger MF, Lin C, Little M, Kanim L, Poon S. “Racial and Sex Disparities in Resident Attrition in Orthopaedic Surgery," JBJS Open Access 8(2):e22.00148, DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.22.00148 PMID: 37351087 (2023)
• Huang DT, Foster L, Stone M, Kulber D, Metzger MF. “Biomechanical Properties of Medial Knee Collateral Ligament Allografts compared to Palmaris Longus Autografts for UCL Reconstruction” Ann Biomed Eng  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-023-03188-z PMID: 37076695 (2023). 
• Kaneda G, Chan J, Castaneda C, Papalamprou A, Sheyn J, Shelest O, Huang D, Kluster N, Yu V, Yoshida R, Metzger MF, Tawackoli W, Vernengo A, Sheyn D. “iPSC-derived tenocytes seeded on microgrooved 3D printed scaffolds for Achilles Tendon Regeneration”. Journal of Orthopaedic Research https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.25554 PMID: 36961351 (2023).
• Haruno L, Chen X , Metzger MF, Lin C, Little M, Kanim L, Poon S. “Racial and Sex Disparities in Resident Attrition Among Surgical Subspecialties” JAMA Surg. Apr 1;158(4):368-376 doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2022.7640 PMID: 36753189 (2023)
• Block T, Kulber D, Nelson TJ, Sun M, An T, Yoshida R, Metzger MF. “Hand Ligament Reconstruction with Knee Collateral Ligament Allograft vs Tendon Autograft” Journal of Hand Surgery, in press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2022.08.012, (2022)
• Metzger MF, Goel VK, Kulkarni N, Grauer JN. Biomechanics, AAOS Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review, AAOS COR 4 Chapter 58, in press, (2022).
• Haruno L, Chen X , Metzger MF, Lin C, Little M, Kanim L, Poon S. “Racial and Sex Disparities in Resident Attrition Among Surgical Subspecialties” Accepted to JAMA Surgery June 2022.
• Maldonado D, Banffy M, Huang D, Nelson TJ, Kanjiya S, Yalamanchili R, Metzger MF. “Comparable Torque to Failure Using the Simple Stich Versus the Figure of Eight Configuration for Hip Capsular Closure Following An Interportal Capsulotomy. A Cadaveric Study” 10.1016/j.arthro.2022.05.012 (2022)
• Torres SJ, Limpisvasti O, Uffmann W, Nelson TJ, Pham N, Metzger MF., “Suture Tape Augmentation Increases the Immediate Post-Operative Stiffness and Strength of ACL Grafts” Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation 4 (4): e1253-59 (2022)
• Maldonado D, Banffy M, Huang D, Nelson TJ, Kanjiya S, Metzger MF. “An Increased Allograft Width for Circumferential Labral Reconstruction Better Restores Distractive Stability of the Hip” Am J Sports Med. 50(9):2462-2468 (2022).
• Narvaez MV, Nelson TJ, Youssefzadeh K, Limpisvasti O, Metzger MF., “Biomechanical Comparison of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction with and without Internal Bracing” Am J Sports Med. 50(9):2508-2514 (2022).
• Mead N, Nelson TJ, Limpisvasti O, ElAttrache NS, Metzger MF. " Biomechanical Comparison of UCL Repair Using Suspensory Fixation Versus UCL Reconstruction" O J Sports Med 9 (9) doi.org/10.1177/23259671211038992 (2021).
• Wydra FB, Al’Khafaji I, Haruno L, Chahla J, Nelson TJ, Gerhardt MB, Metzger MF. “Hip Capsular Management with Pie-Crusting Technique: A Biomechanical Comparison to the T-Capsulotomy” Arthroscopy 37(9):2832-283 doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2021.03.044. (2021)
• Lazaro LE, Lim DP, Nelson TJ, Eberlein SA, Banffy MB, Metzger MF., “Proximal Over-resection During Femoral Osteochondroplasty Negatively Affects the Distractive Stability of the Hip Joint: A Cadaver Study” Am J Sports Med. 49(11):2977-2983 doi.org/10.1177/03635465211028979. (2021)
• Perrone MO, Noorzad A, Hamula M, Metzger MF, Banffy M, Gerhardt M. “Hip Adductor Longus Tendon Origin Anatomy is Consistent and may Inform Surgical Reattachment”, Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation (ASMAR) 3(1): E227-E232, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asmr.2020.09.015 (2021).
• Kremen TJ, Monifiston CH, Garlich J, Little M, Metzger MF. “Characterization of A Better Understanding of Infraspinatus Tendon Characteristics Anatomy: The Soft-Tissue Portion of Remplissage” Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation (ASMAR); 3(3):741-748, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asmr.2021.01.013 (2021).
• Uffmann W, ElAttrache N, Nelson TJ, Eberlein SA, Wang J, Howard DR, Metzger MF. “Posterior Lateral Meniscal Root Tears Increase Strain on the Reconstructed Anterior Cruciate Ligament: A Cadaveric Study,” in press, Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asmr.2020.11.005 (2021).
• Glaeser JD, Behrens P, Stefanovic T, Salehi K, Papalamprou A, Tawackoli W, Metzger MF, Eberlein S, Nelson TJ, Arabi Y, Kim K, Baloh R, Ben-David S,Cohn-Schwartz D, Ryu R, Bae HW, Gazit Z, Sheyn D. “Neural Crest-derived MSCs Enhance Cranial Allograft Integration” STEM CELLS Transl Med. 2020;1–13 https://doi.org/10.1002/sctm.20-0364 (2020).
• Glaeser JD, Ju D, Tawackoli W, Yang JH, Salehi K, Stefanovic T, Kanim LEA, Avalos P, Kaneda G, Stephan S, Metzger MF, Bae HW, and Dmitriy Sheyn D. “Advanced glycation end product inhibitor pyridoxamine attenuates IVD degeneration in type 2 diabetic rats” Int J Mol Sci 21(24):9709 (2020).
• Kremen TJ, Haggerty E, Eberlein SA, Chahla J, Nelson TJ, Schroeder G, Metzger MF. “Comparative Analysis of Sagittal-Plane Radiographic Landmarks Used to Identify the Femoral Attachments of Lateral Knee Structures” Arthroscopy ;36(11):2888-2896, doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2020.07.006 (2020).
• Glaeser J, Salehi K, Kanim L, Ju D, Hyuk J, Behrens P, Eberlein S, Metzger M, Arabi Y, Stefanovic T, Sheyn D, Bae H. "Electrospun, synthetic bone void filler promotes human MSC function and BMP-2 mediated spinal fusion" Journal of Biomaterials Applications, doi: 10.1177/0885328220937999 (2020).
• Garlich J, Little M, Nelson TJ, Eberlein SA, Monfiston CH, Metzger MF. “A Comparison of Three Fixation Strategies in the Treatment of Neer Type IIB Distal Clavicle Fractures,” J Orthop Trauma ;34(8):e266-e271. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000001752 (2020)
• Grotting JA, Nelson TJ, Banffy MB, Yalamanchili R, Eberlein SA, Chahla J, Metzger MF. “Biomechanical Evaluation of PCL Reconstruction Augmented with Internal Bracing” Knee Mar;27(2):375-383 (2020).
• Pfeffer G, Michalski M, Nelson TJ, An T, Metzger MF. “Extensor Tendon Transfers for Treatment of Foot Drop in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: A Biomechanical Evaluation,” Foot Ankle Int. Apr 1;41(4):449-456. doi: 10.1177/1071100719901119 (2020).
• Chahla J, Nelson TJ, Dallo I, Yalamanchili R, Eberlein SA, Limpisvasti O, Mandelbaum B, Metzger MF. “Anterior cruciate ligament repair versus reconstruction: A kinematic analysis” Knee 27(2):334-340 DOI: 10.1016/j.knee.2019.10.020 (2019).
• Garlich J, Samuel K, Nelson TJ, Monfiston CH, Kremen TJ, Metzger MF, Little M. “Infraspinatus Tenotomy Improves Glenoid Visualization with The Modified Judet Approach,” J Orthop Trauma. 2020 Mar;34(3):158- 162 (2020).
• Dutton P, Banffy M, Nelson TJ, Metzger MF. “Anatomic and Biomechanical Evaluation of Ulnar Tunnel Position in Medial Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction,” Am J Sports Med., Am J Sports Med. Oct. 24: https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546519880182, (2019).
• Thomas D, Thordarson D, Nelson TJ, Timothy CP, Eberlein S, Metzger, MF, “Biomechanical Impact of FHL Tendon Harvest on Forefoot and Great Toe Push-Off Strength and its Correlation to Knot of Henry Crossover Variation”. Accepted to Foot & Ankle Int., July 2019.
• Michalski MP, Gonzalez TA, Metzger MF, Nelson TJ, Eberlein SA, Pfeffer GB. “A Biomechanical Comparison of Achilles Tendon Pullout Strength Following Midline Tendon-Splitting and Endoscopic Approaches for Calcaneoplasty”. Foot Ankle Int. Jun 17:1071100719856939. doi: 10.1177/1071100719856939 PMID: 31203670 (2019).
• Bhamb N, Kanim LEA, Maldonado RC, Nelson TJ, Salehi K, Glaeser JD, Metzger MF. “The Impact of Type 2 Diabetes on Bone Metabolism and Growth after Spinal Fusion”. Spine J, Jun;19(6):1085-1093 (2019).
• Pfeffer GB, Gonzalez TA, Zapf M, Nelson TJ, Metzger MF. “Postoperative Achilles Pull-out Strength after Open Calcaneoplasty for Haglund’s Syndrome”. Foot Ankle Int. Aug;39(8):966-969. doi: 10.1177/1071100718770391. PMID: 29652192 (2018)
• Alayan A, Maldonado RC, Polakof L, Metzger MF, Saini A, Lin C, Moon C. "Biomechanical Analysis of a Novel Buried Fixation Technique Using Headless Compression Screws". Am J Orthop. 47(7) (2018)
• Bhamb N, Maldonado N, Kanim LEA, Svet MT, Metzger MF, "Interrelationships of Vitamin D Status, Bone Health and Fusion Consolidation," J Orthop Res. 2017 Dec 20. doi: 10.1002/jor.23832 (2017)
• Trentacosta N, Pace JL, Metzger MF,Michalski M, Nelson T, Polakof L, Mandelbaum B. “Biomechanical Evaluation of Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Techniques with and without the Anterolateral Ligament (ALL)”. J Pediatr Orthop, Oct 23 2017. DOI: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001078 (2017)
• Kremen TJ, Polakof LS, Rajee S, Nelson TJ, Metzger MF, “The effect of Hamstring Tendon Autograft Harvest on the Restoration of Knee Stability in the Setting of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture and Concurrent Medial Collateral Ligament Injury,” Am J Sports Med., Jan;46(1):163-170 (2018)
• Welch T, Mohr K, Keller T, Metzger MF, Maldonado R, Kvitne R., “The Effect of a Dynamic PCL Brace on Patellofemoral Compartment Pressures in PCL- and PCL/PLC-Deficient Knees,” Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics, J Exp Orthop., Dec;4(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s40634-017-0085-5. (2017)
• Metzger MF, Robinson ST, Maldonado R, Rawlinson JJ, Liu JC, Acosta FL, "DLIF Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion (DLIF) Strategies for Adjacent Segment Degeneration in the Lumbar Spine: A Biomechanical Analysis”. Spine J. 2017 Mar 18. pii: S1529-9430(17)30092-X. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2017.03.005. PubMed PMID: 28323239. (2017)
• Arunakul R, Metzger MF, Kanim LEA, Bae H, Kropf M, Delamarter RD. "Radiographic Analysis of the Lumbosacral Juncture: Is There a Critial Sacral Angle for Total Disc Replacement?” Asian Spine J, (2):249- 255. doi: 10.4184/asj.2017.11.2.249 (2017)
• Tuchman A, Turner A, Metzger MF, Acosta FL. “An in Vitro Biomechanical Model of Differing Pedicle Screw Configurations for Long Construct Segmental Thoracic Fixation,” Operative Neurosurgery, 0:1–6, doi: 10.1093/ons/opx051 (2017)
• Metzger MF, Robinson ST, Svet MT, Liu JC, Acosta FL, "Biomechanical Analysis of the Proximal Adjacent Segment after Multi-Level Instrumentation of the Thoracic Spine: Do Hooks Ease the Transition?” Global Spine Journal 6(4): 335-343 (2016)
• Metzger MF, Kanim LEA, Zhao L, Robinson ST, Delamarter RB. "The Relationship between Serum Vitamin D Levels and Spinal Fusion Success: A Quantitative Analysis," Spine 40(8): E458-68 (2015)
• Robinson ST, Svet MT, Kanim LA, Metzger MF, "Four-Point Bending as a Method for Quantitatively Evaluating Spinal Arthrodesis in a Rat Model," Journal of Comparative Medicine 65(1):46-50 (2015)
• Metzger MF, Kanim LEA, Zhao L, Robinson ST, Delamarter RB."The Relationship between Vitamin D Status and Successful Spinal Fusion" The Spine Journal 13(9): S53 (2013)
• Kennedy A, Coughlin DG, Metzger MF, Pearle AD, Lotz JC, Feeley BT, “Biomechanical Evaluation of Pediatric ACL Reconstruction Techniques,” The American Journal of Sports Medicine 39(5):964-71 (2011)
• Metzger MF, Faruk Senan NA, O’Reilly OM, Lotz JC, “Minimizing Errors Associated with Calculating the Helical Axis of Spinal Motion," Journal of Biomechanics 43(14): 2822-2829 (2010)
• Metzger MF, Faruk Senan NA, O’Reilly OM, "On Cartesian Stiffness Matrices in Rigid Body Dynamics: An Energetic Perspective," Journal of Multibody System Dynamics, 24(4):441–472 (2010)
• O'Reilly OM, Metzger MF, Buckley JP, Moody DA, Lotz JC, “On the Stiffness Matrix of the Intervertebral Joint: Application to Total Disc Replacement” ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 131(8):63-87 (2009)
• Small W IV, Metzger MF, Wilson TS, Maitland DJ, “Laser-activated shape memory polymer microactuator for thrombus removal following ischemic stroke: preliminary in vitro analysis” IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics 11(4):892-901 (2005)
• Suhadolnik RJ, Peterson DL, Reichenbach NL, Roen G, Metzger MF, McCahan J, O’Brien K, Welsch S, Gaughan JP, McGregor NR, “Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics Differentiating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome from Major Depression and Healthy Control Populations: Relation to Dysfunction of RNase L Pathway,” Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (2004)
• Maitland DJ, Metzger MF, Schumann D, Wilson TS, Lee A, Matthews DL, “Photothermal Properties of Laser-Activated Shape Memory Polymer Microactuators for Treating Stroke,” Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 30:1-11 (2002)
• Metzger MF, Schumann D, Wilson TS, Matthews DL, and Maitland DJ,” Mechanical Properties of a Mechanical Actuator for Treating Ischemic Stroke,” Journal of Biomedical Microdevices 4(2):89-96 (2002)

For the full CV, click here for the PDF version.

v. 07/2/25