Dr Paul Rothenberg, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specialising in the operative and non-operative treatment of sports-related injuries to the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle.
His expertise includes minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery of the knee and shoulder, cartilage restoration/preservation, and shoulder replacement surgery. An experienced orthopaedic surgeon who has years of experience treating professional and college athletes, he is a former college football player and currently the Director of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Optum Orthopedic Institute.
OPN: Could you tell us more about your experience and training background in orthopaedics?
PR: I completed my medical education and residency at the University of Miami, where I developed a strong foundation in orthopaedic surgery, with a focus on sports medicine. During residency, I had the unique opportunity to work closely with elite athletes as part of the medical teams for the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Miami Marlins, gaining invaluable hands-on experience treating high-level injuries. Following residency, I pursued a fellowship in sports medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. There, I further refined my skills, working with professional sports teams such as the NFL’s New York Jets and the NHL’s New York Islanders, which allowed me to understand the specific demands of treating athletes at the highest levels of competition. This diverse training and experience has shaped my approach to providing personalized and comprehensive care to all of my patients, from professional athletes to everyday individuals.
OPN: What drove you to choose surgery as a career – and sports medicine in particular?
PR: I’ve had a lifelong passion for sports. Growing up, I played baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. My love for athletics continued through college where I played football for four years. My experiences as an athlete gave me a deep understanding of the physical demands of sports and the impact of injuries. When I decided to pursue a career in medicine, my focus was clear—I wanted to specialize in surgery and, more specifically, sports medicine. It was a natural fit for me, combining my love of sports with my desire to help athletes recover and perform at their best. Whether it’s treating high-level athletes or active individuals, I’m driven by the opportunity to get people back to doing what they love.
OPN: As more athletes fall victim to torn ACLs, tell us more about your research into the evolution of ACL repair, such as Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair, and how athletes are able to continue enjoying their sport following injury?
PR: Early ACL repair surgeries date back over a century, and obviously medicine has come a long way since then. It was an open procedure where they would go in and suture the tear back together. Unfortunately this had a very high failure rate, leading it to be abandoned in favour of ACL reconstruction. For a long time this became the more reliable and successful approach. However, with advancements in surgical instruments, techniques, and implants, ACL repair has experienced a resurgence in recent years. The most notable of these developments came with the ability to use grafts to facilitate healing, and arthroscopic surgeries which enable a minimally invasive way of performing the surgery.
Modern ACL repairs are typically performed when the ligament is torn near its attachment point—either proximally or distally—allowing for reattachment of relatively preserved tissue. The most exciting development in ACL repair is the introduction of Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR) that you mentioned. BEAR is an innovative approach that allows for the possibility of repairing mid-substance tears. This is achieved by using a collagen scaffold, combined with the patient’s own blood, to create an environment where the two ends of the torn ligament can heal together.