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Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

James Chen, MD

Dr. Chen believes in treating the whole patient and not just the injury. He places special emphasis

James Chen, MD is a general orthopaedic surgeon with a focus on sports-related injuries. His practice covers a broad range of orthopaedic treatments, from fracture care to joint replacements, anatomic ACL reconstruction, or ligament repair. Dr. Chen believes in treating the whole patient, not just the injury. He places special emphasis on the important face time before and after surgery, making sure he and his staff are present, available, and ready to answer any questions you might have.

11/17/2025

“Minimally invasive” surgery means performing procedures through smaller incisions using specialized instruments and advanced technology, all designed to reduce trauma to the body. Unlike traditional open surgery, this approach typically results in less pain, lower risk of complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times. In orthopedics, it’s used for everything from joint repairs to spine procedures, allowing surgeons to access problem areas with precision while preserving healthy tissue. The goal isn’t just a smaller scar, it’s a safer, more efficient surgical experience with a smoother path back to daily life.

11/14/2025

A proximal hamstring tendon tear is a serious injury that occurs where the hamstring attaches to the pelvis, often from a sudden, forceful movement like sprinting or slipping. When the tendon is completely torn or retracted, surgical repair is often necessary to restore strength, stability, and function. Proximal hamstring tendon repair involves reattaching the torn tendon to the bone using anchors, typically through a minimally invasive or open approach, depending on severity. With proper rehab, most patients regain full function and return to sports or active lifestyles, but early diagnosis and treatment are key to the best outcome.

11/12/2025

Overtraining can take a serious toll on your joints, especially when your body isn’t getting enough time to recover between workouts. Repetitive stress without rest can lead to inflammation, cartilage breakdown, joint instability, and a higher risk of overuse injuries like tendinitis or stress fractures. You might notice persistent soreness, stiffness, or a drop in performance, all signs that your joints are under too much pressure. Recovery isn’t a setback, it’s part of the process. Giving your joints time to heal is key to staying strong, mobile, and injury-free in the long run.

11/10/2025

If you’ve been told you have “bone-on-bone” joint pain, it usually means that the protective cartilage in your joint has worn away, and now the bones are rubbing directly against each other. This most often happens in the knee, hip, or shoulder, and it can lead to pain, stiffness, swelling, and limited mobility.

While it sounds severe (and it can be), “bone-on-bone” doesn’t always mean immediate surgery. Treatment depends on how much pain you're in and how it's affecting your daily life. Options may include:
— Activity modification
— Physical therapy
— Joint injections
— Bracing or support
— And when needed, joint replacement surgery

The key is early evaluation and a personalized care plan. If your joints are slowing you down or keeping you up at night, it’s worth getting checked. There are more options than you think.

11/07/2025

Recovering from a shoulder injury isn’t just about rest, it’s about rebuilding strength, mobility, and stability in the right way.

After the initial healing phase, a guided strengthening program can help:
— Support the joint and surrounding muscles
— Prevent re-injury
— Restore full range of motion
— Improve everyday function and performance

Key focus areas include the rotator cuff, scapular stabilizers, and core, all of which play a role in shoulder control and movement. It’s not about lifting heavy; it’s about intentional, well-timed rehab that matches your injury and stage of recovery.

Whether you’ve had surgery or not, strengthening your shoulder is one of the most important steps in a full recovery, and your care team should walk you through every stage.

$What Is Percutaneous Scaphoid Repair?A scaphoid fracture (a break in one of the small bones in your wrist) can be tricky...$

11/05/2025

What Is Percutaneous Scaphoid Repair?

A scaphoid fracture (a break in one of the small bones in your wrist) can be tricky to treat, especially if it’s not diagnosed early. That’s where percutaneous scaphoid repair comes in.

This minimally invasive surgical technique allows us to stabilize the fracture using a small incision and a surgical screw, without fully opening the wrist. The benefits?
— Less soft tissue disruption
— Shorter recovery times
— Smaller scar
— Faster return to daily activities

Percutaneous repair is ideal for non-displaced or minimally displaced scaphoid fractures and is especially beneficial for athletes or active individuals who want to heal quickly and safely.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a scaphoid fracture, early evaluation is key. This bone has a limited blood supply, and delayed healing can lead to long-term issues if left untreated.

11/03/2025

For younger patients with shoulder arthritis, especially those with early-onset or “premature” osteoarthritis, full shoulder replacement may feel too aggressive and that's where glenoid resurfacing comes in.

Glenoid resurfacing is a joint-preserving procedure that targets the socket side of the shoulder (the glenoid). Instead of replacing the entire joint, we resurface just the damaged cartilage with a smooth implant or biological graft, helping reduce pain, improve mobility, and buy time before a total joint replacement is needed.

It’s especially beneficial for active patients under 50 who want to maintain more of their natural joints and avoid restrictions associated with full replacements.

If you’ve been told you’re “too young” for shoulder replacement but still dealing with daily pain and stiffness, glenoid resurfacing may be a great alternative.

10/31/2025

💪 The rotator cuff is a group of four small muscles and their tendons that surround the shoulder joint. Working together, they keep the ball of your upper arm bone securely in the shoulder socket while allowing you to lift, rotate, and move your arm. When the rotator cuff is strained or torn, even simple movements like reaching overhead or lifting a bag can become painful. 💙 Keeping the rotator cuff strong and flexible is key to shoulder health and injury prevention. 👉 If you’ve been experiencing shoulder pain or weakness, schedule an evaluation to protect your rotator cuff and restore healthy movement.

$🦴 When a bone fracture is too severe to heal on its own, surgeons may use internal fixation, specialized hardware like p...$

10/29/2025

🦴 When a bone fracture is too severe to heal on its own, surgeons may use internal fixation, specialized hardware like plates, screws, or rods, to hold the bone in its proper position during healing. Plates and screws are often used for complex fractures near joints, while rods are commonly placed inside long bones like the femur or tibia to stabilize them. These devices keep the bone aligned, allow earlier movement, and improve the chances of full recovery. 💙 With proper surgical care and rehab, most patients regain strength and function after internal fixation. 👉 If you’ve suffered a fracture, schedule an orthopedic consultation to learn whether internal fixation is the right option for you.

10/27/2025

🦵 Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows orthopedic surgeons to see inside the knee joint using a tiny camera. Through small incisions, specialized instruments are used to diagnose and treat problems like torn meniscus, ACL injuries, cartilage damage, or loose fragments. Because the procedure requires only small incisions, patients often experience less pain, quicker recovery, and smaller scars compared to traditional surgery. 💙 Knee arthroscopy is one of the most common and effective ways to restore function and relieve knee pain. 👉 If knee pain is keeping you from moving comfortably, schedule a consultation to see if arthroscopy may be the right solution.

10/24/2025

🏃 Your knee has important ligaments on both sides that provide stability: the MCL (medial collateral ligament) on the inside and the LCL (lateral collateral ligament) on the outside. An MCL injury is more common, often caused by a blow to the outer knee that overstretches the inner ligament. An LCL injury is less frequent but occurs when the inner knee takes the hit, stressing the outer ligament. Both can cause pain, swelling, and instability, but treatment depends on severity and whether other ligaments are involved. 💙 With proper diagnosis and care, from bracing and therapy to surgery in severe cases, most patients regain full knee stability. 👉 If you’ve had knee pain after an injury, schedule an orthopedic evaluation to find out if it’s an MCL or LCL issue.

10/22/2025

🦴 A hip osteotomy is a surgical procedure used to correct abnormal alignment of the hip joint, often caused by conditions like hip dysplasia or early arthritis. During the surgery, the surgeon cuts and repositions the hip socket or thigh bone to improve how the joint fits together, reducing pain and slowing down joint damage. By redistributing weight more evenly across the hip, osteotomy can delay or even prevent the need for a total hip replacement. 💙 It’s often recommended for younger, active patients who want to preserve their natural hip for as long as possible. 👉 If you’ve been diagnosed with hip dysplasia or early hip arthritis, schedule a consultation to see if a hip osteotomy may be right for you.

Address

450 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA
94108

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14159003000

Website

http://www.jameschenmd.com/

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