About John Costouros, MD
Orthopedic Shoulder Surgeon Serving Menlo Park and the Bay Area
Office Location
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Dr. John Costouros
1706 El Camino Real Suite 101
Menlo Park, CA 94027
Specialties
Call us at
(510) 818-7200
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A Leading Shoulder Surgeon in the Bay Area at the Institute for Joint Restoration and Research

Dr. Costouros has devoted his entire career to becoming an expert in the comprehensive treatment of all disorders affecting the shoulder – from sports injuries, to fractures, rotator cuff tears, instability problems and arthritis. As a prior full-time member of the Stanford Orthopedic Surgery Faculty, he has trained hundreds of surgeons from around the world and has shared the very latest advancements and techniques.
Although many injuries of the shoulder can be treated without surgery, those that will require an operation can be treated today with arthroscopic surgery – a minimally-invasive technique that requires minimal downtime and enables faster recovery.
Dr. Costouros also specializes in shoulder joint replacement surgery for more complex problems such as advanced arthritis or some irreparable rotator cuff tears. He has been a leader in developing cutting-edge technology for shoulder surgery and has led multiple FDA clinical trials which have benefitted patients throughout the country.
He has partnered with Dr. John Dearborn at the Institute for Joint Restoration and Research where they share the same philosophy of providing patients “better and more consistent care in a specialty setting focused on exceptional outcomes, service and quality.”
Read Dr. Costouros' CV

1990 – 1994 — B.S. with Honors, Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
1994 – 1998 — M.D., University of California, San Francisco, CA
1998 – 1999 — University of California, San Francisco, CA Internship in General Surgery
1999 – 2004 — University of California, San Francisco, CA Residency in Orthopaedic Surgery
2004 – 2005 — Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Fellowship in Shoulder & Elbow Surgery, Sports Medicine
2005 – 2005 — University of Zürich, Balgrist Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland Fellowship in Shoulder & Elbow Surgery, Sports Medicine
1999 — Medical Board of California, Physician & Surgeon, #A71437
1999 — Drug Enforcement Administration Certificate, #BC6786098
2000 — California Fluoroscopy Supervisor and Operator, #RHC149962
2004 — Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Physician & Surgeon, #219738
2008 — Board Certified, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons
2009 — Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
2011 — Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS)
2012 — Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Sports Medicine
2019 — Renewal of Board Certification, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons
2019 — Renewal of Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Sports Medicine
1995 – 1998 — Admissions Committee, School of Medicine, University of
California, San Francisco
2004 – 2005 Clinical Instructor in Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
2006 – 2013 Adjunct Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Biomechanics, College of Arts and Sciences, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2007 – 2013 — Adjunct Professor, Graduate School of Athletic Training, College of Arts and Sciences, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2008 – 2013 — Medical Director, Graduate School of Athletic Training, College of Arts and Sciences, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2011 – 2019 — Assistant Professor, Medical Center Line, Shoulder & Elbow Surgery, Sports Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford, CA
2011 — Reviewer, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
2011 – 2019 — Admissions Committee, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
2012 – 2019 — Faculty Advisory Committee, Stanford University Office of Continuing Medical Education (CME), Stanford, CA
2012 – 2017 — Program Committee, Shoulder and Elbow Educational Sessions, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting
2013 — Reviewer, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS)
2018 – 2022 — Chairman, Instructional Course Lectures (ICL) Committee, Shoulder & Elbow Sessions, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting
2005-2009 — Faculty, Shoulder Arthroscopy Skills Sessions, Arthroscopy Association of North America, 24th – 28th Fall Courses
2007 — Faculty, Instructional Course Lectures, Arthroscopy Association of North America, 25th Annual Meeting
2008-2010 — Program Chair, Kaiser Permanente JOJ Annual Orthopaedic Symposium
2009-2010 — Visiting Professor, Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
2009-2010 — Program Chair, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Inman-Abbott Annual Orthopaedic Symposium
2010 — Program Co-Chair, Dale Daniel National Orthopaedic Symposium
2010-2013 — Faculty, Instructional Course Lectures, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 77th – 80th Annual Meeting
2011 — Program Chair, Northern California Chapter of the Western Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting
2012 – 2016 — Program Committee, Shoulder & Elbow Sessions, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting
2013 — Faculty, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 80th Annual Meeting, American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons Specialty Day.
2013 — Faculty, International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, 9th Biennial Congress
2015 — Program Committee, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 82nd Annual Meeting, American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons Specialty Day
2015 — Program Committee, American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons, Annual Closed Meeting
2016 — Faculty, San Diego Shoulder Institute (SDSI) 33rd Annual Meeting
2017 — Faculty, Masters Shoulder Symposium
2017 — Faculty, San Diego Shoulder Institute (SDSI) 34th Annual Meeting
2017 — Faculty, Japanese Shoulder Society 44th Annual Meeting and 1st Asia-Pacific Shoulder Elbow Symposium
2018 — Faculty, San Diego Shoulder Institute (SDSI) 35th Annual Meeting
2018 – Present — Chairman, Instructional Course Lectures (ICL) Committee, Shoulder & Elbow Sessions, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting
2019 – Present —Faculty, Masters Shoulder Symposium
2019 — Faculty, 9th M.O.R.E. International Symposium
2019 — Faculty, San Diego Shoulder Institute 36th Annual Meeting
2019 – Present — Faculty, Northern California Shoulder & Elbow Course
2020 — Faculty, Instructional Course Lectures, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 87th Annual Meeting
2020 — Faculty, Masters Shoulder Symposium
2020 — Faculty, San Diego Shoulder Institute 37th Annual Meeting
2020 — Faculty, Orthopaedic Summit Evolving Technologies (OSET) Annual Meeting
2021 — Faculty, Masters Shoulder Symposium
2021 — Faculty, Instructional Course Lectures, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 88th Annual Meeting
2022 — Faculty, Instructional Course Lectures, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 89th Annual Meeting
2022 — Faculty, Arthroscopy Association of North America 40th Annual
2005 – 2011 — Attending Staff and Senior Physician, Orthopaedic Surgery Shoulder & Elbow Disorders, Sports Medicine Kaiser Permanente Medical Group San Jose Medical Center, San Jose, CA
2006 – 2011 — Director, Shoulder Arthroplasty Clinical Outcomes Registry Kaiser Permanente, Northern California
2007 – 2011 — Chairman, Occupational Orthopaedic Surgery Service Kaiser Permanente Medical Group San Jose Medical Center, San Jose, CA
2007 – 2011 — Regional Chief, Northern California Shoulder & Elbow Service Kaiser Permanente, Northern California
2011 – 2019 — Attending Surgeon, Stanford University Healthcare, Stanford, CA
2011 – 2019 — Attending Surgeon, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA
2012 – 2019 — Continuing Medical Education (CME) Faculty Advisory Committee, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA
2012 – 2019 — Director and Founder, Stanford Shoulder Clinical Outcomes Registry, Stanford University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford, CA
2019 – Present — Chief of Shoulder Surgery, Institute for Joint Restoration and Research (IJRR), Washington Hospital Healthcare System and Washington Township Medical Foundation, Fremont, CA
2020 – Present — Director, Shoulder Service, Center for Joint Restoration, Washington Hospital Healthcare System and Washington Township Medical Foundation, Fremont, CA
1999 – Present — American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
1999 – Present — Arthroscopy Association of North America
1998 – Present — American Medical Association
1999 – Present — California Orthopaedic Association
1999 – Present — California Medical Association
2002 – Present — Health Volunteers Overseas
2002 – Present — Orthopaedics Overseas
2005 – Present — Santa Clara County Medical Association
2005 – Present — Western Orthopaedic Association
2008 – Present — Board of Directors, Leroy C. Abbott Orthopaedic Society, University of California, San Francisco
2009 – 2012 — Board of Directors, Western Orthopaedic Association, Northern California Chapter
2011 – Present — American College of Surgeons
2011 – 2012 — President, Western Orthopaedic Association, Northern California Chapter
2011 – 2013 — President, Leroy C. Abbott Orthopaedic Society, University of California, San Francisco
2011 – Present — European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder & Elbow (SECEC/ESSSE)
2011 – Present — American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons, Active Member
2011 – 2012 — President and Founding Member, Northern California Orthopaedic Society
2011 – 2018 — Board of Directors, Northern California Orthopaedic Society
2012 – Present — Bylaws Committee, Arthroscopy Association of North America
2012 – Present — Board of Directors, The Elios Society
2012 – Present — Board of Directors, The Elios Charitable Foundation
2014 – Present — International Committee, Arthroscopy Association of North America
2015 – Present — International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery & Sports Medicine
2016 – Present — Board of Directors, The Codman Society
2016 – 2020 — Membership Committee, American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons
2017 – Present — Grants Committee, American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons Foundation
2017 — American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Certification/Recertification Examination in Sports Medicine, Standard Setting Exercise Committee
2017 – Present — American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Re-certification Examination Committee in Shoulder & Elbow
2019 – Present — Hippocratic Orthopaedic Society (HOS)
2023 – Present — Communications Committee, International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery & Sports Medicine
2006 – 2012 — San Jose State University Athletics (Division 1) Associate Team Orthopaedic Surgeon: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Soccer
1994 — Departmental Honors, Biological Sciences, Stanford University
1995 — Firestone Honorary Research Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco
1995 – 1998 — Admissions Committee, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
1997 — Alumni Scholarship for Academic Excellence, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
2002 — Arthroscopy Association of North America Research Fellowship
2002 — UCSF Leroy C. Abbott Orthopaedic Society Award for Excellence in Basic Science Research, presented by Joseph Buckwalter, M.D.
2003 — Arthroscopy Association of North America, Research Poster of The Year Award
2004 — UCSF Leroy C. Abbott Orthopaedic Society Award for Excellence in Basic Science Research, presented by Shawn O’Driscoll, M.D., Ph.D.
2005 — Smith & Nephew Endoscopy Research Award for Outstanding Contribution to Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery
2006 — Arthroscopy Association of North America Research Award
2012 — American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) – Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Honorary Traveling Fellowship
Peer-Reviewed Original Articles:
Menendez, M.E., Sudah, S.Y, Denard, P.J., PacWest Shoulder Study Group, Costouros, J.G. Surgeon Variation in Glenoid Bone Reconstruction Procedures for Shoulder Instability. J Shoulder Elbow Surgeons 32(1):133-40, 2023.
Costouros, J.G., Ueda, Y., Comer, G.C., Saleh, J., Diaz, R. and Cheung, E.V. Functional Outcomes are Equivalent following Resection Arthroplasty and Antibiotic Cement Spacer Retention versus Reimplantation for Shoulder Infection. BMC Musculoskeletal Journal, 2023 (in revision).
Johnston, T.R., Behn, A.W., Thio, T., Costouros, J.G. Cyclic Biomechanical Evaluation of Single-Tunnel Coracoclavicular Reconstruction: Is Augmentation Necessary? Am J Sports Med, 2023 (in revision).
Nourissat, G., Le Hanneur, M., Burkhead, W.Z. Jr., Costouros, J.G., Jerosch, J. Stemless Shoulder Arthroplasty. Instr Course Lect 71:377-84, 2022.
Hakverdiyev, Y., McFarland, E.G., Kaymakoglu, M., Ozdemir, E., Akpinar, S., Huri, P., Costouros, J.G., Huri, G. Biomechanical Strength of Screw versus Suture Button Fixation in the Latarjet Procedure: a Cadaver Study. Orthopedics 45(6):e321-25, 2022.
Sun, L.Y., Basireddy, S., Gerber, L.N., Lamano, J., Costouros, J.G., Cheung, E.V., Boublik, J., Horn, J.L., Tsui, B.C.H. Continuous Interscalene versus Phrenic Nerve-Sparing High-Thoracic Erector Spinae Plane Block for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Can J Anesthesia 69(5):614-23, 2022.
Freehill, M.T., Weick, J.W., Ponce, B.A., Bedi, A., Haas, D., Ruffino, B., Robbins, C., Prete, A.M., Costouros, J.G., Warner, J.J. Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Component Size Prediction with 3-Dimemsional Pre-Operative Digital Planning. J Shoulder Elbow Arthroplasty 2022; 6:24715492221098818.
Gerber, L.N, Sun, L.Y., Ma, W., Basireddy, S., Guo, N., Costouros, J.G., Cheung, E.V., Boublik, J.,
Horn, J.L., Tsui, B.C. Clinical Effect of Normal Saline Injectate into Interscalene Nerve Block Catheters Given Within One Hour of Local Anesthetic Bolus on Analgesia and Hemidiaphragmatic Paralysis. Reg Anesth Pain Med 46(2):124-29, 2021.
Hah, J.M., Hilmoe, H., Schmidt, P., McCue, R., Trafton, J., Clay, D., Sharifzadeh, Y., Ruchelli, G.,
Boussard, T.H., Goodman, S., Huddleston, J., Maloney, W.J., Dirbas, F.M., Shrager, J., Costouros,
J.G., Curtin, C., Mackey, S.C., Carroll, I. Preoperative Factors Associated with Remote Postoperative Pain Resolution and Opioid Cessation in a Mixed Surgical Cohort: Post Hoc Analysis of a Perioperative Gabapentin Trial. Journal Pain Res 13:2959-70, 2020.
Huri, G., Ozdemir, E., Ziroglu, N., Costouros, J.G., McFarland, E. Results of Acromioclavicular Joint Reconstruction Using a Novel Minimally Invasive Technique. Turk J Traum Emerg Surg 26(2): 260-64, 2020.
Romeo, A., Erickson, B., Costouros, J.G., Long, N., Klassen, J., Araghi, A., Brown, J., Setter, K., Port, J., Denard, P., Van Kleunen, J., Tyndall, W., Verma, N., Nicholson, G., Sears, B., Hatzidakis, A., Smith, M., McFadden, E., Patterson, P., Slough, J., Stein, J., Farmer, K., Cohen, B., Namdari, S., Getz, C., Abboud, J., Brandon, T. Eclipse Stemless Shoulder Prosthesis vs. Univers II Shoulder Prosthesis: A Multicenter, Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial. J Shoulder Elbow Surgeons 29(11):2200-12, 2020.
Ngai, L.K., Ma, W., Costouros, J.G., Cheung, E.V., Horn, J.L., Tsui, B.C.H. Successful Reversal of Phrenic Nerve Blockade Following Washout of Interscalene Nerve Block as Demonstrated by Ultrasonographic Diaphragmatic Excursion. J. Clin Anesth 15(59), 46-48, 2020.
Freehill, M., Weick, J., Ponce, B., Bedi, A., Haas, D., Ruffino, B., Robbins, C., Prete, A., Costouros, J.G., Warner, J. Pre-operative Planning for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty and Component Size Predictive Validation: Implications for Inventory Management. J Shoulder Elbow Surgeons OA 3:239-40, 2019.
Ma, W., Sun, L., Ngai, L.K., Costouros, J.G., Steffner, R., Boublik, J., Tsui, B.C.H. Motor-Sparing High-Thoracic Erector Spinae Block for Proximal Humerus Surgery and Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Surgery: Clinical Evidence for Differential Peripheral Nerve Block?. Can J Anaesth 66(10), 1274-75, 2019.
Hah, J.M., Cramer, E., Hilmoe, H., Schmidt, P., McCue, R., Trafton, J., Clay, D., Sharifzadeh, Y., Ruchelli, G., Goodman, S., Huddleston, J., Maloney, W.J., Dirbas, F.M., Shrager, J., Costouros, J.G., Curtin, C., Mackey, S.C., Carroll, I. Factors Associated with Acute Pain Estimation, Postoperative Pain Resolution, Opioid Cessation, and Recovery: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open 2(3):e190168, 2019.
Cheung, E.V., Sarkissian, E.J., Sox-Harris, A., Comer, G.C., Saleh, J.R., Diaz, R., Costouros, J.G. Instability after Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elbow Surgeons 27(11):1946-52, 2018.
Smith, K.M., Le, A.D.K., Costouros, J.G., Dragoo, M.D. Biologics for Rotator Cuff Repair: A Critical Analysis Review. J Bone Joint Surg Rev 6(10):e8, 2018.
Johannsen, A.M. and Costouros, J.G. A Treatment-Based Algorithm for the Management of Type-II SLAP Tears. The Open Orthopaedics Journal 12:282-87, 2018.
Hah, J., Mackey, S.C., Schmidt, P., McCue, R., Humphreys, K., Trafton, J., Efron, B., Clay, D., Sharifzadeh, Y., Ruchelli, G., Goodman, S., Huddleston, J., Maloney, W.J., Dirbas, F.M., Schrager, J., Costouros, J.G., Curtin, C., and Carroll, I. Effect of Perioperative Gabapentin on Postoperative Pain Resolution and Opioid Cessation in a Mixed Surgical Cohort. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg 153(4): 303-11, 2018.
Ueda, Y., Comer, G.C., Saleh, J.R., Costouros, J.G. Simultaneous Bilateral Resection Total Shoulder Arthroplasty with Anatomic Antibiotic Cement Spacer Placement. J Shoulder Elbow Surgeons OA 1:129-32, 2017.
Finnoff, J.T., Costouros, J.G., and Kennedy, D.J. Is Ultrasound Guidance Needed for Shoulder Injections? Phys Med Rehab 7:435-42, 2015.
Rao, A.J., Johnston, T.R., Harris, A.S., Smith, R.L., and Costouros, J.G. Inhibition of Chondrocyte and Synovial Cell Death Following Exposure to Commonly Used Anesthetics. Am J Sports Med 42(1): 508, 2013.
Navarro, R., Inacio, M., Burke, M., Costouros, J.G., and Yian, E.H. Risk of Thromboembolism in Shoulder Arthroplasty: Effect of Implant Type and Traumatic Indication. Clin Orthop Relat Res 471: 1576-1581, 2013.
Fucentese, S.F., Costouros, J.G., Kuhnel, S.P., and Gerber, C. Total Shoulder Arthroplasty with an Uncemented Soft-Metal-Backed Glenoid Component. J Shoulder Elbow Surgeons 19(4): 624-31, 2010.
Gerber, C., Costouros, J.G., Sukthankar, A., Fucentese, S.F. Static Posterior Humeral Head Subluxation and Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 18(4): 505-10, 2009.
Costouros, J.G., Von Campe, A., and Gerber, C. Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair is Associated with Less Postoperative Fatty Infiltration than Open Repair. Arthroscopy 22(6): e16-e17, 2008.
Costouros, J.G. and Kim, H.T. Preventing chondrocyte programmed cell death caused by iatrogenic injury. Knee 14(2):107-11, 2007.
Costouros, J.G., Espinosa, N., Schmid, M.R., and Gerber, C. Teres Minor Integrity Predicts Outcome following Latissimus Dorsi Tendon Transfer. J Shoulder Elbow Surgeons 16: 727-734, 2007.
Costouros, J.G., Porramatikul, M. Lie, D.T., and Warner, J.J.P. Reversal of Suprascapular Neuropathy following Arthroscopic Repair of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears. Arthroscopy 23: 1152-1161, 2007.
Costouros, J.G., Clavert, P., and Warner, J.J.P. The Trans-Cuff Portal for Posterior Labral Capsulorrhaphy. Arthroscopy 22(10): 1138, 2006.
Costouros, J.G., Dang, A.C., and Kim, H.T. Comparison of Chondrocyte Apoptosis In Vivo and In Vitro following Acute Osteochondral Injury. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 22: 678-83, 2004.
Costouros, J.G. and Kim, H.T. Inhibition of Chondrocyte Apoptosis In Vivo following Acute Osteochondral Injury. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 11: 756-59, 2003. Browner, J.S., Wootton-Gorges, S.L., Costouros, J.G., Boakes, J. and Greenspan, A. Congenital Diplopia. Pediatric Radiology 33: 797-99, 2003.
Costouros, J.G., Raineri, G.R., and Cannon, Jr., W.D. Return of Motion After Simultaneous Repair of Displaced Bucket-Handle Meniscal Tears and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Arthroscopy 15: 192-196, 1999.
Non Peer-Reviewed Original Articles:
Costouros, J.G. Revision Burden Following Failed Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Perspective. Orthopedics Today, April 1, 2016.
Costouros, J.G. Rotator Cuff Repair Delivers Increased Lifetime Societal Cost Savings: Perspective. Orthopedics Today, January 1, 2014.
Costouros, J.G. FDA Clinical Trial. A Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Study Comparing the Safety and Effectiveness of the Arthrex Eclipse™ to the Univers™ II Total Shoulder Prosthesis in Patients with Degenerative Joint Disease. ($652,341.00). Completed.
Costouros, J.G. FDA Clinical Trial. Multicenter Trial of the Zimmer Sidus™ Stem-Free Shoulder Arthroplasty System. ($189,192.04). Completed.
Costouros, J.G. FDA Clinical Trial. Multicenter Trial of the Tornier Pyrocarbon (PyC) Ascend Flex Shoulder Arthroplasty System. ($68,961.30). Completed.
Costouros, J.G. FDA Clinical Trial. Pivotal, Non-Randomized, Historically Controlled, Prospective, Multi-Center Clinical Study of the FX Shoulder Easytech Stemless Reversed Shoulder System.($104,211.00). Completed.

John Costouros, MD
Dr. Costouros has devoted his entire career to becoming an expert in the comprehensive treatment of all disorders affecting the shoulder – from sports injuries, to fractures, rotator cuff tears, instability problems and arthritis.