For all publications, please see the PubMed listing
Karen M. Sutton, MD
Sports Medicine Surgeon
About Dr. Sutton
Dr. Sutton is a board certified sports medicine surgeon with surgical expertise in arthroscopy of the shoulder, knee and hip. She is an orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery and a member of the Sports Medicine Institute and Women’s Sports Medicine Center at HSS. She is also Chief Medical Officer for World Lacrosse and Team Physician for US Ski & Snowboard.
Dr. Sutton's passion for sports medicine stems from her years playing lacrosse at Duke University where she was Team Captain for 3 years, Regional All-American, Academic All-American, and led her team to the Final Four. As Head Team Physician of US Women's Lacrosse, Dr. Sutton is responsible for providing care for National Team athletes. She was elected to the Sports, Science and Safety Committee for United States Lacrosse where she advises the Board of US Lacrosse on injury prevention and management. She has also been working with Darien Lacrosse and Fairfield Ludlow Lacrosse in Connecticut. She also served as Team Physician for Yale University Athletics, Albertus Magnus College and the professional Women's Tennis Association (WTA). During her fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine, she assisted in the orthopedic care of the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins and the New England Revolution.
A national authority on sports injuries and prevention, Dr. Sutton has worked with various news outlets such as NBC Universal, ESPN-W, WFAN radio, WTNH, WYBC and News 12 Connecticut. She has made substantial contributions to research, publishing over 30 publications and giving over 80 presentations on topics from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction to treating the female athlete to shoulder issues in breast cancer. Dr. Sutton is also an elected member of the American Orthopaedic Association, acknowledging scholarship in orthopedic surgery. She serves on multiple committees on the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine. She is a reviewer of leading orthopedic journals, including The American Journal of Sports Medicine, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and The Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery.
Dr. Sutton began her academic career at Duke University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in biochemistry, graduating with distinction. She earned her medical degree at University of Maryland. She completed her orthopedic surgery residency at Yale University School of Medicine followed by fellowships in sports medicine at Massachusetts GeneralHospital/Harvard School of Medicine and pediatric sports medicine at Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine. She was an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Yale University.
Profile Video
Special Expertise
Female athlete
ACL injuries
Rotator cuff disease
Shoulder instability/dislocations
Patellofemoral pain
Hip injuries
Pediatric sports medicine
Patient Stories
Patient ratings for Dr. Sutton
Friendliness/courtesy of the care provider
5.0(48)Your confidence in this care provider
5.0(48)Insurance
Aetna
BCBS Anthem Gatekeeper Individual Network
BCBS Federal
BCBS Anthem of NY (formerly Empire)
BCBS Horizon (excluding OMNIA)
BCBS Anthem of CT
Cigna
Connecticare (not through Access Health CT)
EmblemHealth GHI
EmblemHealth HIP
EmblemHealth Medicare
EmblemHealth Select Care
The Empire Plan / NYSHIP
Medicare Part B
Oxford
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare Compass
UnitedHealthcare Medicare HMO
UnitedHealthcare Medicare PPO
BCBS Anthem Gatekeeper Individual Network
BCBS Federal
BCBS Anthem of NY (formerly Empire)
BCBS Horizon (excluding OMNIA)
BCBS Anthem of CT
Cigna
Connecticare (not through Access Health CT)
EmblemHealth GHI
EmblemHealth HIP
EmblemHealth Medicare
EmblemHealth Select Care
The Empire Plan / NYSHIP
Medicare Part B
Oxford
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare Compass
UnitedHealthcare Medicare HMO
UnitedHealthcare Medicare PPO
If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.
Credentials
Appointments
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Associate Professor, Clinical Orthopedic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College
Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Affiliations
American Orthopaedic Association, 2015-present
Arthroscopy Association of North America, 2008-present
American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine, 2008-present
Eastern Orthopaedic Society, 2008-present
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2003-present
Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, 2002-present
American Medical Association, 1999-present
The Bassett Society, 1997-present
US Lacrosse, 1994-present
Certifications
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)
ABOS Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Awards
Castle Connolly Top Doctors in New York Metro Area, 2021
New York Magazine Top Doctors, 2021
Connecticut Magazine Best Doctors, 2018
New Haven Living Best Doctors, 2015
Cambridge Who's Who, 2011, 2014, 2016
Pinkney Fellow, 2002
First Place, Medical Student Research Day, 2002
Rush Medical Club, 2002
Bassett Scholar, Duke University, 1999-2003
ACC 'Top Six for Service', 1999
Graduation with DistinctionâDuke University, 1998
IWLCA South Region All-AmericanâDivision I women's lacrosse, 1998
ACC Women's Lacrosse All-Tournament, 1998
IWLCA Academic All-American, 1997 and 1998
Blue Devil Club Outstanding Scholar-Athlete of the Year Finalist, 1998
Kenneth Gordon Fellowship, 1998
Phi Lambda Upsilon Honorary Chemical Society, 1998
Education
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Internship:Yale University, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Residency:Yale University, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship:Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine
State Licensure
New York, Connecticut
Languages
EnglishFor My Patients
Message to My Patients
Preoperative Guidelines
- Preparing for Your Achilles Tendon Repair
- Preparing for Your ACL Reconstruction - Hamstring Autograft
- Preparing for Your ACL Reconstruction - Bone-Tendon-Bone Autograft
- Preparing for Your Biceps Tenodesis
- Preparing for Your Knee Arthroscopy
- Preparing for Your Meniscus Repair
- Preparing for Your Rotator Cuff Surgery
- Preparing for Your Shoulder Labral Repair
Postoperative Guidelines
Rehabilitation Guidelines
- Achilles tendon repair
- ACL reconstruction
- Anterior shoulder stabilization
- Hip arthroscopy
- Meniscus repair
- Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFL)
- Meniscectomy
- Microfracture
- Post Operative Arthroscopic Subacromial Decompression Protocol
- Osteochondral allograft
- Quadriceps and patellar tendon repair
- Rotator cuff repair
- Shoulder Arthroscopic Capsular Release Rehabilitation
- Shoulder Rotator Cuff and Scapular Strengthening Program
- SLAP repair
- Tibial tubercle transfer
- Turmeric, Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine Supplements in Osteoarthritis
Publications by Dr. Sutton
Patient Education
Selected Journal Articles
Selected Books/Chapters
Sutton KM: Orthopaedic Examination. In: Preparticipation Physical Examination, 5th ed., American Academy of Pediatrics 2017. (in press)
Sutton KM, Grauer JN: Basic Science Articular Cartilage. In: Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review, AAOS 2012.
Sutton K, Tomak S, Fleming L: Percutaneous/Minimally Invasive Achilles Tendon Repair. In: Weisel S, ed. Operative Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery, 1st ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007.
Covey AS, Sutton KM, Smart LR, Jokl P: Aging and the Master Tennis Athlete.
Selected Presentations
Sutton KM. Options for partial rotator cuff lesions. New England Orthopaedic Society: Jiminy Peak, MA. June 2017
Sutton KM. Update on prevention of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the female athlete. Presented at the Duke University School of Medicine Feagin Leadership Program: Durham, NC. May 2017.
Sutton KM. Anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention in lacrosse. Presented at the US Lacrosse Sports Medicine Symposium: Baltimore, MD. January 2017.
Sutton KM. Shoulder injuries in men's lacrosse. Presented at the Basett Society Meeting: Duke University, Durham, NC, November 2016.
Sutton, KM: Adhesive capsulitis and the association with breast cancer. Presented for the Duke University Bassett Society: Durham, NC, October 2015.
Sutton, KM: Techniques in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Presented for the Future Leaders in Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Program: Raynam, MA, September, 2015
Sutton KM: United States Lacrosse Webcast Health and Safety: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries. Presented at the United States Health and Safety Webcast: Baltimore, MD, May 2014.
Sutton, K.M.: Important updates on anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgical techniques. Keynote speaker for Women in Sports Conference, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, June 14, 2013.
Wu JL, Seon JK, Hemanth GR, Hosseini A, Sutton KM, Gill TJ, Li G: In-situ forces in the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament under simulated physiological loading conditions. Presented at the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine: New Orleans, LA, March 2010.
Sutton KM, Mankin HJ: The potential role of cyclooxygenase-2 in chondrosarcoma. Presented at the Orthopaedic Research Education Foundation Meeting at Hospital for Joint Diseases: New York, NY, May, 2006.
Research
2016-present Yale University New Haven, CT
Biomechanics Lab
- Shoulder pad force absorption in men's lacrosse
- Co-investigators: Blaine, Theodore; Gardner, Elizabeth; Tommasini, Steven; Kovacevic, David
- Grant awarded for research
2014-present Yale University New Haven, CT
Smilow Cancer Center
- Adhesive Capsulitis in the breast cancer population
- Co-investigators: Knobf, Tish and Friedman, Louis
- Grant awarded for research
Clinical Trials / Research Studies
Industry Relationships
HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.
Below are the healthcare industry relationships reported by Dr. Sutton as of March 27, 2023.
- DePuy Mitek, Inc.- Consultant
- HS2, LLC - Ownership Interest
HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS. Patients should feel free to ask their HSS physicians questions about these relationships.