Geoffrey Abrams, MD

Sports medicine surgeon

Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care system
Dr. Abrams specializes in Sports Medicine and arthroscopy, upper extremity joint replacement, as well as ligament reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, knee, hip and elbow. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), and the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), among others. He is actively involved in cartilage restoration research, particularly for the shoulder and upper extremity, in addition to the role of inflammatory mediators on cartilage destruction and rotator cuff pathology. Dr. Abrams received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of California - San Diego. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Stanford University and went on to receive additional training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. He has participated in caring for the Chicago Bulls basketball team and Chicago Whitesox baseball team and currently serves as Team Physician for the Stanford Women's Basketball Team, Stanford Men's Tennis Team, and Notre Dame de Namur University. Dr. Abrams has authored or co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed scientific articles, over 20 book chapters, has presented original research at numerous national and international scientific meetings, and serves as a reviewer for numerous Sports Medicine scientific journals.

Sports Medicine Clinic

  • 450 Broadway Street
  • Redwood City, CA 94063
  • Phone: 1-800-717-0012
Learn More About the Clinic » Getting Here » Make An Appointment

Conditions Treated

Professional Education

Residency: Stanford University School of Medicine (2012) CA

Internship: Stanford University School of Medicine (2008) CA

Fellowship: Rush University Medical Center (2013) IL

Medical Education: UCSD (2007) CA

Fibronectin-aggrecan complex as a marker for cartilage degradation in non-arthritic hips
Abrams, G. D., Safran, M. R., Shapiro, L. M., Maloney, W. J., Goodman, S. B., & Scuderi, G. J. (2014). Fibronectin-aggrecan complex as a marker for cartilage degradation in non-arthritic hips. KNEE SURGERY SPORTS TRAUMATOLOGY ARTHROSCOPY, 22(4), 768-773.

Rate of return to pitching and performance after tommy john surgery in major league baseball pitchers.
Erickson, B. J., Gupta, A. K., Harris, J. D., Bush-Joseph, C., Bach, B. R., & Romeo, A. A. (2014). Rate of return to pitching and performance after tommy john surgery in major league baseball pitchers. American journal of sports medicine, 42(3), 536-543.

What's New in Femoroacetabular Impingement Surgery: Will We Be Better in 2023?
Gupta, A. K., Abrams, G. D., & Nho, S. J. (2014). What's New in Femoroacetabular Impingement Surgery: Will We Be Better in 2023?. Sports health, 6(2), 162-170.

Trends in the Surgical Treatment of Articular Cartilage Lesions in the United States: An Analysis of a Large Private-Payer Database Over a Period of 8 Years
McCormick, F., Harris, J. D., Abrams, G. D., Frank, R., Gupta, A., & Cole, B. (2014). Trends in the Surgical Treatment of Articular Cartilage Lesions in the United States: An Analysis of a Large Private-Payer Database Over a Period of 8 Years. ARTHROSCOPY-THE JOURNAL OF ARTHROSCOPIC AND RELATED SURGERY, 30(2), 222-226.

Biomechanical analysis of three tennis serve types using a markerless system
Abrams, G. D., Harris, A. Hs., Andriacchi, T. P., & Safran, M. R. (2014). Biomechanical analysis of three tennis serve types using a markerless system. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE, 48(4).

Survival and Reoperation Rates After Meniscal Allograft Transplantation: Analysis of Failures for 172 Consecutive Transplants at a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.
McCormick, F., Harris, J. D., Abrams, G. D., Hussey, K. E., Wilson, H., & Cole, B. J. (2014). Survival and Reoperation Rates After Meniscal Allograft Transplantation: Analysis of Failures for 172 Consecutive Transplants at a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up. The American journal of sports medicine, 42(4), 892-7.

Return to sport after ACL reconstruction.
Harris, J. D., Abrams, G. D., Bach, B. R., Williams, D., Heidloff, D., & Cole, B. J. (2014). Return to sport after ACL reconstruction. Orthopedics, 37(2), e103-8.

Arthroscopic Repair of Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears With and Without Acromioplasty: Randomized Prospective Trial With 2-Year Follow-up.
Abrams, G. D., Gupta, A. K., Hussey, K. E., Tetteh, E. S., Karas, V., & Verma, N. N. (2014). Arthroscopic Repair of Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears With and Without Acromioplasty: Randomized Prospective Trial With 2-Year Follow-up. The American journal of sports medicine.

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients of varying body mass index
Gupta, A. K., Chalmers, P. N., Rahman, Z., Bruce, B., Harris, J. D., & Nicholson, G. P. (2014). Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients of varying body mass index. JOURNAL OF SHOULDER AND ELBOW SURGERY, 23(1), 35-42.

Current status of evidence-based sports medicine.
Harris, J. D., Cvetanovich, G., Erickson, B. J., Abrams, G. D., Chahal, J., & Bach, B. R. (2014). Current status of evidence-based sports medicine. Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association, 30(3), 362-71.

Evidence of capsular defect following hip arthroscopy.
McCormick, F., Slikker, W., Harris, J. D., Gupta, A. K., Abrams, G. D., & Nho, S. J. (2014). Evidence of capsular defect following hip arthroscopy. Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 22(4), 902-5.

Platelet-rich Plasma for Articular Cartilage Repair
Abrams, G. D., Frank, R. M., Fortier, L. A., & Cole, B. J. (2013). Platelet-rich Plasma for Articular Cartilage Repair. SPORTS MEDICINE AND ARTHROSCOPY REVIEW, 21(4), 213-219.

Return-to-Sport and Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in National Basketball Association Players.
Harris, J. D., Erickson, B. J., Bach, B. R., Abrams, G. D., Cvetanovich, G. L., & Cole, B. J. (2013). Return-to-Sport and Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in National Basketball Association Players. Sports health, 5(6), 562-568.

Trends in Meniscus Repair and Meniscectomy in the United States, 2005-2011
Abrams, G. D., Frank, R. M., Gupta, A. K., Harris, J. D., McCormick, F. M., & Cole, B. J. (2013). Trends in Meniscus Repair and Meniscectomy in the United States, 2005-2011. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE, 41(10), 2333-2339.

Authors' reply.
Harris, J. D., Gupta, A. K., Mall, N. A., Abrams, G. D., McCormick, F. M., & Verma, N. N. (2013). Authors' reply. Arthroscopy , 29(10), 1602-1603.

An assessment of the quality of rotator cuff randomized controlled trials: utilizing the Jadad score and CONSORT criteria
McCormick, F., Cvetanovich, G. L., Kim, J. M., Harris, J. D., Gupta, A. K., & Provencher, C. Drm. T. (2013). An assessment of the quality of rotator cuff randomized controlled trials: utilizing the Jadad score and CONSORT criteria. JOURNAL OF SHOULDER AND ELBOW SURGERY, 22(9), 1180-1185.

Topographic Analysis of the Glenoid and Proximal Medial Tibial Articular Surfaces A Search for the Ideal Match for Glenoid Resurfacing
Gupta, A. K., Forsythe, B., Lee, A. S., Harris, J. D., McCormick, F., & Cole, B. J. (2013). Topographic Analysis of the Glenoid and Proximal Medial Tibial Articular Surfaces A Search for the Ideal Match for Glenoid Resurfacing. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE, 41(8), 1893-1899.

Spontaneous Hip Labrum Regrowth After Initial Surgical D,bridement
Abrams, G. D., Safran, M. R., & Sadri, H. (2013). Spontaneous Hip Labrum Regrowth After Initial Surgical D,bridement. CLINICAL ORTHOPAEDICS AND RELATED RESEARCH, 471(8), 2504-2508.

Biomechanical evaluation of a coracoclavicular and acromioclacicular ligament reconstruction technique utilizing a single continuous intramedullary free tendon graft
Abrams, G. D., McGarry, M. H., Jain, N. S., Freehill, M. T., Shin, S.-J., & Safran, M. R. (2013). Biomechanical evaluation of a coracoclavicular and acromioclacicular ligament reconstruction technique utilizing a single continuous intramedullary free tendon graft. JOURNAL OF SHOULDER AND ELBOW SURGERY, 22(7), 979-985.

Response to letter to editor regarding "Risk factors for development of heterotopic ossification of the elbow after fracture fixation".
Abrams, G. D., Bellino, M. J., & Cheung, E. V. (2013). Response to letter to editor regarding "Risk factors for development of heterotopic ossification of the elbow after fracture fixation". Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery , 22(7).

Methodologic Quality of Knee Articular Cartilage Studies
Harris, J. D., Erickson, B. J., Abrams, G. D., Cvetanovich, G. L., McCormick, F. M., & Cole, B. J. (2013). Methodologic Quality of Knee Articular Cartilage Studies. ARTHROSCOPY-THE JOURNAL OF ARTHROSCOPIC AND RELATED SURGERY, 29(7), 1243-U184.

Return to sport following shoulder surgery in the elite pitcher: a systematic review.
Harris, J. D., Frank, J. M., Jordan, M. A., Bush-Joseph, C. A., Romeo, A. A., & Bach, B. R. (2013). Return to sport following shoulder surgery in the elite pitcher: a systematic review. Sports health, 5(4), 367-376.

Long-Term Outcomes After Bankart Shoulder Stabilization
Harris, J. D., Gupta, A. K., Mall, N. A., Abrams, G. D., McCormick, F. M., & Verma, N. N. (2013). Long-Term Outcomes After Bankart Shoulder Stabilization. ARTHROSCOPY-THE JOURNAL OF ARTHROSCOPIC AND RELATED SURGERY, 29(5), 920-933.

Hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma, intra-articular infiltration in the treatment of gonarthrosis: letter to the editor.
Abrams, G. D., Cole, B. J., Cerza, F., & Carcangiu, A. (2013). Hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma, intra-articular infiltration in the treatment of gonarthrosis: letter to the editor. American journal of sports medicine, 41(5), NP27-?.

Complications and Reoperations During and After Hip Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review of 92 Studies and More Than 6,000 Patients
Harris, J. D., McCormick, F. M., Abrams, G. D., Gupta, A. K., Ellis, T. J., & Nho, S. J. (2013). Complications and Reoperations During and After Hip Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review of 92 Studies and More Than 6,000 Patients. ARTHROSCOPY-THE JOURNAL OF ARTHROSCOPIC AND RELATED SURGERY, 29(3), 589-595.

Arthroscopic bony bankart fixation using a modified sugaya technique.
Gupta, A. K., McCormick, F. M., Abrams, G. D., Harris, J. D., Bach, B. R., & Verma, N. N. (2013). Arthroscopic bony bankart fixation using a modified sugaya technique. Arthroscopy techniques, 2(3), e251-5.

The posterolateral portal: optimizing anchor placement and labral repair at the inferior glenoid.
Cvetanovich, G. L., McCormick, F., Erickson, B. J., Gupta, A. K., Abrams, G. D., & Provencher, M. T. (2013). The posterolateral portal: optimizing anchor placement and labral repair at the inferior glenoid. Arthroscopy techniques, 2(3), e201-4.

Treatment of a lateral tibial plateau osteochondritis dissecans lesion with subchondral injection of calcium phosphate.
Abrams, G. D., Alentorn-Geli, E., Harris, J. D., & Cole, B. J. (2013). Treatment of a lateral tibial plateau osteochondritis dissecans lesion with subchondral injection of calcium phosphate. Arthroscopy techniques, 2(3), e271-4.

Risk factors for development of heterotopic ossification of the elbow after fracture fixation
Abrams, G. D., Bellino, M. J., & Cheung, E. V. (2012). Risk factors for development of heterotopic ossification of the elbow after fracture fixation. JOURNAL OF SHOULDER AND ELBOW SURGERY, 21(11), 1550-1554.

Use of an Inflatable Pressure Bag Bump for Medial and Lateral Operative Approaches to the Lower Leg
Abrams, G. D., & Bishop, J. A. (2012). Use of an Inflatable Pressure Bag Bump for Medial and Lateral Operative Approaches to the Lower Leg. FOOT & ANKLE INTERNATIONAL, 33(9), 795-797.

Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injury in the tennis player
Abrams, G. D., Renstrom, P. A., & Safran, M. R. (2012). Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injury in the tennis player. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE, 46(7), 492-498.

Surgical Technique: Methods for Removing a Compress (R) Compliant Prestress Implant
Abrams, G. D., Gajendran, V. K., Mohler, D. G., & Avedian, R. S. (2012). Surgical Technique: Methods for Removing a Compress (R) Compliant Prestress Implant. CLINICAL ORTHOPAEDICS AND RELATED RESEARCH, 470(4), 1204-1212.

MRI and arthroscopy correlations of the elbow: a case-based approach.
Abrams, G. D., Stoller, D. W., & Safran, M. R. (2012). MRI and arthroscopy correlations of the elbow: a case-based approach. Instructional course lectures, 61, 235-249.

Kinematics Differences Between the Flat, Kick, and Slice Serves Measured Using a Markerless Motion Capture Method
Sheets, A. L., Abrams, G. D., Corazza, S., Safran, M. R., & Andriacchi, T. P. (2011). Kinematics Differences Between the Flat, Kick, and Slice Serves Measured Using a Markerless Motion Capture Method. ANNALS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, 39(12), 3011-3020.

Musculoskeletal injuries in the tennis player
Abrams, G. D., & Safran, M. R. (2011). Musculoskeletal injuries in the tennis player. MINERVA ORTOPEDICA E TRAUMATOLOGICA, 62(4), 311-329.

Review of tennis serve motion analysis and the biomechanics of three serve types with implications for injury
Abrams, G. D., Sheets, A. L., Andriacchi, T. P., & Safran, M. R. (2011). Review of tennis serve motion analysis and the biomechanics of three serve types with implications for injury. SPORTS BIOMECHANICS, 10(4), 378-390.

Diagnosis and management of superior labrum anterior posterior lesions in overhead athletes
Abrams, G. D., & Safran, M. R. (2010). Diagnosis and management of superior labrum anterior posterior lesions in overhead athletes. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE, 44(5), 311-318.

Muscle geometry affects accuracy of forearm volume determination by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Eng, C. M., Abrams, G. D., Smallwood, L. R., Lieber, R. L., & Ward, S. R. (2007). Muscle geometry affects accuracy of forearm volume determination by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS, 40(14), 3261-3266.

Pronator teres is an appropriate donor muscle for restoration of wrist and thumb extension.
Abrams, G. D., Ward, S. R., Fridén, J., & Lieber, R. L. (2005). Pronator teres is an appropriate donor muscle for restoration of wrist and thumb extension. journal of hand surgery, 30(5), 1068-1073.