Dr. Andrew D. Pearle

Dr. Andrew D. Pearle is an Orthopedic Surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, specializing in Sports Medicine. He is an Assistant Team Physician for the New York Mets. Dr. Pearle's clinical interests include arthroscopic and computer aided surgery of the shoulder, knee, and ankle.

A graduate of Amherst College and Stanford Medical School, Dr. Pearle completed his orthopedic surgery and sports fellowship training at HSS. Dr. Pearle traveled to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem during the height of the intifada to assist in the care of terror victims. While participating in this care, Dr. Pearle was inspired by the pioneering use of computer assisted surgery (CAS) at Hadassah. "Hadassah surgeons modified CAS tools designed for the spine, and applied the technology to remove shrapnel," he recalls.

At Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr. Pearle was selected to found and develop one of the first Computer Assisted Surgery programs in the United States. "Computer assisted surgery improves a surgeon’s precision." said Dr. Pearle. "For the patient, this can lead to smaller incisions, less pain, faster recovery, and more durable results.” Dr. Pearle has published widely on the use of these tools and has now performed more types of computer assisted procedures than any orthopedic surgeon in the country.

Dr. Pearle was the first surgeon in New York City to perform a novel robotic assisted partial knee replacement procedure. With this technology, “knee implant position is customized to the patient’s specific anatomy in the 3D “virtual” environment prior to even making an incision.” Once the position has been optimized, the robot precisely carries out the plan.” Dr. Pearle was recently featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams and Fox Good Day New York discussing the advantages of the robotic procedure. “It’s technically difficult to make the surgery as bone sparing as possible while maintaining optimal orientation of the implant,” said Dr. Pearle. “The robotic platform allows for reliable patient-specific implant positioning with a minimally invasive surgical approach; the results have been outstanding.”

This year, Dr. Pearle chaired the first NIH/American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons symposium on Computer Assisted and Robotic Surgery. “This meeting, which brought together engineers, physicians, researchers, and industry leaders, was designed to identify high impact areas where computer assisted surgery can improve patient outcomes,” says Dr. Pearle. “It culminated in a consensus document that defined the optimal direction for the technologies as we move forward.”

“Computer assisted surgery is like GPS for the OR. My goal is to make sure that these guidance systems eliminate surgical errors and ensure optimal patient outcome.,” say Dr. Pearle.

In addition to his clinical responsibilities as a sports medicine surgeon, Dr. Pearle is a team physician for the New York Mets and for the Brooklyn Cyclones. Dr. Pearle attends spring training as well as almost half the Mets home games providing medical care for the players in the clubhouse, on the field, and, when needed, in the hospital. “As a team doc, you form a close bond with the players and staff, and share in the triumphs and agonies that accompany every season.”

Dr. Pearle is actively involved in community outreach. He has reestablished a free orthopedic clinic in the HSS tradition that serves the needs of underserved athletes from the NYC Public School Athletic League. This has proved to be a magnet for young athletes seeking medical care for sports injuries. “The goal is to provide NYC Public School Athletes with the same high level of care that the pros get,” says Dr. Pearle.

He has received numerous research awards and grants, including the prestigious OREF Career Development Award, the NYS Empire Clinical Research Award, and the first and second CAS International Fellowship Award. He has authored over 50 scientific papers as well as numerous book chapters and has presented widely at national and international meetings.