David P Trofa, MD

David P. Trofa, MD, is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in the operative and non-operative treatment of athletes of all ages and skill levels, including pediatric and adult patients. He is an expert in arthroscopic and open surgery of the knee, shoulder, and elbow. Dr. Trofa has a particlar intrest in advanced knee disorders and complex knee pathologies, focusing on cartilage restoration, non-surgical management of early arthritis, meniscus injuries, ligament reconstruction, knee dislocations, and patellofemoral disorders. His shoulder practice focuses on labral tears, SLAP tears, rotator cuff tears, and frozen shoulder; while his elbow expertise includes treatment for medial/lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), instability, and ligament reconstruction. Dr. Tofa also leverages the latest orthobiologic treatments in his practice, including platelet rich plasma (PRP), to provide athletes with a full spectrum of treatment options.

A native of Wilton, Connecticut, Dr. Trofa is a former athlete who competed at the national level in soccer and wrestling. After receiving a B.A. in Biology from Columbia University he graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine with Research Honors. He completed his residency training in orthopedic surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where he was twice awarded the Ira Wolfe Award for Excellence in Sports Medicine Research. Following residency, Dr. Trofa completed a fellowship in sports medicine, shoulder, and elbow at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, NC. While there, he served as a team physician for multiple professional and collegiate teams such as the Carolina Panthers and the Charlotte Knights. He currently serves as the Chief Physician for Columbia Athletics.

Throughout his training Dr. Trofa has been active in academic research having published over 50 peer-reviewed articles on a variety of topics related to ACL reconstruction, Tommy John surgery (UCL reconstruction), osteochondral transplantation, Achilles tendon repairs, surgical techniques and post-operative physical therapy protocols. Dr. Trofa's ongoing research projects are focused on optimizing patient outcomes with a particular interest in complex knee pathology, including articular cartilage, ligamentous, and meniscal injuries. Hs is an active member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), and the International Society of Arthroscopy Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS).