Ajit Vakharia MD
Philosophy of Care
"My philosophy of care is centered on honest communication, detailed education and shared decision-making. I want my patients to understand their diagnosis, their treatment options and what recovery realistically looks like. I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, and I view surgery as one tool among many. My priority is to provide comprehensive care tailored to each patient's goals."
Specialties
Expertise Overview
Dr. Vakharia specializes in the treatment of sports-related injuries and conditions of the shoulder, knee, elbow, hip and ankle, with a focus on helping patients return to an active lifestyle. His practice includes minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures such as rotator cuff repair, shoulder instability and labral repair, ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, cartilage restoration and osteotomies.
When appropriate, Dr. Vakharia offers shoulder replacement surgery, as well as partial and total knee replacement, for patients with advanced arthritis or joint degeneration. His goal is to restore function, relieve pain and help patients maintain an active lifestyle.
Experience in Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Ajit Vakharia brings extensive clinical, academic and research experience to the practice of orthopedic care. He treats a broad range of sports injuries and orthopedic conditions, using current evidence and individualized treatment strategies to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes. His commitment to advancing the field extends beyond the clinic, with peer-reviewed research published in leading orthopedic journals and presentations at national and international conferences.
A particular area of focus is joint preservation and
maintaining a patient's native anatomy whenever possible. Advances in sports
medicine have expanded treatment options for meniscus and cartilage injuries,
while newer approaches to ACL reconstruction—including individualized graft
selection, surgical planning and augmentation techniques—allow procedures to be
tailored to each patient.
Dr. Vakharia also has expertise in treating complex sports injuries, including multiligament knee injuries involving the PCL, PLC, and MCL; UCL injuries of the elbow, commonly known as Tommy John injuries; and recurrent shoulder instability. For patients with recurrent shoulder instability and significant bone loss, treatment options may include advanced stabilization procedures such as the Latarjet procedure or distal tibial allograft reconstruction. When developing a treatment plan, he considers each patient's age, activity level, injury pattern, anatomy and long-term goals to determine the approach best suited to the
Areas of Expertise
Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Injuries
Partial and Total Knee Replacement
Anatomic and Reverse Shoulder Replacement
Cartilage Restoration, Osteotomy, and Joint Preservation Surgery, including Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation, Osteochondral Autograft Transfer, MACI, and Meniscal Transplantation
Shoulder Stabilization and Bone Loss Reconstruction, including Latarjet Procedure and Distal Tibial Allograft Reconstruction
Rotator Cuff Repair and Shoulder Arthroscopy
ACL Reconstruction and Repair, Meniscus Repair, and Multiligament Knee Surgery, including PCL, PLC, and MCL Reconstruction
Arthroscopic and Minimally Invasive Shoulder and Knee Surgery
Comprehensive Shoulder and Knee Care
Fellowship
Lenox Hill Hospital, Zucker School of Medicine, NYC
Residency
University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University
Medical Degree
Morehouse School of Medicine
Associations
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American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine
Arthroscopy Association of North America
American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons
Ohio Orthopedic Society, Georgia Orthopedic Society