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INFORMATION FOR

Christina Allen, MD, FAAOS, FAOA

Professor of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation
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Additional Titles

Sports Medicine Division Chief, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

Vice Chair of Athletic Medicine and Community Outreach, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

Contact Info

203.785.3765

Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

P.O. Box 208071

New Haven, CT 06520-8071

United States

About

Titles

Professor of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

Sports Medicine Division Chief, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation; Vice Chair of Athletic Medicine and Community Outreach, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

Biography

Dr. Christina Allen is the Chief of Yale Sports Medicine and the Vice Chair of Athletic Medicine and Community Outreach for Yale Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Team Physician for Yale Athletics. Dr. Allen joined Yale in November 2020, coming from the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Division of the University of California, San Francisco. She specializes in the treatment of knee and shoulder injuries, especially those of women athletes. An avid soccer enthusiast, she is an expert in treating Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries and shoulder athletic injuries. She has a special interest in meniscus transplantation, ACL Revision surgery, and proximal hamstring avulsion repairs, which are focus areas for her research.

Dr. Allen is an Orthopaedic team physician for US Soccer. She has traveled extensively with the Women's and Men's teams to Russia, China, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Poland and Mexico and will be traveling with the U-20 Women's National Soccer Team in 2021 and 2022 to the Dominican Republic and France on the road to the U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup in Costa Rica and in 2023 for FIFA Concacaf Qualifiers. She was also the Orthopaedic Team physician for the San Francisco Deltas professional soccer team which won the NASL championship in 2017.

She is also the former Head team physician for the USA Taekwondo National Team. She has traveled with the team to many countries including China, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Mexico and Rio for international competitions. She also served as the USA Taekwondo team physician for the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Currently she serves on the Medical Board for World Taekwondo, the International body for Taekwondo, and serves as an Orthopaedic consultant, providing medical coverage at international events.

She is also a former Orthopaedic Team Physician for Cal athletics at the University of California at Berkeley, working with Men’s and Women’s Soccer and Women's Basketball until 2017

Dr. Allen earned a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University and was Chief of Biomedical Engineering at the Veterans Affairs medical centers in Philadelphia and San Francisco before attending the UCLA School of Medicine. She completed her Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at the University of Pittsburgh and her Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery Fellowship
University of Pittsburgh (2002)
Orthopaedic Residency
University of Pittsburgh (2001)
Research Resident
University of Pittsburgh (1997)
Surgical Internship
University of Pittsburgh (1996)
MD
UCLA, MD (1995)
BS
Duke University, Biomedical Engineering (1983)

Research

Overview

1. AOSSM Multi-center ACL revision (MARS) study- co-investigator (2006-present)

Also member of Mars Scientific Advisory Board since 2009

This study has two general goals: 1) to evaluate the functioning of patients who undergo revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction several years after surgery using a large-scale prospective study design and 2) to identify factors that predict patient-reported outcomes two years after ACL revision surgery.

Aim 1. To determine outcomes of patients who undergo revision ACL reconstruction.

Aim 2. To determine predictors of patient-reported symptoms and functioning two years after revision ACL reconstruction.

Aim 3. To determine risk factors/predictors of osteoarthritis for patients undergoing revision ACL reconstruction.

Aim 4. To determine predictors of level of activity at two-year follow-up for patients undergoing revision ACL reconstruction.

Aim 5. To determine risk factors/predictors of subsequent injury to the index ACL graft or the ACL in the contralateral knee.

Collaborations: Study funded by American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Surgical data that are collected electronically in the physician's office during this study will be stored on a server at Vanderbilt University which is serving at the data management center for this multi-center study.

Status: 25 patients recruited from UCSF to date.

This Project has been very prolific in terms of publications and awards. • Winner American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine O’Donoghue Award , July 2014, Seattle Washington, “Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Graft Choice Impact on Outcome in the MARS Cohort” Wright RW and the MARS Group (includes CR Allen)

•awarded NIH R01 competitive renewal grant in early 2017 to evaluate the 10 year onsite follow up.

• Winner of the 2019 Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughn Award for Outstanding Orthopaedic Research. Wright RW, Allen CR and the Multicenter ACL Revision Study (MARS) Group. As Member of MARS Scientific Advisory Board was named as specific recipient of award

2. Surgical Repair of Proximal Hamstring Avulsion Injuries: Functional Outcomes and Ultrasound Correlation with Confirmation of Healing This study is designed to look at the clinical outcomes of the Surgical Repair of Acute and Chronic Proximal Hamstring Ruptures. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify all patients treated surgically for complete proximal hamstring avulsion injuries by a single surgeon at a single institution from 2012-2016. All patients treated surgically and already cleared to return to full activities were asked to present to clinic to undergo functional and strength testing. Ultrasonography was also performed to assess for muscular fatty infiltration.

3. Quantitative MR Imaging Evaluation of Articular Cartilage and Kinematic changes in the knee after meniscectomy-

Principal Investigator (2011-Present)

The purpose of this study is to use high resolution cartilage sensitive MRI to evaluate the changes seen in the knee following acute meniscus tears in order to determine the effects of meniscal injury and arthroscopic debridement on the knee kinematics and cartilage biochemical properties. We specifically will evaluate alterations in the contact area and meniscal kinematics before and after surgery, and evaluate changes in the cartilage at one year after surgery to evaluate for early articular cartilage changes

Specific Aim I:

Evaluate the effects of a meniscus tear on in vivo contact area and meniscus kinematics.

This will be determined by obtaining pre-operative MRI and evaluating the initial contact area patterns at two knee flexion angles (30 degrees and 0 degrees) and knee kinematics compared to the contralateral knee. We hypothesize that a meniscal tear will lead to altered tibiofemoral contact patterns (total area and contact centroid) and altered meniscus kinematics.

Specific Aim II:

Determine the effects of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy on in vivo contact area and meniscus kinematics.

We will evaluate the effects of partial meniscectomy on contact area patterns and meniscus kinematics by obtaining a post-operative MRI to compare changes in contact area patterns and kinematics to the pre-operative condition. We hypothesize that surgical resection of the meniscus tear will not change contact area patterns or kinematics.

Specific Aim III:

Evaluate the results of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy on cartilage biochemical properties using T1rho, T2, and SPGR high resolution MRI.

We will evaluate the effects of partial meniscectomy on cartilage biochemical properties with high resolution cartilage-specific sequences at 6 months following surgery and comparing them to pre-operative values. We hypothesize that there will be changes consistent with early cartilage breakdown in the compartment that had a meniscal tear.

Souza RB, Wu SJ, Morse LJ, Subburaj K, Allen CR, Feeley BT. Cartilage MRI relaxation times after arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy reveal localized degeneration. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015 Jan;23(1):188-97. doi: 10.1007/s00167-014-2997-2. Epub 2014 May 4. PubMed PMID: 24792070.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Blood Flow Restriction Therapy; Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Grafts; Cartilage, Articular; Collateral Ligaments; Elbow; Hamstring Muscles; Hamstring Tendons; Knee; Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee; Meniscus; Osteochondritis Dissecans; Patellar Dislocation; Patellar Ligament; Posterior Cruciate Ligament; Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Quadriceps Muscle; Rotator Cuff; Rotator Cuff Injuries; Shoulder; Shoulder Dislocation; Tibial Meniscus Injuries

Research at a Glance

Publications Timeline

A big-picture view of Christina Allen's research output by year.
61Publications
2,017Citations

Publications

2022

  • Descriptive Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With and Without Tunnel Bone Grafting.
    DeFroda SF, Owens BD, Wright RW, Huston LJ, Pennings JS, Haas AK, Allen CR, Cooper DE, DeBerardino TM, Dunn WR, Lantz BBA, Spindler KP, Stuart MJ, Albright JP, Amendola AN, Annunziata CC, Arciero RA, Bach BR, Baker CL, Bartolozzi AR, Baumgarten KM, Bechler JR, Berg JH, Bernas GA, Brockmeier SF, Brophy RH, Bush-Joseph CA, Butler JB, Carey JL, Carpenter JE, Cole BJ, Cooper JM, Cox CL, Creighton RA, David TS, Flanigan DC, Frederick RW, Ganley TJ, Garofoli EA, Gatt CJ, Gecha SR, Giffin JR, Hame SL, Hannafin JA, Harner CD, Harris NL, Hechtman KS, Hershman EB, Hoellrich RG, Johnson DC, Johnson TS, Jones MH, Kaeding CC, Kamath GV, Klootwyk TE, Levy BA, Ma CB, Maiers GP, Marx RG, Matava MJ, Mathien GM, McAllister DR, McCarty EC, McCormack RG, Miller BS, Nissen CW, O'Neill DF, Parker RD, Purnell ML, Ramappa AJ, Rauh MA, Rettig AC, Sekiya JK, Shea KG, Sherman OH, Slauterbeck JR, Smith MV, Spang JT, Svoboda SJ, Taft TN, Tenuta JJ, Tingstad EM, Vidal AF, Viskontas DG, White RA, Williams JS, Wolcott ML, Wolf BR, York JJ. Descriptive Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With and Without Tunnel Bone Grafting. The American Journal Of Sports Medicine 2022, 50: 2397-2409. PMID: 35833922, DOI: 10.1177/03635465221104470.
    Peer-Reviewed Original Research

2021

2020

2019

  • Predictors of Patient-Reported Outcomes at 2 Years After Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
    Wright RW, Huston LJ, Haas AK, Allen CR, Anderson AF, Cooper DE, DeBerardino TM, Dunn WR, Lantz BBA, Mann B, Spindler KP, Stuart MJ, Nwosu SK, Albright JP, Amendola AN, Andrish JT, Annunziata CC, Arciero RA, Bach BR, Baker CL, Bartolozzi AR, Baumgarten KM, Bechler JR, Berg JH, Bernas GA, Brockmeier SF, Brophy RH, Bush-Joseph CA, Brad Butler V J, Campbell JD, Carey JL, Carpenter JE, Cole BJ, Cooper JM, Cox CL, Creighton RA, Dahm DL, David TS, Flanigan DC, Frederick RW, Ganley TJ, Garofoli EA, Gatt CJ, Gecha SR, Giffin JR, Hame SL, Hannafin JA, Harner CD, Harris NL, Hechtman KS, Hershman EB, Hoellrich RG, Hosea TM, Johnson DC, Johnson TS, Jones MH, Kaeding CC, Kamath GV, Klootwyk TE, Levy BA, Ma CB, Maiers GP, Marx RG, Matava MJ, Mathien GM, McAllister DR, McCarty EC, McCormack RG, Miller BS, Nissen CW, O'Neill DF, Owens BD, Parker RD, Purnell ML, Ramappa AJ, Rauh MA, Rettig AC, Sekiya JK, Shea KG, Sherman OH, Slauterbeck JR, Smith MV, Spang JT, Svoboda LSJ, Taft TN, Tenuta JJ, Tingstad EM, Vidal AF, Viskontas DG, White RA, Williams JS, Wolcott ML, Wolf BR, York JJ. Predictors of Patient-Reported Outcomes at 2 Years After Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. The American Journal Of Sports Medicine 2019, 47: 2394-2401. PMID: 31318611, PMCID: PMC7335592, DOI: 10.1177/0363546519862279.
    Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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Clinical Care

Overview

Christina Allen, MD, is the chief of Yale Sports Medicine, the vice chair of Athletic Medicine and Community Outreach for Yale Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, and the orthopaedic team physician for Yale Athletics.

A former collegiate soccer player and team physician for U.S. Women’s and Men’s Soccer as well as the U.S.A. Taekwondo National Team, Dr. Allen specializes in complex shoulder and knee injuries, especially those to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). She also has expertise in meniscus transplantation, ACL revision surgery, and proximal hamstring repairs.

Despite her lifelong interest in sports, Dr. Allen, who studied biomedical engineering as an undergraduate at Duke University, didn’t realize orthopaedic surgery was for her until she needed surgery for a meniscus tear in her early 20s.

Before having her actual meniscus surgery in the hospital, she underwent a diagnostic arthroscopy, in which the surgeon made a small incision and inserted a narrow tube (with lenses and a small camera at the end) into her knee to diagnose the problem. “Instead of doing an MRI, they just peeked inside my knee to check out the problem. It was done in the office, and I was awake to see it. It totally hooked me on sports medicine,” Dr. Allen recalls. “If I had been asleep the whole time, I wouldn’t have been the wiser about what orthopaedics is. I was enthralled by the fact that I could see the inside of my knee on a video monitor.”

The personal experience with both surgery and rehabilitation set her on her career path, and she also understands an athlete’s mentality of wanting to get back to his or her sport—particularly young athletes.

“I know athletes are really going to push it, and sometimes, you have to almost micromanage their return to sport, because if you just give them an inch, they'll take a mile,” Dr. Allen says. “And when people go back too early—I've seen it time and time again—they can get injured if they don’t rehab adequately. I’m a super, super, super big advocate of physical therapy.”

For her research, Dr. Allen explores what causes failure after ACL reconstruction surgeries, and how to optimize ACL revision (re-do) surgery outcomes. “Since I was an engineer, I'm really interested in why things fail. Why does an ACL reconstruction fail the first time after the surgery?” Dr. Allen says. “And what can I do the second time around and make sure that this is a success?”

Still, the best part of her job, Dr. Allen says, is clearing a patient to return to their sport. “Especially the youngsters, they’re so excited and the parents are happy,” she says. “They want to take the selfie and post it on Instagram. It’s not about just performing their surgery it’s about finishing the complete process and recovery and clearing them to play. Their eyes light up when you finally say, ‘OK, you’re good to go.’”

Clinical Specialties

Sports Medicine; Shoulder and Elbow Orthopedic Surgery; Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

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Board Certifications

  • Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

    Certification Organization
    AB of Orthopaedic Surgery
    Original Certification Date
    2008

  • Orthopaedic Surgery

    Certification Organization
    AB of Orthopaedic Surgery
    Original Certification Date
    2004

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Mailing Address

Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

P.O. Box 208071

New Haven, CT 06520-8071

United States

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  • Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

    Academic Office

    47 College Street

    New Haven, CT 06510

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