Theodore J. Ganley, MD

male silhouette icon
Theodore J. Ganley, MD, is Director of CHOP’s Sports Medicine and Performance Center and specializes in treating high-performance young athletes. Dr. Ganley holds the Bisignano Family Distinguished Endowed Chair in Sports Medicine.

Areas of Expertise: ACL reconstruction in elite athletes, Arthroscopic meniscus repair and athletic injuries of the knee and shoulder, Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee and elbow, ACL reconstruction in patients with open growth plates including All Epiphyseal ACL reconstruction that does not injure the growth plates, Cartilage preservation, Pediatric fractures and trauma, Shoulder dislocations and instability repair, Sports medicine, Treatment of cartilage lesions (OCD lesions), Pediatric orthopaedic surgery, Pediatric sports medicine, Arthroscopic surgery
Locations: Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care; Specialty Care, King of Prussia; Specialty Care & Surgery Center, Brandywine Valley; Middleman Family Pavilion

Appointments, Referrals and Video Visits: 215-590-1527

Background

Theodore J. Ganley, MD, is Director of the Sports Medicine and Performance Center and an Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He is also an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Since 1997, Dr. Ganley has treated children, adolescents and young adults who are high-level performance athletes at CHOP. He is one of a small group of surgeons in the country with a primary focus on sports and trauma in the young athlete.

Dr. Ganley earned his medical degree from Hahnemann/Drexel University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. He completed an internship at Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, FL, and his residency at Hamot Medical Center/Shriner's Hospital for Children, Erie, PA.

In addition, Dr. Ganley completed two specialized fellowships: a pediatric orthopaedic fellowship at CHOP, and a sports medicine fellowship — caring for children and adults — at Graduate Hospital, in affiliation with The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Because of Dr. Ganley’s specialized training and skills to optimize treatment outcomes for younger elite athletes, he was one of the driving forces behind creating CHOP’s Sports Medicine and Performance Center.

Dr. Ganley has specific expertise in the arthroscopic treatment of knee, shoulder and elbow injuries. He developed — and was the first in the nation to perform — a new technique of reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in patients who are still growing that does not disrupt the growth plates.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Ganley is also an active researcher. His research interests are focused on the optimal treatment of sports injuries in elite adolescent and pediatric athletes. He has published extensively on pediatric ligament and cartilage conditions in children.

Dr. Ganley is co-founder of the Research in Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee (ROCK) group, a multicenter/multinational group dedicated to developing superior treatment strategies for cartilage lesions.

He helped form the Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRISM) Group and is in the presidential line of that organization. He is also a member of the Multicenter ACL Revision Study (MARS) group, and has studied and published on systematic reviews and meta-analysis of pediatric ACL injuries and associated tibial spine fractures.

Dr. Ganley lectures nationally and internationally on ACL reconstruction, OCD lesions, sports and trauma in the young athlete. He is a member of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America Education Committee, and a board member of the International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium advisory.

Education and Training

Medical School

MD - Hahnemann/Drexel University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Internship

Surgical Internship - Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, FL

Residency

Orthopaedic Surgery - Hamot Medical Center, Shriner's Hospital for Children, Erie, PA

Fellowship

Orthopaedic Sports Medicine - Graduate Hospital/The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery – The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Board Certification

Diplomate – American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons (ABOS)
Diplomate – National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
Orthopaedic Sports Medicine – American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Titles and Academic Titles

Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon

Director of Sports Medicine

Bisignano Family Distinguished Endowed Chair in Sports Medicine

Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Conditions Treated

Departments and Services

Research Interests

Optimal treatment of pediatric fractures
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients with open physes and in teens
Osteochondritis dissecans in athletes with open physes
Outcome optimization in arthroscopy database for pediatric patients: shoulder, elbows, hip, knee and ankle
Shoulder instability stabilization and return to sports

Publications

Papers

2017

Chilutti Abel K, Baldwin K, Chuo J, Ganley T, Kim A, Wells L, Giordano T. Can Telemedicine Be Used for Adolescent Postoperative Knee Arthroscopy Follow-up? JBJS JOPA. 2017; 5(4): e26.

2016

Gornitzky AL, Lott A, Yellin JL, Fabricant PD, Ganley TJ. Sport-Specific Yearly Risk and Incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in High School Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pediatrics, Feb 2016, 137  (Supplement 3)  561A.

Cruz AI Jr, Rozell JC, Fabricant PD, McGraw M, Wells L, Ganley TJ. Safety of All-Epiphyseal ACL Reconstruction in Children, Pediatrics, Feb 2016, 137 (Supplement 3).

2015

Shea KG, Polousky JD, Jacobs JC Jr, Yen YM, Ganley TJ. The Anterolateral     Ligament of the Knee: An Inconsistent Finding in Pediatric Cadaveric Specimens. J Pediatri Orthop. 2015. 

Gornitzky AL, Lott A, Yellin JL, Fabricant PD, Lawrence JT, Ganley TJ. Sport-Specific Yearly Risk and Incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in High School Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2015 Dec 11. Pub Med: 2667853.

Yellin JL, Gans I, Carey JL, Shea KG, Ganley TJ. The Surgical Management of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee in the Skeletally Immature: A Survey of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) Membership. J Pediatr Orthop. 2015 Dec 2.

Liu Y, Li Y, March ME, Kenny N, Xu K, Wang F, Guo Y, Keating B, Glessner J, Li J, Ganley TJ, Zhang J, Deardorff MA, Xu X, Hakonarson H. Copy number variation in CEP57L1 predisposes to congenital absence of bilateral ACL and PCL ligaments. Hum Genomics. 2015 Nov 11;9:31.

Books

2004

Ganley TJ, Lou JE, Pryor K, Gregg JR. Sports medicine. In: Dorman, JP. Pediatric orthopaedics and sports medicine, the requisites in pediatrics. Mosby; 2004. 

Lou J, Howell J, Ganley T, Flynn J. Fractures of the knee. Orthopaedic surgery essentials, pediatrics. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.

Chapters

Ganley TJ, Pill SG. Discoid meniscus. In: The 5-minute pediatric consult. 3rd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 330-1.

2009

Pandya NK, Ganley TJ. In situ pinning of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. In: Sheth NP, Lonner JH, editors. Gowned and gloved orthopaedics: introduction to common procedures. Saunders Elsevier; 2009. Chapter  33, p. 375-83.

2008

Ganley TJ. The knee. In: The 5-minute pediatric consult. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008. p. 476-477.

Ganley TJ. Knee pain, anterior/patellofemoral malalignment syndrome. In: The 5-minute pediatric consult, 5th ed.  Lippincott Williams &  Wilkins; 2008. p. 476-77.

2006

Ganley TJ, Flynn JM. Osteochondritis dissecans.  In: Insall & Scott surgery of the knee, 4th ed., vol. 2. Elsevier; 2006. p. 1234-41.

Ganley TJ, Flynn JM. Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee.  In: The pediatric and adolescent knee.  Elsevier; 2006. p. 273-93.

2005

Ganley TJ, Kolze EA, Gregg JR. Pediatric sports medicine. In: Dormans JP. Pediatric orthopaedics, core knowledge in orthopaedics. Elsevier Mosby; 2005. p. 138-58.

2003

Flynn J, Dkaggs D, Sponseller P, Ganley T, Kay R, Leitch K. The surgical management of pediatric fractures of the lower extremity. In: AAOS instructional course lectures. 52: 647-659, 2003.

Posters and Presentations

2016

Ganley, TJ. Pediatric Sports Medicine Operative Challenges and Solutions –Medial Epicondyle Fracture, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March, 2016.

Ganley TJ. Pediatric Sports Medicine Operative Challenges and Solutions – Knee Cartilage Fixation, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March, 2016.

Ganley TJ. Pediatric Sports Medicine Operative Challenges and Solutions – The Prepubescent ACL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March, 2016.

Ganley TJ. Controversies in Pediatric Sports Medicine: A Case-Based Approach – The Prepubescent ACL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March, 2016.

Ganley TJ. Ganley TJ: Skeletally Immature Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Controversies and Management – Tibial Spine Avulsions, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March, 2016.

Ganley TJ. Skeletally Immature Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Controversies and Management - Why Reconstruct the ACL in Skeletally Immature Patients, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March, 2016.

2015

Ganley TJ. Hot Topics in Sports Medicine - Focus on OCD of the Knee (Case Presentations) - 12 YO Male, OCD Lesion with No Signs of Instability on MRI, International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium, Orlando, FL, December, 2015.

Ganley TJ: Hot Topics in Sports Medicine - The Pediatric ACL: What Can I Do to Avoid Failure and Revision - Patients with Greater than 2 Years of Growth – Avoid Failure via Graft Prep, Tunnel Position, Post Op Regimen, International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium, Orlando, FL, December, 2015.

Ganley TJ. Hot Topics in Sports Medicine – The Pitcher’s Elbow - Prevention and Management, International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium, Orlando, FL, December, 2015.

Ganley TJ. Hot Topics in Sports Medicine - The Footballer’s Shoulder- Indications and Technique: Arthroscopic vs. Open Capsulolabral Repair,  International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium, Orlando, FL, December, 2015.

Ganley TJ. Arthrex Breakout session - New Techniques in Shoulder Instability – 2.9 Pushlock, 2.9 Short Pushlock, 2.4 Pushlock Cinch stitch, Labral Tape, Labral Scorpian, Percutaneous 2.0 and 2.4 SutureTaks, International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium, Orlando, FL, December, 2015.

Awards and Honors

2022, Main Line Today Top Docs, Orthopedics

2001, 2022, Philadelphia Magazine's Top Doctors in Orthopaedic Surgery

2014,  American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine annual meeting O’Donoghue Sports Injury Research Award for: Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Graft Choice Impact on Outcome in the MARS Cohort

2014, South Jersey Magazine’s Best Pediatricians 

2013, Best Doctors in South Jersey

2011, Best Doctors in America

2010, The Marquis Who’s Who in America 64th Edition

2009, American Orthopaedics Society for Sports Medicine annual meeting Aircast best clinical paper of the year award for: ACL Rupture in Patients with Significant Growth Remaining.  What is the Risk to the Meniscus and Cartilage When Treatment is Delayed? 

2008, Patients’ Choice Award

2007, America’s Top Orthopedists

2006, AAOS Leadership Fellows Program

2005, Top Doctors Main Line

2005, Best Doctors – Top Pediatric Orthopaedists

1998-1990, Medical School, Dean’s Office List of Outstanding Candidates, Letters of Commendation in Gross Anatomy, General Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine

1984-1986, University of Notre Dame Dean’s List

Editorial and Academic Positions

Editorial positions

Reviewer,  University of Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Journal
Reviewer, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
Reviewer, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
Reviewer, The Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
Reviewer, The American Journal of Sports Medicine
Reviewer,  Arthroscopy
Editor, Guest Editor: Clinics in Sports Medicine 

Academic and Institutional Committees

2008-present, Penn Med Orthopaedic Society, Advisor
2000-present, University of Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Surgery Research Committee
1999-present, Operative Invasive/Non-Invasive Committee

Leadership and Memberships

Memberships in Professional Organizations

2014-present, Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRISM), Cofounder and Treasurer

2013-present, International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS)

2011-present, International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium Advisory Board

2009-present, Research in Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee (ROCK) – Cofounder
- 2014-present – Executive Committee

2005-present, The International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (SICOT)

2003-present, American Academy of Pediatrics
- 2014-present, Executive Committee
- 2014-present, 2015 Orthopaedics Program Chairperson, 2015 National Conference
- 2015-2016, Orthopaedic Program Chairperson, 2016 National Conference

2001-present, Eastern Orthopaedic Association

2001-present, Arthroscopy Association of North America

2001-present, Orthopaedic Volunteers Overseas

2000-present, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America
- 2009–2011, Education Committee
- 2014-present, evidence-based Practice Committee

2000-present, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
- 2012–present, STOP Sports Injuries Outreach and Education Committee 

1999-present, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
 - Fellow

1998-present, Philadelphia Orthopaedic Society
- 2008-present, Board of Directors
- 2014-present, Program Chair

1998-present, Notre Dame Orthopaedic Society

1998-present, International Cartilage Repair Society

1998-present, American College of Sports Medicine