SUMMARY
Christopher L. Camp, M.D., conducts clinical and basic science research on injuries of the shoulder, elbow and knee. He studies biomechanics of the throwing motion, injuries in overhead throwing athletes, epidemiology of injuries in professional baseball and other sports-related injuries.
Many of Dr. Camp's research efforts focus on injury prevention, improving surgical techniques and optimizing return-to-play times. In addition to these clinical areas, Dr. Camp is currently investigating ways to improve orthopedic surgery education for medical students, residents and fellows.
Focus areas
- Shoulder and elbow injuries in throwers. Dr. Camp studies common injuries that occur in overhead throwing athletes and throwers such as: shoulder instability; rotator cuff tears; biceps injuries; elbow ligament injuries; and cartilage injuries. His studies are aimed at understanding these injury patterns and maximizing athletic performance after treatment.
- Surgical techniques. Using both arthroscopic and open surgical methods, Dr. Camp has published research on, and worked to optimize, many techniques used to treat some of the most common injuries of the shoulder, elbow and knee.
- Elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery). Dr. Camp has a particular interest in Tommy John injuries and surgeries. He is currently investigating novel surgical techniques that have the potential to improve patient outcomes and allow players to get back to sports sooner.
- Epidemiology of injuries in professional baseball players. Dr. Camp has published many studies on the epidemiology of injuries in professional baseball players in an attempt to better understand injury trends over time, the most common activities that lead to injury, and the treatment strategies that are the most effective in getting players back on the field in a timely manner.
- Injury prevention. The best way to treat an injury is to prevent it from happening. With this in mind, Dr. Camp has conducted extensive research aimed at identifying risk factors for injury such as excessive workload, abnormal movement patterns, decreased joint range of motion and patient-specific anatomic variations.
- Orthopedic education. As the associate program director of the Mayo Clinic Orthopedic Surgery Residency and the assistant fellowship director of the Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship, Dr. Camp has a special interest in optimizing orthopedic education and surgical skill acquisition using techniques such as surgical simulation, dedicated curricula and other evidence-based interventions.
Significance to patient care
Orthopedic injuries can be devastating to athletes of any level, from recreational to the professional ranks. Many severe injuries can be season, or even career, ending. Although research has improved care for athletes in recent years, there is still a great deal of work to be done. Dr. Camp's research aims to identify athletes at risk of injury, optimize treatment strategies and improve recovery times for athletes of all levels.
Professional highlights
- Recipient, Robert H. Cofield Award, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Fellow's Symposium, 2017
- Recipient, Russell F. Warren Research Award, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, 2017
- Recipient, Philip D. Wilson Award in orthopaedic surgery research, Hospital for Special Surgery, 2017
- Runner-up, Arthroscopy Journal Award for Clinical Research Excellence, Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, 2017