Dr. Kostas J. Economopoulos, MD

Expert Publications

• Meniscal allograft shrinkage-MRI evaluation.

Media Releases

Get to know Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Kostas J. Economopoulos, who serves patients in Arizona.

Dr. Economopoulos is one of few orthopedic surgeons in the United States to complete a concentrated fellowship in hip arthroscopy and the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and labral tears. 

Currently serving as a sports medicine physician at Mayo Clinic Arizona, he concentrates his expertise on sports-related knee, shoulder, and hip ailments. This includes conditions like ACL and meniscal tears, hip impingement, labral tears, as well as shoulder rotator cuff tears and instability. Dr. Economopoulos routinely undertakes intricate surgical procedures, ranging from ACL reconstruction and meniscus/cartilage repair to hip arthroscopy and rotator cuff and shoulder repair and stabilization.

Beyond his clinical duties, Dr. Economopoulos assumes a pivotal role as a team orthopedic consultant for Arizona State University and various high schools in the valley. In this capacity, he actively engages in sideline management, treating on-field injuries and seeing the athletes in the training rooms.

A native of Phoenix, Dr. Economopoulos completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Arizona in 1997. He then pursued his Doctorate of Medicine at the same institution, graduating in 2002.

Following this, in 2003, Dr. Economopoulos embarked on his medical career with an internship in general surgery at the Department of Surgery at Saint Louis University. He continued his journey in orthopedics and surgical training by undertaking a residency in orthopedic surgery at The Phoenix Integrated Surgery Residency Program at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in 2007, where he served as a resident in orthopedic surgery in 2011.

To further specialize in his field, Dr. Economopoulos completed a fellowship in sports medicine at the University of Virginia in 2012. Subsequently, in 2013, he pursued a fellowship in hip arthroscopy under the guidance of Dr. John O’Donnell.

Board certified in orthopedic surgery and orthopedic sports medicine, the doctor is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS). The ABOS is an organization with the goal of establishing educational and professional standards for orthopedic residents and surgeons as well as evaluating the qualifications and competence of orthopedic surgeons. 

Among his professional affiliations, Dr. Economopoulos is a member of the Meniscal Study Group of the Orthopedic Research Society, the Standards Committee for Sports Medicine of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee of the Arizona Interscholastic Association, the International Society of Hip Arthroscopy, the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine, the Arthroscopy Association of North America, the Arizona Orthopedic Society, the Maricopa County Medical Society. In addition, he is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and a Delegate of the Arizona Chapter of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine.

Orthopedic surgery is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and non-surgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.

Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness and the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise. A sports medicine physician is responsible for helping athletes prevent and heal from injuries alongside their athletic training. Their duties include diagnosing musculoskeletal conditions, developing physical therapy plans, and giving nutritional advice that suits a highly active lifestyle.

In the course of his career, Dr. Economopoulos has authored numerous papers and contributed chapters to books focusing on sports-related hip, knee, and shoulder disorders. He has also shared his research findings at prominent national and international sports conferences.

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