Biography

Dr. Christian Anderson is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, exclusively specializing in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder, and hip.

His areas of expertise include ligament, meniscal, cartilage injuries in the knee, patellar instability, femoroacetabular impingement, hip labrum, hamstring, and gluteal injuries, shoulder instability, rotator cuff tears, and glenoid labral tears.

Surgical procedures he performs include growth plate sparing pediatric ACL reconstruction, adult ACL reconstruction, meniscal repair, meniscus transplant, meniscal root repair, cartilage restoration procedures (OATS, MACI), MPFL reconstruction, osteotomies of the knee, multiligamentous knee reconstructions, hip labral repair and labral reconstruction, gluteal repair, rotator cuff repair, glenoid labral repair, as well as triceps and biceps repairs.

He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee and was selected into the Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board honor societies as the top 1% of his peers based on academic performance and leadership. He received his medical degree and completed an Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Following his residency, Dr. Anderson completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Stanford Sports Medicine Center, where he served as a team physician for Stanford University and the San Francisco 49ers leading up to and during Super Bowl XLVII. He currently serves as a team physician for Tennessee Tech University, as well as Dickson County, Cheatham County, and Ezell Harding High Schools.

Dr. Anderson is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and holds active memberships in the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), where he served on the Council of Delegates. He is currently on the editorial board of the American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM) and is a reviewer for the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine (OJSM), as well as a reviewer of grants for the Orthopaedic and Education Foundation (OREF). He was spotlighted as a “Leader to Know” by Becker’s Healthcare in 2016 and has received Nashville’s “Top Doctor” award in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

He has a specific interest in the advancement of sports medicine through research and has published 31 scientific articles and book chapters. He is currently a member of the Pediatric ACL Understanding Treatment Options (PLUTO) and Research on Osteochondritis Dissecans (ROCK) study groups. He also has an interest in development of orthopaedic devices and has received 8 United States and international patents, with an additional 22 pending patents.

Originally from Nashville, Dr. Anderson enjoys spending time with his family, as well as traveling, hunting, and fly fishing—even holding three International Game and Fish World Records, and is an internationally published photographer.

Biomechanical Evaluation of Physeal-Sparing Fixation Methods in Tibial Eminence Fractures

Hip-Femoral Acetabular Impingement

Tibial Eminence Fractures

All-Suture Anatomic Footprint Repair of the Distal Triceps Tendon

Education

Undergraduate:
- University of Tennessee B.S. (2002, Biochemistry) 1998 – 2002, Knoxville, TN

Medical School:
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine M.D. (2007) 2003 – 2007, Nashville, TN

Residency:
- Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Surgery 2007 – 2012, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Nashville, TN

Fellowship:
- Stanford Sports Medicine 2012 – 2013, Stanford University Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Stanford, CA

Research

Patents:

• Anderson CN. Self-Cinching Suture Construct Apparatus. (U.S. Patent No. 9,924,939 B1). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. March 27, 2018.
• Anderson CN. Suture Button Construct for Surgical Procedures (U.S. Patent No. 10,085,740 B1). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. October 2, 2018.
• Anderson CN. Suture Button Construct for Surgical Procedures (U.S. Patent No. 10,299,784 B2). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. May 28, 2019.
• Anderson CN. Suture Button Construct for Surgical Procedures (U.S. Patent No. 10,993,711 B2). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. May 4, 2021.
• Anderson CN. Suture Button Construct for Surgical Procedures (Japanese Patent No. 6928987). Japanese Patent and Trademark Office. August 12, 2021.

Scientific Manuscripts:

• Anderson AF, Awh MH, and Anderson CN. The Anterior Meniscofemoral Ligament of the Medial Meniscus: Case Series. Am J Sports Med. 2004 Jun; 32(4):1035-40.
• Anderson AF, Anderson CN. Management of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee. Techniques in Knee Surgery. 2005 Mar; 4(1):23-35.
• Anderson AF, Anderson CN. Hamstring Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the Skeletally Immature Patient. Techniques in Orthopaedics. 2005 Sept; 20(3):314-22.
• Anderson AF, Anderson CN, Gorman TM, Cross MB, and Spindler KP. Radiographic Measurements of the Interchondylar Notch: Are They Accurate? Arthroscopy. 2007 Mar; 23(3):261-8.
• Anderson AF, Anderson CN. Posterior Cruciate and Posterior Lateral Reconstruction in an Adolescent: A Case Report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007 Jul; 89(7):1598-604.
• Anderson AF, Anderson CN. Transepiphyseal Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Pediatric Patients: Surgical Technique. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2009 Jan/Feb. 1:76-80.
• Anderson CN, Anderson AF. Tibial Eminence Fractures. Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Focus on Prevention and Treatment in the Young Athlete. Eds. Ganley TJ and Miller MD. Clin Sports Med. 2011 Oct; 30(4):727-42.
• Anderson CN, Nyman JS, McCullough KA, Uppuganti S, Song Y, O’Neill KR, Anderson AF, Dunn WR. Biomechanical Evaluation of Physeal Sparing Fixation Methods in ACL Avulsion Fractures. Am J Sports Med. 2013 Jul; 41(7):1586-94.
• Anderson CN, Riley GM, Gold G, Safran MS. Hip- Femoroacetabular Impingement. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Sports Medicine. Eds. Dr. Sanders. Clin Sports Med. 2013 Jul; 32(3):409-25.
• Anderson CN, Magnussen RA, Block JJ, Anderson AF, Spindler KP. Operative Fixation of Chondral Loose Bodies in Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee: A Report of Five Cases. OJSM. 2013 Jul 13. 1(2).
• Anderson CN and Anderson AF. Pediatric ACL: Evaluation and Management. Current Orthopaedic Practice. 2014 Jul/Aug. 25(4). 305-320.
• Goldin M, Anderson CN, Fredericson M, Nugent R, Safran MR, Stevens, K. Femoral Neck Stress Fractures and Imaging Features of Femoroacetabular Impingement. PM&R. 2015. Jan 13.
• Anderson AF, Anderson CN. Correlation of Meniscal and Articular Cartilage Injuries in Children and Adolescents with Timing of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2015 Feb;43(2):275-81.
• Anderson CN. Iliopsoas: Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Clin Sports Med. 2016 Jul;35(3):419-33.
• Anderson CN, Anderson AF. Management of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Injured Knee in the Skeletally Immature Athlete. Clin Sports Med. 2017 Jan;36(1):35-52.
• Fabricant PD, Brusalis CM, Schachane JM, PLUTO Study Group, Matava MJ. Which Metrics Are Being Used to Evaluate Children and Adolescents After ACL Reconstruction? A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy. July 2020.
• Anderson CN. All-Suture Anatomic Footprint Repair of the Distal Triceps Tendon. Arthrosc Tech. 2020 Dec; 9(12): e2013–e2019.
• James EW, Dawkins BJ, Schachne JM, Ganley TJ, Kocher MS, PLUTO Study Group, and Fabricant PD. Early Operative Versus Delayed Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment of Pediatric and Adolescent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2021 Mar 15.
• Fury MS, Paschos NK, Fabricant PD, PLUTO Study Group, and Kocher, MS. Assessment of Skeletal Maturity and Postoperative Growth Disturbance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Skeletally Immature Patients: A Systematic Review. Am J Sports Med. 2021 May 13.

Book Chapters:

• Anderson AF, Anderson CN. Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Skeletally Immature Patients. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Reconstruction and Basic Science. Eds. Prodromos, et al. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2008. 457-69.
• Anderson AF, Anderson CN. ACL Injury with Bony Avulsion. Advanced Reconstruction: Knee. Eds. Lieberman, et al. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2011. 603-11.
• Anderson AF, Anderson CN. Reconstructing the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in Pediatric Patients. Insall and Scott: Surgery of the Knee. Eds. Scott, et al. 5^th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier, 2012. 855-64.
• Anderson CN, Safran MR. The Role of Arthroscopy in Elbow Instability. ISAKOS Elbow Arthroscopy. Eds. Pederzini LA, Bain G, and Safran MR. New York, NY: Springer, 2013. 57-71.
• Anderson CN, Safran MR. Arthroscopic Technique. ISAKOS Elbow Arthroscopy. Eds. Pederzini LA, Bain G, and Safran MR. New York, NY: Springer, 2013. 13-23.
• Anderson AF and Anderson CN. Technique: Anderson Technique. Knee Surgery for the Pediatric and Adolescent Athlete. Eds. Cordasco F and Green D. Wolters Kluwer. 2015. 46-52.
• Anderson AF and Anderson CN. Development of the IKDC Forms. Rotatory Knee Instability: An Evidence Based Approach. Eds. Musahl V, Karlsson J, Kuroda R, and Zaffagnini S. Springer, 2017. 131-146.
• Anderson AF and Anderson CN. Timing of Pediatric ACL Reconstruction. Controversies in the Technical Aspects of ACL Reconstruction: An Evidence-Based Medicine Approach. Eds. Nakamura N, Zaffagnini S, Marx RG, and Musahl V. Springer, 2017. 45-53.
• Anderson AF and Anderson CN. ACL Reconstruction in the Skeletally Immature: Transphyseal, All-Epiphyseal, Over-the-Top. Masters Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery: Reconstructive Knee Surgery, 4th Edition. Ed. Darren L. Johnson. Wolters Kluwe, 2017. 182-196.
• Anderson CN and Anderson AF. Arthroscopic Internal Fixation of Osteochondritis Dissecans. Illustrated Tips and Tricks in Sports Medicine Surgery. Ed. Frederick M. Azar. Wolters Kluwer, 2019. 451-460.
• Anderson CN. Iliopsoas Pathology. DeLee, Drez, and Miller’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. Eds. Miller MD and Thompson SR. Elsevier, 2020. 979-989.

Apple iBooks:

• Anderson CN. Hip Impingement: A Patient Guide. Apple iBook. June 17, 2014. https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hip-impingement/i...

Awards

• Phi Eta Sigma – University of Tennessee – National honor society recognizing scholastic achievement in freshman undergraduates - 1999
• Bucky Ball Award – University of Tennessee – Award given to the student with the highest grade in General Chemistry -1999
• National Society of Collegiate Scholars - University of Tennessee - Honors organization recognizing 2000 outstanding academic achievement among first and second year college students - 2000
• Phi Beta Kappa – University of Tennessee - 2000
• Alpha Epsilon Delta – University of Tennessee – National premedical honor society awarding excellence in premedical scholarship - 2001
• Golden Key International Honor Society – University of Tennessee – Academic honor society that recognizes scholastic achievement and excellence - 2001
• Mortar Board Society – University of Tennessee – One percent of senior class chosen based on academic performance, leadership, and service - 2002
• Summa Cum Laude – University of Tennessee, 3.93 GPA - 2002
• Microbes and Defense Society – Vanderbilt University School of Medicine - Honor society for excellence in microbiology and immunology - 2004
• International Game and Fish Association World Record – Landlocked Striped Bass, All Tackle Length Record Category - 2011
• International Game and Fish Association World Record – Calico Bass, 8lb Tippet Category - 2013
• International Game and Fish Association World Record – European Grayling, All Tackle Length Record Category - 2013
• Becker’s Healthcare – Leader to Know - 2016
• Nashville Top Doctor Award - 2019
• Nashville Top Doctor Award - 2020
• Nashville Top Doctor Award - 2021

Memberships & Associations

• Rheumatology Current Research – Reviewer October 2013 – Present
• Clinical Journal of Orthopedics and Rheumatology – Editorial Board June 2014 – Present
• American Journal of Sports Medicine – Reviewer June 2014 – Present
• Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation – Grants Reviewer Aug 2014 – Present
• Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine - Reviewer June 2016 - Present
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Tennessee Medical Association
• Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Society
• American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine – Candidate Member
• Arthroscopy Association of North America - Associate Member
• Mid-America Orthopaedic Association - Active Member
• Tennessee Orthopaedic Society
• Southern Orthopaedic Society
• Research on Osteochondritis Dissecans (ROCK) Study Group - Nov 2017 – Present
• Pediatric ACL Understanding Treatment Options (PLUTO) Study Group - Nov 2017 – Present
• AOSSM Council of Delegates - April 2018 – 2021
• American Journal of Sports Medicine – Principle Reviewer - 2018
• AANA Self Assessment Program – Question Writer - 2019
• American Journal of Sports Medicine – Hughtson Award Selection Committee 2020
  
• American Journal of Sports Medicine – Editorial Board - 2020 – Present
  

Team Physician

• Cheatham County
• Ezell Harding
• Dickson County High School
• Tennessee Tech University

Team Coverage Experience:

• Country Music Marathon, Nashville, TN 2005, 2006
• TSSAA football, Nashville, TN – Alternate team physician 2009
• Glencliff High School Football, Nashville, TN – Team physician 2010, 2011
• San Francisco 49ers Football, San Francisco, CA – Assistant team physician 2012 – 2013
• Stanford University Athletics – Associate team physician 2012 – 2013
• Cheatham County High School – Team Physician, 2013 - Present
• Ezell Harding High School - Team Physician, 2015 - Present
• Tennessee Tech University - Team Physician, 2018 - Present
• Dickson County High School - Team Physician, 2019 - Present