Dr. Chen performed a total right hip replacement for me ten years ago and I have been pain free without any complications ever since. Top notch in every way. And his anesthesiologist was cool, too. Excellent bedside manner, explained everything thoroughly, no pressure. Will return to him in a heartbeat if my other hip (or other joint) needs attention. First rate. Fortunate to have him in San Francisco. read more

Doctor Chen is an excellent physician of knees surgery and well known in San Francisco. He cares for his patients. I have seen him for years and the treatments of my knees pain get better. I can walk more comfortably . If you need advice on your knees conditions regarding pain or discomfort. He is the one that you need. I highly recommend him. read more

I was referred to Dr. Chen after tearing my pec in a freak skiing accident. I have a long history of issues with the shoulder above the pec injury so it was super important that my surgery go as well as possible. I heard great things about Dr. Chen from multiple credible sources and he met/exceeded all expectations. Dr. Chen is clearly an extremely skilled and experienced surgeon. He executed my operation flawlessly and I'm very thankful for it. Matthew (PA) is also great: knowledgable and responsive. read more

In mid-February of 2024 I took a tumble while skiing in Tahoe and ruptured my pectoral major (Read: I ripped my pec off of my right shoulder). Soon after arriving back in San Francisco, I began to research orthopedic surgeons in my area, and choose Dr. James Chen for two major reasons. Firstly, his credentials and experience are impeccable. And secondly, during my visit with my primary care physician, she had nothing but high praise for Dr. Chen. Not only was Dr. Chen full of quiet confidence about sewing me back together... but his entire clinical team was welcoming, kind, and efficient during my visit. The day of my surgery, these fine people checked me in, walked me to a staging area, brought me warm blankets, and took my vitals. Within minutes, I was greeted by a fellow surgeon who patiently explained to me what was about to happen and why. He too reinforced that I was now in very capable hands. He was right. The surgery went swimmingly and I'm now three weeks into my recovery... with absolutely no idle pain (outside of the scar being itchy). To be candid, I'm still a bit surprised (even perplexed) with this development, considering the seriousness of my injury, and the four months of PT ahead of me. But to state the obvious, I'm thrilled that I choose Dr. James Chen as my orthopedic surgeon. read more

Played soccer since I was 5, tore my acl the first time in 2012, decided to quit soccer after getting it repaired. Got it fixed by another orthopedic surgeon that did on ok job because I tore it again. Got my surgery with Dr. Chen in 2019, and waited until now to post my review and I just want to thank Dr. Chen for getting me back on the field. My knee feels fantastic. Of course surgery is part one of the process and recovery is on the patient but Dr. Chen was incredibly attentive during the whole process. Thanks Dr. Chen! read more

No attempt to fix my problem. I have suffered for over a year trying to figure out what is wrong with my hip. My GP recommended Dr. Chen as a specialist so I waited even longer to get an appointment. The first appointment they took my history, got an xray, and then Dr Chen came in for under a minute - commented on how good my range of motion was (dismissing my pain and stiffness in walking) and then sent me for a VERY expensive MRI with a shrug. Second visit, again was extremely short. He spent the time he did give me showing me on the MRI an issue that I already knew about and had explained to the medtech taking my history both times. This was not why I was there at all. In regards to my hip, the conclusion of the MRI was "you don't need surgery" ... and then handed me a list of PT offices and sent me on my way. I've tried PT for over a year with no improvement. Then when I was leaving I looked at the MRI summary and the notes from the doctor to the facility said the cause of my issue was a fall. I had been asked this question multiple times on both visits to Dr Chen and all times explained that this was not from a fall or injury, it started suddenly and without cause. So I have now spent $1000 to be embarrassed and ignored. This should be malpractice. read more

This place is a chop house. Chen is a robotic, phony, surgery-crazed, insurance-money sieve who will rush you into the OR and may or may not (NOT, in my case) fix you. The worst, though, is his disdain for his patients. I was scheduled for a 10 a.m. procedure and lined up my ride home for 11:30 a.m. No sweat. But the day before, they changed my time to 6 a.m., requiring a 7:30 a.m. pickup. That was not easy to do. When I complained, the hatchet-man said, "Hey, this is stressful for all of us, chill." His support staff is even more rude than that. In short: Find another orthopedic surgeon. There are MUCH better ones in SF. read more

Had surgery abroad to fix a broken collarbone, but the hardware used was pretty uncomfortable, and came to Dr Chen to have it removed. The experience was great. Top care, and he was able to improve the scar. read more

I was seen 3 weeks ago for my knee and had the best care, but needed the medical notes to send to the Imaging Center in order to get my MRI. I have called the office 4 times now, and the imaging center has done the same... no response. Mr. Chen's office uses a 3rd party messaging center to take messages and has told me that they get these complaints from patients who go to this practice all the time. They pass all messages along to the front desk but apparently they just never get back to their patients. They told me the doctors are great (which I can confirm from my experience), but a lot of patients have the same complaints about the communication. At this point, they recommended going into the office because my chances of a response would be better. read more

I've found that in life, the best results are delivered by people who take pride in their work, and Dr. Chen is one of those people. It's uncommon to find a surgeon who will take the time to sit down and go over options with you, address all your concerns, all the while being a guy who develops and writes papers on new techniques. When I separated my shoulder, my first call was to Dr. Chen to schedule a consult, and my second call was to my wife. I think that about covers it. read more

3/2019 update: Both shoulders still feel great. No pain at all and it has been over 2 years. Thanks Dr Chen! Still highly recommend him. read more

I am a new patient referred by my family doctor. My experience with this clinic was disappointing . I called more than 10 times trying to schedule an appointment without anyone care or getting any help . At one point a receptionist took my information and promised they will call back but never happened . And another staff even told me the phone number they provided on web is not the right number to schedule appointment. I hope that didn't happen to others . read more

I broke my ankle on an electronic skateboard two years ago and found Dr. Chen on Yelp. I chose him then bc he had 5 star reviews and now I'm giving him another. He had performed 2 surgeries on my ankle, hardware installation in 2016, and hardware removal at the end of 2018. I'm 5 feet with tiny bones and I was so nervous about the installation surgery. Dr. Chen did such an amazing job, I had a speedy recovery and went back to dance in les than 3 months. I had an even faster recovery after the 2nd surgery which was the hardware removal, I was able to dance within a month. Last Christmas, my husband also broke his arm on one wheel, he went to dr.chen as well. We def highly recommend him. Thanks Dr. Chen! read more

Dr Chen helped me with a meniscus surgery on 2017...I am very very grateful. BUT things have changed...and i feel is a loss. He has had a lot of problems with the front office staff..very severe problems....2020 I was sitting at the office..waiting to be seen..I am disable/use a walker.. so i arrive early concern about traffic...the office was almost empty..maybe 2 patients... the staff on 2017 was kind..thoughtful...respectful..helpful...impeccable.. NOW 2020...it is abusive...humiliating..embarrassing..unkind..unethical..and RAW ....have mercy God!... I do not mind to wait...I am a daughter of a professor of neurosurgery..each patient is different..so the appointment timing can change...but hours went by....really...hours went by..and as is hard with knee problems to get up and walk to the front desk...mind you..there is a big glass window as divider..they can see us..we can see them.... [ they were checking their personal messages /cell phone..chatting...why were they not answering the calls coming in?....because i have also tried from home to reach the office and my line was always transfer to the on call out of office service line...but i was sitting at the office ..I was there...they were not busy..why did they not answer?.. patients calling in pain...with need of a dr.... AND MIND YOU THIS WAS MY SECOND TIME AT THE OFFICE...SITTING..WAITING...1 OR 2 PATIENTS... the front desk/ were not busy ] ..so i called with my cell phone...sitting there at the office across the glass divider.....the front bilingual attendant..saw my number in the caller ID..she did not lift the phone...no no...she used the word..SHIT..talking to the other bilingual attendant..and laughing...they knew I was sitting there for hours waiting. (dictionary meaning of SHIT: a contemptible or worthless person) I realized then...that the previous behaviors i observed during my other visits...which i excused..maybe they had a bad day!..we are all human. ...was a pattern...and i got scared...something was wrong ..it made me remember the conversation i had with the their other out of office line that answer you at lunch time..the only way i could get through to the dr. at any time ( company provides messaging / who were overwhelm very kind and compassionate helping us reach the dr/they also could not understand why the office was not answering the calls...many many patients trying to contact the dr... they even apologize to me..they felt so confused and embarrassed) The previous times when i was not treated respectfully ( with dignity?) by this front desk staff..i let it go..i just wanted to see dr Chen..he injected me with PRP...not cover by insurance..not cheap...but gave it a try...did not work..but i tried....yes i was in pain..yes i let this front desk people raise their voice...roll their eyes...answer back not allowing me to finish my question...kept on talking to each other ignoring me standing up there in pain...I SWALLOW ALL THAT....i just wanted to see the dr. BUT WHEN THIS TIME (this bilingual woman)/SHE USED THE..SHIT WORD..AND DID NOT HAD THE MERCY TO ANSWER THE PHONE..and they both ignored me... I REALIZED I WAS SITTING IN HELL.( a hell that did not know and hope to never encounter again) I pattern of abuse... at a place full of vulnerable people.... ...what are they more capable of? that day i was seen..Dr. Chen he sent an MRI for the other knee...the STAT/urgent MRI was not approved for weeks ..???...i got lucky...the MRI place read to me the note ...the fax had marked the wrong knee..BLUE CROSS WOULD NEVER APPROVED IT...and i would have waited for months. the office of dr Chen does not make this mistakes. as a result of this delay...and with the virus going on..my surgery was suspended....I am at risk of falling.. I am sorry for dr. Chen..he has a kind heart..he is a good dr.... I can not go back there... I took a lot ...for me to write this...I am crying.. WHY? read more

I saw another doctor today for a totally different issue than the one I saw Dr. Chen for about a year ago. Totally different issue. Different part of the body. But during my doctor appointment today the conversation recalled my visit with Dr. Chen AND the stellar assessment and guidance that I got from Dr. Chen more than a year ago. The doctor (who is really good!) that I saw today re-affirmed what Dr. Chen said to me, and showed me proof, and it made me even more grateful for the great advice (to NOT have surgery) that I got from Dr. Chen more than a year ago. ... Thanks, Dr. Chen! read more

Dr. Chen scoped my knee on 2/27/18. I was on a single crutch for 2 days and then walked unassisted. It has been a month and I am pain free and 100% active. The surgery was performed at the Webster Surgery Center on the same level as his office. The staff was both friendly and attentive. They actually got me into surgery 30 minutes early. It could not have gone smoother. They even validate the valet parking in the building. Dr. Chen does automated check-ins on a daily basis after the surgery. They provide helpful tips on activities to avoid and/or utilize for recovery. Of all the orthopedics I have dealt with (many), Dr. Chen is the best. read more

This review is not for Dr. Chen, or his medical staff. This review is for the front desk staff. The receptionists are extremely rude, and need to find another job. For starters, when you approach them, they are either on their phones, or purposely avoiding eye contact so they won't have to deal with you. When you try to get their attention, they look at you like you're bothering them. This is a common occurrence. I personally have witnessed one of the young ladies berate a patient in front of myself and the rest of the room that was full of other patients who also couldn't believe their ears. Her coworker called her aside, and brought the behavior to her attention, and we heard her repeating "I don't care, I don't care." Needless to say, we all looked at each-other, and were shocked. There is no room for this kind of behavior in any work environment, not to mention a medical office. I will not be returning to Dr. Chen's practice due to the behavior of the receptionist staff. Dr. Chen is a good doctor, but he needs to hire people who can actually work with patients with respect. read more

Dr. Chen is a surgeon who cares. Need I keep going? When we think about surgeons we assume that they just need to be precise with their tools, movements, and intuition. Dr. Chen is all of that. But he's also incredibly caring and patient. He doesn't just rely on his staff for the soft skills, which is what I've seen from most surgeons, who tend to be very transactional. I've just had a partial medial meniscectomy with Dr. Chen. Prior to the surgery, he set me up with a HealthLoop account and started communicating with me through there. Every day, leading up to the procedure, there were tips, action items, and reassurances waiting for me in the portal. Following the surgery, when I got home, I had an email from Dr. Chen waiting for me, complete with annotated images of the inside of my knee and a selfie video of Dr. Chen, where he reassured me that everything went smoothly and my knee was in good shape. That evening, Dr. Chen called me to see how I was doing. He's still checking in with me through the HealthNet portal, where he responds to all of my questions within 2-3 hours. He'll continue to monitor my progress until 3 weeks post-surgery. No, this wasn't a dream. Where else do you find a surgeon so empathetic (let alone, one as distinguished in his field as Dr. Chen)? I can't say enough about this man. read more

I am a late middle age man who loves several sports that are hard on knees, including skiing and tennis, and I had ACL replacement surgery on my left knee this past May with Dr. James Chen (post an MRI indicating a full tear). I must say that I have had an extraodinarily positive experience. Twenty years ago I had an ACL replacement on my right knee in which the surgeon used a portion of my pattelar tendon, and while my right knee has been solid since, the rehab and recovery was frankly excruciating and slow. This time I did my homework, including reviewing a study of ACL surgery using cadaver achilles tendons posted on the NIH website (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3026102/), and decided to go with Dr. Chen and request use of an achilles. The experience and results have been remarkable. To start with, when you have surguery with Dr. Chen, you enter what looks like an art deco era office building on Sutter Street in SF, and then pass though some doors into what looks like a miniature hospital. I was put under breifly, and was out of there in about two hours. I then took up the recommendation to use a machine that slowly bends and unbends your knee for a week - doing so 3-4 hours a day while working/chilling - and amazingly I was back to 120 degrees of knee bend in a week. That took about 3-4 months last time around. I also had very little swelling, meaing virtually no need for the deep tissue massage that was a very painful staple of my rehab seesions last time around. I love rowing and cycling, and was cleared to row within a month and to cycle (very carefully) within two. I also went to bi-weekly rehab sessions focused on light knee massage, strength, and balance. With this I was motivated to train most days, but I was strict in sticking with rowing, cycling, eliptical machines - all low knee stress straight ahead conditioning activities. About five months after my surgery I was able to enjoy a memorable week of cycling in Italy, and less than a month after that I raced with former college crew mates in a major rowing regatta, which was a blast. I had zero knee pain through any of that. Then last week Dr. Chen cleared me to ski again -- he said your call, keep it low key, etc., as the usual time to ski is 8 months and it has only been 6.5. I have just enjoyed two days of bluebird powder in Tahoe. Thank you, Dr. Chen! read more

Dr. Chen is an amazing Doc! Not only is he an accomplished practitioner, his bedside mannerism is among the most pleasant around. Kudos to his staff for making sure everything went as smooth as possible and that follow-up care was done right. read more

My partial knee implant failed while on vacation in Montana. I was fortunate enough to be referred to Dr. Chen for "Total Knee Replacement Revision" surgery. He was able to quickly schedule time that week in the OR. Dr. Chen is personable, patient and very knowledgeable and is a joint specialist. I would not hesitate referring him for knee or hip surgery. read more

I went to see Dr James Chen because I was having a lot of pain around my biceps and arms. There were many things I couldn't do (I.e getting dressed) because I had minimal shoulder rotation and arm flexibility. Dr Chen diagnosed my issue right away. I feel that he's very progressive in his treatment which allowed me to heal sooner than later. I still do PT and I think that will be ongoing for a while but I'm at a better place now because of Dr Chen giving me the time to recover. I also want to mention that his office staff in the Sutter Street office was very nice and helpful. I had to submit many forms for Dr Chen to complete and submit for my disability and they were able to get everything turned around for me in a timely manner. I highly recommend Dr Chen if you are in search of an orthopedic doctor. He's very professional and personable. read more

Dr. Chen performed a rotator cuff repair and biceps tenodesis for me in Nov. 2019. Dr. Chen & his office works with you about one month pre-op until the doctor feels like office visits are no longer necessary. For me, this period was about 5 months post-op. Dr. Chen is personable, knowledgeable and creates a collaborative environment with his patients. He always takes the time to answer questions and to make sure you are comfortable. Post-op the office has a portal for patients to check-in daily and any questions are answered promptly by the doctor or his staff. The office is clean, well-managed and comfortable. Scheduling is easy. I'm very pleased with my surgery results and the whole experience with AO Sports Medicine. I highly recommend Dr. Chen & staff for their professionalism, competence and caring attitude. read more

Excellent. Dr. Chen and everyone at his office are excellent. Due to exceptional yelp ratings, I chose Dr. Chen as my orthopedic specialist for my ACL surgery and meniscus repair. Not surprisingly, I was always able to get appointments at my requested time, and his staff were very friendly and helpful. Furthermore, Dr. Chen made himself available. He saw me and counseled me personally - not one of his understudies. His appointment scheduler, Simonia, warned me that my insurance, CCHP, would cause my surgery to take place a month later. However, thanks to her work and dedication, she found a surgical opening for me just a week later! Amazing. And of course, Dr. Chen made sure he was available at whatever time we could find for the hospital. The surgery went splendidly. Dr. Chen was quick and efficient. He was also comforting, soothing my worry and apprehension. I was put under anesthesia but was still able to leave the hospital just five hours later. I felt good. Not drowsy and drugged like the first time I had ACL surgery ten years ago. Following the surgery, I have seen Dr. Chen on a nearly weekly basis. He checks on my recovery and offers helpful advice. Also, on a daily basis, I interact with his online medical program, which checks on my health, looks for any possible pain, and provides stretching and exercise tips. It's only been three weeks since my ACL surgery and meniscus repair, but I'm already very close to fully walking without a limp. I owe all that to Dr. Chen. Having had similar surgery years ago, I can confidently say that this surgery and recovery are so much better than the last. Even though I'd rather not be a repeat customer (because that would mean more mishap and surgery), I know I would be safe with Dr. Chen. Believe my review and all the other five-star reviews: Dr. Chen is one of the best. read more

I recently had knee surgery to reconstruct my ACL & Meniscus. I was referred to Dr. James Chen who's practice and staff was incredible. Dr. Chen himself was a superstar. During my operation, he found that my root meniscus was completely torn (my MRI did not initially catch this). This procedure is unique and only 30-40% of surgeons can actually repair this. To my benefit & luck, Dr. Chen was one of them and so I didn't need to have a second operation, he was able to operate on the spot. In terms of service, I could not have been happier. Dr. Chen and his staff was always respectful and responded to any questions/concerns I had in a timely manner. He even provided me with a post-op set of exercises and reading material to get me on my way to recovery right away. The most important element is the attention to detail and technology standpoint. I had access to a two-way communication with Dr. Chen through healthloop and he even went the extra mile by providing me his mobile phone and email. The second night of my operation I was in excruciating pain and sent an email at 10:30pm on a Friday night. Dr. Chen responded within a half hour, who does that? If you are in need of an operation, I would highly recommend Dr. Chen, he and his staff are workhorses. They are great and you are treated with the utmost attention and professionalism. If you are in need of a surgery, call Dr. Chen. read more

Make the call to Dr. Chen now, and then trudge through my review. I promise you'll be happy you set the appointment first, and then waded through this thing. In fact, feel free to tackle it in stages. Note: I feel qualified, from a patient's perspective, to review an ACL surgeon/surgery, as I have now had it on both knees which gives me a frame of reference for comparison. Major components of the surgery experience for me, in sequence, were: 1) Initial appointment setup Typically in this phase you are injured, freaked out, and earnestly trying to compromise between expediency and over-evaluating options. I chose Dr. Chen due to his reviews online, a couple of personal recommendations, and his great qualifications. He was able to see me within a couple days, and I had an order for an MRI leaving his office. In fact, when I arrived at the MRI, two other people in that office (one a patient with past experience and another an employee *note that this office is not affiliated with Dr. Chen's) told me I'd made the best choice. 2) Treatment options This is another stage in this process that can leave a patient feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, and potentially under-informed. There are many options for an ACL graft, and each surgery type has advocates as well as lots of outdated information lingering online. My first surgery was NOT with Dr. Chen - it was with a highly recommended orthopedic surgeon in Arizona where I lived at the time. I chose a Patellar Tendon graft. I had a good experience (relatively speaking) with that process, and asked Dr. Chen for the same surgery. I explained my reasons for this which I won't enumerate here at the risk of causing him extra work in the future recommending folks away from this option. Dr. Chen heard me out patiently, and explained equally patiently why new research within the orthopedic community & sports medicine communities had shifted away from my choice. He recommended a hamstring graft of my own tissue based on my expectations of the knee post-recovery, my physical condition, age, and no doubt many other criteria I had no business worrying about. The conversation left me feeling very secure in his choice, and his abilities. He explained everything thoroughly, and helped me understand the most important factors in my own surgery and recovery process. 3) Surgery My first ACL surgery (not Dr. Chen, again) left me in tremendous pain, and was quite intrusive. The surgery I had with Dr. Chen was so drastically different that I was able to go outside and sit in a lawn chair with my leg up while my friends grilled on the 4th of July about 5 days post-op. It was more than I had imagined possible at this stage. Everyone is different, and so is every surgery. However, I feel that at least some portion of this is attributable to James Chen's skill as a surgeon, and everything else can be directly traced to his prudent bedside manner leading me towards a better option. Phenomenal. 4) Recovery The last bit is recovery. A lot of this stage has to do with the PT you choose, but Dr. Chen played a big role here as well. He explained at every stage what his goals for me were, why, and what the major risks are. Throughout this process I've been anxious to push myself, and Dr. Chen recognized and appreciated this -- both encouraging me and reigning me in as necessary. My expectations were perfectly managed on his end, and the lengthy recovery from this ordeal was as smooth as it could have been. 5) Final Result I am ~7 months out. My leg press is close to 70% of what it was, and my mile time is as fast as it's been in 2 years. I am not yet back to snowboarding, but have no doubt that I will be when my body fully vascularizes my graft. I'm ahead of where I expected to be, and the path to get here was significantly less painful than I could've hoped. *sidebar here: look at my reviews (it's coming soon) if you want a great PT recommendation. I don't think Yelp likes cross-promotion in these reviews. Summary: Dr. Chen is the man, and although I hope not to ever need to visit his office again - I feel good knowing that there is a surgeon I can turn to, I can turn my friends to, and I can turn my family to; in those invariable moments where his expertise is needed. read more

My MRI showed a partial meniscus tear and a meniscal cyst. I spent about 6 months taking ibuprofen to get through runs and hikes with pretty hindering pain once it wore off. I finally went in and was scared to go under. But it worked. I started running after 2 months and haven't taken Ibuprofen in the 9 months since. I have to hand it to Dr Chen and team. To top it off, they were all very nice, responsive and accommodating read more

Fabulous doctor. Beyond being super smart, Dr. Chen took the time to examine, explain and answer all of my questions. I never felt pushed or rushed and truly felt I had Dr. Chen's undivided attention. I had severely damaged my left hand with some nerve damage and loss of range of my index finger. Not only did he accurately diagnose my issues, which was validated by an MRI, he also provided a range of options that allowed me to fully comprehend how to move forward. However, what impressed me most was his follow up. He promised to call me the following day and he did. A classy and professional act and gave me confidence that he actually cared for my well being. read more

Dr. Chen is phenomenal! He did my left ankle surgery 2 weeks ago. My ankle injury was pretty bad that he had to implant an allograft to fix the lesion in the talar dome. What's impressive is with his expertise, he didn't open my ankle (which means break the side bone just to get into it), but a micro procedure, so that I would experience much less pain and recover faster! And when going through those surgery pictures, even I could tell how beautiful the work he has done! Also, he has a great patience that I missed the surgery twice because I was sick right before the scheduled days, but he didn't complain and helped me work it out! Feeling really thankful! read more

Dr Chen is an excellent and thorough orthopedic surgeon. He completed a partial knee replacement on my right knee 5 months ago and the results have been much better than I could have hoped for. I am able to work out at the gym and walk over 2 miles daily already. His staff is helpful and I never wait more than a few minutes to be seen in his office. I would definitely recommend him to anyone I know who has an injury as he is very knowledgeable in his area of practice. Thank you Dr Chen! read more

Overall, I had a very positive experience with doctor James Chen. There was almost no wait time to be roomed, and I was seen very quickly. Prior to seeing Dr. Chen, my knee was already operated on. It was five months since my first knee surgery, but still no range of motion. When I went to see Dr. Chen for a consultation, he made an assessment, ordered an MRI, and upon further assessment from the MRI, found that a glut ton of scar tissue had built up around my knee causing the restriction in ROM. Dr. Chen gave me several options on how I could proceed. I needed my range of motion back! He provided me invasive and conservative options that were available, and gave me detailed explanations on the pros and cons of each. Dr. Chen's office runs very smoothly, and his assistants are very helpful. Dr. Chen is very helpful, professional, and well versed in the orthopedic field. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this doc. read more

Dr. Chen performed an ACL and meniscus repair surgery on my knee on 5/20/14. Through the entire process, Dr. Chen and his staff were incredibly professional and supportive, particularly by helping me through the rather complex insurance process. Dr. Chen took the time to answer all of my questions thoroughly and accurately, and he had a great bedside manner. Even after I left San Francisco, Dr. Chen still responded to my emails, often within 24 hours (we just had another exchange yesterday - nearly 13 months post-op!) This surgery was one of the hardest things I've ever faced, so I feel truly lucky that I had Dr. Chen to help me through it all. Thanks for your help! read more

Great service, my boyfriend got rotator cuff surgery and James chen knew exactly what to do no problem. Everyone from the anesthesiologist to all the nurses were so friendly and helpful! Highly recommend read more

I went to Dr. Chen on recommendation from a family friend after breaking my wrist in 5 places. Dr. Chen was positively fantastic! My mom is a nurse but lives in Atlanta so she wanted to be involved in the process and see my x-rays. After the difficulty sharing the x-rays from the emergency room I was nervous about how it would go, but Dr. Chen not only ensured that my mom had access to my information, but was so patient speaking with her on the phone regularly throughout the process. Dr. Chen also kept me informed the whole time. Additionally he was so involved and concerned durning my recovery which I have heard not all doctors do. I have nothing but the absolute best things to say about Dr. Chen, we was so wonderful! read more

Never broke anything until now... blah. I was referred to Dr. Chen and thank goodness I went because him and his staff made this experience rather more entertaining than anything else. Location is pleasant, simple, clean and certainly no issues with street parking if appointments are made midday. It's located in 80% residential so it can get a little crazy with parking. His staff is entertaining to say the least. They are very personable, friendly and they make coming in for a visit so painless and enjoyable. Right? A doctor's visit? Enjoyable? Dr. Chen is an easy going guy with jokes and a ton of knowledge in a pin stripped suit! I don't plan on breaking any other part of my body but if you're looking for a great doctor with expertise and a reliable and friendly staff, I highly recommend! Tell'em the girl who broke her arm at a bar fight recommended you... you'll get a few good jokes out of it. :) read more

To make a long story short, I was in a passenger in a golf cart that spun out and flipped, falling onto my leg and crushing it. Beyond road rash on the entire top of the right foot, a deep medial wound, and other damaged tissue, we knew right away that my fibula was broken. The wound care clinic suggested I see Dr. Chen, and I'm really glad I did. He quickly discovered that, in addition to the break, I had also disconnected some tendons in my ankle mortise. He ordered an MRI later, which confirmed this. Not only was my family and I impressed with his knowledge and expertise, but his professionalism and dedicated care really helped reassure me that I was in good hands. I remember in one case, the wound clinic forgot to send Dr. Chen x-rays that had been taken several days before. Dr. Chen personally went to the clinic later the same day as my appointment to retrieve the missing x-ray images. Dr. Chen performed my surgery, installing a plate and screw. Absolutely no problems. Even after my first consultation, Dr. Chen had given me his cell phone number-this came in handy when, the night of the surgery, I noticed red showing through the cast. Alarmed, I texted him a photo and explanation. Even at 10 PM, he immediately called me back, asking for details, then reassuring me there was nothing to be concerned about. The next day, he called to check-in with me. Needless to say, I was thankful for his concern and dedication. Now, back at school, I'm on the road to recovery. He called the Health Center here to make sure they were on the same page for expectations of recovery, care, etc. He has emailed me several times to check-in, and has even asked for me to send him photos of my wounds every week until they're healed. Even after the appointments and surgery, Dr. Chen is continuing to take great care of me. If you're in the San Francisco area with a sports injury or a broken bone, I strongly suggest you see Dr. Chen. His staff was friendly and supportive, the facility was clean, and the care was amazing. read more

been almost 5 years since i broke my ankle, and as a runner, i was devastated and anxious what that would mean to such an core part of my life. i was able to get a consultation at ucsf, which diagnosed me with a trimalleolar fracture--the consultation was brief, almost rushed. though i understood that ucsf was an educational institution first, it didn't sit right with me, despite its renowned reputation. so after some research, i went in for a second opinion with dr. james chen and am so thankful i did. he spent time to discuss my situation, talk through the x-rays, and correctly diagnosed my bimalleolar fracture. the quality of care, attention, and skill was excellent and i felt confident my surgery was literally in the best hands. orthopaedic surgery can seem a bit medieval with its screws + plates on bone alignment, but his "craft" is to be trusted! i've completely healed and been back to running ever since. read more

Dr.Chen is very experienced, knowledgable and has a great sense of humor. I had a motorcycle accident, and torn my ligament in the ankle completely. He fixed my ankle like what he described as a carpenter fixed a furniture. But seriously, the operation went so smooth, and I can't be happier about my decision. read more

I promised to post another glowing review about my experience with the amazing Dr. James Chen. This was my second (and final hopefully) round with the other foot - talonavicular surgery to the right foot. They are now both fused by Dr. Chen. So Firstly let me give the following people my enormous thanks: To Mimi (you are wonderful and a great listener!), Teresa, (you are so fab my friend, always making my life easier with appointments etc - thank YOU), Emily Ly, who is just so good at everything, including endlessly helping me fix PCP letters, surgery paperwork, resources re: Medical equipment, even a home care-person whom she referred to me last year, who was and remains a great friend of mine (she is excellent); and then to Berlinda - who is just someone who, like a timeless friend, picks up where I left off, a year ago, without having missed a beat - she is great and fast with every visit - a fluid one always; Tu, who is so sweet, accommodating, thoughtful and goes the extra mile, and to Garrett, who could not have been more chivalrous nor kinder if he tried. He cares about every patient, in the same way. And then... there is Dr. Chen: Breezes in, always well prepared, on time each and every time (I rarely wait at all) for every visit, has the x-rays on file, listens really well to his patients, and has a kindness about him, that resonates through him. He really does care about every patient, and loves what he does. He has been awarded for many of his published articles and is honestly, possibly one of the best orthopedic surgeons you could ever hope to find. He is THE expert to go to. The Merlin of orthopedics. I have read the yelps, they all say so many wonderful things about Dr. Chen. "Getting older is not for sissies". Well that is true - I never experienced anything wrong with my bones however as we age, things happen right? He gave me the confidence that this totally doable and that I would be able to use the foot and walk again, pain-free. Thank you so much for all you have done for me. I feel you guys are like my second family now, and always will be. You are all one special group of people. And excellent in everything you all do. For one another and for patients who are all in need of you, your expertise and integrity. It's all there, at 450 Sutter Street. Eternally grateful, Valerie read more

I was referred to Dr. Chen since I had some discomfort in my foot - which turned out to be a broken 5th metatarsil. I didn't know about this injury and was walking on my broken foot for 2 months...but that's another story. Long story short, Dr. Chen has been great aid in my healing process. He understood my travel etc needs and was always very responsive to emails when I forgot to ask something in person. Fortunately enough, my injury was "just" a broken bone and not a surgery, but I'm sure he deals with those just as well. Great doc! read more