James C. Messina, MD

Orthopaedic Surgeon - Sports Medicine Specialist
NYU Langone Long Island

Schedule an Appointment or Call 631-919-6262

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James C. Messina, MD

Dr. James C. Messina is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in the shoulder, hip, and knee. He focuses on the arthroscopic and open treatment of sports-related injuries, including ligament reconstruction, cartilage restoration, and joint preservation procedures.

He practices at NYU Langone Orthopedics – Long Island, where he provides advanced, evidence-based care to athletes and active individuals of all levels.

Dr. Messina graduated from Connecticut College, where he was a four-year varsity lacrosse player. He earned his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Connecticut, followed by fellowship training in sports medicine at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital—one of the nation’s leading centers for orthopaedic care.

Dr. Messina is dedicated to delivering individualized, high-level care with the goal of helping patients safely return to peak performance.

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Our Practice

Our mission is to help athletes and active individuals return to peak performance with confidence, strength, and longevity. We treat a wide range of sports-related conditions, most commonly involving the knee, shoulder, and hip.

Our practice offers advanced expertise in ligament reconstruction, cartilage restoration, shoulder and knee instability, and hip preservation, with a focus on precise diagnosis, modern techniques, and individualized care.

We look forward to caring for you.

About

  • Sports Medicine Fellowship
    NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, New York, NY

    Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
    University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT

    Doctor of Medicine
    SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY
    Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society

    Bachelor of Arts
    Connecticut College, New London, CT
    Four-year Varsity Lacrosse Athlete

    • Advanced Cardiac Life Support

    • Advanced Trauma Life Support

    • Basic Life Support

    • USMLE Step I, II (CS, CK), III

    • American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Part 1

    • American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (Sports Medicine), Part 1

    • Board Eligible for American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Part 2

    • American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)

    • Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA)

    • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

    • AO Trauma / Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA)

    • American Medical Association (AMA)

    • Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society

  • Honors & Awards

    • AAOS Video Award Winner (2026)
      Anterior Closing Wedge Osteotomy with Contralateral BTB Autograft and Modified Lemaire Tenodesis for Revision ACL Reconstruction Using Patient-Specific Instrumentation

    • Neviaser Basic Science Award (2022)
      Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (JSES)

    • Christopher Pavlides, MD Memorial Award for Excellence in Orthopaedic Surgery (2019)
      SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

    • Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society

    Research Grants & Scholarships

    • AANA Resident Scholarship (2024)

    • NYPD Eugen Grabscheid Scholarship Fund Award

    • NYPD Police Surgeon Scholarship Fund Award

    • SUNY Downstate Alumni Summer Research Fellowship

    Athletic Achievements

    • Four-Year Varsity Lacrosse Athlete — Connecticut College

      • NESCAC All-Academic Team (4x)

      • NEILA All-Region Team

      • NEILA East–West Senior All-Star Game

  • Dr. Messina has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and multiple book chapters, with research focused on sports medicine, hip preservation, shoulder surgery, and orthopaedic outcomes.

    His work has been published in leading journals including Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (JSES), Arthroscopy, JAAOS: Global Research and Reviews, Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery, and Journal of Clinical Medicine.

    Selected Publications

    • Long-Term Outcomes of Chronic Distal Biceps Tendon Reconstruction With Achilles Allograft(Under Review, JSES)

    • Total Hip Arthroplasty Learning Curves Based on Surgical Approach
      JAAOS: Global Research and Reviews

    • Patient-Reported Outcomes at 10-Year Follow-Up After Hip Arthroscopy
      Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery

    • Improving Applicant Satisfaction in Orthopaedic Surgery Matching
      Iowa Orthopaedic Journal

    • Effectiveness of Topical Adjuvants in Reducing Biofilm Formation on Orthopaedic Implants
      Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

    Book Chapters & Invited Contributions

    • Osteotomies Around the Knee: Implant Selection and Bone Grafting
      Clinics in Sports Medicine (2025)

    • Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy: Indications and Technique
      Clinics in Sports Medicine (2025)

    • Management of HAGL Lesions in Shoulder Instability

    Research Focus

    • Hip preservation and arthroscopy outcomes

    • Shoulder instability and reconstruction

    • Knee ligament reconstruction and osteotomy

    • Orthopaedic biomechanics and surgical techniques

    View Dr. Messina’s complete list of publications:
    → View Full CV / Publications

  • Chronic Distal Biceps Tendon Rupture Reconstruction with Achilles Tendon Allograft: REBAAR Technique

    Single-Stage Revision ACL with Anterior Closing Wedge Osteotomy & LET using PSI