Biography

Christopher Frey, MD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. He is fellowship-trained in orthopedic sports medicine, specializing in both arthroscopic and open surgeries of the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. With a focus on advanced surgical techniques and evidence-based practices, Dr. Frey is dedicated to providing individualized care that helps patients restore mobility, reduce pain, and return to the activities they enjoy. 

Dr. Frey treats a broad spectrum of musculoskeletal injuries, including complex shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee conditions. His expertise extends to degenerative disease of the shoulder and arthroscopic hip preservation. He emphasizes patient-specific treatment strategies that incorporate the latest research and innovations in orthopedic surgery. His ultimate goal is to guide patients in achieving their personal health and performance objectives, whether that means resuming competitive sports or maintaining an active lifestyle. 

A graduate of Emory University, Dr. Frey earned dual undergraduate degrees in biology and economics. He then attended Baylor College of Medicine for his medical degree before completing his orthopedic surgery residency at Stanford University. He went on to complete fellowship training in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Vanderbilt University. During his fellowship, Dr. Frey gained extensive experience providing care for athletes at all levels, including Vanderbilt University athletics, the Nashville Predators, the Nashville Soccer Club, and the Nashville Sounds, the AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. 

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Frey actively contributes to advancing orthopedic research. His current work explores artificial intelligence and computer vision in developing augmented reality tools to enhance orthopedic surgery. He has published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and presented his findings at national and international meetings. He is also a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). 

Beyond medicine, Dr. Frey enjoys spending time with his family, watching motorsports, traveling, and pursuing life science innovation. 

Dr. Frey sees patients in our offices in Cypress and The Woodlands, Texas. You can click here to make an appointment. 

Education

Undergraduate Degree
Bachelor of Science, Biology, Economics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Medical Degree
Doctor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Residency
Orthopedic Surgery Residency, Stanford University School Medicine, Stanford, CA
Fellowship
Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

Knee: Ligament reconstruction and revision (ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL, PLC, multi-ligament); joint preservation with osteochondral autograft or allograft transplantation; autologous chondrocyte implantation and alignment correction surgeries, including transplantation and repair of tendon injuries; patellar stabilization and offloading procedures such as MPFL reconstruction and tibial tubercle osteotomy.

Shoulder: Stabilization with soft tissue repair, bone transfer, or reconstruction; rotator cuff repair and tendon transfers; treatment of SLAP tears and biceps pathology; AC and SC joint reconstruction; shoulder arthroplasty; and management of throwing shoulder injuries.

Elbow: Treatment of osteochondritis dissecans; UCL repair and reconstruction; medial and lateral epicondylitis management; throwing elbow care; soft tissue repair of the biceps and triceps; and loose body removal.

Hip: Management of hip impingement, labral repair or reconstruction, and soft tissue repair including hamstring or abductor tears.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts 

  • Frey C, Kriz J, Sciascia A, Mathews C, Bowman E. Epidemiological Trends of Elbow and Forearm Injuries in Highschool Baseball and Softball Players. JSESRRT. Accepted pending publication
  • Frey C, Pierre K, Pham N, Abrams G, Sherman S, Spalding T, Safran M. Management of Isolated Partial ACL Tears: A Survey of International ACL Surgeons. OJSM. 2025 Feb 6;13(2)
  • Frey C, Zhou JY, Sherman S, Cheah J. Effect of Anatomic Variations in the Anterior Tibial Artery on Risk of Injury During Orthopaedic Knee Surgeries. OJSM 2024 Dec 19;12(12):23259671241301461
  • Shapiro L, Zhou J, Shah K, Frey C, Chan C, Kamal RN. Is There a Critical Dorsal Lunate Facet Size in Distal Radius Fractures that Leads to Dorsal Carpal Subluxation? A Biomechanical Study of the Dorsal Critical Corner. J Hand Surg Am. 2023 Aug 16:S0363-5023(23)00357
  • Zhou J, Frey C, Shah K , Ostergaard P, Yao J. Antegrade fixation of distal metaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomy. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2023 Sep 1;27(3):182-188
  • Lin K, Frey C, Atzmon R, Pierre K, S. Vel M, Sherman S. Orthobiologic Techniques for Surgical Augmentation. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics. 2023 Feb;34(1):265-274.
  • Frey C, Zhou J, Shah K, Chan C, Segovia N, Yao J. Fixation strategies for Distal Metaphyseal Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy: a biomechanical analysis. Journal of Hand Surgery. 2023 Jan 2;S0363-5023
  • Zhou JY, Frey C, Segovia N, Yao J. Anatomic Relationship of Extensor Indicis Propius and Extensor Digitorum Communis: Implications for Tendon Transfer. World Journal of Orthopaedics, 2022 Nov 13(11): 978-985
  • Tigchelaar S, Frey C, Sivaraj D, Segovia N, Mohler D, Steffner R, Avedian R. Metastatic Pattern of Truncal and Extremity Leiomyosarcoma: Retrospective Analysis of Predictors, Outcomes, and Detection. J Pers Med. 2022 Feb 24;12(3):345
  • Chen MJ, Frey CS, Salazar BP, Gardner MJ, Bishop JA. Low profile fragment specific plate fixation of lateral tibial plateau fractures – A technical note. Injury. 2021 Apr;52(4):1089-1094. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2020.12.037. Epub 2021 Jan 2. PMID: 33423771.
  • Chen MJ, Tigchelaar SS, Wadhwa H, Frey CS, Bishop JA, Gardner MJ, Bellino MJ. Gluteus Minimus Debridement During Acetabular Fracture Surgery Does Not Prevent Heterotopic Ossification – A Comparative Study. J Orthop Trauma. 2021 Jan 18. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000002061. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33480642.
  • Chen MJ, Salazar BP, Tigchelaar SS, Frey CS, DeBaun MR, Goodnough LH, Bellino MJ, Bishop JA, Gardner MJ. Lateral Distractor Use During Internal Fixation of Tibial Plateau Fractures Has a Minimal Risk of Iatrogenic Peroneal Nerve Palsy. J Orthop Trauma. 2021 Feb 1;35(2):e51-e55. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000001875. PMID: 33165211.
  • Chen MJ, Wadhwa H, Tigchelaar SS, Frey CS, Gardner MJ, Bellino MJ. Trochanteric osteotomy for acetabular fracture fixation: a case series and literature review. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. Jan;31(1):161-165.doi: 10.1007/s00590-020-02753-9. PubMed PMID: 32743685.
  • Frey C, Yeh, P, Prathap J. Systematic literature review on the effects of antiplatelet medications on platelet rich plasma (PRP) show inhibitory effects on growth factor profile. Orthop J Sports Med. 2020 Apr;8(4)
  • Lee J, Frey C, Miller J, Minard C, Noor M, Anagnostou A, Olive A, Davis CM, Anvari S. Skin testing with different food formulations in pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2020 Apr;31(3):329-332. doi: 10.1111/pai.13181. PubMed PMID: 31765019.
  • Frey C, Navarro SM, Blackwell T, Lidner C, Del Schutte H Jr. Impact of dental clearance on total joint arthroplasty: A systematic review. World J Orthop. 2019 Dec 18;10(12):416-423. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v10.i12.416. PMID: 31908990;
  • Ren V, Frey C, Hunt R. Generalized bullae and erosions in an infant. Pediatric Dermatology. 2018; 35(4):525-527
  • Singh M, Khan K, Barshes N, Fisch E, Frey C, Mathias K, Jneid H, Musher D. Acute cardiac events in patients with severe limb infection. Int J Low Extrem Wounds. 2018 Dec;17(4):261-267.
  • Cousnay G, Frey C, Elefteriou F. Promoter cre-specific genotyping assays for authentication of Cre-driver mouse lines used in the bone field. JBMR Plus. 2019 Apr;3(4):e10128

Abstracts

  • Miller J, Frey C, Minard C, Lee J, Noor M, Olive T, Davis C, Anvari S. Skin Testing with Different Food Formulations in an Eosinophilic Esophagitis Population. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018; 141(2): AB143
  • Frey C, Shah K, Mishra A, Segovia N, Yao J. Platelet Rich Plasma Augmentation to Surgical Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis: Technique and Early Results. ASES National Shoulder Awareness Week Resident Poster Competition, San Francisco, CA, September 2021