Biography

David R. Maldonado, MD, is a fellowship-trained hip specialist and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at UTHealth Houston. He focuses exclusively on hip arthroscopy and advanced hip preservation.

Dr. Maldonado treats complex hip conditions, including labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), hip instability and failed prior hip surgery. In particular, he performs complex and revision hip arthroscopy and specializes in advanced labral reconstruction for irreparable labral injuries. Patients seek his care for complex hip preservation and hip arthroscopy.

He has earned international recognition for gluteus medius and gluteus minimus tear repair. Additionally, he treats both primary injuries and failed repairs. He prioritizes hip preservation and works to restore stability, protect cartilage and improve long-term joint function. Dr. Maldonado delivers personalized, athlete-level care. Ultimately, helping each patient move better, recover faster and return to the activities they love with confidence.

For patients who require joint replacement, Dr. Maldonado performs robotic-assisted anterior hip replacement using the minimally invasive bikini approach. As a result, this muscle-sparing technique improves implant accuracy, reduces soft tissue disruption and supports faster recovery. He performs most procedures in an outpatient setting.

In addition, he performs hip resurfacing and complex primary hip replacement for active patients seeking durable results. Learn more about his approach to anterior hip replacement using the minimally invasive bikini incision.

Dr. Maldonado completed fellowship training in hip arthroscopy at the American Hip Institute in Chicago, sports medicine at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe in Los Angeles and adult joint reconstruction at UTHealth Houston. Furthermore, he has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications focused on hip preservation and hip arthroscopy. He lectures nationally and internationally on advanced hip surgery.

Dr. Maldonado sees patients in Bellaire and Memorial Villages. To schedule a consultation or request an appointment, contact his office or click here. He is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Education

Medical Degree
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Luis Razetti School. Caracas-Venezuela
Residency
Trauma and Orthopaedics, Victorino Santaella Ruiz Hospital, Caracas-Venezuela. Orthopaedic Surgery, Private Hospital, Luis Razetti Clinic, Caracas-Venezuela. Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital Universitario de Caracas, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas-Venezuela.
Multi-Center Fellowship in Orthopedic Surgery
Clinical Hip Preservation Surgery Fellow at the American Hip Institute, Chicago, IL. USA, Clinical Sports Medicine Fellow At the Kerlan-Jobe Institute, Los Angeles, CA. USA, Clinical Adult Joint Reconstruction Fellow at The University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX. USA

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

  • Hip Arthroscopy
  • Hip Impingement and Hip Labral Tears
  • Complex Hip Arthroscopy
  • Hip Labral Reconstruction
  • Hip Preservation Surgery
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Robotic-assisted Hip Replacement
  • Anterior Bikini Hip Replacement
  • Hip Resurfacing
  • Outpatient Hip Replacement
  • Gluteus medius tear

Publications

Visit the PubMed profile page

  • Ortiz-Declet V, Mu BH, Yuen LC, Maldonado DR, Chen AW, Lall AC, Domb BG.
    J Hip Preserv Surg. 2019 Aug 4. pii: hnz022. doi: 10.1093/jhps/hnz022. PMID:
    31377816
  • Maldonado DR, Chen JW, Walker-Santiago R, Rosinsky PJ, Shapira J, Lall AC, Domb BG. Forget the Greater Trochanter! Hip Joint Access With the 12 O’clock Portal in Hip Arthroscopy. Arthrosc Tech. 2019 May 17;8(6):e575-e584. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2019.01.017. eCollection 2019 Jun.PMID: 31334013.
  • Lall AC, Schwarzman GR, Battaglia MR, Chen SL, Maldonado DR, Domb BG.
    Effect of marital status on patient-reported outcomes following total hip
    arthroplasty: a matched analysis with minimum 2-year follow-up. Hip Int. 2019 Jul
    21:1120700019864015. doi: 10.1177/1120700019864015. PMID: 31328566.
  • Domb BG, Battaglia MR, Perets I, Lall AC, Chen AW, Ortiz-Declet V, Maldonado
    DR. Minimum 5-Year Outcomes of Arthroscopic hip Labral Reconstruction With
    Nested Matched-PairBenchmarking Against a Labral Repair Control Group. Am J
    Sports Med. 2019 Jul;47(9):2045-2055. doi: 10.1177/0363546518825259. PMID:
    31307222.
  • Lall AC, Saadat AA, Battaglia MR, Maldonado DR, Perets I, Domb BG. Perineal
    Pressure During Hip Arthroscopy Is Reduced by Use of Trendelenburg: A
    Prospective Study With Randomized Order of Positioning. Clin Orthop Relat Res.
    2019 Jun 21. doi: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000000804. PMID: 31261260.
  • Lall AC, Secretov E, Battaglia MR, Maldonado DR, Perets I, Domb BG. Effect of
    alcohol consumption on patient-reported outcomes in hip arthroscopy: a matched
    controlled study with minimum 2-year follow-up. Hip Int. 2019 Jun
    5:1120700019853554. doi: 10.1177/1120700019853554. PMID: 31167582.
  • Maldonado DR.CORR Insights: Do Trabecular Metal Acetabular Components
    Reduce the Risk of Rerevision After Revision THA Performed for Periprosthetic
    Joint Infection? A Study Using the NJR Data Set.Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2019
    Jun;477(6):1390-1391. doi: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000000598. PMID: 31136439.
  • Maldonado DR, Chen JW, Walker-Santiago R, Rosinsky P, Shapira J, Domb BG.
    Forget the Greater Trochanter! Hip Joint Access With the 12 O’clock Portal in Hip
    Arthroscopy. Arthrosc Tech. 2019 May. doi: 10.1016/j.eats.2019.01.017. PMID:
    pending.
  • Shapira J, Chen S, Wojnowski N, Lall AC, Rosinsky P, Maldonado DR, Domb BG.
    (2019). Outcomes of Non-operative Management, Iliopsoas Tenotomy, and
    Revision Arthroplasty for Iliopsoas Impingement after Total Hip Replacement: A
    Systematic Review. J Arthroplasty. 2019 May 8. pii: S0883-5403(19)30457-7. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2019.04.067. PMID: 31147246.
  • Chen AW, Craig MJ, Yuen LC, Ortiz-Declet V, Maldonado DR, Domb BG. Five-
    Year Outcomes and Return to Sport of Runners Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for
    Labral Tears With or Without Femoroacetabular Impingement. Am J Sports Med.
    2019 Apr 16:363546519836429. doi: 10.1177/0363546519836429. PMID:
    30991007.
  • Rosinsky PJ, Go C, Shapira J, Maldonado DR, Lall AC, Domb BG. Validation of
    a Risk Calculator for Conversion of Hip Arthroscopy to Total Hip Arthroplasty in a
    Consecutive Series of 1,400 Patients. The Journal of Arthroplasty. Published
    online: April 12, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2019.04.013. PMID: 31060916.
  • Maldonado DR, Lall AC, Laseter JR, Kyin C, Chen JW, Go C, Domb BG. Primary
    Hip Arthroscopy With Labral Reconstruction. Is There a Difference Between
    Allograft and Autograft? Orthop J Sports Med. 2019. doi:
    10.1177/2325967119833715. PMID: 30937319.
  • Maldonado DR, Lall AC, Walker-Santiago R, Rosinsky P, Shapira J, Chen JW,
    Domb BG. Hip Labral reconstruction: Consensus Study on Indications, Graft Type and Technique Among High-Volume Surgeons. J Hip Preserv Surg. 2019 Feb. doi:
    10.1093/jhps/hnz008. PMID: 31069094.
  • Walker-Santiago R, Ortiz-Declet V, Maldonado DR, Wojnowski NM, Benjamin
    Domb BG. The Modified Resisted Internal Rotation Test for Detection of Gluteal
    tendon Tears. Arthrosc Tech. 2019 Feb. doi: 10.1016/j.eats.2018.11.006. PMID:
    31019887.
  • Saadat AA, Lall AC, Battaglia MR, Mohr MR, Maldonado DR, Domb BG.
    Prevalence of Generalized Ligamentous Laxity in Patients Undergoing Hip
    Arthroscopy: A Prospective Study of Patients’ Clinical Presentation, Physical
    Examination, Intraoperative Findings, and Surgical Procedures. Am J Sports Med.
    2019 Feb 12:363546518825246. doi: 10.1177/0363546518825246. PMID: 30753088
  • Maldonado DR, LaReau JM, Perets I, Ortiz-Declet V, Laseter JR, Lall AC, Domb
    BG. Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy With Concomitant Periacetabular Osteotomy.
    Minimum Five-Year Follow-Up. Arthroscopy. 2019 Feb 4. pii: S0749-
    8063(18)31029-6. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2018.10.143. PMID: 30733041
  • Maldonado DR, Laseter JR, Perets I, Ortiz-Declet V, Chen AW, Lall AC, Domb
    BG. The Effect of Complete Tearing of the Ligamentum Teres in Patients
    Undergoing Primary Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement and
    Labral Tears: A Match-Controlled Study. Arthroscopy. 2019 Jan;35(1):80-88. doi:
    10.1016/j.arthro.2018.07.042. PMID: 30611371
  • Maldonado DR, Lall AC, Battaglia MR, Laseter JR, Chen JW, Domb BG.
    Arthroscopic Iliopsoas Fractional Lengthening. JBJS Essential Surgical Techniques.
    2018 Dec; 8(4). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.ST.18.00020. PMID: 6358333
  • Chen AW, Yuen LC, Ortiz-Declet V, Litrenta J, Maldonado DR, Domb BG.
    Selective Debridement With Labral Preservation Using Narrow Indications in
    the Hip: Minimum 5-Year Outcomes With a Matched-Pair Labral Repair Control
    Group. Am J Sports Med. 2018 Feb;46(2):297-304. doi:
    10.1177/0363546517739566. PMID: 29135288.
  • Perets I, Rybalko D, Mu BH, Maldonado DR, Edwards G, Battaglia MR, Domb
    BG. In Revision Hip Arthroscopy, Labral Reconstruction Can Address a Deficient
    Labrum, but Labral Repair Retains Its Role for the Reparable Labrum: A Matched
    Control Study. Am J Sports Med. 2018 Dec;46(14):3437-3445. doi:
    10.1177/0363546518809063. PMID: 30419171
  • Maldonado DR, Perets I, Mu BH, Ortiz-Declet V, Chen AW, Lall AC, Domb BG.
    Arthroscopic Capsular Plication in Patients With Labral Tears and Borderline
    Dysplasia of the Hip: Analysis of Risk For Failure. Am J Sports Med. 2018 Nov. doi
    10.1177/0363546518808033. PMID: 30419179
  • Maldonado DR. CORR Insights: Do Trabecular Metal Acetabular Components
    Reduce the Risk of Rerevision After Revision THA Performed for Periprosthetic
    Joint Infection? A Study Using the NJR Data Set. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2018
    Nov. doi: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000000598. PMID: 30507831
  • Lall AC, Maldonado DR, Domb BG. Editorial Commentary: It is Acceptable to
    Have Symptoms After Hip Arthroscopy?? Depends on Whom You Ask.
    Arthroscopy. 2018 Nov;34(11):3030-3032. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2018.08.017.
    PMID:30392686
  • Maldonado DR, LaReau JM, Lall AC, Battaglia MR, Mohr MR, Domb BG.
    Concomitant Arthroscopy With Labral Reconstruction and Periacetabular
    Osteotomy for Hip Dysplasia. Arthrosc Tech. 2018 Oct 15;7(11):e1141-e1147. doi:
    10.1016/j.eats.2018.07.012. PMID: 30533361
  • Chen AW, Steffes MJ, Laseter JR, Maldonado DR, Ortiz-Declet V, Perets I,
    Domb BG. The Education and Training of Future Hip Preservation Surgeons:
    Aggregate Recommemdations of High-Volume Surgeons. J Hip Presrv Surg. 2018
    Oct 25;5(3):307-311. doi: 10.1093/jhps/hny032. PMID: 30393559
  • Maldonado DR, Krych AJ, Levy BA, Hartigan DE, Laseter JR, Domb BG. Does
    Iliopsoas Lengthening Adversely Affect Clinical Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopy?
    A Multicenter Comparative Study. Am J Sports Med. 2018 Sep; 46(11):2624-2631.
    doi: 10.1177/0363546518785966. PMID: 30074842
  • Maldonado, DR. CORR Insights: Can Dynamic Ultrasonography of the Hip
    Reliably Assess Anterior Head Translation? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2018 Sep. doi:
    10.1097/CORR.0000000000000500. PMID: 30247234
  • Ortiz-Declet V, Yuen LC, Maldonado DR, Schwarzman G, Laseter JR, Domb
    BG. Return to Play Among Golfers Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy: Short- to Midterm
    Follow-up. Orthopedics. 2018 Jul 1;41(4):e545-e549. doi: 10.3928/01477447-
    20180524-02. PMID: 29813170
  • Maldonado DR, Ortiz-Declet V, Chen AW, Lall AC, Mohr MR, Laseter JR, Domb
    BG. Modified Shelf Acetabuloplasty Endoscopic Procedure With Allograft For
    Developmental Hip Dysplasia Treatment. Arthrosc Tech, 2018 Jun 25;7(7):e779-
    e784. doi: 10.1016/j.eats.2018.03.015. PMID:30094151
  • Perets I, Craig MJ, Mu BH, Maldonado DR, Litrenta JM, Domb BG. Midterm
    Outcomes and Return to Sports Among Athletes Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy.
    Am J Sports Med. 2018 Jun;46(7):1661-1667. doi: 10.1177/0363546518765969.
    PMID: 29726692
  • Maldonado DR, Mu BH, Chen AW, Ortiz-Declet V, Perets I, Yuen LC, Domb
    BG. Fresh Femoral Head Osteochondral Allogaft Transplantation for Treating
    Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Femoral Head. Arthrosc Tech, 2018 Mar
    12;7(4):e331-e335. doi: 10.1016/j.eats.2017.10.001. PMID: 29868400