Ryan E. Harold, MD

Ryan Harold, MD is an orthopedic surgeon who is dual-fellowship trained in Shoulder & Elbow Surgery and Hand Surgery. He specializes in shoulder and elbow conditions including rotator cuff tears, shoulder arthritis, elbow fractures, and elbow dislocations. Through his extensive training, he developed expertise in minimally invasive arthroscopic shoulder surgery, including massive rotator cuff tears, shoulder replacement surgery, complex shoulder reconstruction, and elbow replacement surgery. He also treats acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and scapulothoracic conditions. He has a specific interest in cutting-edge custom 3D-printed shoulder replacement implants, preoperative 3D planning software, and computer-assisted navigation for shoulder replacement surgery. He also specializes in hand conditions, including arthritis, fractures, nerve, tendon, and artery injuries.

Dr. Harold grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He attended Purdue University where he received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. He attended medical school at the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

He completed a one-year Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery fellowship at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center in Indianapolis followed by a second one- year subspecialty fellowship training in Shoulder & Elbow arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery at Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Harold’s goal in taking care of patients is to provide the highest level of care to each individual, whether it be through surgical or non-surgical approaches such as injections, physical therapy, or bracing. He strives to provide personalized care to each patient and decide on a treatment plan together, after discussing different options. Although many treatment options are often available, a patient’s specific activities, lifestyle, and personal preferences often serve as a guide to selecting the best treatment option.

Dr. Harold is an outdoor and technology enthusiast. He is an avid runner, snow skier, and golfer, and has a personal interest in 3D printing in orthopedic surgery. His wife is a pediatrician and together they have a daughter and a son.

Dr. Harold serves as a journal reviewer for the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (JSES) and the Journal of Hand Surgery (JHS).

Imbalance in Axial-plane Rotator Cuff Fatty Infiltration in Posteriorly Worn Glenoids in Primary Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis: An MRI-based Study

Biomechanical Study of Extensor Tendon Lacerations Over the Finger Metacarpophalangeal Joints