Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Jonathan D. Hughes, MD

  • Assistant Professor
  • Team Physician, Pitt Football

Clinical Interests Include:

  • Shoulder Arthroscopy and Complex Shoulder Procedures Including Arthroplasty, Arthroscopic and Open Instability Repair, Rotator Cuff Repair and Reconstruction, AC Joint Reconstruction, Clavicle and Proximal Humerus Fracture Fixation
  • Knee Arthroscopy and Complex Knee Procedures Including Multi-Ligament Reconstruction, Revision Ligament Reconstruction, Tendon Repairs and Reconstruction, Extra-Articular Tenodesis, Patellar Instability, Patella Fracture Fixation, Cartilage Restoration, Osteotomies
  • Open Elbow Procedures Including Tendon Repair and Reconstruction, Collateral Ligament Repair and Reconstruction, Cartilage Restoration

Education & Training

  • MD, University of Texas Health science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
  • Residency: Baylor Scott and White Healthcare-Temple, Temple, TX
  • Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Representative Publications

Gibbs CM, Hughes JD, Winkler PW, Muenzer M, Lesniak BP, Musahl V. “Practice Patterns for Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in an Integrated Health Care System.” Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. Accepted for Publication 2022.

Hughes JD, Gibbs CM, Almast A, Atte A, Sansone M, Karlsson J, Musahl V. “More Anatomic Tunnel Placement for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction by Surgeons with High-Volume Compared to Low-Volume.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2022). 10.1007/s00167-022-06875-x.

Winkler PW, Wagala N, Hughes JD, Musahl V. “High-grade preoperative osteoarthritis of the index compartment is a major predictor of meniscal allograft failure.” Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 2022.  10.1007/s00402-021-04306-z.

Musahl V, Engler ID, Nazzal EM, Dalton JF, Lucidi GA, Hughes JD, Zaffagnini S, Della Villa F, Irrgang JJ, Fu FH, Karlsson J. “Current trends in the anterior cruciate ligament part II: evaluation, surgical technique, prevention, and rehabilitation.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021) Dec 5:1-8. 10.1007/s00167-021-06825-z

Musahl V, Nazzal EM, Lucidi GA, Serrano R, Hughes JD, Margheritini F, Zaffagnini S, Fu FH, Karlsson J. Current trends in the anterior cruciate ligament part 1: biology and biomechanics. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021) Dec 20:1-4.

Winkler PW, Wagala N, Carrozzi S, Nazzal EM, Fox M, Hughes JD, Lesniak BP, Vyas D, Rabuck S, Irrgang JJ, Musahl V. “Low posterior tibial slope is associated with increased risk of surgical PCL graft failure.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021). 10.1007/s00167-021-06760-z.

Winkler PW, Wagala N, Carrozzi S, Nazzal EM, Fox M, Hughes JD, Lesniak BP, Vyas D, Rabuck S, Irrgang JJ, Musahl V. “Low posterior tibial slope is associated with increased risk of surgical PCL graft failure.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021). Accepted for Publication. 

Byrne K, Hughes JD, Gibbs CM, Vaswani R, Meredith SJ, Popchak AJ, Lesniak BP, Karlsson J, Irrgang JJ, Musahl V. “Non-Anatomic Tunnel Position Increases the Risk of Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021).  10.1007/s00167-021-06607-7

Winkler PW, Wagala N, Hughes JD, Irrgang JJ, Fu F, Musahl V. “Meniscal allograft tears are associated with early surgical meniscal allograft failure.” American Journal of Sports Medicine (2021): 03635465211032970.

Hughes JD, Lynch AD, Smith CN, Musahl V, Irrgang JJ. “External Fixation Increased the Risk of Complications Following Surgical Treatment of Multiple Ligament Knee Injuries.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-021-06508-9.

Gibbs CM, Hughes JD, Popchak AJ, Chiba D, Lesniak BP, Anderst W, Musahl V. “Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Lateral Extraarticular Tenodesis Better Restores Native Knee Kinematics in Combined ACL and Meniscal Injury.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-021-06476-0.

Winkler PW, Wagala N, Hughes JD, Lesniak BP, Musahl V. “A high tibial slope, allograft use, and poor patient reported outcome scores are associated with multiple ACL graft failures.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021).  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-021-06460-8.

Winkler PW, Hughes JD, Irrgang JJ, Karlsson J, Musahl V. “Posterior cruciate ligament injuries: what do we really know?” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-020-06425-3

Winkler PW, Zsidai B, Wagala N, Hughes JD, Horvath A, Senorski EH, Samuelsson K, Musahl V. “Evolving Evidence in the Treatment of Primary and Recurrent Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Part 1 – Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Diagnostics.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-020-06357-y.

Winkler PW, Zsidai B, Wagala N, Hughes JD, Horvath A, Senorski EH, Samuelsson K, Musahl V. “Evolving Evidence in the Treatment of Primary and Recurrent Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Part 2 - Surgical Techniques, Outcomes and Rehabilitation.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2020. Accepted for Publication.

Winkler PW, Hughes JD, Musahl V. “Editorial Commentary: Respect the Posterior Tibial Slope and Make Slope-Reducing Osteotomies an Integral Part of the Surgical Repertoire.” Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery 2020; 36(10): 2728-2730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2020.07.004.

Hughes JD, Lawton CD, Nawabi DH, Pearle AD, Musahl V. “Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair: The Current Status.” JBJS. 2020 Sep 16.

Fox MA, Drain NP, Rai A, Zheng A, Carlos NB, Sabzevari S, Hughes JD, Popchak A, Rodosky MW, Lesniak BP, Lin A. “Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Following a Second Dislocation Results in Increased Failure Rates Compared to Immediate Repair Following a Traumatic First-Time Dislocation.” Arthroscopy. Accepted for Publication 2022.

Como CJ, LeVasseur C, Kane G, Rai A, Munsch M, Gabrielli A, Hughes JD, Anderst W, Lin A. “Implant Characteristics Affect In Vivo Shoulder Kinematics During Multiplanar Functional Motions After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.” Journal of Biomechanics 2022 March 12:111050.

Finger L, Dunn RH, Hughes JD, Lesniak BP, Lin A. “Clinical Outcomes Secondary to Time to Surgery for Atraumatic Rotator Cuff Tears.” Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery 2022 Jan 24.

Reddy R, Solomon D, Hughes JD, Lin A. “Clinical Outcomes of Rotator Cuff Repairs in Patients with Preexisting Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis.” Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery 2021 Dec 27.

Cognetti DJ, Hughes JD, Chasteen J, Fox MA, Hartzler RU, Lin A, Sheean AJ. “Bone Block Augmentation of the Posterior Glenoid for Recurrent Posterior Shoulder Instability is Associated with High Rates of Clinical Failure: A Systematic Review.” Arthroscopy. 2021 July 29. 

Como C, Hughes JD, Lesniak BP, Lin A. “Critical Shoulder Angle Does Not Influence Retear Rate After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021).  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-021-06652-2.

Kane G, LeVasseur, Hughes JD, Gabrielli A, Popchak A, Anderst W, Lin A. Improved Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction May Not Be Associated With Changes In Shoulder Kinematics: An In Vivo Study.” Arthroscopy 2021 July 6.

Hughes JD, Gibbs CM, Drummond M, Vaswani R, Ayinon C, Fongod E, Godshaw BM, Popchak AJ, Lesniak BP, Lin A. “Failure Rates and Clinical Outcomes after Treatment for Long Head Biceps Brachii Tendon Pathology, a Comparison of Four Treatment Types.” JSES International 2021.

Hughes JD, Kane G, LeVasseur, Gabrielli A, Popchak A, Anderst W, Lin A. “Graft Healing Does Not Influence Subjective Outcomes and Shoulder Kinematics After Superior Capsule Reconstruction:  A Prospective In Vivo Kinematic Study.” Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2021 Jul 1;30(7):S48-56.

Hughes JD, Gibbs CM, Reddy RP, Whicker E, Vaswani R, Eibel A, Talentino S, Popchak AJ, Lesniak BP, Lin A. “Repair of High-Grade Partial Thickness Supraspinatus Tears After Surgical Completion of the Tear Have a Lower Retear Rate When Compared to Full Thickness Tear Repair.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-021-06524-9.

Hughes JD, Vaswani R, Paras TM, Lin A. “Treatment Algorithm for Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability: Putting It All Together.” Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics. 2021 Mar 1;31(1):100862.

Kane G, LeVasseur, Hughes JD, Anderst W, Lin A. “Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction for Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Clinical Outcomes and In Vivo Assessment of Kinematic Effects.” UPMC Ortho Restore. April 27, 2020. https://www.upmcphysicianresources.com/news/042720-lin-scr-ortho

Diermeier T, Tisherman R, Hughes JD, Tullman M, Coffey EB, Fink C, Lynch A, Fu FH, Musahl V. “Quadriceps tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.” Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-020-05902-z

Hughes JD, Vaswani R, Gibbs CM, Tisherman RT, Musahl V. “ACL Reconstruction with a Partial Thickness Quadriceps Tendon Graft Secured with a Continuous Loop Endobutton.” Arthroscopy Techniques 2020.  April 3.

Hughes JD, Rauer T, Gibbs CM, Musahl V. “Diagnosis and Treatment of Rotatory Knee Instability.” Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics 2019;6(1):1-10.

Hughes JD, Burnham JM, Hirsh A, Musahl V, Fu FH, Irrgang JJ, Lynch AD. “Comparison of Short-Term Biodex Results after Anatomic ACL Reconstruction Between Three Autografts.”  The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 7(5), 2325967119847630. doi: 10.1177/2325967119847630.

Hughes JD, Stahl DL. “Ischial Tuberosity Avulsion Fracture Nonunions in the Adolescent Population Treated With a Posterior Column Screw: A Case Series of 2 Patients.”  Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery 2019.  https://doi.org/10.1177/2309499019839022.

Hughes JD, Shin JJ, Albers M, Musahl V, Fu F.  “A Closer Look at the Relationship Between Industry and Orthopedic Sports Medicine Surgeons.”  The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine 2019, 7(1), 2325967118823175. doi: 10.1177/2325967118823175

Pfeiffer TR, Burnham JM, Kanakamedala AC, Hughes JD, Zlotnicki J, Popchak A, Debski RE, Musahl V.  “Distal Femur Morphology Affects Rotatory Knee Instability in Patients with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Ruptures.” Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2018 Oct 29:1-6.

Pfeiffer TR, Burnham JM, Hughes JD, Kanakamedala AC, Herbst E, Popchak A, Shafizadeh S, Irrgang JJ, Debski RE, Musahl V. “An Increased Lateral Femoral Condyle Ratio Femur is a Risk Factor for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.”  J Bone Joint Surg Am 2018 May 16;100(10):857-864. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.17.01011

Hughes JD, Mittwede P. “Making the Most of Protected Research Time in Residency” AAOS Now May 2018. https://www.aaos.org/AAOSNow/2018/May/YourAAOS/youraaos02

Lucidi GA, Hughes JD, Herbst E, Burnham JM, Musahl V. “Role of the Anterolateral Complex in Rotatory Instability of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficient Knee” Ann Joint 2017. doi: 10.21037/aoj.2017.06.09.

Hughes JD, Hughes JL, Bartley JH, Hamilton WP, Brennan KL. “Infection Rates in Arthroscopic Versus Open Rotator Cuff Repair” Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine 2017;5(7): 2325967117715416.  

Research Interests

  • Rotatory Knee Instability
  • Anatomic ACL Reconstruction
  • Multiligament Knee Injuries
  • Meniscus Tears
  • Knee Kinematics
  • Shoulder Instability
  • Superior Capsular Reconstruction
  • Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
  • ​Shoulder Kinematics

Research Grants

Albert B. Ferguson Orthopaedic Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation 2021 ($5,000)
Hughes JD, Munsch M, Rai A, LeVasseur C, Anderst W, Lin A. 
“Effect of Retroversion on Shoulder Joint Kinematics and Muscle Contributions Following Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty”

Albert B. Ferguson Orthopaedic Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation 2020 ($5,000)
Hughes JD, Albers M, Krivoniak A, Ghodadra A, Kimatura G, Lin A.
“The Use of CT Scans with 3D Modeling in Revision Shoulder Arthroplasty”

W81XWH-17-2-0073 (Irrgang, Musahl)
09/30/2017 – 09/29/2021
Department of Defense $2,054,687 (total award)
Surgical Timing and Rehabilitation for MLKIs: A Multicenter Integrated Clinical Trial
The overall purpose of this project is to determine when it is best to do surgery (within 6 weeks of injury or 3 to 4 months after injury) and when to start rehab (immediately or 4 weeks after surgery) for the treatment of knee dislocations on how long it takes to resume pre-injury military duty, work, and sports.
Role: Co-Investigator

U01AR076144 (Irrgang, Musahl)
09/17/19 - 08/31/2024
National Institute of Health $705,076 (total award)
STABILITY 2: ACL Reconstruction +/- Lateral Tenodesis with Patellar vs. Quad Tendon
Brief Description of Project Aims: Determine if graft type (QT, BPTB, HT) with or without a lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) affects: 1) Rate of graft failure 2 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR); 2) Patient-reported outcomes, muscle function, performance-based measures of function (hop tests, drop vertical jump) and return to sports; 3) Intervention-related donor site morbidity, complications and adverse outcomes and 4) Cost-effectiveness of ACLR and LET.
Role: Co-Investigator