In 2016 I was hit by a car and Dr Catherine Roberston did my ACL Recovery. Its been 8 Years She did a Phenominal Job and Knew what she was doing I do not walk as thaught I ever had ACL surgery. Everybody else that had Acl had large scars when mine looks like a small slither she knows what shes doing at that time I knew she had skill and now I come to find out she does work for the Padres, It Make Sense ! She's The Best Surgeon it' a Rarity... read more

Catherine M Robertson, MD - She's Great Smaller Scar than Others I meet - Sports Medicine Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I took my daughter to see Catherine M Robertson about a problem with her shoulder she was having while playing goalie for her high school team. We had been to an orthopedist in our insurance network and got no definitive diagnosis and no physical therapy recommendation. I researched and found Dr Robertson specialized in shoulder problems and worked with the San Diego Padres. She also had no definitive diagnosis for my daughter's problem and offered no solution. I asked if an MRI might help with diagnosing. She didn't think it would help but agreed to schedule an MRI at UCSD Health. We went to the MRI appointment and explained I would have to pay upfront for the procedure. The charge was $4,000 for a simple shoulder MRI! I refused to pay and went to Imaging Healthcare Specialists - Encinitas Imaging Center two blocks from my home. The charge was about $120 to the best of my recollection. Hmm... that's quite a difference in price. We went for the follow up appointment with Dr Robertson and at first, she was confused and mumbled something like, "Weren't you the ones that refused the MRI..." (Yep. That was me.) I didn't respond as she looked at the results. She commented there was nothing remarkable on the MRI and had no referral for physical therapy. I thanked her for her time and left the fancy office. As I look at the reviews, I see ratings of either one star or five stars and nothing in between. I agree she is uncaring and unprofessional. I would never refer anyone to her or go back to her again. I can't believe she works with professional athletes. No wonder the Padres continue to come up short every year! read more

This is a long overdue review. I saw Dr. Robertson after a year of pain and PT, she reviewed MRI and determined I had a Labrum Tear. Did the surgery to reattach labrum and bicep tendosis as well. She had to drill my bone twice because first time the drill broke. She probably let some inexperienced resident in training perform surgery on me. So I ended up with 2 holes. I started PT 2 weeks later, I was having pain in the front of the shoulder whenever I would row (movements involving the bicep) 4 months later I fell and the bicep tendon snapped. She admitted that should not have happened because the tendon should be healed by month 4. I saw multiple doctors and all confirmed. Before going in surgery to attach the bicep tendon I asked her about symmetry and if she can make sure the bicep is symmetrical to the other bicep. She said its no problem and that is easy and there is no problem or risk. I got out of surgery , she said everything went fine. Later I discovered that she wrote in the surgery notes she discussed with me risks and possibility of popeye deformity (bicep asymmetry). That is a straight lie. And I got out of surgery with a popeye deformity. I told her at my 2 week follow up she acted shocked and unaware of the deformity saying everything was fine during surgery. More lies. She kept saying she does not know what is going on. She offered to go in and try to fix. She said she would lift the tendon and attach higher and tension it correctly. I agreed to it. I came out she said she fixed it but did not re-tension the tendon. She lifted the fascia tissue. Again I go home and I check , and popeye is still there. I ended up with a click near the elbow where she stitched the fascia. And every time I ask her about reason for the popeye and why she did not tension the tendon she gives me a different answer that is contradicting to the previous answer. I, still till this day, do not know what went wrong and is the problem. On top of this , PT injured my rotator cuff and when I asked to see her , her office refused and wanted me to go to PT. PT created the problem and asked me to see the dr. Lots of back and forth till they scheduled me4 weeks later. I was in so much pain. I could not work for 3 weeks. I had a re-tear of the labrum , Rotator cuff tendosis all around ( weak RT tendons) and a thin bicep tendon leading to big possibility of snapping the tendon again. I waited 45 minutes , she saw me for 20 minutes , offered no solutions and no hope as well. Made me think I may never recover and never workout and just accept living like a 70 year old. And on top of that she said she said she had to leave because she had commitments after work (it was close to 5PM close time on Friday), but it's ok to make me wait 45 minutes to see her to tell me nothing and offer no solution. 3 surgeries in one year and 3 years later, I still am suffering from the RT injury and Bicep issue. I can't lift weights and am scared the tendon might snap and feel lots of bicep pain when I curl. I lived through 3 years of hell and stress that led to lots of Chronic issues I am dealing with right now due to what she put me through. read more

This is a long-overdue review! Dr. Robertson perform my ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair around June of 2020. It's been more than a year now and i am doing well. Due to multiple unfortunate events - from getting injured, finding an incompetent group/doc, to moving in 2 weeks. I ended up with Dr. R!!!! I entered her office with anxiety, and she made a plan for me like a group of superheroes. She answered all my questions and she even showed me the MRI images and explained to me what happened to my knee. She was able to perform surgery on my knee a week before I moved. This was my first surgery, and she made it perfect. I am really grateful for all you did for me Dr. R!!!!!! She is the best!!!!!! read more

I was referred to Dr. Robertson by a friend as a top Sports Medicine physician. However, my experience was very poor. I needed meniscus surgery. Dr. Robertson said I would be back to 100% health in 6-8 weeks. However, after still having knee pain at 6 weeks, she told me to start running and not come back to see her. It took me a year and a half of careful physical therapy and new related injuries along the way to get back to current state of 90-95%. However, Dr. Robertson had no interest in my condition or recovery after the surgery, despite having issues caused by the surgery. I'm in my early 30s and very physically active. read more

Catherine convinced me to get a hip arthroscopy instead of a hip replacement. I was at that time a Registered Nurse at UCSD in the ER- I was medically separated from that job after her surgery crippled me. She neglected to inform me of common side effects of the recovery of that surgery- I developed hip flexor tendinitis, hamstring tendinitis, obturator trigger point spasm, nerve damage...and my knee was so severely damaged from the traction during the surgery I could barely bear weight on it. During the "recovery", Catherine largely ignored my complaints, offering nothing but physical therapy (her therapists admitted to me that they had never recovered a patient from this crippling tendinopathy despite having many patients develop it), she offered nsaids and cortisone. When asked what this crippling pain in the posterior hip was, for 8 months she said "I don't know what that is" despite never even doing a simple clinical assessment of the area. She rushed through appointments despite her surgery ruining my life. I couldn't even walk around the block, my pain level was through the roof 24/7, I couldn't work, I lost everything. I drained 401k accounts, I lost a year doing anything with my kids, I could not even sit in a chair (I still can't a year later). I've spent $20k on stem cells which is the only reason I can walk, I can't run, I can't surf, I can't make a living for my family. She didn't care at all, she just wanted me out of her office because she's one of the "trailblazers" in this disastrous surgery and only likes good outcomes. I've since spoken to countless physical therapists that have described how they have seen countless disastrous outcomes of this surgery. It's unethical that none of these complications are even discussed. When I tried to make the hip surgery a work comp claim retroactively to save my job, my lawyer pulled Catherine's my charts. When I asked her why my claim was getting so much pushback, my lawyer told me that Catherine never chatted any of my complaints. In fact, from her charting, it didn't sound like the recovery went that badly, and there was no mention of any of the complaints of pain I would later find out was due to the nerve damage. to put it simply: CATHERINE KNOWINGLY LIED ON HER CHARTING TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE HER SURGERY WAS A SUCCESS. Catherine Robertson has absolutely no empathy, no accountability, and no morals in her approach to medicine. She ruined my life, don't let her ruin yours. read more

Dr. Robertson is a great doctor! She is very attentive, explains everything very well and shows MRI images to a patient. I am very pleased with a knee arthroscopy and partial medial meniscectomy surgery that she performed on me. I can return back to my athletic activities now. I highly recommend her as a sports orthopedics doctor. read more

Update after being told by Dr Robertson's PA that DR. Robertson said It was most likely I would be worse if I had surgery (the Dr never even met with me although I requested it numerous times.) I am so happy to say it's been 5 wks since my surgery and I could cry with happiness. My labrum was severely detached and the bones were grinding against each other,I had a nerve and a muscle entrapment, along with a few minor issues. As a daughter of a Dr I do not say this lightly, I've never been more disgusted with a Dr. In my entire life. She should be ashamed to call herself a Dr giving advice on a patient she never met and stealing away all my hope. I cried for days thinking I would never live a normal life again. Thankfully the Dr took the time and knew I needed help and knew he had the skills to accomplish it. I'm so happy I went to him and didn't listen to DR. Robertson. I would still be in bed crying if I did. Please don't trust someone who can't even give you a moment to see the entire picture. To add insult to injury her office ironically called me to discuss and I mentioned I just had surgery a few days prior. They told me I was considered a non operative patient and that only angered me more as I did need surgery and based on her not meeting me and taking a glimpse of my MRI she made an assessment that was beyond incorrect. I was explained and know from experience MRI's don't always show the depth of the issue. Do not let her steal your hope. There are Drs out there with exceptional skills, who take the time to speak with the patient and help them.. DR Alexander Weber is located in LA and has a stellar reputation and even is the Physician for the USC Trojans. Please get another opinion as that could be the one which changes your life!! Btw I highly recommend him!! read more

After having several months of ongoing hip pain, I found and viewed the UCSD medical website and video featuring Dr. Catherine Robertson. In the video she speaks directly to a multiple of treatment options for hip pain and her desire to treat athletes with hip pain. Seemed perfect for me!!! On 8/23/16, I attempted to make an appointment with Dr. Robertson but was told she only takes surgical referrals and patients must already have undergone an MRI. The telephone operator said I'd have to get a "work-up" from another sports physician prior to seeing Dr. Catherine Robertson. Another doctor was immediately offered up by the operator. In the real world this is commonly referred to as a "bait and switch." Dr. Robertson's video mentions various treatment options with surgical intervention being the last one mentioned. It doesn't look like this is the actual arrangement. To be fair, I've never had the opportunity to meet Dr. Robertson or evaluate her medical ability. Based on the way medical corporations are run today, she may not even know of this screening process of her potential new patients. The website needs to reflect her desire not to see new patients with hip pain or the screening process needs to be altered. read more

I was having a hard time with my insurance and getting me a referral to a worthwhile doctor. I relate that to you so you get an understanding that I spoke with more than one "expert" before I was placed with Dr. Robertson. She was very detailed when discussing the MRI results, the body's functions and the recovery of those areas. She also discussed multiple recommendations and wanted to know what worked best with my goals and current situation. Even her staff, from the folks that field the phone calls, to the folks at the front desk, to her partner in crime Dr. Jackie impressed me and made me feel comfortable with my care. I had a left hip arthroscopy vs larbral reconstruction done on Sep 26,2018. Today is almost one month out and i have almost my full strength and flexibility back in that area. I should also mention this is my second time having this surgery and my progress hasn't been anticipated as going as well as it is! She did an excellent job. Only criticism is sometimes her prior appointments can run into your time so she comes in late but she gives you her attention while you're in the room and that's more valuable to me than anything. read more

I was referred to Dr Robertson from a sports medicine doc for surgery. Dr Robertson explained everything about my surgery and other options in great detail. She made me feel comfortable about the whole process. I'm happy with the outcome of the surgery so far and it's only supposed to get better from this point! :) read more

Hands down the best surgeon of all time. I was having issues with my insurance and seen by many doctors till I ended up with Dr. Robertson. Blessing in disguise? Yea, I think so! She was kind, compassionate and held my hand through the entire process. I had a complete ruptured ACL, bucket tear lateral meniscus, and a fractured tibial plateau. I'm only 28 and she kept that in mind and told me I would be ok and she would see to it. She kept her word! It's been about 6 months and I am still healing of course but healing beautifully. I've seen scars other people with the exact same injuries as myself and man they look pretty bad. I look at mine and feel blessed. She did an amazing job you can barely even see my scars. The staff is great, starting from the front desk and how can I forget her right hand Dr. Jackie, she too has helped pushed me forward with my recovery. Thank you Dr. Roberson for giving me my life back! Never take mobility for granted! read more

Catherine M Robertson, MD - Left leg - Sports Medicine Near Me - San Diego, California

I had 1 year of knee pain due to a common knee injury that Dr. Robertson fixed 100% via scope. She used a 2 portal method that required one fewer incision than the 3 portal method most surgeons use. When I was later seen by a nurse at a different practice, it blew her mind that I did not have a third incision site. It is clear that Dr. Robertson takes great pain in minimizing scarring from her procedures. My post-op course was excellent as well, as I did not have to take a single narcotic pill I was prescribed. I have since been able to return to sports at my prior normal intensity. Overall I had a very straightforward and satisfying experience with her and would highly recommend her to anyone in need of orthopedic surgery. read more

Dr. Robertson performed surgery and successfully repaired my rotator cuff (full tear) about 10 months ago. I had no other similar procedure to compare it to but the doctor and UCSD (modern, clean facilities) have exceeded all of my expectations. She and her team took time to educate me about the procedure and recovery and always answered all of my questions. With proper physical therapy based on her guidance (at PRN La Jolla) I have since fully recovered and am able to do pull-ups and push-ups. read more