January 09, 2023

Meet Matthew Matava, MD

Sports Medicine Specialist 

Dr. Matava specializes in sports related injuries in adults and children. Special interests include ligament injuries of the knee, articular cartilage restoration, meniscal transplantation; athletic injuries of the shoulder including instability and rotator cuff issues; and pediatric knee disorders. He also serves as the medical director for the St. Louis Blues and the chair of the NFL Research and Innovation Committee. 

Where are you from? 

I was born at St. Mary’s Hospital just down the road from Washington University and we moved to St. Charles when I was in the first grade. I lived there until I left home for college. St. Charles was a great place to grow up and now I get to be the team doctor for my alma mater as well as their cross-town rival, St. Charles West.

What made you choose orthopedics and sports medicine as a specialty?

I always wanted to be a surgeon but I decided to pursue Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine after tearing my ACL playing basketball in college. It seemed like a great specialty that combines the hands-on treatment of surgery with the ability to return patients of all ages and skill levels to an active way of life, whether it’s for recreation or their occupation. As I have told patients, in sports medicine orthopedic surgery, we don’t save lives, we save lifestyles.

What brought you to Washington University Orthopedics?

I have been with Washington University since 1994 when I came here after completing my training. Having grown up in the St. Louis area, I always saw Barnes Hospital and Washington University as the pinnacle of medical care in this region. I knew that if I returned to the area, this is where I wanted to practice. Back then, orthopedics was only a division of General Surgery. Shortly after I arrived, we were given departmental status and Dr. Richard Gelberman was hired as our first department chairman.

What aspect of your practice do you find most interesting or rewarding?

Helping patients overcome an injury or other musculoskeletal condition is the highlight of my practice. Orthopedic Sports Medicine is a specialty that usually provides immediate feedback with tangible evidence of how effective a certain treatment was for a patient. It’s important to know that “success” can mean different things depending on the patient.

Another interesting aspect of Sports Medicine is that an adolescent, collegiate student-athlete, or pro can all have the same injury, yet be treated differently.

Anything new on the horizon for orthopedics sports medicine care?

One big area of research and clinical interest in 2022 was in the area of ‘biologics’ – the use of the patient’s own cells to help regenerate damaged tissue. Unfortunately, there are more unknowns than knowns in terms of how this treatment should be used, who should receive it, and how effective it is.

The other ‘Holy Grail’ of Orthopedic Sports Medicine is the restoration of articular cartilage that was damaged either from a traumatic injury to a previously normal joint or from the degenerative effects of various types of arthritis.

What is the best advice you ever received and who was it from? 

“Make good choices.” It’s a quote from the movie, “Freaky Friday.” Everything we do in life can ultimately be viewed as a choice. Whether a person is highly successful or struggles to succeed at even life’s basic tasks, the difference between the two can usually be attributed to the choices they made along the way.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? 

My favorite hobbies are golf and cooking.

If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be doing?

Since my NBA career would have been over by now anyway, my dream would be to be the chef-owner of a fine-dining restaurant. I have always enjoyed cooking since I really enjoy eating and there are few things that make me happier than seeing someone enjoy what I cooked for 

them.

Anything else you would like to share?

I have a great wife of 35 years – Michelle; three awesome children who are about as uniquely different as they could possibly be: Sarah (29), Christian (25) and Matthew (21); and a 6-year-old Cavachon named Teddy, who is king of the house.

Learn why patient's choose Washington University Orthopedics, and be treated like a pro. 

Request an appointment online or call (314) 514-3500.