Tyler Robert Johnston
Biography
Tyler Robert Johnston, M.D., is Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine Division, at the University of California, Irvine. Johnston earned his M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine, where he also completed a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on biomechanical engineering and medical device design. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Stanford Hospital and Clinics, followed by fellowship training in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Duke University, orthopaedic trauma at Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid, Spain, and shoulder surgery at University Institute of Locomotion and Sports, Pasteur 2 Hospital in Nice, France under Dr. Pascal Boileau.
Johnston's research focuses on peripheral nerve injury and repair, rotator cuff pathology, and shoulder instability. His work on motor endplate degeneration following peripheral nerve injury has been presented at national and international meetings, including the Society for Neuroscience and the Orthopaedic Research Society. He has published 29 peer-reviewed articles in journals including the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Johnston serves as a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery and the American Journal of Sports Medicine, and is a member of the Education Committee for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons.
Johnston is board certified in orthopaedic surgery and holds subspecialty certification in sports medicine from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He serves as team orthopaedic physician for UC Irvine, Concordia University, and Segerstrom High School. Johnston is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. He serves on the Residency Selection Committee and as Wellness Officer for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UC Irvine.
Return to topEducation
- B.A. in Human Biology, Stanford University, 2006
- M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2008
- M.D., Stanford University School of Medicine, 2013
Distinctions
- Phi Beta Kappa, 2006
- Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS), 2013
- Diplomat, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2022
- 28th Annual Stanford Medical Student Research Symposium Research Award Winner, 2011
- Western Orthopaedic Association Resident Research Award Winner, 2011
- UC Irvine Health Patient Experience Award, 2022-2023
Areas of Expertise
- Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
- Shoulder Instability Reconstruction
- Peripheral Nerve Injury Mechanisms
- Rotator Cuff Biomechanics
- Motor Endplate Degeneration
- Neuromuscular Junction Aging
- Acupuncture Pain Management
Recent Publications
- Mange TR, Beyer RS, Seifi MH, Johnston TR, Kaplan JD, “Distal Biceps Reconstruction with Achilles Tendon Allograft Using Transosseous Suture Fixation” (opens in new tab), Arthroscopy Techniques, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 103544, 2025.
- Moslehyazdi M, Pasko KB, Bielajew B, Johnston TR, Hu JC, Athanasiou KA, Wang D, “The Toxicity of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine to rotator cuff tendon” (opens in new tab), Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, vol. 34, pp. 2727-2734, 2025.
- Gonzales L.P., Chen V.Y., Tedesco A., Andalib S., Lee C., Wright D.J., Johnston T.R., Mozaffar T., Steward O., Gupta R., “Aging Accelerates Degradation of Human Neuromuscular Junction Following Peripheral Nerve Injury” (opens in new tab), Muscle and Nerve, vol. 72, pp. 1161-1167, 2025.
- Stefaniak J, Olmos M, Chelli M, Johnston T, Cardenas G, Boileau P, “The glenoid track concept is insufficient to predict Bankart failures: a computed tomography scan study” (opens in new tab), J Shoulder Elbow Surg Int, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 434-439, 2024.
- Oyadomari S, Kaplan J, Johnston T, Wang D, “Trends and complications of distal biceps tendon repair among American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part II examination candidates” (opens in new tab), Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 348-352, 2023.
- Gupta R, Jung J, Johnston TR, Wright DJ, Lim PK, Shafiq B, Navarro R, “Surgeon-specific factors have a larger impact on decision-making for the management of proximal humerus fractures than patient-specific factors: a prospective cohort study” (opens in new tab), Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, vol. 32, pp. 1701-1709, 2023.
- Chen VY, Gonzales LP, Johnston TR, Steward O, Gupta, “Preoperative muscle biopsy to assess motor end plate integrity as a predictor for successful nerve transfer: a case report” (opens in new tab), Jbjs Case Connector, vol. 13, no. 1, 2023.
- Olmos MI, Johnston TR, Gonzalez JF, Camuzard O, Gauci MO, “Glomus tumor of the scapular neck with axillary nerve compression at the shoulder. A case report” (opens in new tab), Shoulder and Elbow, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 61-64, 2023.
- Ripoll T, Chelli M, Johnston T, Chaoui J, Gauci MO, Vasseur H, Poltaretskyi S, Boileau P, “Three-dimensional measurement of proximal humerus fractures displacement: a computerized analysis” (opens in new tab), Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 12, no. 12, pp. 4085, 2023.
- Wang D, Johnston TR, “The enigma of posttraumatic osteoarthritis: commentary on an article by Alexander W. Aleem, MD, MSc, et al: 'Gene expression in glenoid articular carticlage varies across acute instability, chronic instability, and osteoarthritis'” (opens in new tab), Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, vol. 105, no. 13, pp. e34, 2023.
- Gupta R, Johnston TR, Chen VY, Gonzales LP, Steward O, “Human motor endplate survival after chronic peripheral nerve injury”, Health Sciences, 2023.
- Johnston TR, Chen V, Gupta R, “Anatomic TSA in Elderly Patients: Concerns and Advantages” (opens in new tab), Shoulder Arthritis across the Life Span: From Joint Preservation to Arthroplasty, pp. 295-301, 2023.
- Bassi JS, Chan JP, Johnston T, Wang D, “Return to work and sport after distal femoral osteotomy: a systematic review” (opens in new tab), Sports Health, vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 681-686, 2022.
- Liles J, Fletcher A, Johnston T, Riboh J, “Arthroscopic double row bony Bankart bridge repair using a tensionable knotless system” (opens in new tab), Arthroscopy Techniques, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. e957-e962, 2021.
- Gupta R, Rao R, Johnston TR, Uong J, Yang DS, Lee TQ, “Muscle stem cells and rotator cuff injury” (opens in new tab), J Shoulder Elbow Surg Review, Reports, Techniques, vol. 1, pp. 186-193, 2021.
- Gauci MO, Chammas PE, Johnston TR, Chelli M, Chaoui J, de Casson FB, Blasco L, Boileau P, “Simulation in shoulder arthroplasty education using three-dimensional planning software: the role of guidelines and predicted range of motion” (opens in new tab), International Orthopaedics, vol. 45, no. 10, pp. 2653-2661, 2021.
- Liles J, Johnston T, Riboh J, “Physeal-sparing medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction with suture anchor for femoral graft fixation” (opens in new tab), Arthroscopy Techniques, vol. 9, no. 7, pp. e889-e895, 2020.
- Johnston TR, Hu J, Gregory B, Liles J, Riboh J, “Transphyseal anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hybrid transtibial femoral drilling and a quadriceps tendon autograft” (opens in new tab), Arthroscopy Techniques, vol. 9, no. 8, pp. e1121-e1131, 2020.
- Johnston TR, Liles J, Riboh J, “Anchor-based femoral fixation for physeal sparing medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction- A time-zero biomechanical comparison to tenodesis screw fixation” (opens in new tab), American Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 48, no. 12, pp. 3021-3027, 2020.
- Boileau P, Chelli M, Johnston TR, Cardenas G, Gauci MO, “Letter to the Editor regarding Young et al: "Reverse shoulder arthroplasty with and without latissimus and teres major transfer for patients with combined loss of elevation and external rotation: a prospective, randomized investigation."” (opens in new tab), Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. E178-E180, 2020.
Most Cited Publications
- Cavalier M, Johnston TR, Boileau P, “Glenoid erosion is a risk factor for recurrent instability after Hill-Sachs remplissage” (opens in new tab), Bone and Joint Journal, vol. 103-B, no. 4, pp. 718-724, 2021.
- Levigne C, Chelli M, Johnston T, Trojani MC, Mole D, Walch G, Boileau P, “Reverse shoulder arthroplasty in Rheumatoid Arthritis: survival and outcomes” (opens in new tab), Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, vol. 30, no. 10, pp. 2312-2324, 2021.
- Lau BC, Pineda LB, Johnston TR, Gregory BP, Wu M, Fletcher AN, Ledbetter L, Riboh JC, “Return to play after revision anterior shoulder stabilization: a systematic review” (opens in new tab), Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 9, no. 3, 2021.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.tylerjohnstonmd.com
Email: tjohnst2@uci.edu
Phone: (714) 456-7752
Address: 101 The City Dr. S Pav. 3, 2nd Floor Orange, CA 92868
Return to topThis profile was created with the help of AI.
Last updated on 6/2/2026.