Dr. Carola F. Van Eck, MD, PhD, FAAOS

Expert Publications

• Anatomic single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
• Anatomic Double-bundle ACL Reconstruction.
• Assessment of correlation between knee notch width index and the three-dimensional notch volume.
• Ben would approve.
• Tunnel position and relationship to postoperative knee laxity after double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a transtibial technique.
• Correlation between the 2-dimensional notch width and the 3-dimensional notch volume: a cadaveric study.
• "Long-term follow-up of 24.5 years after intra-articular anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with lateral extra-articular augmentation". Letter to the editor.
• Does notch size predict ACL insertion site size?
• Measurements of knee morphometrics using MRI and arthroscopy: a comparative study between ACL-injured and non-injured subjects.
• Endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
• Anatomic single- and double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, part 1: Basic science.
• Anatomic single- and double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, part 2: clinical application of surgical technique.
• We have to eliminate nonanatomic anterior cruciate ligament tunnel placement as a cause of osteoarthritis.
• Use of transtibial aimer via the accessory anteromedial portal to identify the center of the ACL footprint.
• Comparison of 3-dimensional notch volume between subjects with and subjects without anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

Media Releases

Get to know Orthopedic Sports Medicine Surgeon & Sports Medicine, Arthroscopic Surgery, Shoulder and Knee Specialist Dr. Carola F. Van Eck, who serves patients in California.

Dr. Van Eck is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon & sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, shoulder and knee specialist at Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services. She operates out of the offices in Porterville, Reedley, and Visalia, California.

Treating athletes of all levels and ages, her areas of specialization include joint preservation, biologics, cartilage procedures, complex multiligament knee reconstructions, meniscus repair, patellar realignment surgery, shoulder arthroplasty, shoulder arthroscopy, hip arthroscopy, tendon repairs about the hip, elbow arthroscopy, trauma, and much more.  

Born and raised in the Netherlands, Dr. Van Eck earned her medical degree from the University of Amsterdam. She continued to pursue her PhD degree there also, under Prof. Dr. C. Niek van Dijk. As part of her PhD track, she joined the late Prof. Dr. Freddie H. Fu and his research team at the University of Pittsburgh as a post-doctoral research associate. Her research efforts resulted in a PhD degree under Prof. Dr. C. Niek van Dijk and Prof. Dr. Freddie H. Fu. She stayed at the University of Pittsburgh for her orthopedic residency training, which she successfully completed and subsequently did a sports medicine fellowship at the prestigious Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles, California under the direction of Dr. Neal ElAttrache. She rejoined the University of Pittsburgh to continue her career working alongside her mentor Dr. Freddie Fu as Assistant Professor Orthopaedic Surgery. She was awarded a dual professorship by the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. 

As a testament to her continued education, she is board-certified in orthopedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS). The ABOS is an organization with the goal of establishing educational and professional standards for orthopedic residents and surgeons as well as evaluating the qualifications and competence of orthopedic surgeons. It is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

At present, Dr. Van Eck serves on the Publications Committee Member of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Sports medicine, the Fellowship Committee of the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and the Education Committee of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine. She is Editorial Board Member for Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine Section Editor of Asia-Pacific Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation and Technology, Editorial Board Member of Annals of Joint, and Editorial Board Member of Journal of International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine. She is also a member of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Social Media Advisory Board, as well as the Digital Product Users Group.

She has served as faculty during national and international meetings, including those of the European Society of Sports Traumatology Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy, and the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Sports medicine. She serves as a peer reviewer for several orthopedic journals, including Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine Arthroscopy Rehabilitation Therapy and Technology, Asia-Pacific Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation and Technology, The Physician and SportsMedicine, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, The American Journal of Sports Medicine, Postgraduate Medicine, the Journal of Sports Sciences (The Flemish/Dutch Journal of Sports Medicine and Sports Science), the Journal of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and BioMed Research International.

In addition to being a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (FAAOS), Dr. Van Eck is a member of the Orthopedic Research Society, the European Society for Sports Medicine Knee Arthroscopy, the Arthroscopy Association of North America, the Dutch Arthroscopy Society, the American Association of Hip & Knee Surgeons, AO Trauma, the International Society of Arthroscopy, and the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine, the American Orthopedic Association’s Emerging Leaders Program, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, the Pittsburgh Orthopedic Alumni Association, and the Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Foundation Alumni Association.

However, Dr. Van Eck’s true passion is taking care of patients, as evidenced by her consistent 4.8 - 4.9 out of 5 patient satisfaction ratings, and being a team physician for athletes of all levels and all ages. She has served on the medical team for Elizabeth Forward High School Football, Deer Lakes High School Football, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Los Angeles Rams, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Oakland Athletics, the Los Angeles Kings, the Anaheim Ducks, Fullerton College Football, West Los Angeles College Football, Loyola Marymount University Athletics, Banning High School Football, and the United States Hockey League (USHL). Most recently, she served as head team physician for Robert Morris University with its 16 NCAA division I sports teams, as well as head team physician for the Pittsburgh Passion professional women’s football team. This last role was specifically close to her heart as she herself is a retired semi professional women’s tackle football player, playing for 3 seasons as starting left offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Force, competing in the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA). 

Her major research interests lie in the field of orthopedic sports medicine with a focus on neuromuscular science, engineering, and robotics. In Pittsburgh, she served as the Medical Director of the Orthopedic Engineering & Sports Medicine Laboratory. Her research efforts have resulted in 10 awards and honors, over 90 national and international presentations, 120 scientific publications, and 11 book chapters. She has been honored with 10 professional awards. including most recently being named as a Top Doctor of 2021 by the Pittsburgh Magazine.

Orthopedic surgery is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and non-surgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.

In her spare time, Dr. Van Eck enjoys detailing her car, home improvement projects, drawing and sculpting, as well as being outdoors with her 3 dogs. 

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