Knee surgery and sports orthopedics
Dr. Gustavo Álvarez, knee specialist in San José, Costa Rica. I treat meniscus, ligament and cartilage injuries, and offer regenerative medicine for joint pain.
Book your visit
Tell me what's going on and we'll schedule. If you already have an MRI, even better.
Book a ConsultationWhatsApp hours
We reply within these hours.
- Monday to Friday 7:30 am–6 pm
- Saturdays 9 am–12 noon
International patients
Flying abroad for surgery is a big call. Send me your scans before you book anything and I'll give you a straight answer on whether I can help and how long you'd need here. I operate at Clínica Bíblica and CIMA, both JCI-accredited.
The process, in four steps
So you always know where you stand and what comes next.
Consultation
We review your history, examine you and read your existing imaging. You leave with a diagnosis and concrete options.
Diagnosis and imaging
MRI, X-ray or ultrasound as needed, to confirm which structure is injured.
Procedure
Arthroscopic surgery or orthobiologic therapy, depending on what your injury calls for.
Rehab and return
A recovery plan with follow-up until you're back to your activity.
What we treat
Each treatment has its own page: what it includes, who it's for and who it isn't for.
Knee arthroscopy and meniscus repair
Minimally invasive surgery to diagnose and treat injuries inside the joint, preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
View treatment →ACL reconstruction
Restores knee stability when the anterior cruciate ligament has ruptured and can no longer do its job.
View treatment →Orthobiologic therapies
Focused shockwave therapy, platelet-rich plasma and micro-fragmented adipose tissue.
View treatment →Hi, I'm Dr. Gustavo Álvarez
Knee · Sports medicine · Joint replacement
I'm an orthopedic surgeon specializing in knee surgery, sports traumatology, orthobiologics and joint replacement, with 19 years of clinical and surgical experience and more than 5,000 procedures performed over the last eight years. I operate at Hospital Clínica Bíblica and Hospital CIMA in San José, Costa Rica — both accredited by the Joint Commission International — after ten years at Hospital del Trauma.
- Robotic knee surgery with the Zimmer Biomet ROSA® platform
- I operate at two hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International
- Certified in orthobiologic and regenerative therapies
- Care for international patients, in English and Spanish
Education
- 2000Doctor of Medicine · Universidad Central de Venezuela
- 2006Orthopedic surgery residency · Hospital Ricardo Baquero González, Venezuela
- 2008Rotation in hip and knee arthroplasty and sports medicine · Hospital Quirón and Hospital La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- 2023Master's in Advanced Knee Surgery · Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid
- Medical credentials accredited and validated in Costa Rica
Certifications
- 2025Orthobiologics · Ortobiomsk, Seville, Spain
- 2026Orthobiologics and regenerative medicine · Biomedical, Honduras
- Robotic knee surgery · ROSA, Zimmer Biomet
Memberships
- 2006Venezuelan Society of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology
- Costa Rican Association of Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Traumatology and Arthroscopy (ACOTAD)
- Active member, ISMST — International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment
- Former member, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)
Hospitals
- CurrentHospital Clínica Bíblica · San José · accredited by the Joint Commission International
- 2022 –Hospital CIMA · San José · accredited by the Joint Commission International
- 2016 – 2026Hospital del Trauma · San José · the country's leading trauma and orthopedic referral center
Teaching and conferences
- 2025Speaker: All-inside systems and meniscal repair · ACOTAD
- Speaker: Shockwave therapy in foot and ankle · BTL certification
- 2026ESSKA Congress, Prague · Smith and Nephew Knee and Shoulder Lab, Andover · Musculoskeletal ultrasound course, Medellín
- 2025AOSSM Congress, Nashville · Arthrex LATAM Knee Congress, Naples · ISMST World Congress, Bogotá
Conflict of interest disclosure
I have a commercial relationship with BTL Costa Rica, a manufacturer of shockwave therapy equipment. I disclose it here for transparency. [PENDING — specify the nature: speaker, advisor or equipment user.]
New office at Avenida Escazú
Inside Avenida Médica, a few minutes from Hospital CIMA.
- AddressAvenida Escazú, Avenida Médica
- Tower and floorTower 2, 3rd floor
- Suite319
- LandmarkA few minutes from Hospital CIMA
Understand your injury before you decide
Short articles and videos on the questions I hear most.
Why does my knee hurt going down stairs?
Going down, the quadriceps brakes rather than pushes, increasing the load between the kneecap and femur.
View article →OrthobiologicsWhat is PRP and what can you expect from it?
How it is prepared, when it may be considered, and its real limitations.
View article →Cell therapyCell therapy: what it can and cannot do
Which products exist, what treatment aims to do, and which promises deserve caution.
View article →Frequently asked questionDo stem cells regenerate cartilage?
The difference between relieving symptoms and demonstrating true cartilage regeneration.
View article →Request your consultation
Tell me what's going on and the team will reach out to schedule. If you already have an MRI or X-rays, even better.
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