professional headshot of Dr. Sandesh Rao, MD

Sandesh Rao, MD

Hip and Knee Reconstruction and Replacement, Fracture Care

Areas of Focus: Hip, Knee, Joint Replacement

Locations: Washington

About Dr. Rao

Sandesh Rao, MD, specializes in joint reconstruction and replacements of the hip and knee and fracture care. His expertise is minimally invasive primary hip and knee replacement, partial knee replacement, outpatient joint replacement, and robotic assisted joint replacements. He has a special interest in complex and revision hip and knee replacements. Additionally, he has training in multiple approaches to hip replacement surgery including direct anterior, anterolateral, direct lateral, and posterolateral with the goal of providing a patient-centric approach to joint replacement therapy.

Dr. Rao is a native of the DC Metropolitan region, obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He first completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Osler Medical Residency Program and obtained his board certification in Internal Medicine before pursuing orthopedics. He then completed his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and his fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Rao values a patient-centric approach heavily influenced not only by his extensive orthopedic training but also his internal medicine training. He strives to provide holistic care with shared decision making with his patients with the goals of improving patients’ quality of life, returning patients to their functional goals, and optimizing symptom relief.

Dr. Rao is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Maryland Orthopaedic Association, and The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. He believes in the importance and value of continued education and research to enhance and improve patient care and outcomes. He has published over 50 journal articles, abstracts and book chapters and has presented novel research at several national meetings.

Outside of work, Dr. Rao enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters and playing tennis, basketball, and football.

Medical Assistant:
Sarah S.:  202-833-1147 ext. 641, RaoMA@alignedortho.com

Research and Publications

  • Agarwal AR, Malyavko A, Gu A, Harris AB, Rao S, Sterling R, Golladay GJ, Thakkar SC. Can Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Surgeons Help Address the Osteoporosis Epidemic? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2023 Sep 1;481(9):1660-1668. doi: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000002743. Epub 2023 Jul 3
  • Chaudhry YP, LaGreca M, Hayes H, Papadelis E, Rao SS, Amin R. Acute kidney injury in the context of staged revision arthroplasty and the use of antibiotic-laden cement spacers: a systematic review. J Orthop Surg Res. 2023 May 9;18(1):340. doi: 10.1186/s13018-023-03809-2. PMID: 37158949.
  • Zhang B, Rao S, Mekkawy KL, Rahman R, Sarfraz A, Hollifield L, Runge N, Oni JK. Risk factors for pain after total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review. Arthroplasty. 2023 Apr 3;5(1):19.
  • Mekkawy KL, Chaudhry YP, Rao SS, Raad M, Amin RM, Khanuja HS. Comparing five equations to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate to predict acute kidney injury following total joint arthroplasty. Arthroplasty. 2023 Mar 10;5(1):14.
  • Mekkawy KL, Chaudhry YP, Rao SS, Barry K, Puvanesarajah V, Amin RM, Khanujsa HS. Predictors of Hospice Discharge After Surgical Fixation of Hip Fractures. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: November 15, 2022 – Volume – Issue – 10.5435/JAAOS-D-21-01015
  • Chaudhry YP, Mekkawy KL, Hasan SA, Rao SS, Amin R, Oni JK, Sterling RS, Khanuja HS. Transfusion Rates in the Operative Treatment of Prosthetic Hip and Knee Infection. Orthopedics. 2022 Sep 13:1-7.
  • Amin RM, Raad M, Rao SS, Guilbault R, Best MJ, Amanatullah DF. Preoperative Hypoalbuminemia Is Associated With Early Morbidity and Mortality After Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty. Orthopedics. 2022 May 17:1-6.
  • Harris AB, Wang KY, Reddy R, Agarwal AR, Rao S, Golladay GJ, Thakkar SC. A Novel Method for Stratification of Major Complication Risk using Body Mass Index Thresholds for Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A National Cohort of 224,413 Patients. J Arthroplasty. 2022 Apr 30:80883 5403(22)00479-X.
  • LiBrizzi CL, Rao SS, Wang KY, Levin AS, Morris CD. Survey of sarcoma surgery principles among orthopaedic oncologists. Surg Oncol. 2022 Jun;42:101782.
  • Harris AB, Wang KY, Mo K, Gu A, Rao SS, Thakkar SC. Outpatient Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: Is It Safe? J Arthroplasty. 2022 Apr;37(4):699-703.
  • LiBrizzi CL, Rao SS, Tuffaha SH, Levin AS, Gross JM, Morris CD. latrogenic metastasis of soft-tissue sarcoma at the donor flap site: case report and proposed surgical oncologic techniques. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2021;5(12):e21.00208.
  • Rao SS, Suresh KV, Margalit A, Morris CD, Levin AS. Regional or Neuraxial Anesthesia May Help Mitigate the Effects of Bone Cement Implantation Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Cemented Hip and Knee Arthroplasty for Oncologic Indications. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2022 Feb 1;30(3):e375-e383.
  • Amin RM, Raad M, Rao SS, Musharbash F, Best MJ, Amanatullah DF. Survival bias may explain the appearance of the obesity paradox in hip fracture patients. Osteoporos Int. 2021 Dec;32(12):2555-2562
  • Chaudhry YP, MacMahon A, Rao SS, Mekkawy KL, Toci GR, Oni JK, Sterling RS, Khanuja HS. Predictors and Outcomes of Postoperative Hemoglobin of <8 g/dL in Total Joint Arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2022 Jan 19;104(2):166-171.
  • MacMahon A, Rao SS, Chaudhry YP, Hasan SA, Epstein JA, Hegde V, Valaik DJ, Oni JK, Sterling RS, Khanuja HS. Preoperative Patient Optimization in Total Joint Arthroplasty-The Paradigm Shift from Preoperative Clearance: A Narrative Review. HSS J. 2022 Aug;18(3):418-42 7.
  • Amin RM, Puvanesarajah V, Chaudhry YP, Best MJ, Rao SS, Frank SM, Hasenboehler EA. Reducing unnecessary crossmatching for hip fracture patients by accounting for preoperative hemoglobin concentration. World J Orthop. 2021 May 18;12(5):292-300.
  • Amin RM, Chaudhry YP, Rao SS, Puvanesarajah V, Best MJ, Etchill E, Hasenboehler EA. Extremity fasciotomy for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is independently associated with inpatient mortality. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2021 Nov 14:103144.
  • Raad M, Amin R, Puvanesarajah V, Musharbash F, Rao S, Best MJ, Amanatullah DF. The CARDE-B Scoring System Predicts 30-Day Mortality After Revision Total Joint Arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2021 Mar 3;103(5):424-431.
  • Chaudhry YP, MacMahon A, Rao SS, Sterling RS, Oni JK, Khanuja HS. Incidence, mortality, and complications of acute myocardial infarction with and without percutaneous coronary intervention in hip fracture patients. Injury. 2021 Aug;52(8):2344-2349.
  • Chaudhry YP, Rao SS, Puvanesarajah V, Amin RM, Khanuja HS, Oni JK, Hasenboehler EA, Sterling RS. Complications and 30-day mortality rate after hip fracture surgery in superobese patients. J Orthop Trauma. 2021;35(6):322-328.
  • Sequeira SB, Labaran LA, Bell JE, Amin RM, Rao SS, Werner BC. Compensated Cirrhosis Is Associated With Increased Risk of Complications Following Total Hip Arthroplasty in a Large Medicare Database. J Arthroplasty. 2021 Apr;36(4):1361-1366.el.
  • Mawn JG, Rao SS, Chaudhry YP, Gottlich C, Lobaton GO, Sabharwal S, Sterling RS, Humbyrd CJ. Septic Arthritis Among Users of Injection Drugs: Clinical Course and Microbial Characteristics. Orthopedics. 2021 Nov-Dec;44(6):e747-e752
  • Nayar SK, MacMahon A, Mikula JD, Greenberg M, Barry K, Rao SS. Free Falling: Declining Inflation Adjusted Payment for Arthroplasty Surgeons. J Arthroplasty. 2021 Mar;36(3):795-800.
  • Chaudhry YP, Rao SS, Hasan SA, Oni JK, Khanuja HS, Sterling RS. Routine basic metabolic panels are not needed in all patients after primary total joint arthroplasty: an opportunity for cost reduction. J Arthroplasty. 2021;36(2):462-466.
  • Wustrack R, Rao SS, Morris CD. Musculoskeletal effects of cancer and cancer treatment. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2020;28(16):e716-728.
  • Rao SS, Chaudhry YP, Solano MA, Sterling RS, Oni JK, Khanuja HS. Routine Preoperative Nutritional Screening in All Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients Has Little Utility. J Arthroplasty. 2020 Dec;35(12):3505-3511.
  • Rao SS, Chaudhry YP, Hasan SA, Puvanesarajah V, Amin RM, Oni JK, Sterling RS, Khanuja HS. Factors associated with perioperative transfusion in lower extremity revision arthroplasty under a restrictive blood management protocol. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2021;29(8):e404-409
  • Bell JE, Amin R, Labaran LA, Sequeira SB, Rao SS, Werner BC. Impact of Compensated Cirrhosis Etiology on Postoperative Outcomes Following Total Knee Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2021 Jan;36(1):148-153.el.
  • Kebaish KJ, Puvanesarajah V, Rao S, Zhang B, Ottesen TD, Grauer JN, Khanuja H. Diabetes Status Affects Odds of Body Mass Index-dependent Adverse Outcomes After Total Hip Arthroplasty. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2021 Jan 15;29(2):71-77.
  • Raad M, Amin R, Musharbash F, Rao S, Best M, Amanatullah D. The CARDE-B Score for Predicting 30-Day Mortality after Revision Joint Arthroplasty. E-poster. American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Annual Meeting. November 5th, 2020. Dallas, TX.
  • Rao SS, Loeb AE, Amin RM, Golladay GJ, Levin AS, Thakkar SC. Establishing Telemedicine in an Academic Total Joint Arthroplasty Practice: Needs and Opportunities Highlighted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Arthroplasty Today. 2020 Sep;6(3):617-622.
  • Loeb AE, Rao SS, Ficke JR, Morris CD, Riley LH, III, Levin AS. Departmental experience and lessons learned with accelerated introduction of telemedicine during the COVID-19 crisis. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2020;28(11):e469-476.
  • Labaran LA, Amin R, Sequeira S, Puvanesarajah V, Haug E, Rao SS, Browne JA, Werner BC. Does Polycythemia Vera Increase Risk of Postoperative Complications Following Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty? A Retrospective Matched Control Cohort Study of 6932 Polycythemia Vera Patients. J Arthroplasty. 2020 Jun;35(6S):S133-S137.
  • Labaran LA, Amin R, Bolarinwa S, Puvanesarajah V, Rao SS, Browne JA, Werner BC. Labaran LA, Amin R, Bolarinwa SA, Puvanesarajah V, Rao SS, Browne JA, Werner BC. Revision Joint Arthroplasty and Renal Transplant: A Matched Control Cohort Study. J Arthroplasty. 2020 Jan;35(1):224-228.
  • El Abiad JM, Raad M, Puvanesarajah V, Rao SS, Morris CD, Levin AS. Prophylactic Versus Postfracture Stabilization for Metastatic Lesions of the Long Bones: A Comparison of 30-day Postoperative Outcomes. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019 Aug 1;27(15):e709 -e716
  • Rao SS, Mawn JG, Lobaton GO, Puvanesarajah V, Amin RM, Humbyrd CJ, Sterling RS. Opioid-related compartment syndrome and associated morbidity. Injury. 2019 Aug;50(8):1429-1432
  • Puvanesarajah V, Fayad LM, Rao SS, McCarthy EF, Morris CD. Extremity gossypiboma mimicking sarcoma: case report and review. Skeletal Radiol. 2019 Apr;48(4):629-635
  • Labaran LA, Puvanesarajah V, Rao SS, Chen D, Shen FH, Jain A, Hassanzadeh H. Recent Preoperative Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection Is an Independent Risk Factor for Incidental Durotomy During Lumbar Discectomy. Global Spine J. 2019 Dec;9(8):807-812.
  • Rao SS, El Abiad JM, Puvanesarajah V, Levin AS, Jones LC, Morris CD. Osteonecrosis in pediatric cancer survivors: Epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment. Surg Oncol. 2019 Mar;28:214-221
  • Rao AD, Ladra M, Dunn E, Kumar R, Rao SS, Sehgal S, Dorafshar AH, Morris CD, Terezakis SA. A Road Map for Important Centers of Growth in the Pediatric Skeleton to Consider During Radiation Therapy and Associated Clinical Correlates of Radiation-Induced Growth Toxicity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2019 Mar 1;103(3):669-679
  • Rao AD, Chen Q, Million L, Spunt SL, Fitzgerald TJ, Hu C, Rao SS, Laurie F, Kessel S, Morano K, Ladra MM, Terezakis SA. Preoperative Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Compared to Three Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy for High-Grade Extremity Sarcomas in Children: Analysis of the Children’s Oncology Group Study ARST0332. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2019 Jan 1;103(1):38-44
  • Kotian RN, Puvanesarajah V, Rao S, El Abiad JM, Morris CD, Levin AS. Predictors of survival after intramedullary fixation of completed or impending pathologic femur fractures from metastatic disease. Surg Oncol. 2018 Sep;27(3):462-467
  • Puvanesarajah V, Rao S, Hassanzadeh H, Kebaish K. Determinants of perioperative transfusion risk in patients with adult spinal deformity. J Neurosurg Spine. 2018 Apr;28(4):429-435
  • Rao SS, Jain A, Zhou D, Njoku DB, Sponseller PD. Routine Preoperative Echocardiograms in Select Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Rarely Show Abnormalities and do not Predict Adverse Cardiovascular Events. MOJ Orthop Rheumatol 2017 7(1): 00259
  • Moran RA, Jalaly NY, Kamal A, Rao S, Klapheke R, James TW, Kambhampati S, Makary MA, Hirose K, Kumbhari V, Stein EM, Khashab MA, Lennon AM, Kalloo AN, Zaheer A, Hernaez R, Singh VK. Ileus is a predictor of local infection in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Pancreatology. 2016 Nov – Dec;16(6):966-972
  • Rao SS, Venuti KD, Dietz HC 3rd, Sponseller PD. Quantifying Health Status and Function in Marfan Syndrome. J Surg Orthop Adv. 2016 Spring;25(1):34-40
  • Jain A, Brooks JT, Rao SS, Ain MC, Sponseller PD. Cervical fractures with associated spinal cord injury in children and adolsecents: epidemiology, costs, and in-hospital mortality rates in 4418 patients. J Child Orthop. 2015 Jun;9(3):171-5
  • Rinke ML, Bundy DG, Velasquez CA, Rao S, Zerhouni Y, Lobner K, Blanck JF, Miller MR. Interventions to reduce pediatrics medication errors: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2014 Aug;134(2):338-60
  • Inokuchi T, Ikegami N, Gupta N, Rao S, Anderson GF. Comparison of price, volume, and composition of services provided to inpatients for two procedures between a US and a Japanese academic hospital, Health. 2013 5:703-711
  • Kino T, Ichijo T, Amin ND,, Kesavapany S, Wang Y, Kim N, Rao S, Player A, Zheng YL,, Garabedian MJ, Kawasaki E, Pant HC, Chrousos GP. Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 differently regulates the transcriptional activity of the glucocorticoid receptor through phosphorylation: clinical information for the nervous system response to glucocorticoids and stress. Mol Endocrinol. 2007 Jul;21(7):1552-68

Reviews

Education

Fellowship

Rush University
Chicago, IL

Residency

Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, MD

Medical School

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD

Undergraduate

University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD

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