Aaron Mates, M.D.Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Fellowship-Trained in Sports Medicine
and the Lower Extremity
Dr. Mates is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in comprehensive lower extremity care, including knee, ankle and foot conditions. His philosophy is to approach each patient as if they were a family member, believing that the cornerstone of great outcomes is beginning with the correct diagnosis. From there, he begins the process of healing in a comprehensive and inclusive manner to return the patient to sports and life as soon as possible, using surgery as a last resort.
Dr. Mates's education includes an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences, a Master of Science in Microbial Genetics, and an MD with research honors in Cartilage. He completed his residency in Orthopedics and a fellowship in Sports Medicine and Foot and Ankle surgery from the Andrews Institute. He serves as a team physician for the Denver Broncos and the Toronto Blue Jays. He also serves as a team consultant to the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, and Philadelphia Phillies. Dr. Mates is a paid consultant for implant design and medical education for Stryker, Vilex, Protect 3D, and Curonix. In this national role, he teaches physicians and designs next-generation implants.
Outside of his practice, Dr. Mates prioritizes family and faith. He enjoys all outdoor activities across the country and is passionate about research and teaching in the orthopedic industry.
Education & Background
Medical Education
University of South Alabama College of Medicine
Internship
University of South Alabama
Orthopedic Surgery
Residency
University of South Alabama
Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship
Andrews Research and Education Foundation
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
Certification
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)
Orthopedic Surgery
Presentations
- Doty J, Murphy GA, Haytmanek CT, Hunt K, Strasser N, Mates A, Jackson L, Friscia D, Scott DJ, Gross CE. “Effect of Preoperative COFAS Classification and Coronal Deformity on Patient-Reported Outcomes, Radiographic Findings, and Revision Rates Following 3D Printed Fixed Bearing Total Ankle Replacement.” Podium presentation at The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting 2026 (AOFAS 2026) and The International Federation of Foot & Ankle Societies Biennial Meeting (IFFAS), Seattle, WA, September 16-19, 2026.
- Doty J, Murphy GA, Haytmanek CT, Hunt K, Strasser N, Mates A, Jackson L, Friscia D, Scott DJ, Gross CE. “Patient-Reported Outcomes and Survivorship of the INFINITY with ADAPTIS Technology Total Ankle Replacement: A 2-Year Multicenter Prospective.” Podium presentation at The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting 2026 (AOFAS 2026) and The International Federation of Foot & Ankle Societies Biennial Meeting (IFFAS), Seattle, WA, September 16-19, 2026.
- Doty J, Murphy GA, Haytmanek CT, Hunt K, Strasser N, Mates A, Jackson L, Friscia D, Scott DJ, Gross CE. “Effect of Talar Cut Geometry on Patient-Reported Outcomes, Radiographic Findings, and Revision Rates Following INFINITY with ADAPTIS Technology Total Ankle Replacement.” Poster presentation at The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting 2026 (AOFAS 2026) and The International Federation of Foot & Ankle Societies Biennial Meeting (IFFAS), Seattle, WA, September 16-19, 2026.
- “Radiographic Stability of the INFINITY with ADAPTIS Technology Total Ankle Replacement: Serial Analysis at 6 Months, 1 Year, and 2 Years” for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2027 Annual Meeting, Wednesday, March 3 – Saturday, March 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Venetian Convention and Expo Center.
- Flipper Foot and Ankle Arthrodesis Technique, Jeffery Loveland DPM, Aaron Mates MD, Brandon Denton MBA. APMA poster presentation 2024.
- Early results of using a locking Intramedullary Nail for Charcot Reconstruction accepted AOFAS Quebec poster presentation 2022.
- Minimally invasive Neuropathic Reconstruction accepted AOFAS Quebec poster presentation 2022.
- Synthetic cartilage implant modification of protocol and outcomes accepted AOFAS Quebec poster presentation 2022.
- Aaron Mates MD, Jeff Smith MD, Erik Nilssen MD. Subtalar Joint fusion one versus two compression screw technique. Andrews Institute Research Symposium 2016.
- Jeff Smith MD, Aaron Mates MD, Erik Nilssen MD. Insertional Achilles debridement return to play. Andrews Institute Research Symposium 2016.
- Aaron Mates MD. Foot and Ankle injuries anatomy session. Andrews Institute: Injuries in Football NFL Conference 2016.
- William Tucker, Justin McCormick, Aaron Mates, MD, Wei Liu, Ph.D, Jorge Alonso, MD. The Joint Moment Distributions of the Lower Extremity during Gait in Patients after Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Acetabular Fractures. Submitted Orthopaedic Research Society, Las Vegas, Nevada 2015.
- Ryan W. Hess, MD, Aaron K. Mates, MD, Jeremy Bruce, MD, Patrick W. Joyner, MD, James R. Andrews, MD. Incidence of Avulsion Fracture of the Medial Epicondyle After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction. Accepted American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2014.
- Jeremy Bruce, MD, Ryan W. Hess, MD, Patrick W. Joyner, MD, Aaron Mates MD, James R. Andrews, MD. Inter and Intra-observer Reliability of Elbow Valgus Stress Radiography in Pitchers: A Comparison of Three Methods. Accepted American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2014.
- Patrick W. Joyner, MD, Ryan W. Hess, MD, Jeremy Bruce, MD, Aaron Mates MD, James R. Andrews, MD. Biomechanical Tensile Strength Analysis of Current Techniques for Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction Utilizing Suspensory Cortical Fixation and Human Gracilis Allograft. Accepted Arthroscopy Association of North America 2014; submitted to Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery.
- Patrick W. Joyner, MD, Ryan W. Hess, MD, Jeremy Bruce, MD, Aaron Mates MD, James R. Andrews, MD. Valgus Stress Radiographs in 273 Baseball Players with Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries. Accepted Arthroscopy Association of North America 2014.
- Aaron Mates, M.D., Jorge Alonso, M.D. (2012). Analysis of gait after posterior wall acetabular fractures. Oral presentation at the Alabama Orthopaedic Society, Destin, Florida.
- Aaron Mates, M.D., Frederick Meyer, M.D. (2011). Internship in Orthopaedic Residency. Presentation to the American Orthopaedic Association’s Council of Residency Directors, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Aaron Mates, Albert V. Pearsall IV, M.D. (2009). Effects of hyaluronic acid on mitochondrial function of human chondrocytes in osteoarthritis. Alabama Orthopaedic Society, Point Clear, Alabama.
- Aaron Mates, Albert V. Pearsall IV, M.D., and Valentina Grishko, Ph.D. (2007). Cytokine Effect on mtDNA in Human Chondrocytes. Oral presentation at the 35th Annual Medical Student Research Day, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, Alabama.
- Aaron Mates, Albert V. Pearsall IV, M.D., and Valentina Grishko, Ph.D. (2006). Effect of mtDNA Damage on Human Chondrocyte Apoptosis Following Nitric Oxide Exposure. Poster presentation at the 34th Annual Medical Student Research Day, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, Alabama.
- R.N. Lausch, R. Yin, S. Molesworth-Kenyon, A. Mates, and J.E. Oakes (2004). IL-17 Receptor is Expressed and Functional on Resident Corneal Cells of Both Man and Mouse. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, April 24–29.
- Aaron Mates, Julio Turrens, Ph.D. (2003). Chemiluminescence of amino acids and proteins while under oxidative stress. University of South Alabama Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences.
Publications
- Jeffery Loveland, DPM; Aaron Mates, MD. Charcot reconstruction using a novel intramedullary nail along the medial column: 3-5 year follow up results. Foot and Ankle Surgery, Techniques, Reports and Cases. Vol. 4, Issue 4, Winter 2024.
- Aaron Mates, MD. Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Using High Frequency Electromagnetic Coupling Technology to Power an Implanted Neurostimulator With a Separate Receiver for the Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy. Pain Medicine Case Reports, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, 2024.
- Patrick W. Joyner, MD, MS; Jeremy Bruce, MD; Ryan Hess, MD; Travis S. Roth, MD; Scott Winnier, MD; Luke Wilcox, DO; Aaron Mates, MD; Tim Frerichs, MD; James R. Andrews, MD; Charles A. Roth, MD. Biomechanical Tensile Strength Analysis for Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction. The Knee, 2017.
- Patrick Joyner, MD; Jeremy Bruce, MD; Ryan Hess, MD; Aaron Mates, MD; James R. Andrews, MD. Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Classification for Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries of the Elbow. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2016 Oct;25(10):1710-1716. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2016.05.006.
- Patrick W. Joyner, MD; Ryan W. Hess, MD; Jeremy Bruce, MD; Aaron Mates, MD; James R. Andrews, MD. Biomechanical Tensile Strength Analysis of Current Techniques for Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction Utilizing Suspensory Cortical Fixation and Human Gracilis Allograft. Submitted to Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 2013.
- Kim J, Xu M, Ho R, Mates A, Wilson GL, Pearsall AW IV, Grishko V. Mitochondrial DNA Damage Is Involved in Apoptosis Caused by Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Human OA Chondrocytes. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2010 Mar;18(3):424-432.
- Grishko V, Xu M, Ho R, Mates A, Watson S, Kim JT, Wilson GL, Pearsall AW IV. Effects of Hyaluronic Acid on Mitochondrial Function and Mitochria-Driven Apoptosis Following Oxidative Stress in Human Chondrocytes. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2009 Feb 4.
- Mates AK, Sayed AK, Foster JW. Products of the Escherichia coli Acid Fitness Island Attenuate Metabolite Stress at Extremely Low pH and Mediate a Cell Density-Dependent Acid Resistance. Journal of Bacteriology. 2007 Apr;189(7):2759-2768. Epub 2007 Jan 26.
- Molesworth-Kenyon S, Mates A, Yin R, Strieter R, Oakes J, Lausch R. CXCR3, IP-10, and Mig Are Required for CD4+ T Cell Recruitment During the DTH Response to HSV-1 Yet Are Independent of the Mechanism for Viral Clearance. Virology. 2005 Mar 1;333(1):1-9.
