One Preserving Motion. Restoring Performance. Returning Patients to the Activities They Love.
Board-Certified, Fellowship-Trained Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeon
Benton A. Emblom, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in the treatment of complex shoulder, elbow, hip and knee injuries in athletes and active individuals.
Nationally recognized for his expertise in hip preservation surgery and the treatment of core muscle injuries (sports hernia), Dr. Emblom helps patients safely return to the sports and activities they love.
Dr. Emblom provides comprehensive sports medicine care for athletes and active individuals of all ages, from adolescent competitors and collegiate and professional athletes to active adults seeking to maintain healthy, active lifestyles.
His practice combines advanced arthroscopic surgery, hip preservation procedures and core muscle injury treatment to restore function, preserve motion and optimize long-term performance.
Whether treating a complex knee ligament injury, repairing a shoulder or elbow injury, preserving the native hip joint or caring for an athlete with a core muscle injury, Dr. Emblom is committed to helping patients overcome injury and confidently return to the activities they enjoy most.
Expertise & Specialties
Dr. Emblom specializes in:
- Sports Medicine Surgery
- Hip Preservation Surgery
- Core Muscle Injury (Sports Hernia) Surgery
- Shoulder, Elbow, Hip & Knee Arthroscopy
- Hip Arthroscopy & Labral Repair/Reconstruction
- Complex Knee Ligament Reconstruction
- Cartilage Restoration Procedures
- Endoscopic Gluteus Medius and Proximal Hamstring Repair
- Team Physician Care for Competitive Athletes
- Robotic-Assisted Direct Anterior Total Hip Replacement
Sports Medicine Excellence
Sports medicine represents the foundation of Dr. Emblom’s practice. He cares for athletes competing at the youth, high school, collegiate and professional levels, providing advanced orthopaedic care for injuries involving the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee.
Whether helping an athlete safely return to competition or helping an active adult maintain a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Emblom is committed to helping every patient overcome injury, restore performance and achieve Victory Over Injury®.
His sports medicine practice includes advanced arthroscopic and reconstructive procedures such as:
- ACL, PCL & MCL Reconstruction
- Meniscus Repair & Cartilage Restoration
- Rotator Cuff Repair
- Shoulder Instability & Labral Repair
- AC Joint Reconstruction
- Ulnar Collateral Ligament (Tommy John) Reconstruction
- Distal Biceps Tendon Repair
- Patellar Instability Surgery (MPFL Reconstruction)
- Arthroscopic Elbow Surgery & Tennis Elbow Procedures
- Commonly Performed Sports Medicine Procedures
Dr. Emblom develops individualized treatment plans designed to maximize recovery, restore performance and promote long-term musculoskeletal health while helping patients safely return to sport, work and recreational activities.
National Expertise in Hip Preservation & Core Muscle Injury Surgery
Dr. Emblom is nationally recognized for his expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of complex hip and groin conditions affecting athletes and active individuals.
He is among a select group of orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons with specialized training and experience in both hip preservation surgery and core muscle injury (sports hernia) treatment.
These conditions frequently occur together in competitive athletes and often require a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the hip, pelvis and core musculature.
Dr. Emblom’s expertise allows him to evaluate and treat the entire hip-groin-core complex, providing individualized treatment plans designed to preserve native anatomy whenever possible and facilitate safe return to performance.
His hip preservation practice includes arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), labral repair and reconstruction, hip instability, cartilage injuries, endoscopic gluteus medius repair, proximal hamstring repair and mini-open treatment of core muscle injuries (sports hernias).
Caring for Athletes at Every Level
Dr. Emblom serves as Head Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for Auburn University Athletics and is a team physician for Hoover High School and Moody High School.
He has extensive experience caring for athletes competing at every level of competition and is committed to helping them safely return to play while prioritizing their long-term health and performance.
Working collaboratively with athletic trainers, physical therapists, coaches and families, Dr. Emblom provides comprehensive, team-based care emphasizing injury prevention, evidence-based treatment and safe return-to-play principles
Read More About Dr. EmblomMEDICAL TRAINING
Hip Arthroscopy Fellowship:
Nashville Sports Medicine - J.W. Thomas Byrd, MD - (Nashville, TN)
Participated: 2009
Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine Fellowship:
American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) - (Birmingham, AL)
Participated: 2008 - 2009
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency:
University Hospital (Birmingham, AL)
Participated: 2003 - 2008
Internal Medicine Internship:
Baptist Health System(Birmingham, AL)
Participated: 2002 - 2003
EDUCATION
Medical Degree:
University of Alabama School of Medicine at UAB (Birmingham, AL)
Attended: 1998-2002 I Magna Cum Laude
Undergraduate:
University of Alabama - Bachelor of Science (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Major: Chemistry Minor: Mathematics I Summa Cum Laude
Attended: 1994-1998
- American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) - Board of Directors
- Ascension St. Vincent’s Hospital Orthopaedic Co-Management Group - Board of Directors
Leadership in Athletics
- Auburn University Athletics, Head Team Orthopaedic Surgeon
- University of Alabama Athletics, Team Physician
- Hoover High School Athletics, Team Physician
- Pell City High School Athletics, Team Physician
- Moody High School Athletics, Team Physician
- World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Hip Consultant
- Birmingham Metro "Top Doctor- Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine"
- Kurt Niemann, M.D. Orthopaedic Surgery Chief Resident Award
- APC Pathology Honor Society
- J. Garber Gallbraith, M.D. Memorial Award 1998
- UASOM Dean’s Achievement Award 2002
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Board Certified
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery - Subspecialty in Sports Medicine, Board Certified
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Fellow 2014
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Fellow 2012
- APC Pathology Honor Society 2001
- Peacock Teaching Fellowship 1999
Outcomes of Surgical Treatment for Multiligament Knee Injuries in a Cohort Including Competitive Athletes With Long-Term Follow-Up.
Mussell EA, Crawford AE, Ithurburn MP, Layton Bo, BS, Fleisig GS, Rothermich MA, Emblom BA, Ryan MD, Dugas JR, Andrews JR, Cain EL, Jr.
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2024;12(9).
Endoscopic Gluteus Medius Repair. Christian A. Merrill, M.D., MBA, Glenn S. Fleisig Ph.D, Cristian Arceo B.S., Nicole A. Jebeles, Benton A. Emblom, MD 2022 Jun 18
Endoscopic Gluteus Medius Repair Replicates Open, Knotless Repair With Similar Cyclic Loading Properties: A Cadaveric Study. Flynn ME, Beason DP, Bartush KC, Ryan MK, Emblom BA. Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2022 Jan 21;4(2):e617-e622. doi: 10.1016/j.asmr.2021.12.002. PMID: 35494267; PMCID: PMC9042893.
In-line Pullout Strength of 2 Acetabular Fixation Methods for Ligamentum Teres Reconstruction of the Hip: A Cadaveric Study. Lall AC, Ankem HK, Ryan MK, Beason DP, Diulus SC, Roach RP, Rosinsky PJ, Maldonado DR, Emblom BA, Domb BG.Orthop J Sports Med. 2021 Dec 2;9(12):23259671211052533. doi: 10.1177/23259671211052533. eCollection 2021 Dec.PMID: 34881346
Early Complications of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair With Collagen-Coated Suture Tape Augmentation. Rothermich MA, Fleisig GS, Lucas HE, Ryan MK, Emblom BA, Cain EL, Dugas JR.Orthop J Sports Med. 2021 Oct 6;9(10):23259671211038320. doi: 10.1177/23259671211038320. eCollection 2021 Oct.PMID: 34646900
Outcomes of Open and Endoscopic Repairs of Chronic Partial- and Full- Thickness ProximalHamstring Tendon Tears: A Multicenter Study With Minimum 2-Year Follow-up
Maldonado, DR, Annin S, Lall AC, Krych AJ, Athey AG, Spinner RJ, Hartigan DE, Emblom BA, Ryan MK, Domb BG
Am J Sports Med. 2021 Jan 15. PMID: 33449797
Clinical Outcomes and Return to Play in Youth Overhead Athletes After Medial Epicondyle Fractures Treated With Open Reduction and Internal Fixation. Cain EL Jr, Liesman WG, Fleisig GS, Grosz LE, Hart K, Axe MJ, Wilk KE, Emblom BA, Dugas JR. Orthop J Sports Med. 2021 Feb 9;9(2):2325967120976573. doi: 10.1177/2325967120976573. PMID: 33623796; PMCID: PMC7876761.
Baseball Pitching Biomechanics Shortly After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair.
Fleisig GS, Diffendaffer AZ, Drogosz M, Cain EL Jr, Emblom BA, Dugas JR.
Orthop J Sports Med. 2019 Aug 27;7(8):2325967119866199. doi: 10.1177/2325967119866199.
eCollection 2019 Aug.
Portal Placement and Biomechanical Performance of Endoscopic Proximal Hamstring Repair.
Ryan MK, Beason DP, Fleisig GS, Emblom BA.
Am J Sports Med. 2019 Oct;47(12):2985-2992. doi: 10.1177/0363546519866453. Epub 2019
Aug 14.
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair With Collagen-Dipped FiberTape Augmentation in Overhead-Throwing Athletes.
Dugas JR, Looze CA, Capogna B, Walters BL, Jones CM, Rothermich MA, Fleisig GS, Aune
KT, Drogosz M, Emblom BA, Cain EL Jr.
Am J Sports Med. 2019 Apr;47(5):1096-1102.
Athletic Pubalgia Secondary to Rectus Abdominis-Adductor Longus Aponeurotic Plate Injury:
Diagnosis, Management, and Operative Treatment of 100 Competitive Athletes.
Emblom BA, Mathis T, Aune K.
Orthop J Sports Med. 2018 Sep 24;6(9):2325967118798333
Rotator Cuff Repair in Adolescent Athletes.
Azzam MG, Dugas JR, Andrews JR, Goldstein SR, Emblom BA, Cain EL Jr.
Am J Sports Med. 2018 Apr;46(5):1084-1090
Mini-open Incision Sports Hernia Repair: A Surgical Technique for Core Muscle Injury
Scillia AJ, Pierce TP, Simone E, Novak RC, Emblom BA
Arthrosc Tech. 2017 Aug 14; 6(4): e1281-e1284
Comparison of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Graft Isometry between Paired Femoral and Tibial Tunnels
Cain EL, Biggers MD, Beason DP, Emblom BA, Dugas JR
J Knee Surg. 2017 Nov; 30(9): 960-964
Biceps Tenodesis of the Shoulder in Baseball Pitchers
American Sports Medicine Institute Research Symposium, 2016
Submitted for Publication, 2016
Return to Driving after Hip Arthroscopy
Momaya AM, Stavrinos D, McManus B, Wittig SM, Emblom B, Estes R
Clin J Sport Med. 2018 May; 28(3): 299-303
Extreme Conditioning Shoulder Syndrome, A case series
American Sports Medicine Institute Research Symposium, 2016
Prevalence of CAM type femoroactebular impingement by CT analysis of asymptomatic subjects
American Sports Medicine Institute, 2016
Prevalence of CAM type femoroactebular impingement by CT analysis of asymptomatic subjects American Sports Medicine Institute, 2016
Fixation strength in arthroscopic labral repair of the hip: A head to head comparison of the biomechanical performance of a biocompatible versus all-suture anchor in the setting of acetabuloplasty
American Sports Medicine Institute, 2015
Correlation between MRA and arthroscopy for acetabular labrum tears of the hip
American Sports Medicine Institute, 2015
Acetabular labral tear secondary to iliopsoas impingement: A case series
American Sports Medicine Fellowship Society, 2014
Return to play following metacarpal fractures in football players
Etier BE, Scillia AJ, Tessier DD, Aune KT, Emblom BA, Dugas JR, Cain EL
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol. 2 no. 2 suppl. July 2014
Influence of number and spacing of suture anchors in labral repair of the shoulder
American Sports Medicine Institute, 2009
The use of ultraporous beta-tricalcium phosphate and bone marrow aspirate as a bone graft substitute
Poster presentation Mid-America Orthopaedic Association 2007
Autologous Growth Factor with Demineralized Bone Matrix versus Iliac Crest Bone Graft for treatment of Nonunions
Podium presentation OTA 2004
Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication: Surgical Treatment of 100 Consecutive
Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Poster presentation Houston County Medical Society 1997
2025
Clinical Outcomes of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair With Internal Brace Versus Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Competitive Athletes
The American Journal of Sports Medicine - March, 2025
Jeffrey R Dugas, Ryan J Froom, Eric A Mussell Sydney M Carlson, Anna E Crawford, Graham E Tulowitzky, Travis Dias, Kevin E Wilk, Arsh N Patel, Ariel L Kidwell-Chandler, Michael K Ryan, Andrew W Atkinson, Andrew H Manush, Marcus A Rothermich, Matthew P Ithurburn, Benton A Emblom, E Lyle Cain Jr
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOOK CHAPTERS
- Pelvis and Hip Injuries/Core injuries chapter, Farmer – Football Injuries - In Publication, Springer Nature
- Hip Disorders and Treatment section, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Surgeon’s Comprehensive Review, 2013, Oakstone Publishing
- Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction Using the Modified Jobe Technique Operative Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery, Shoulder and Elbow 2011, Elsevier
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
- Arthroscopy Association of North America
- Medical Association of the State of Alabama
- American Sports Medicine Fellowship Society
- Alpha Omega Alpha
Comeback Stories
-
Learn MoreAfter facing the fear of losing my foot, Dr. Charles Pitts and his team gave me more than medical care - they gave me hope, strength, and a future. Through his skill, honesty, and compassion, I regained my mobility, independence, and confidence to fully live again.
Bill Whitehead | Pelham, AL -
Learn More
After competing in my first professional season on the 2024 PGA Americas Tour, it was discovered that I had a 60% hip labral tear. With help from Dr. Benton Emblom and physical therapist Kevin Wilk, I worked through a 6-month recovery and came back with a deeper appreciation for the game.
Ford Clegg | Mountain Brook, AL -
Learn More
I put the surgery off for a decade. Life, career, timing… you name it. But eventually, the pain outweighed the excuses. I was led to Dr. Benton Emblom and Andrews Sports Medicine through a mix of word-of-mouth, my daughter’s internship there, and a little research — including reading a sports article that Coach Nick Saban chose Dr. Emblom to perform his hip replacement surgery in 2019. That sealed it for me.
John Reynolds | Pelham, AL -
Learn More
Throughout everything, Dr. Emblom has been an incredible support. When I saw him recently after dislocating my other kneecap, he remembered me and my previous surgery, even though it had been five years. He’s always been so personal and genuine, and that makes a huge difference.
Olivia Kim | Hoover, AL -
Learn More
On May 11, 2023 I suffered a significant knee injury that brought my softball season to an abrupt halt. I was on the mound pitching when a Hartselle player hit a grounder up the middle. When I went to backhand the ball, my left cleat got stuck in the ground and I felt a pop in my left knee.
Alyssa Brown | Warrior, AL
Media Center
Team Affiliations
