Brian C. Lau, MD
Sports Medicine Orthopaedic Surgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon
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About Me
I am a sports medicine surgeon, specializing in injuries of the knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle/foot. I treat patients of all ages from pediatrics to master’s athletes and the weekend warrior to professionals. I perform complex shoulder surgery, including shoulder stabilization, rotator cuff surgery, superior capsular reconstruction, and reverse arthroplasty. I also do complex knee surgery, including ACL and meniscus surgery, patellar stabilizations, multi-ligament knee injuries, and advanced techniques for cartilage preservation and restoration. I also utilize the latest minimally-invasive techniques to treat foot and ankle injuries, including ankle instability, cartilage restoration, Achilles injuries, and fractures. I am currently the team physician for Duke Athletics, including soccer, basketball, football, baseball, and Olympic sports. I am also the Director of FIFA medical center. I am excited to be practicing sports medicine at Duke Health and am looking forward to getting you back in the game.
- Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery 2021
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Ratings and Reviews
The ratings and reviews are based on patient responses to the overall provider rating question from the survey. The question reads: “Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is the worst provider possible and 10 is the best provider possible, what number would you use to rate this provider?” Responses are converted to a 5-point rating system and applied consistently to all providers. Learn more about our survey process. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.
Training and Education
In the News
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Clinical Focus and Research
I am able to stay at the forefront of sports medicine for my patients with advanced imaging techniques to understand and improve treatment outcomes. I have additional training as a radiologist and utilize 3D MRI and fluoroscopy techniques, as well as functional sequences to evaluate how injuries and their treatments affect the bone, cartilage, and soft tissues. Another focus of mine is studying the biomechanics of different surgical treatments and rehabilitation strategies that can be used to treat sports injuries. My clinical research interests are in employing the knowledge learned from novel imaging techniques and biomechanical testing and translating these surgical advances to patients.
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OASIS Study: Comparison of 3 Different Interventions for Shoulder InstabilityIRB# PRO00109283 , NCT# NCT04809064
- Bridge Registry - CP 02-002 awarded by Miach Orthopaedics, Inc 2022 - 2027
- Dickens, Jonathan F., and Brian C. Lau. “The Athlete's Shoulder.” Clin Sports Med 43, no. 4 (October 2024): xvii–xviii. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.2024.02.003.
- Shultz, Christopher L., Emily Poehlein, Nicholas J. Morriss, Cynthia L. Green, Jessica Hu, Sarah Lander, Kelms Amoo-Achampong, and Brian C. Lau. “Nonoperative Management, Repair, or Reconstruction of the Medial Collateral Ligament in Combined Anterior Cruciate and Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries-Which Is Best? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Am J Sports Med 52, no. 2 (February 2024): 522–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/03635465231153157.
- Hurley, Eoghan T., Richard M. Danilkowicz, Alexandra V. Paul, Heather Myers, Oke A. Anakwenze, Christopher S. Klifto, Brian C. Lau, Dean C. Taylor, and Jonathan F. Dickens. “Majority of Studies Show Similar Rates of Return to Play After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair or Latarjet Procedure: A Systematic Review.” Arthroscopy 40, no. 2 (February 2024): 515–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2023.04.017.
- Baldwin, E. L., S. Allahabadi, B. C. Lau, and A. Amendola. “Osteochondral Lesions of the Ankle: Talus and Distal Tibia.” In Joint Function Preservation: A Focus on the Osteochondral Unit, 363–73, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82958-2_33.
- Danilkowicz, R., B. C. Lau, T. Carter, and A. Amendola. “Osteoarthritis in Basketball Players.” In Basketball Sports Medicine and Science, 519–29, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-61070-1_42.
- Johnston, Kenzie, and brian Lau. “Women’s Soccer Physiological Characteristics and their Specific Demands of the Game (Accepted).” In Medicine and Applied Sciences to Soccer, n.d.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.
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Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice PPO
- Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
- Aetna Select HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice
- Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
- Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
- Aetna/CVS Health
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Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
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Cigna
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
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*Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
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Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
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Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Gateway Health Alliance
- Healthgram
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Humana
- Humana Choice (PPO)
- Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
- MedCost
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Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
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NC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- Healthy Blue
- NC Medicaid Direct
- WellCare of North Carolina
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TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
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United Healthcare
- AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
- AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
- AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
- All Savers Alternate Funding
- All Savers Fully Insured
- United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)**
- United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
- United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
- United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
- United Healthcare Option PPO
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
- United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
- United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
- United Medical Resources (UMR)
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.
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**Duke Health does not participate in UHC plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.
External Relationships
- Convergence Medical
- Cytek Incorporated
- Johnson & Johnson
- Miach Orthopedics
- New Clip