For all publications, please see the PubMed listing
About Dr. Kahlenberg
Dr. Cynthia Kahlenberg is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in total hip, total knee, and partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement for active adults who want to get back to doing what they love—faster and with confidence. She performs both anterior and posterior hip replacement and utilizes minimally invasive techniques with robotics and computer navigation to enhance precision, reduce recovery time, and support long-term success.
She is among the highest-volume joint replacement surgeons in Connecticut, performing over 600 hip and knee replacements each year. This extensive experience translates to efficient surgery, streamlined recovery, and consistently strong outcomes for her patients.
Dr. Kahlenberg takes a personalized approach to care, working closely with each patient to understand their goals—whether that means returning to golf, tennis, travel, or simply moving comfortably without pain—and guiding them through every step of the process, from preoperative planning through recovery.
Her interest in orthopedics began at Dartmouth College, where she served on the National Ski Patrol. She went on to earn her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from Harvard University. She completed her orthopedic surgery residency and advanced fellowship training in hip and knee replacement at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), where she was selected as Chief Fellow.
Dr. Kahlenberg is committed to delivering exceptional outcomes with a focus on safety, rapid recovery, and helping patients return to an active, comfortable lifestyle as quickly as possible.
Learn more about Dr. Kahlenberg on http://www.drkahlenberg.com/
Profile Video
Special Expertise
Anterior approach/Direct anterior hip replacement
Hip and knee replacement
Minimally invasive hip replacement
Partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement
Robotic and computer navigation surgery
Total knee replacement
Treatment of hip and knee arthritis
Procedures
Hip:
Anterior approach total hip replacement
Computer-assisted total hip replacement
Hip fracture surgery
Minimally invasive total hip replacement
Robotic total hip replacement
Knee:
Computer-assisted total knee replacement
Robotic partial knee replacement (MAKOplasty)
Robotic total knee replacement
Total knee replacement
Videos
Patient ratings for Dr. Kahlenberg
Insurance
If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit.
Credentials
Appointments
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College
Assistant Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Affiliations
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS)
Certifications
Board Certified – American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)
Awards
Lewis Clark Wagner MD Award for Excellence in Orthopaedic Clinical/Translational Research, 2021
AOA Emerging Leaders Program, 2021
Eastern Orthopaedic Association Founders' Award, 2019
AAOS/OREF/ORS Clinician Scholar Career Development Program, 2019
Current Concepts Foundation Resident Scholarship, 2019
Hospital for Special Surgery Surgeon-in-Chief Research Grant Award, 2017
Insall Scott Kelly Abstract Award of Excellence, 2012
Education
Undergraduate: Dartmouth College
Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Internship:Hospital for Special Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Residency:Hospital for Special Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship:Hospital for Special Surgery, Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement
State Licensure
New York, Connecticut
Languages
EnglishFor My Patients
Publications by Dr. Kahlenberg
Patient Education
Selected Journal Articles
Selected Books/Chapters
Kahlenberg CA, Ast MP. 'Technology & TKA: Accelerometers.' In Essentials of Cemented Knee Arthroplasty. KlausDieter Kuhn and Erik Hansen, eds. Springer: Berlin, 2022.
Premkumar A, Kahlenberg CA, Morse K, Wang VX, Cross MB. 'Triflange Cup and 3-D Printing in THA.' In Advances in Specialist Hip Surgery. Drescher WR, Koo KH, Windsor RE, eds. Springer: Switzerland, 2021.
Selected Presentations
Glenday J, Vigdorchik J, Lipman J, Sculco P, Kahlenberg CA, Mayman D, Wright T, Quevedo Gonzalez F. The initial fixation of cementless TKA is associated with the AP translation during gait: a computational study. Podium presentation at 2022 AAOS Annual Meeting. Chicago, Illinois. March 22-26, 2022.
Kahlenberg CA, Gibbons JA, Mehta B, Antao V, Lai Y, Do H, Russell L, Sculco PK, Figgie MP, Goodman SM. Satisfaction with Process versus Outcome of Care in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. Poster presentation at 2022 AAOS Annual Meeting. Chicago, Illinois. March 22-26, 2022.
Chalmers BP, Elmasry S, Mayman DJ, Sculco PK, Kahlenberg CA, Wright TM, Westrich GH, Imhauser C, Cross MB. 'A Constrained Insert Reduces Midflexion Laxity after Joint Line Elevation.' Poster presentation at the 2021 AAHKS Annual Meeting. Dallas, Texas. November 11-14, 2021.
Driscoll DA, Moore HG, Kahlenberg CA, Figgie MP, Sculco PK. 'Complications Associated with Simultaneous versus Staged Bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty.' Poster presentation at the 2021 AAHKS Annual Meeting. Dallas, Texas. November 11-14, 2021.
Gibbons JA, Kahlenberg CA, Jannat-Khah D, Goodman SM, Mandl LA, Sculco PK, Goodman SB, Figgie MP, Mehta B. Use of Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients Under 21 Years Old: A U.S. Population Analysis. Poster presentation at the ACR Convergence 2021. Virtual conference. November 5-9, 2021.
Gibbons JA, Kahlenberg CA, Mehta B, Antao V, Lai Y, Do H, Russell L, Sculco PK, Figgie MP, Goodman SM. Satisfaction with Process versus Outcome of Care in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. Poster presentation at the ACR Convergence 2021. Virtual conference. November 5-9, 2021.
Wei C, Gu A, Fassihi SC, Quan T, Kahlenberg CA, Thakkar SC, Della Valle AG, Sculco PK. ' Neural Network Prediction of Same-Day Discharge Following Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Based on Pre-Inclusion Variables.' Poster presentation at The American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. San Diego, California. August 31- September 3, 2021.
Elmasry S, Kahlenberg CA, Gandhi S, Sculco P, Xiang W, Wright T, Pearle A, Cross M, Mayman D, Westrich G, Imhauser C. Quantifying Intraoperative Decision-making of Knee Balance in Total Knee Arthroplasty. Poster presentation at the Orthopaedic Research Society 2021 Annual Meeting. Long Beach, California. February 13-16, 2021.
Elmasry S, Chalmers B, Kahlenberg CA, Sculco P, Westrich G, Mayman D, Wright T, Cross M, Imhauser C. Additional Distal Femoral Resection Increases Mid-Flexion Laxity in a Computational Model of Posterior Stabilized TKA with Flexion Contracture. Poster presentation at the Orthopaedic Research Society 2021 Annual Meeting. Long Beach, California. February 13-16, 2021.
Kahlenberg CA, Garvey M, Blevins JL, Sculco PK, Figgie MP. High Satisfaction and Activity Levels for Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients Under 21. Poster presentation at the HSS 32nd Annual Holiday Hip and Knee Course. Virtual Event. December 3-5, 2020.
Research
Dr. Kahlenberg's research focuses on optimizing patient outcomes and satisfaction with primary total hip and knee replacement as well as partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement. She is active in both clinical and biomechanical research in these areas, with the ultimate mission of making advances to achieve the best possible outcomes with these procedures.
Clinical Trials / Research Studies
Industry Relationships
HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.
Below are the healthcare industry relationships reported by Dr. Kahlenberg as of March 9, 2026.
- Joint Effort Administrative Services Organization, LLC ("JEASO") - Ownership Interest - (Through JEASO minority owner of the Recovery Shop)
- OrthoAlign - Consultant
- Smith & Nephew- Consultant
HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS. Patients should feel free to ask their HSS physicians questions about these relationships.