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Issei Komatsu, MD, PhD

  • 4.6 / 5 (221 ratings)
Hand Surgery, Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery
Accepting New Patients
MultiCare Provider
Location
1450 5th St SE, Suite 4200, Puyallup, WA, 98372
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Issei Komatsu, MD, PhD, is board certified in orthopedic surgery, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. In addition to extensive training in orthopedic surgery for hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder, he has specialized training in trauma care and plastic surgery for hand and upper extremity. His unique expertise allows him to offer a wide variety of treatment options, giving patients the opportunity to select the option that best suit their needs. 
 
Dr. Komatsu believes integrity, trustworthiness and transparency are the fundamentals for the healthiest relationships with patients and their health care teams. He wants patients to be empowered to participate in making decisions about their treatment plans. Away from work, he enjoys skiing, trail running, camping and tennis. 

The conditions Dr. Komatsu treats include:

  • Fracture care in upper extremity (from shoulder to fingertip)
  • Degenerative arthritis in upper extremity (from shoulder to hand)
  • Nerve entrapment syndromes in upper extremity (carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, Guyon canal syndrome, etc.)
  • Sports related care in upper extremity (rotator cuff tear, ligament conditions in shoulder, elbow and wrist, ulnar sided wrist pain, etc.)
  • Tendinitis/tenosynovitis in upper extremity (tennis elbow, De Quervain syndrome, trigger finger, etc.

Read the MultiCare Vitals Blog article on wrist injury, featuring Dr. Komatsu: Wrist injuries: When to see a doctor

Languages: English, Japanese
Certification: Orthopaedic Surgery - American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery; Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Japanese Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Professional School: Tokyo Medical University (Tokyo, Japan)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Hamot, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Erie, PA); St. Luke's International Hospital (Tokyo, Japan)
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh - School of Medicine, Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Medical Groups:
  • MultiCare Medical Partners
Medical Association Memberships:
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • American Society for Surgery of the Hand
  • American Association for Hand Surgeons
  • American Society of Plastic Surgeons
  • Japan Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery               
Research:

Komatsu, I., Lubahn, JD. Anatomy and biomechanics of the thumb carpometacarpal joint. Operative techniques in Orthopaedics, Volume 28, Issue 1, March 2018, Pages 1-5.

Komatsu, I., Arishima, Y., Shibahash,i H., Yamaguchi, T., Minamikawa, Y. Outcomes of Surface Replacement Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Arthroplasty Using the Self Locking Finger Joint Implant: Minimum Two Years Follow-up. Hand (N Y). 2017 Sept.

Komatsu, I., Wang, JH-C., Iwasaki, K., Shimizu, T., Okano, T. The effect of tendon stem/progenitor cell (TSC) sheet on the early tendon healing in a rat Achilles tendon injury model. Acta Biomaterialia. 2016, Sept; 42: 136–146. 

Komatsu, I., Yang, J., Zhang, Y., Levin, LS., Erdmann, D., Klitzman, B., Hollenbeck, ST. Interstitial engraftment of adipose-derived stem cells into an acellular dermal matrix results in improved inward angiogenesis and tissue incorporation. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A. 2013, Oct; 101(10): 2939-47. 

Hollenbeck, ST., Senghaas, A., Komatsu, I., Zhang, Y., Erdmann, D., Klitzman, B. Tissue engraftment of hypoxic-preconditioned adipose-derived stem cells improves flap viability. Wound Repair and Regeneration. 2012, Nov; 20(6): 872-878. 

Hollenbeck, ST., Komatsu, I., Woo, S., Schoeman, M., Yang, J., Erdmann, D., Levin, LS. The current role of the vascularized-fibular osteocutaneous graft in the treatment of segmental defects of the upper extremity. Microsurgery. 2011, Mar; 31(3): 183-189. 

Komatsu, I., Bond, J., Selim, A., Tomasek, JJ., Levin, LS., Levinson, H. Dupuytren's fibroblast contractility by sphingosine-1-phosphate is mediated through non-muscle myosin II. Journal of Hand Surgery. 2010, Oct; 35(10): 1580-1588. 

Komatsu, I., Tokuda, Y., Shimada, G., Jacobs, JL., Onodera, H. Development of a simple model for predicting need for surgery in patients who initially undergo conservative management for adhesive small bowel obstruction. The American Journal of Surgery. 2010, Aug; 200(2): 215-223. 

Yang, J., Erdmann, D., Chang, JC., Komatsu, I., Zhang, Y., Wang, D.,Hodavance, MS., Hollenbeck, ST., Levinson, H., Klitzman, B., Levin, LS. A model of sequential heart and composite tissue allotransplant in rats. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Hollenbeck, ST., Woo, S., Komatsu, I., Erdmann, D., Zenn, MR., Levin, LS. Longitudinal outcomes and application of the subunit principle to 165 foot and ankle free tissue transfers. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2010, Mar; 125(3):924-34. 

 

 

 

 

  • 4.6 Provider showed concern
  • 4.6 Provider explained things clearly
  • 4.6 Provider included you in decisions
  • 4.6 Provider discussed treatment options
  • 4.6 Likelihood of recommending this provider
4.6 out of 5 (221 ratings, 31 comments)
  • Mar, 3 2026
    Dr. Komatsu is AMAZING!! My daughter accompanied me to my visit and we discussed how impressed we both were by him. His bedside manner is lovely. He was extremely informative and patient with all of our questions. And we had alot. I'd neve had steroid injections for my osteoarthritis before and have an extremely deep fear of needles. He did one in each hand and it was so gentle didn't even know he had finished! (I looked away while he was doing them) I was shocked!I would go back to see him again any time. And I would HIGHLY recommend him to anyone in the universe. He's amazing.
  • Feb, 6 2026
    DR Komatsu was very thorough in taking the history of the CTS; examination, and discussion of the treatment options. DR Komatsu left me with a feeling of full confidence in his clinical skill and the proposed treatment.
  • Jan, 29 2026
    Very cordial; I didn't feel rushed but h covered everything and answered all my questions.
  • Jan, 19 2026
    Excellent service, follow up in Covington, which is closer to my Kent home
  • Nov, 25 2025
    I was given options that I didn't know I had and was able to make an informed decision based on the knowledge I was given. This doctor was very efficient had great manner paid attention to my problem and knew how to resolve it 10 out of 10
  • Oct, 15 2025
    Dr. Komatsu had a very caring demeanor, explained the surgical options thoroughly and answered all of my questions.
  • Sep, 30 2025
    The provider was very attentive and thorough. I didn't sit in the exam room any time before he came in. Very happy with the outcome.
  • Aug, 28 2025
    Very informative answered all my questions so I could understand what he was planning
  • Aug, 22 2025
    I felt the doctor took the time to explain everything to me.
  • Aug, 20 2025
    Dr Komatsu listened very well and clearly explained things. There was absolutely no pain when he gave me my shot in the back of my hand. I am extremely pleased with him and my experience there.
  • Aug, 12 2025
    I am very fortunate to have Dr Komatsu as a provider.
  • Jul, 18 2025
    Dr. Komatsu and his team were caring and informative all the way through the process!
  • Jun, 29 2025
    Every time I tried to talk the doctor would talk over me and didn't really listen to what I had to say. He completely ignored what I said about my pain and continued to talk about his plan without hearing from me
  • Jun, 10 2025
    Dr Komatsu was great. He really listened to me and my concerns about having a good outcome. He was very thorough. Really like him. Could understand him completely.