Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Christopher Ninh, MD
Orthopedic Surgery · Irvine, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Speaking/Promotional
Very High
DATA COVERAGE
Data in 4 of 4 federal sources
Measures public federal data availability — not provider quality
Informational, not a quality rating.
This page presents federal public records about Dr. Ninh from CMS (NPPES, Open Payments, Medicare Provider Utilization, PECOS). It is not medical advice, an endorsement, or a judgment of clinical quality. Always consult the provider directly and a licensed clinician for medical decisions. Read methodology →
Are you Dr. Ninh?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Ninh
Dr. Christopher Ninh is an orthopedic surgery specialist in Irvine, CA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Ninh performed 8,439 Medicare services across 1,680 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Ninh received a total of $17,855 from 33 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 223 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in orthopedic surgery. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Ninh is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 18 years in practice
▲ Top 5% volume in CA
$17,855 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,439
Medicare services
Top 5% in CA for orthopedic surgery
1,680
Unique beneficiaries
$47
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~469 Medicare services per year of practice
Top procedures by volume
Ranked by number of services performed for Medicare patients. Avg. submitted charge is what the provider billed; avg. Medicare payment is what CMS paid.
| Procedure | Volume | Avg. paid | Avg. submitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint lubricant injection (TriVisc) An injection of hyaluronan or a derivative into a joint space. The dose specified is 1 milligram. |
3,500 | $7 | $15 |
| Hyaluronan intra-articular injection, 1 mg An injection of hyaluronan or its derivative into a joint space. This procedure delivers 1 mg of the substance directly into the affected joint. |
1,000 | $8 | $15 |
| Physical therapy exercise, per 15 min A therapy session using exercises to improve strength, endurance, range of motion, and flexibility. Each 15-minute unit is billed separately. |
918 | $20 | $55 |
| Manual therapy (hands-on treatment), per 15 min | 905 | $16 | $50 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) A follow-up office visit for an existing patient lasting between 30 and 39 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
627 | $104 | $210 |
| Ultrasound-guided large joint aspiration or injection This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to guide the removal of fluid from or the injection of medication into a large joint. |
311 | $98 | $605 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
231 | $1 | $10 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 45 and 59 minutes. This code covers the total time spent by the physician or qualified healthcare professional on the date of the encounter. |
200 | $133 | $338 |
| Knee X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
190 | $30 | $69 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
81 | $170 | $550 |
| Radiofrequency vein destruction, first vein A procedure to treat the first incompetent vein in the arm or leg using radiofrequency energy and imaging guidance. |
76 | $987 | $5,000 |
| Total knee replacement | 49 | $1,086 | $5,600 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
49 | $110 | $350 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
36 | $145 | $650 |
| Knee X-ray, 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint that captures three different angles to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures. |
34 | $35 | $83 |
| Knee arthroscopy with synovectomy A minimally invasive procedure using a small camera to remove the inflamed lining of the knee joint. |
28 | $564 | $2,900 |
| Arthroscopic removal of knee cartilage A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove damaged or loose pieces of cartilage from the knee joint using a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions. |
28 | $116 | $2,400 |
| Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting between 20 and 29 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
24 | $74 | $139 |
| Shoulder X-ray, 2+ views An X-ray imaging test of the shoulder joint using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
21 | $32 | $71 |
| Wrist X-ray, minimum 3 views An imaging test using X-rays to capture at least three different angles of the wrist bones and joints. |
21 | $38 | $83 |
| Knee arthroscopy for removal of loose body or cartilage shaving A surgical knee arthroscopy procedure to remove loose bodies or foreign objects, or to shave damaged articular cartilage. This is performed in a different compartment of the knee during another surgical knee arthroscopy. |
21 | $71 | $1,200 |
| Ultrasound-guided small joint aspiration or injection This procedure involves removing fluid from or injecting medication into a small joint while using ultrasound imaging to guide the needle placement. |
16 | $55 | $394 |
| Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair A minimally invasive surgery to repair torn shoulder tendons using a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions. |
16 | $907 | $4,700 |
| Partial collarbone removal via endoscope This procedure involves the surgical removal of a portion of the collarbone (clavicle) using an endoscope, a small camera inserted through a tiny incision to guide the surgeon. |
15 | $206 | $3,000 |
| Hip X-ray, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
15 | $38 | $98 |
| Arthroscopic shoulder surgery for bone shaving and ligament repair A minimally invasive procedure using a small camera to shave part of the shoulder bone and repair a ligament. |
14 | $143 | $750 |
| Arthroscopic shoulder debridement A minimally invasive procedure to remove damaged or excess tissue from the shoulder joint using a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions. |
13 | $105 | $2,700 |
How to read this data: This reflects Medicare patients only (typically 65+). Payment amounts are what Medicare paid the provider, not your out-of-pocket cost. A higher procedure volume generally indicates more experience with that procedure.
0.7% high complexity
61.5% medium
37.8% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$17,855
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,551/year across 7 years
Top 22% in CA for orthopedic surgery
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
33
Companies
223
Individual payments
All payments are legal and publicly reported · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$9,900 (55.4%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$7,955 (44.6%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,761
2023
$2,258
2022
$1,292
2021
$461
2020
$4,111
2019
$7,365
2018
$608
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$824
Stryker Corporation
$558
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$198
Medtronic, Inc.
$111
Boston Scientific Corporation
$24
Davol Inc.
$20
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$16
HERAEUS MEDICAL, LLC.
$9
Top 3 companies account for 89.8% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Advanced Orthopaedic Solutions, Inc.
$9,900
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$2,692
Stryker Corporation
$1,534
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$1,153
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$462
ENCORE MEDICAL, LP
$279
Globus Medical, Inc.
$188
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$184
Miach Orthopaedics, Inc.
$160
MEDACTA USA, INC.
$150
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$146
Medtronic, Inc.
$111
Ethicon US, LLC
$102
Bioventus LLC
$97
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$74
Heraeus Medical, LLC.
$59
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$56
Horizon Pharma plc
$56
FIDIA PHARMA USA INC.
$54
Fidia Pharma USA Inc.
$51
Linvatec Corporation
$51
Saxum Surgical, Inc.
$49
Medartis Inc.
$46
Conformis, Inc.
$38
Micromed Inc
$27
Medacta USA, Inc.
$27
Boston Scientific Corporation
$24
Davol Inc.
$20
DJO, LLC
$16
ERMI Inc.
$14
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$12
ConvaTec Inc.
$12
HERAEUS MEDICAL, LLC.
$9
Top 3 companies account for 79.1% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCUPASS DIRECT Crescent XL · AEQUALIS ASCEND FLEX · AMISTEM · AOS PRODUCTS · AOS Products · APTUS · ARISTA AH FlexiTip · AUTOBAHN · AXSOS · Allograft Tissue · Ankle Fracture System · Avelle NPWT · BME NITINOL CONTINUOUS COMPRESSION IMPLANTS · BRAINLAB · Bioinductive Implant with Arthroscopic Delivery System - Medium · Biomet Orthopak · Bone Anchors with Arthroscopic Delivery System · Bristow Latarjet · Clavical Fixation (16-186) · Comprehensive Shoulder System · DJO SURGICAL · DUEXIS · DYNACORD · DYNATAPE · EUFLEXXA · EXPAREL · Exogen · Exogen Ultrasound Bone Healing System · FAST-FIX 360 · FIBERGRAFT · FIRSTPASS · FORCE FIBER · GAMMA · HEALICOIL · HEALIX KNOTLESS PEEK · HELICUT · HYALGAN · HYMOVIS · Hymovis · INSPACE · Identity Imprint CR · LINVATEC SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY · MAKO · MILAGRO · MONOVISC · MYKNEE · Microfix Quickanchor Ethibond · ORTHOLOC 3DI · ORTHOVISC · PALACOS · PENNSAID · PRIME SERIES · Pico 14 · Quickanchor Ethibond · Quickanchor Orthocord · REUNION · STRATAFIX · Sports Medicine Product Portfolio · Sports Medicine-None · T2 · TRIATHLON · TRILURON · TRUESPAN · TRUESPAN ORTHOCORD · TWISTR · Tibial Nail · VAPR · VARIAX · VENASEAL · Varithena Administration Pack · Venclose Maven Catheter · Zilretta
Should you be concerned? Payments from pharmaceutical and device companies are legal and common — 57% of U.S. physicians receive at least one. They often reflect legitimate consulting, research, or education. What matters is whether a recommended drug or device appears in your doctor's payment records. If so, consider asking your doctor about it. How to interpret this data →
The majority of payments (55%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in orthopedic surgery and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware.
Geographic Context
Orthopedic surgeons within 10 mi
290
Per 100K population
9.2
County median income
$113,702
Nearest hospital
FOOTHILL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
4.2 mi
4.2 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | Weekly updates |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | Monthly updates |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not public | N/A |
This provider has data in 4 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of Very High. This reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Ninh is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 5% in CA), with speaking/promotional industry engagement, with 18 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Ninh experienced with joint lubricant injection (trivisc)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Ninh performed 3,500 joint lubricant injection (trivisc) services. Research suggests that higher procedure volume is often associated with better outcomes, particularly for complex procedures. Note that Medicare data only captures patients aged 65 and older, so the total practice volume across all patients is likely higher.
Does Dr. Ninh receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Ninh received a total of $17,855 from 33 companies across 223 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common among physicians — 57% of all U.S. physicians receive at least one industry payment. Patients may wish to ask their doctor about these relationships, especially if a recommended drug or device appears in the payment records.
How do Dr. Ninh's costs compare to other orthopedic surgeons in Irvine?
Dr. Ninh's average Medicare payment per service is $47. Note that these figures represent what Medicare pays, not your out-of-pocket cost, which depends on your specific insurance plan and deductible. Procedure-level data above shows both what was submitted and what Medicare paid for each service type.
What does Data Coverage mean?
Data Coverage (currently Very High for Dr. Ninh) measures how much public federal data is available about a provider. It is not a quality rating. A "Very High" or "High" level means the provider has data across multiple federal sources (NPPES, PECOS, Medicare Utilization, Open Payments), indicating a long track record of practice, Medicare participation, and industry disclosure. A "Low" or "Moderate" level may simply mean the provider is newer, does not see Medicare patients, or has not received any industry payments — none of which are inherently negative. Read our full methodology →
Is this data up to date?
Each data source has its own update cycle. Provider registry data (NPPES) is updated weekly. Medicare enrollment (PECOS) is updated monthly. Medicare practice data has a ~2 year lag — the most recent available is typically 2 years prior. Industry payment data (Open Payments) is published annually, usually in June, covering the prior calendar year. We display the data date prominently on each section so you always know how current it is. See our data freshness policy →
Explore related providers
Specialty guide
Understanding Orthopedic Surgery
Common procedures, typical costs, and what industry payments mean in orthopedic surgery.
Same specialty & city
Orthopedic Surgeons in Irvine
Browse orthopedic surgeons in Irvine ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Orthopedic Surgeons in CA
Orthopedic surgeons ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Orthopedic Surgeons in CA
Which CA orthopedic surgeons receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Advanced Orthopaedic Solutions, Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Advanced Orthopaedic Solutions, Inc.
By company
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
By company
Stryker Corporation Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Stryker Corporation.
About this page
All data on this page is sourced verbatim from public federal records published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): NPPES ↗, Open Payments ↗, Medicare Provider Utilization ↗, and PECOS. Publication is mandated by the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (§6002 ACA, 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7h) and the Freedom of Information Act.
This page is not medical advice, an endorsement, a recommendation, or a quality rating. Data Coverage reflects data completeness — how much federal information exists for this provider — not clinical performance, patient outcomes, or quality of care. Always verify information directly with the provider and consult a licensed clinician before making medical decisions.
Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology