Accepting New Patients

Kyle Zittel

MD

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Lewes, Milford, Millsboro

Hand, Wrist & Elbow Care, Hip Care, Joint Replacement, Knee Care, Orthopedics, Shoulder Care, Sports Medicine, Surgery

About Dr. Zittel

Kyle Zittel, MD, specializes in orthopedic sports medicine, caring for active individuals who have exercise- or sports-related injuries to the elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee. After residency, he completed his sports medicine fellowship at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, which provided advanced surgical training within the renowned Kerlan-Jobe tradition, caring for athletes at professional, collegiate, and amateur levels. During his career, he has provided medical care for MLB spring training, the Los Angeles Rams, Dodgers, and Angels, Anaheim Ducks, LA Galaxy, Pepperdine University, Georgetown University, and multiple high school programs.

Care philosophy

Dr. Zittel does everything in his power to make sure patients feel informed, respected, heard, and supported throughout their care journey. He prioritizes non-surgical treatment whenever appropriate and specializes in minimally invasive surgery and advanced arthroscopic techniques when surgery is needed. He is committed to understanding the person behind the injury, what matters most to them and what they want to return to, whether competition, work, exercise, or everyday life. Dr. Zittel takes time to get to know patients and their families, clearly explains the diagnosis, imaging, and treatment options, and collaboratively develops a personalized plan focused on recovery and long-term function.

Beyond Patient Care

Dr. Zittel grew up outside Buffalo, New York, working on his family’s commercial vegetable and floral farm, Amos Zittel and Sons, Inc., before playing Division I lacrosse at Penn State, where he later served as team captain. These experiences shaped a deep appreciation for how an injury can affect far more than sports, impacting work, family responsibilities, independence and livelihood. With family ties to the area through his mother, who grew up locally, he and his wife, Lauren, are excited to make the community their home. Known for a calm and compassionate approach, Dr. Zittel values caring for athletes and active individuals, as well as patients who depend on their physical health to work, care for their families, and enjoy everyday life.

Sports medicine (athletic injuries, fracture care, and return-to-sport care)
Elbow conditions, including throwing injuries, ligament and tendon tears
Elbow arthroscopy
Elbow ligament repair/reconstruction, including ulnar collateral ligament (Tommy John) surgery
biceps and triceps repair
Shoulder conditions: joint pain and arthritis, rotator cuff and labral tears, dislocations, instability, and AC joint, biceps, and pectoralis major injuries
Shoulder arthroscopy
Rotator cuff repair
Anatomic and reverse total shoulder replacement
Knee conditions: ACL tears, PCL and complex ligament injuries, and meniscus tears
Knee arthroscopy
Knee ligament repair and reconstruction, and cartilage restoration
Hip impingement (FAI) and labral tears
Hamstring injury
Hip arthroscopy and hip preservation
Joint preservation: orthobiologics and other joint preservation treatments

Advanced training in elbow ligament and UCL repair and reconstruction, including Tommy John surgery, suture brace augmentation, and elbow arthroscopy with specialized expertise in
treating throwing-related injuries in athletes
Treats with a focus on evidence-based return-to-sport protocols, patient-specific surgical instruments and guides, and a research background in the biomechanics of orthopedic implants and surgical grafts

Education

Medical School

Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Doctor of Medicine, Cum Laude

Graduate School

Georgetown University, Master of Science in Physiology and Biophysics

Training

Residency

Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, Chief Resident

Fellowship

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship

Certifications

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)

Co-author of peer-reviewed research on ACL reconstruction and repair, rehabilitation after internally braced ACL reconstruction, and postoperative pain following ACL surgery
Published research on shoulder arthroplasty pain management and orthopedic biomechanics
First-author of research on regional variation in distal femur subchondral bone mineral density
Co-author of research on quadriceps and patellar tendon allograft biomechanics
Additional peer-reviewed work in hip trauma, total ankle arthroplasty biomechanics and global health.
Author of chapters on the elbow in Essentials of Orthopedic Surgery and
Author of lacrosse content in ACSM’s Sports Medicine: A Comprehensive Review
Presentations on elbow instability, meniscal injury, posterolateral corner injuries, cartilage restoration, hip impingement and microinstability, and patellar instability
Presentations at national and international meetings including AOSSM, ESSKA, Orthopaedic Summit (OSET), and Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR)

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)