Procedure Volume Patient Data Patient Conditions Reviews General Payments Back to Top

Home > CA Providers > Foot & Ankle Surgeons

Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD

(66 Ratings)

Specializes in: Foot & Ankle Surgery and Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery

University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine (1986)

Professional interests include: tendon transfer, Achilles tendon rupture, sports injuries, and more.

450 Broadway Street
Redwood City, CA 94063

(650) 723-5643

Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD is a foot and ankle surgeon in Palo Alto, CA specializing in foot & ankle surgery and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. She graduated from University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine in 1986 and has 40 years of experience. Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD is affiliated with Stanford Health Care.

Office Locations

300 Pasteur Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94305

open_in_new

450 Broadway Street
Redwood City, CA 94063

(650) 723-5643

open_in_new

Some issues Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD can help you with:

Tendon Transfer

Tendons are rope-like fibers that connect muscles to bone. Tendon transfer surgery is a procedure that can be used to restore function to a muscle or tendon that no longer works due to injury or nerve damage. During the procedure, a neighboring tendon is 'borrowed' from an area where it is not necessary and repositioned to function in place of the damaged muscle or tendon.

Tendon transfer surgery can be performed on the arms, hands, feet, or other areas of the body where a muscle becomes unable to pull on its tendon. A nearby tendon is detached from its bone, but kept connected to its muscle, nerves, and blood supply. The loose end is connected to the bone that the patient could not move. After the attachment heals, the patient will be able to move that part of the body by flexing the newly connected muscle.

One of the benefits to tendon transfer surgery is that it does not have to be performed right away after an injury. It can be successful even if the affected area has been paralyzed for years. It does take time to retrain the brain to use a different muscle for movement, but the surgery is a powerful option to restore needed motion.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD treated as a foot and ankle surgeon in Palo Alto, CA during 2012 were implant removal.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	308
implant removal	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD treated as a foot and ankle surgeon in Palo Alto, CA during 2013 were joint surgery, lower extremity surgery and arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	14
doctor visit	364
joint surgery	14
lower extremity surgery	14

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	82
Female	155

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	185
Black	15
Hispanic	18
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	121
From 75 to 84	48
85 and over	16
Less than 65	52

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2013

Hypertension	58
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	5
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	24
Dementia	7
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD treated as a foot and ankle surgeon in Palo Alto, CA during 2014 were implant removal.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	258
implant removal	18

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	81
Female	142

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	171
Black	0
Hispanic	20
Asian	20
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	115
From 75 to 84	50
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2014

Hypertension	56
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	28
Dementia	5
Cancer	6

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	244

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	136
Female	282

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	310
Black	0
Hispanic	44
Asian	38
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	214
From 75 to 84	104
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2015

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	27
Dementia	0
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	320

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	75
Female	143

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	172
Black	0
Hispanic	20
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	123
From 75 to 84	50
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2016

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	17
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	27
Dementia	0
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	267

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	62
Female	115

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	146
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	92
From 75 to 84	41
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2017

Hypertension	54
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	26
Dementia	0
Cancer	7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	229

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	68
Female	110

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	138
Black	0
Hispanic	18
Asian	11
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	106
From 75 to 84	38
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2018

Hypertension	51
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	22
Dementia	0
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	259

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	58
Female	106

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	130
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	16
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	90
From 75 to 84	48
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2019

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	27
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	26
Dementia	0
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	191

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	51
Female	92

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	107
Black	0
Hispanic	14
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	72
From 75 to 84	42
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2020

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	46
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	27
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	23
Dementia	0
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	222

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	74
Female	93

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	127
Black	0
Hispanic	15
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	84
From 75 to 84	43
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2021

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	23
Dementia	7
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	205

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	75
Female	80

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	116
Black	0
Hispanic	13
Asian	14
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	70
From 75 to 84	43
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2022

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	27
Asthma	23
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	28
Dementia	0
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	204

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	51
Female	93

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	109
Black	0
Hispanic	12
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	59
From 75 to 84	54
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2023

Hypertension	63
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	22
Osteoperosis	22
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	23
Dementia	0
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2024 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	217

2024 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Male	50
Female	83

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	99
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	14
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	62
From 75 to 84	45
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD in 2024

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	29
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2024

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD treated as a foot and ankle surgeon in Palo Alto, CA were implant removal, joint surgery, lower extremity surgery and arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery).

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	14
doctor visit	252
implant removal	16
joint surgery	14
lower extremity surgery	14

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2024

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD.

**Gender**
Female	114
Male	66

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	1
Asian / Pacific Islander	8
Non-Hispanic White	139
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	13
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	1
75 to 84	46
Less than 65	4
65 to 74	92

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD From 2012 - 2024

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and depression.

Hypertension	54
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	12
Osteoporosis	13
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	6
Diabetes	23
Atrial Fibrillation	6
Cancer	9
Dementia	1

Education & Training

Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD graduated from University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine in 1986. She completed residency at Howard University Hospital. She is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and has a state license in California.

Medical School: University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine (1986)

Residency: Howard University Hospital (1992)

Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery (1995)

Licensed In: California

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.66 out of 5 stars based on 66 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Palo Alto, CA.

4.66

Overall Rating

(66 Ratings)

Leave a Review

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Loretta Belle Chou, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Arthrex, Inc.	$15,846 ARTHREX PRODUCT LINE DISTAL EXTREMITY ARTHROSCOPY $2,200	$13,646
Stryker Corporation	$8,633 Star $2,563	TRAUMA & EXTREMITIES $1,920	INBONE $1,467	Infinity $965	Variax $707	Other $1,010
EVOLUTION SURGICAL, INC	$7,440 $7,440
Wright Medical Technology, Inc.	$5,138 FOOTANDANKLE $1,672	Foot and Ankle $1,647	Infinity $1,615	AUGMENT $169	CrossCHECK $35
Exactech, Inc.	$1,453 EPIC FOOT PLATE SYSTEM $1,234	VANTAGE $220
Other	$1,831 STAR Ankle $868	Exogen $289	ELITE $212	13mm STAR E+ Sliding Core STAR Total Ankle $150	NEXIS $149	Other $163

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$18,106
Education	$12,813
Food and Beverage	$9,422

Biography

Dr. Loretta Chou's specialties are foot & ankle surgery and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. She practices in Redwood City, CA and Palo Alto, CA. Areas of expertise for Dr. Chou include strains, pseudarthrosis (non-union), and ankle instability. Dr. Chou has received a 4.5 out of 5 star rating by her patients. After attending the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, she completed her residency training at Howard University Hospital. She is professionally affiliated with Stanford Health Care.