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Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD

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Specializes in: Sports Medicine and Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery

University of Minnesota Medical School

Professional interests include: elbow problems, sports health, meniscus tear, and more.

3545 Highway 61
North Vadnais Heights, MN 55110

(651) 439-8807

Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD is a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN specializing in sports medicine and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. He graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD is affiliated with Woodwinds Health Campus, Fairview Lakes Medical Center, Twin Cities Orthopedics, High Pointe Surgery Center and Blaine Orthopedic Surgery Center.

Office Locations

3545 Highway 61
North Vadnais Heights, MN 55110

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4040 Radio Drive
Woodbury, MN 55129

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5130 Fairview Boulevard #100
Wyoming, MN 55092

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Some issues Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD can help you with:

Musculoskeletal Problems

The musculoskeletal system refers collectively to the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. It is what gives the body structure and movement. Because this system encompasses so much of the body, musculoskeletal problems are extremely varied and can happen almost anywhere. There are musculoskeletal problems that affect only the joints, those that affect the bones, those that affect tendons and ligaments, and those that can happen in any area of the body but cause pain and numbness.

Joint problems include bursitis and arthritis. Bursitis is the inflammation of a fluid-filled sac cushion on the outside of a joint, causing symptoms including pain and swelling. Arthritis is the inflammation and damage of a joint due to wear and tear or disease. There are several treatments for arthritis, but if the damage progresses far enough, joint replacement may be necessary. In joint replacement, a metal or plastic implant is surgically placed within the joint to make movement easier.

Bone problems include scoliosis, fractures, and osteoporosis. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, making the normally straight spine look like a 'C' or 'S.' It is treated with braces or surgery. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to weaken and break easily. It's most common in women, especially older women. Fully half of all women over 65 have osteoporosis. Fractures are any break in the bone. They can be a simple crack or a severe and complicated shatter. Osteoporosis causes fractures in people who have it, but other causes are trauma (such as a fall) or overuse.

Tendon and ligament problems most often result from injury or overuse. Two good examples are ligament tears and tendonitis. The most common ligament tear is the ACL tear in the knee. This ligament supports and stabilizes the knee and is most often torn during sports activities. Tendonitis happens when a tendon, which connects muscles and bones together, becomes irritated and inflamed. This happens most often in older patients who push their bodies too far, leading to pain and swelling. Treatment for both tendon and ligament problems usually includes rest, ice, and supporting the area to let it heal.

Pain and numbness problems can be caused by overuse, disease, an injury, or a compressed nerve. Lower back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome are two of the most common conditions patients encounter. Lower back pain may be caused by sore muscles that have been overworked, or an injury to the disks separating the vertebrae in the spine. Lower back pain usually goes away on its own within a few days, but it may require medical treatment depending on the cause. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the nerve at the base of the palm becomes trapped or pinched. Symptoms include tingling, pain, numbness, or weakness in the hand. Treatment involves rest and sometimes steroid injections.

Because the musculoskeletal system involves so much of the body, problems here can be incredibly varied in their type and severity. Some musculoskeletal problems will go away on their own or only require rest, while others may require medication, physical therapy, or even surgery.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2024

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 5%

By Affordability:

blood draw

blood draw for lab tests

phlebotomy for lab tests

venipuncture

In 2024, Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD had a list price for blood draw, blood draw for lab tests, phlebotomy for lab tests, and venipuncture (phlebotomy) that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 95% of providers in related specialties within Minnesota. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Top 25%

By Volume:

joint imaging

knee X-ray

major joint aspiration

major joint injection

In 2012, Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD performed more joint imaging, knee X-ray, major joint aspiration, and major joint injection procedures for Medicare patients than 75% of providers in related specialties within Minnesota.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2012 were aspiration, injections, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	177
doctor visit	417
hip imaging	30
injections	177
joint surgery	36
lower extremity surgery	36
musculoskeletal imaging	64
reconstructive surgery	36
X-rays	64

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2013 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	121
doctor visit	320
hip imaging	48
injections	121
joint surgery	36
lower extremity surgery	36
musculoskeletal imaging	124
reconstructive surgery	36
X-rays	124

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	82
Female	150

**Age**
From 65 to 74	84
From 75 to 84	84
85 and over	30
Less than 65	34

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2013

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	25
Dementia	9
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2014 were aspiration, injections, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	172
doctor visit	302
hip imaging	53
injections	172
joint surgery	18
lower extremity surgery	18
musculoskeletal imaging	148
reconstructive surgery	18
X-rays	148

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	85
Female	139

**Age**
From 65 to 74	82
From 75 to 84	77
85 and over	24
Less than 65	41

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2014

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	24
Dementia	6
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2015 were X-rays, musculoskeletal imaging, aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	145
doctor visit	295
hip imaging	53
injections	145
joint surgery	40
lower extremity surgery	40
musculoskeletal imaging	159
reconstructive surgery	40
X-rays	159

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	156
Female	270

**Age**
From 65 to 74	168
From 75 to 84	130
85 and over	52
Less than 65	76

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2015

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	22
Dementia	8
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2016 were aspiration, injections, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	110
doctor visit	240
injections	110
joint surgery	38
lower extremity surgery	38
musculoskeletal imaging	95
reconstructive surgery	38
X-rays	95

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	55
Female	114

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	157
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	63
From 75 to 84	53
85 and over	20
Less than 65	33

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2016

Hypertension	66
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	25
Dementia	0
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2017 were aspiration, injections, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	109
doctor visit	244
injections	109
joint surgery	32
lower extremity surgery	32
musculoskeletal imaging	92
reconstructive surgery	32
X-rays	92

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	69
Female	93

**Age**
From 65 to 74	66
From 75 to 84	50
85 and over	16
Less than 65	30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2017

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	27
Dementia	7
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2018 were aspiration, injections, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	149
doctor visit	295
injections	149
joint surgery	25
lower extremity surgery	25
musculoskeletal imaging	76
reconstructive surgery	25
X-rays	76

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	75
Female	119

**Age**
From 65 to 74	79
From 75 to 84	53
85 and over	21
Less than 65	41

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2018

Hypertension	58
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	23
Dementia	8
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2019 were aspiration, injections, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	278
doctor visit	454
injections	278
joint surgery	46
lower extremity surgery	46
musculoskeletal imaging	142
reconstructive surgery	46
X-rays	142

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	143
Female	209

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	339
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	158
From 75 to 84	115
85 and over	41
Less than 65	38

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2019

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	27
Dementia	9
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2020 were aspiration, injections, musculoskeletal imaging and X-rays.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	204
doctor visit	368
hip imaging	15
injections	204
joint surgery	33
lower extremity surgery	33
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	15
musculoskeletal imaging	141
reconstructive surgery	33
X-rays	126

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	127
Female	155

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	271
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	126
From 75 to 84	93
85 and over	35
Less than 65	28

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2020

Hypertension	54
High Cholesterol	40
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	27
Dementia	7
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2021 were aspiration, injections, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	229
doctor visit	417
injections	229
joint surgery	37
lower extremity surgery	37
musculoskeletal imaging	144
reconstructive surgery	37
X-rays	144

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	136
Female	160

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	279
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	132
From 75 to 84	91
85 and over	41
Less than 65	32

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2021

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	43
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	22
Dementia	6
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2022 were aspiration, injections, musculoskeletal imaging and X-rays.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	170
doctor visit	375
hip imaging	11
injections	170
joint surgery	43
lower extremity surgery	43
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	11
musculoskeletal imaging	125
reconstructive surgery	43
X-rays	114

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	114
Female	149

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	251
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	141
From 75 to 84	65
85 and over	36
Less than 65	21

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2022

Hypertension	69
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	21
Dementia	0
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2023 were aspiration, injections, X-rays and musculoskeletal imaging.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	144
doctor visit	304
injections	144
joint surgery	34
lower extremity surgery	34
musculoskeletal imaging	94
reconstructive surgery	34
X-rays	94

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	83
Female	144

**Age**
From 65 to 74	111
From 75 to 84	68
85 and over	26
Less than 65	22

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2023

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	17
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	19
Dementia	0
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2024 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN during 2024 were aspiration, injections, musculoskeletal imaging and X-rays.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	140
blood draw	15
doctor visit	333
hip imaging	16
injections	140
joint surgery	42
lower extremity surgery	42
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	16
musculoskeletal imaging	106
reconstructive surgery	42
X-rays	90

2024 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	80
Female	161

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	229
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	123
From 75 to 84	71
85 and over	23
Less than 65	24

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD in 2024

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	19
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	20
Dementia	0
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2024

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD treated as a sports medicine doctor in North Vadnais Heights, MN were aspiration, injections, musculoskeletal imaging and X-rays.

aspiration	165
blood draw	15
doctor visit	335
hip imaging	32
injections	165
joint surgery	35
lower extremity surgery	35
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	14
musculoskeletal imaging	116
reconstructive surgery	35
X-rays	112

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2024

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD.

**Gender**
Male	92
Female	143

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	117
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	73
85 and over	28
Less than 65	32
65 to 74	102

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD From 2012 - 2024

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

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	46
Stroke	1
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	8
Osteoporosis	9
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	21
Atrial Fibrillation	12
Dementia	4
Cancer	8

Education & Training

Dr. Thomas K. Comfort, MD graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed residency at University of Minnesota Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Board Certified, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has a state license in Wisconsin.

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

Residency: University of Minnesota Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: Board Certified, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Licensed In: Wisconsin

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General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
Arthrex, Inc.	$5,515 ARTHREX PRODUCT LINE SHOULDER & ELBOW ARTHROSCOPY $545	$4,970
Stryker Corporation	$1,873 Mako $767	MAKOplasty $676	ACCOLADE $215	KNEES $107	HIPS $93	Other $14
Smith & Nephew, Inc.	$949 Coblation Wands $595	Bioraptor Knotless $325	Healicoil $29
Gemini Medical LLC	$525 ALL ARTHREX PRODUCT LINES $180	$345
Foundation Medical, LLC	$25 $25
Other	$12 Extremities $12

**Types of Payments**
Education	$5,079
Travel and Lodging	$2,408
Food and Beverage	$1,212
Grant	$200

Biography

Dr. Thomas Comfort is a physician who specializes in orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. His areas of expertise include frozen shoulder, surgical repair, and sports health. Dr. Comfort attended the University of Minnesota Medical School and then went on to complete his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Minnesota. Distinctions awarded to Dr. Comfort include: Board Member, Community Health Network ACO; Orthopedic Council Chair, Medical; and Executive Committee, HealthEast. He is professionally affiliated with Fairview Lakes Medical Center, Woodwinds Health Campus, and Twin Cities Orthopedics.