ElAttrache sees patients in a multi-story office building near LAX. After business hours, by phone, a stream of athletes and the otherwise famous or wealthy seek ElAttrache’s advice for free. He treats shoulders, elbows, knees, Achilles tendons, and the big muscles. Most surgeons are known for one specialty operation; ElAttrache’s fellow-surgeons consider him among the best in the world at many.
” ElAttrache said, “If you’re taking care of somebody that can go anywhere and they go to you, it’s some sort of weird affirmation.” He hastened to add that what he finds most rewarding is successfully treating an athlete on the fringe of viability. “If his life takes one of two very, very different trajectories and it’s because of something I did, it’s fucking unbelievable,” he said. “It’s almost so good it’s selfish.