Jeffrey S. Kanel, M.D., M.S.

I have a very similar story of someone who gave a very negative review on this page, but a completely different outcome. (Perhaps read the other review about a 5 yr old boy with a broken arm from the monkey bars first?)
Our 5 yr old son broke his arm, a severe compound fracture, on the monkey bars at school. We did the ER at Good Sam and went with their recommendation to visit Dr. Kanel for our follow-​ups. I’ll be honest, after reading this other negative review on this page, that was so oddly similar to our situation, we definitely hesitated. We researched other options and inquired with people in the area, including other nearby doctors (my wife is in the medical field locally). We decided to go with Dr. Kanel and 5 months later we are completely satisfied with his care.
I’ve waited 5 months to write this review just to make sure that I could give an honest, accurate account of the care we received. My son’s break was bad. It was not perfectly re-​aligned by the ER doctors (which I imagine is very hard to do perfectly). The first time the cast came off (two weeks after the ER), his arm was still terribly mis-​shaped and crooked. The first thing I thought about was this other person’s Unilocal review and whether or not we were gonna have to go through the same thing, whether or not we made the right decision.
Upon seeing our son’s very crooked arm for the first time since the day of the break, Dr. Kanel assured us that the bones of young children heal extremely fast and they are very resilient. This was in late Sept, he looks at us and says, «the chances of Noah’s arm NOT being perfectly straight by Christmas is (*holds his two hands up to make a big ZERO*) zero.» He assured us it will heal very fast and straighten out very fast, and he was absolutely right, but, to be clear, his arm wasn’t straight when the cast came off for good (a total of 6 weeks after the break). He was still walking around for a couple months with his arm slightly mis-​shaped. But it did heal and it did heal properly in place. When he holds his two arms up straight in front of him, you can’t tell which one was broken and he feels totally normal.
I’m not trying to take away from an obviously awful experience that another family went through. But I just wanted to share my son’s very similar experience as well, in hopes to be helpful for another family going through the same thing. Dr. Kanel was great and deserves a great rating. I know it’s easy to freak out when it’s YOUR kid (and we did) but we trusted this doctor and he proved to be trustworthy. All is good now and we talk lightly about that one time Noah broke his arm.

DO NOT go to this office if you have the expectation of receiving excellent customer service. The front office people are terrible. They are rude and give no indication of welcoming new patients which is ironic given they are in the service industry. Dr. Kanel has the worst bed side manner and is very awkward. I was not sure I could ask questions. He did not give any input or ask if I had questions. It was an awful experience. If this office had any clue whatsoever, they would get rid of the young girl who welcomes new clients. The silver lining and saving grace is Gloria, the doctors assistant. She is amazing. The only reason they received one star. The only feedback I can give is… do your research, get a second opinion and ask for a different doctor if Kanel is recommended.

My 16 yo dtr saw Dr Kanel for ankle injury. Was told in ER that Dr Kanel ordered a CT of ankle and found chip fractures. Dr Kanel said the X-​rays and CT were perfectly normal and that her ankle was just sprained. He also denied ever having ordered the films. Big difference from 4 days earlier when he said to follow up with his office for cast. At office he was indifferent to my dtrs pain and discomfort. Gave her choice of cast or boot to support due to «significant soft tissue damage» Was short when expressed we didn’t know what a boot was. His response was, «You’ll see it when she brings it in if you choose a boot.» The concept of needing to know/​see what the choices were to make a decision was lost on Dr Kanel. Very dismissive of injury, his role in «overstatement» of diagnosis, and the impact it was having on my dtr. I sum it up with questionable diagnosis and intervention. Feel like I’m missing something but don’t know what it is because MD isn’t good at being forthcoming. Would not recommend to others. Only reason gave a 1 was so I could write the review.

This «doctor» should have his license revoked. Read my story below and you’ll see that I am not exaggerating!
My 5-​year old boy fell off the monkey bars in the park and broke his wrist. I put him in my car and drove him to Good Sam hospital in Los Gatos. We checked in the hospital around 3:00 PM. By around 4:00 PM, after my boy was tended to and the X-​ray showed that it’s broken badly, they asked me if I want a specialist to come and fix my boy’s wrist, or whether I want them to do it, and I said I want a specialist.
So they called «Dr.» Kanel, who showed up at 8:30 PM! You know, it was a Sunday and why would he ruin his Sunday for a 5 year old with a broken wrist, waiting in the hospital while nurses are giving him morphine. Three shots of morphine were given to my son before Kanel showed up!
Anyway, that’s not even why I’m writing the review. So Kanel gave my son some shots in his arm to kill the pain and numb it, and then did what is called a reduction by pulling on his arm, to straighten up the bones. While doing it, he was using a machine that showed the bones on the screen live, it’s like a live X-​ray. When he finished I saw that the bones were not completely aligned but I didn’t give it any attention, since in my mind he’s a specialist and he knows what he’s doing. They put a cast around my son’s arm and we went home.
A week later we followed up with «Dr.» Kanel in his clinic where they took an X-​ray. The bone was still not aligned and still I was not concerned. Kanel said that everything is ok.
Two weeks later we followed up again. This time they removed the cast, took an X-​ray and put a new cast. The X-​ray still shows the bones are not aligned. I asked Kanel and he said everything is fine. While putting on the new cast his assistant was trying to mold the bones with her hands by applying pressure on my son’s arm. My son was in pain and the assistant said this is the doctor’s instructions, given how complex and bad the break is. Notice, that this is three weeks after the injury, where the bone is almost fully healed. This is unheard of, molding the bone 3 weeks after the injury!
This is when I started to suspect something is wrong and decided to take a second opinion. It was probably one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I requested the X-​rays from Kanel’s office and took them to the second doctor. The second doctor, upon seeing the X-​rays said that my son needs a surgery and super soon, as the bones are almost healed and it’s hard to maneuver already. I blacked out for few seconds and for about a minute I didn’t know what to say. The second doctor seeing how baffled I was, started saying that I can decide not to do the surgery, and since he’s still a little boy the bones will get better aligned with time, and it even MIGHT go back to normal, but nothing is guaranteed. It is basically a gamble! He recommends a surgery.
I walked out of the office frustrated, undecided what to do. I emailed the X-​rays to some family members and friends and asked them if they know orthopedists they can send them to. 24 hours later, 5 orthopedists (2 of them pediatric orthopedists) had seen the X-​rays and THEY ALL SAID THAT MY SON NEEDS A SURGERY IMMEDIATELY!!!
Two days later we checked in our son into El Camino hospital in Los Gatos where the second doctor did the surgery. He had to re-​break my son’s arm, fix it, and put pins into his arm. All of this could have been avoided if Kanel had done his job properly the day of the incident.
I later on requested the original X-​rays that were taken the day of the incident from Good Sam, and showed them to the second doctor. He said if it was him who was called in to the hospital he would have done a surgery.
My son’s arm is now back to normal and the cast and pins removed, thanks to the second doctor.
I think I am not allowed to say who the second doctor is in here, but check my other positive review for an orthopedist and you’ll know who he is. He is the best doctor I’ve ever known in the US. He even gave me his own cell phone # and asked me to call him for any concerns I had.

Horrible bedside manner! He actually laughed at my questions regarding my daughters case. Office is also disorganized. Horrible place. We now make the drive to Stanford and couldn’t be happier.

First appointment my daughter had with the doctor we waited awhile. Met him, and said a few words, a quick look, and his nurse wrapped my daughters arm up. His bedside manner; he has none. Left feeling that he doesn’t care about his patients.
Follow up appointment we have been waiting 30 minutes passed our appointment time. The staff not the friendliest. I wish for a pediatric orthopedic he and his staff cared about their patients.
Never would I return to this doctor.

I think a 1 star rating is a bit generous. We went to Dr. Kanel after our newborn son was born needing surgery on his right hand. We are first time parents and were terrified of the surgery we needed to remove an extra digit on his right hand. Dr. Kanel show zero compassion toward our concerns and like the other reviews can attest to he was very rude when we asked any questions. I’m just glad he did not perform the surgery and we ended up going to Standford Children’s Hospital on the advice of our pediatrician who also finds Dr. Jeffrey Kanel to be a complete «Pig’s Ass».

I think this is my first negative review– I usually operate in life from the ‘if you don’t have something nice to say’ mindset. I am writing this waiting & waiting in the waiting room for Dr. Kanel. This is our 4^th visit here. Unfortunately he was recommended by Good Samaritan when my 10 year old his arm and I didn’t even think to check any reviews on an orthopedist.
Dr. Kanel is abrupt, arrogant and down-​right rude. The waiting room is packed. The staff disorganized. Even the staff know Dr. Kanel is a jerk. My son was wearing a Washington Husky shirt and he joked that he wouldn’t set his arm properly because of it— wtf? The next time he badgered my son because he had a Seahawk sweatshirt on. Seriously?! Grow up, mean little doctor.

Unfortunately, the negative reviews posted for Dr. Kanel are true. The extra star is for the friendly and responsive staff, who seem to know and relate to Dr. Kanel’s deficiencies. They did not say or imply anything to lead to this assessment, but I can see it in their expressions and their effort in overcompensating for his actions to ensure that our questions and needs were tended to. I am sure that Dr. Kanel is an authority in his profession, as my pediatrician recommend him who I have the utmost respect for, but his bedside manner leaves much to be desired.

My husband saw Dr Kanel for a 2^nd opinion prior to shoulder surgery. He was seen promptly at his appointed time. Dr. Kanel was extremely thorough during the physical examination and review of all supporting medical records and X-​rays. My husband left feeling well informed about his impending surgery and recovery based on the comprehensive description Dr Kanel provided.

Took my son (17) to see the doctor for some pain he was expierencing while rowing. the doctor moved his leg up and back and bent forward. 10 minutes or less total in the room, his diagnoses was pulled hamstring. ok, thats fine but he billed the insurance company 692.00 bucks. it wasnt worth the 25 dollar copay if you ask me. This tells me he is defintely not there to help people, just there to collect the insurance pay out, and everyone wonders why their rates are so high. Im going to my insurance carrier to see what I can do to dispute his charges.

Saw Dr. Kanel a few days ago for an injured ankle. I was not impressed.
After being called into room, we waited about 15 minutes to see him. I was ok with that as Friday afternoons can get backlogged.
He came in, saw my daughter for about 5 minutes and that was it. No x-​ray of her very swollen ankle. No crutches given. Just his prognosis of tendonitis and to keep using the Futuro ankle brace we already had.
Note: He was 5^th ortho we tried to schedule that day (everyone seems to do surgeries on Fridays!). We’ve seen Dr. Leo Semkiw in the past and would recommend him and his office (San Jose Sports Medicine & Orthopedics).

I only went to Dr. Kanel because my cousin referred me to him when my daughter fractured her arm. I should have Unilocaled him before going to him. When I told my daughter’s pediatrician that I wanted to see Dr. Kanel, his staff should have notified my pediatrician’s office that they had moved! I had arrived to the old address 15 min early wondering why their doors were locked? So I called and come to find out they had moved?!!
I agree with Vanetta, he did not even introduce himself, didn’t explain my daughter’s xrays, just advised to immediately put in her a cast, then left! Although Gloria the nurse was very friendly and answered all my questions.
And the staff was absolutely HORRIBLE!!! I had called 3 times requesting to have my calls returned… NOTHING!!! Very UNprofessional, especially when they had over a dozen people working/​sitting in the front office.
I would not recommend coming to this office. IF there is a next time, I will Unilocal the next orthopedic specialist to make sure to read the reviews first.

Not sure why the negative reviews on such a great doctor and staff. My son (then 9) broke his arm 18 months ago on the playground at school. We were referred to Dr. Kanel by Good Sam emergency. I called, promptly received an appointment and got in right away. Dr. Kanel was super nice, diagnosed it as a broken arm and sent in the nurses «the cast team» to put his cast on.
Fast forward to last week. On Spring week we had a bicycle catastrophe and was pretty certain we had another broken arm. Off to Good Sam to confirm — yes — broken. Now splinted and safe for the weekend, I called Dr. Kanel’s office from the Good Sam parking lot and they got him right in Monday morning.
This time we arrived to a new office (gorgeous) and waited about 15 minutes (including the time it took me to fill out the paperwork) before being led to a room. Dr. Kanel came in promptly after reviewing the X-​ray and said to my son «hey dude, you know you can just come in and say hello to me, you don’t have to break your arm to see me» :-). He was jovial, informative and efficient (just like I like my doctors).
I’d like to thank Gloria (nurse) who was WONDERFUL with my son. Taking off the splint and recasting was a little painful. She was so nice and warm and did everything she could to remove the tension by talking to him and making him smile.
A+ to Dr. Kanel and his team — — and I mean this with all respect — — I hope we never have to see you again, but if we ever break anything else, I woudn’t dream of going anywhere else to have it fixed :-)

THIS GUY IS HORRIBLE! Didn’t even introduce himself when he saunters in. He did not acknowledge my son, and goes right into saying everything is healed without explaining the x-​ray, or asking what our concerns were, in under 2 minutes. Wish I would have looked at Unilocal first.
I made the mistake of going to him after Care First Pediatrics referred him. I went to his office only because he was closer than traveling back to Lucile Packard’s Children’s Hospital, at Stanford. I will be going back there to get another opinion.
My advice, make the trip to Stanford instead, it’s worth it. The facility is state of the art, the doctors are beyond friendly and informative, not a long wait time. Here’s their link:
I’m almost tempted to call my insurance to see if a payment has to be made for such a crappy service. This joke must stay in business because local offices are referring him, but they need to do a better job of following up with patients. I’ve told my pediatrician about the horrible experience we had…

Girl at front was friendly when filling out insurance info. Lady that took us into room and doctor weren’t the friendliest people, maybe they just don’t like working with people. Doctor was quick at diagnosing but didn’t seem like he was good with kids he seemed very serious. Maybe he would be better with adults.

We waited 45 minutes in the patient room to have my 6 year olds knee looked at. The dr. bent his leg a few times and said nothing is wrong with it. Never had him stand, never measured his legs, never had him do the motion that is causing the pain. Then offered a soft support but didn’t have one his size. His nurse sent me on a wild goose chase to find one… first sending me to a place that does not accept my insurance then game me a phone number while I was driving to call… never offering to call for me, never an apology.
Not going back there.

After yet another awful experience with this guy, I finally decided to look him up on Unilocal and was not surprised reading all the reviews — unprofessionalism at its best.
When our 5 year old broke her leg, we went there for an assessment after she had a cast put on at the local hospital. Not impressed. He treated her poorly and was very unsympathetic to her needs or to the needs of us parents. Every question I asked was brushed away like we were some over-​bearing parents.
You’d think that experience would have taught us, but I guess we are gluttons for punishment. He is supposedly one of the few pediatric orthos in the area. So just recently we returned for our teenaged son’s shoulder injury. Again, same awful treatment. In fact, even my son made a comment about his treatment of him. It was a wasted visit. My son was in extreme pain, and the doc just manhandled him.
We will never go back to this guy. We have told our pediatrician’s office about his unprofessionalism, lack of any bedside manner and knowledge of care. Let’s hope they never refer another family as we told them it only reflects poorly on them.
I cringe having to pay his bill but we are done! I only hope more people read about him and don’t waste their time.

Wow… I wish I had read the filtered reviews before we went here. My son was referred here by my pediatrician’s office for a shoulder injury. The staff is just downright unpleasant. Dr. Kanel was just o.k. It was a long wait but I guess that’s become the standard. It was really hard to ignore the wailing and crying that we heard in another room by a teenager in a great deal of pain. We felt so sorry for the kid, and concerned. I could hear the doctor flatly apologize and then continue to talk to the parent while the kid continued to sob. So much for privacy.
He spent 10 minutes with us, $ 445. The doctor recommended an MRI so we got it but when I called to get the results I was told another office visit would be necessary… at another charge of course. Hmmm… let me think. You want another $ 445 to tell me the results of my son’s MRI that we paid nearly $ 1500 for and the radiologist already has? Uhhh… no thanks. I have many doctors that have ordered everything from blood tests all the way up to CAT scans, ultrasounds, and MRI’s and never has even one of them wanted to charge me for the results. Upon asking the rude staff about it… «that’s just how we do it». I asked for Dr. Kanel to call me and never heard from him. So, I called the radiologist who did the MRI and they cheerfully provided me with the MRI results and notes. The real kicker was that they also provided me with a bit of information that upset me. I was told that a simple xray would have been sufficient and typically would be the first course of action prior to an MRI. What? Dr. Kanel did not offer this as an option and I just subjected my son to painful contrast injections and a long, grueling, expensive procedure and there was an alternative?
Once I had the results I then called a different doctor (Dr.Daniel Haber) who happily and easily went over the results with me, at no charge… and we’re not even patients of his! And the results Dr. Kanel wanted to bring me back in and charge me for? None, nothing was noted on the MRI that was of concern. I could understand if there were major issues to discuss and decisions to be made perhaps that might warrant another visit but seriously? You want another $ 445 to tell me nothing? In their own words I guess that’s «just how they do it».

Dr. Kanel came rec’d to us by our Pediatrician when our 4 year old broke his elbow and the Urgent Care Dr. told us it wasn’t broken. Our Ped insisted we go to Dr. Kanel. He diagnosed a small fracture barely visible on the xray but quite painful and quite common for kids. I also recently broke my arm and he was nice enough to treat me which saved me time in finding a Dr. for myself.
So…we’ve been to his office several times. We’ve never had any issues with the Dr. or his staff. He has always been able to get us in within 3 days of calling for an appt. And while his office is always full, we’ve never had to wait more than a few minutes for our appt.
But b/​c the appts are stacked up, if its a pretty straight forward injury, Dr. Kanel is in and out of the room quickly — hello, diagnose, treatment, out.
However, my last appt. I addressed an issue unrelated to my son’s broken arm and he took the time to examine him, answer Qs and while I didn’t see him take notes, my Pediatrician later received a letter outlining our convo, the issue and suggested follow up. He definitely won me over with that.