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What Is Hand Surgery?

First posted December 20, 2003 Last Updated June 28, 2011

Many people have never heard of a Hand Surgeon!

As a scientist and surgeon who has devoted his life to studying the hand, wrist, and forearm, I am always quite surprised to hear a patient say, "I have never heard of a hand surgeon! What do you do?"

Our hands serve many purposes. Hands help us eat, dress, write, earn a living, create art, and do many other activities. To do these activities, our hands require sensation and movement, such as joint motion, tendon gliding, and muscle contraction. Nerves have to fire, skin has to bend, bones have to be strong, fingernails have to help us pick up small objects.

What I do is help you return your arm to normal function as fast as possible. I have had many years of specialized training in medicine, then five years in orthopedics, then two years specialized full-time research in tendons in the hand, followed by a year of advanced training in hand surgery (called a fellowship). Along the way, I have had to pass rigorous exams in medicine, orthopedics, and finally in hand surgery. I have passed recertification exams in hand surgery.

There is no other physician or health care provider who has had the specialized training
and passed the rigorous exams that a true hand surgeon has.

I am not only Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery, I have passed a Board Examination and therefore hold a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hand Surgery. I devote my entire career to taking care of only hands: I do not do cosmetic surgery, backs, etc. I only do hands. I am a true hand surgeon.

Would you like to search the medical library of the National Library Medicine for scientific papers on this topic? Just click on

Remember the admonition from the Patient Education Links Page: the Internet has a lot of information, much of it incorrect. I have reviewed the sites that I have linked to, and have only linked to sites when I personally know the surgeon who posted it, or am a member of the organization that posted it. However, I may not agree with all that is on that site, and it may have changed since I reviewed it. If any of the information is not consistent with what I have told you, please download the material and bring it in.