Hand Surgeons: Expertise, Procedures & When to See One

A hand surgeon is an orthopedic or plastic surgeon with fellowship training in hand and upper extremity surgery. They treat conditions from fingertips to shoulder.

Common Procedures

• Carpal tunnel release (open/endoscopic)
• Tendon repair/reconstruction (flexor/extensor)
• Nerve repair/decompression (median, ulnar, radial)
• Fracture fixation (hand, wrist, forearm)
• Arthroscopy (wrist, thumb base)
• Joint replacement/fusion (arthritis)
• Dupuytren's contracture release
• Trigger finger release
• Mass/tumor excision (ganglion, lipoma, nerve sheath)
• Replantation/revascularization
• Congenital anomaly correction
• Skin grafts/flaps

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Hand surgeons work with:

• Hand therapists (OT/PT) for rehabilitation
• Pain management specialists
• Neurologists (nerve studies)
• Rheumatologists (inflammatory conditions)
• Prosthetists (amputation cases)

When to Consult

• Hand/wrist pain, numbness, weakness persisting >2 weeks
• Trauma: fractures, lacerations, crush injuries, amputations
• Progressive deformity or functional loss
• Failed conservative treatment for chronic conditions

Early specialist evaluation often improves outcomes for complex hand conditions.