Your Orthopaedic Connection: What is a Hand Surgeon?

What is a Hand Surgeon?

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. When a problem takes place in the hand, care must be given to all the different types of tissues that make function of the hand possible.

What do hand surgeons do?

This drawing was made from a photograph taken in 1946 of two founding members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Sterling Bunnell, MD, and J. William Littler, MD, are examining the hand of a patient.

Hand surgery is the field of medicine that deals with problems of the hand, wrist, and forearm. Hand surgeons care for these problems with and without surgery. They are specially trained to operate when necessary. Many hand surgeons are also experts in diagnosing and caring for shoulder and elbow problems.

Hand surgeons are orthopaedic, plastic, or general surgeons who have additional training in surgery of the hand. To become members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, hand surgeons must take a full year of additional training and must pass a rigorous certifying examination.

Some hand surgeons treat only children, some treat only adults, and some treat both. Because many hand surgeons devote most of their time to examining, treating and studying the hand, they are specialists in hand care.

Why visit a hand surgeon?

When a problem takes place in the hand, care must be given to all the different types of tissues that make function of the hand possible.

Not every visit to a hand surgeon results in hand surgery.

Hand surgeons often recommend non-surgical treatment options to assist you. Sometimes, they may refer you to a hand therapist for more treatment.

Hand surgeons are specialists in hand care.

If you have pain in your fingers, hand, wrist or arm, or have other upper-extremity related concerns, you may want to consult a hand surgeon.

Examples of conditions treated by a hand surgeon are:

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Wrist pain
Cuts on the fingers and hand
Sports injuries to the hand and wrist
Creating fingers from toes and other joints

The mission of American Society for Surgery of the Hand is to advance the science and practice of hand surgery through education, research and advocacy on behalf of patients and practitioners.

6300 North River Road, Suite 600
Rosemont, IL 60018-4256
Phone : 847.384.8300
Fax: 847.384.1435
E-mail : info@hand-surg.org

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Last reviewed and updated: October 2007

Co-developed with the American Society for Surgery of the Hand

AAOS does not review or endorse accuracy or effectiveness of materials, treatments or physicians.

Your Orthopaedic Connection
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
6300 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: 847.823.7186
Email: orthoinfo@aaos.org