What is a Hand Surgeon?
Many patients tell me, "Doc, I need my hands!" I'm glad they feel this way, because hands are my specialty and my passion.
The term or job description "hand surgeon" means much more than just "a doctor who does surgery on hands".
In fact, this field of surgery has changed a lot over the past 60 years or so since it has evolved into a subspecialty practice area.
Many of the first hand surgeons were general surgeons (performing all kinds of surgery) and orthopaedic surgeons.
Hand surgery was first recognized as a separate specialty area of surgery after thousands of patients were treated in World War II for hand injuries sustained in combat.
Today, a surgeon calling himself a "hand surgeon" may be an orthopaedic, plastic, or general surgeon.
These three areas of surgery have their own organizations, their own certifying specialty boards, and surgeons practice differently even within their own specialties.
For example, some general surgeons who treat hands may also operate on gall bladders.
Some plastic surgeons who treat hands may have a large cosmetic surgery practice.
Today, most surgeons trained in hand surgery fellowships (an extra year of training in hand surgery) treat conditions affecting the fingertips to the shoulder.
The professional organization for hand surgeons, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) also administers a test, called the Certificate of Added Qualification.
Passing this exam is required for full membership in the ASSH.
However, there are other levels of membership that do not require passing the exam.
A patient with a stiff finger once told me about her injury to that finger, which happened many years ago.
She said her family doctor told her, "well, you just have to let it heal - there's nothing they can do for a finger".
Fortunately, that statement hasn't been true for 60 years.
We treat fingers and much more.
Not every patient with a hand, wrist or elbow problem requires surgery.
Hand specialists also recommend non-surgical treatments like splinting, therapy, injections, and other treatments that may relieve symptoms or even cure the problem.
Picking a hand surgeon is like picking any other doctor.
Experience, passion, and a good reputation are all factors in the decision.
No one wants to deal with a complex hand, wrist, or elbow problem, but if you have one of these hand specialists in your area, take advantage of their expertise! Find out if there is a hand surgeon practicing near you by doing a Google search for hand surgeon, city, state, where you plug in your own city and state in Google's search box.
The term or job description "hand surgeon" means much more than just "a doctor who does surgery on hands".
In fact, this field of surgery has changed a lot over the past 60 years or so since it has evolved into a subspecialty practice area.
Many of the first hand surgeons were general surgeons (performing all kinds of surgery) and orthopaedic surgeons.
Hand surgery was first recognized as a separate specialty area of surgery after thousands of patients were treated in World War II for hand injuries sustained in combat.
Today, a surgeon calling himself a "hand surgeon" may be an orthopaedic, plastic, or general surgeon.
These three areas of surgery have their own organizations, their own certifying specialty boards, and surgeons practice differently even within their own specialties.
For example, some general surgeons who treat hands may also operate on gall bladders.
Some plastic surgeons who treat hands may have a large cosmetic surgery practice.
Today, most surgeons trained in hand surgery fellowships (an extra year of training in hand surgery) treat conditions affecting the fingertips to the shoulder.
The professional organization for hand surgeons, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) also administers a test, called the Certificate of Added Qualification.
Passing this exam is required for full membership in the ASSH.
However, there are other levels of membership that do not require passing the exam.
A patient with a stiff finger once told me about her injury to that finger, which happened many years ago.
She said her family doctor told her, "well, you just have to let it heal - there's nothing they can do for a finger".
Fortunately, that statement hasn't been true for 60 years.
We treat fingers and much more.
Not every patient with a hand, wrist or elbow problem requires surgery.
Hand specialists also recommend non-surgical treatments like splinting, therapy, injections, and other treatments that may relieve symptoms or even cure the problem.
Picking a hand surgeon is like picking any other doctor.
Experience, passion, and a good reputation are all factors in the decision.
No one wants to deal with a complex hand, wrist, or elbow problem, but if you have one of these hand specialists in your area, take advantage of their expertise! Find out if there is a hand surgeon practicing near you by doing a Google search for hand surgeon, city, state, where you plug in your own city and state in Google's search box.