Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery

If you're experiencing pain in your hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder, even everyday tasks like brushing your teeth can be difficult.

Our interdisciplinary team includes specialists such as general surgeons, reconstructive surgeons, board-certified orthopedists and plastic surgeons who have also received advanced fellowship training and are dedicated to the care and treatment of the broad range of conditions that can affect your hands or upper extremities. We also provide nonsurgical treatments.

Hand and upper extremity surgery incorporates the most advanced surgical techniques, including highly complex reconstructive procedures, such as joint replacements in the elbow and shoulder and microsurgical nerve reconstructions.

Our team addresses diverse needs in hand and upper extremity conditions, striving to reduce pain, build strength and increase function through a complete range of treatments and surgeries.

Hand and upper extremity surgery can help those who suffer from:

• Arthritis of the hand and wrist
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic or degenerative conditions, such as arthritis, bursitis or tendonitis
• Common wear-and-tear conditions brought on by aging or overuse
• De Quervain syndrome
• Dupuytren’s disease
• Fractures and tendon injuries to the hand and upper extremity
• Ganglion cysts and hand tumors
• Hand, wrist and upper extremity injury
• Injuries to the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow and shoulder
• Joint replacement
• Nerve palsy
• Raynaud’s disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sports-related injuries, including those to pitchers and other throwing athletes
• Tendonitis
• Thumb pain
• Trigger finger

From amputation and partial amputation to other complex traumas, our surgeons bring deep experience to restore hand and upper extremity function as well as appearance while optimizing quality of life.

In addition to providing rapid response to emergent needs, our physicians address elective surgical interventions ranging from carpal tunnel release to joint replacement to nerve reconstruction and more.

As a national leader in hand and upper extremity care and nerve reconstruction, we are a healthcare destination for elective surgical intervention. We do not require referrals, though we are happy to accept them if patients need them for insurance coverage. We welcome secondary consultations.

Your doctor will only recommend surgery if the potential for quality of life improvements outweigh the potential risks. Risks associated with hand and upper extremity surgery are similar to those of other major surgery, including bleeding, blood clots, delayed healing or infection. If the desired results are not achieved, additional procedures may be required in some cases.

The specifics of your surgery will vary depending on the condition being treated. Your doctor will give you detailed information on what to expect before, during and after your procedure.

Common hand, wrist and upper extremity procedures we perform include:

• Arthroscopy – wrist, elbow, shoulder
• Carpal tunnel release
• Elbow reconstruction
• Free tissue transfer
• Joint aspiration and injection
• Nerve decompression
• Nerve repair
• Reconstructive surgery
• Replantation
• Rotator cuff repair
• Shoulder reconstruction
• Wide-awake hand surgery

Following your surgery, our expert and experienced hand therapists greatly improve recovery. Our hand therapists hold advanced certifications and have many years of experience treating a variety of common and complex hand conditions.

The University of Kansas Health System offers some of the nation’s leading experts in complex and delicate surgical procedures for the hand and upper extremities. Our Kansas City plastic surgeons and orthopedic surgeons have completed the highest levels of specialty training and have experience second to none.

Our advanced specialists are board-certified and have completed fellowships – the most advanced medical training – earning certificates of added qualifications (CAQ) for hand surgery. As part of the multidisciplinary care team at our Level I Trauma Center – the only 1 in our region as verified by the American College of Surgeons – these physicians stand ready to provide advanced care for the most traumatic cases.