What is a hand surgeon?
Our hands serve many purposes. Hands help us eat, dress, write, earn a living, play sports, create art, and do many other activities.
To function, our hands require sensation, strength, and motion. When a hand is injured or otherwise dysfunctional, care must be given to all the different types of tissues that make function of the hand possible.
Hand surgeons are orthopedic, plastic, or general surgeons who dedicate a substantial portion of their practice to treatment of the hand and upper extremity. Many hand surgeons treat conditions of the fingers, hands, wrists, forearms, and elbows.
What special training do hand surgeons receive?
Hand surgery is a dedicated subspecialty for orthopedic, plastic, and general surgeons. This means that true hand surgeons:
- Complete at least 1 full year of specialized training in hand surgery after their initial 5- to 7-year residency.
- Dedicate a substantial portion of their practice to conditions of the hand and upper extremity (often, at least 70%).
- Receive certification in surgery of the hand through their appropriate medical board. In the case of orthopedic surgeons, the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) certifies hand surgeons. According to ABOS, "The Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopedic Surgery of the Hand is for board-certified orthopedic surgeons who have demonstrated qualifications in hand surgery beyond those expected of other orthopedic surgeons by virtue of additional training and a practice characterized by volume and diversity of cases in hand surgery, or have made significant contributions in this field."
Why visit a hand surgeon?
If you have pain in your fingers, hand, wrist, elbow, or arm, or have other upper-extremity related concerns (see list above), you may want to consult a hand surgeon. Because many hand surgeons devote most of their time to examining, treating, and studying the hand, they are specialists in hand care.
