Hand, Wrist & Elbow Surgery

Hand, Wrist & Elbow Surgery at UVM Health

Your hands and arms are important for almost everything you do. When you need surgery, you want a doctor you can trust for excellent care. At University of Vermont Health, you have access to the region’s leading hand and upper extremity surgeons.

We treat more patients than any other health system in Vermont and northern New York. Our exclusive focus on hand and upper extremity surgery means we have the skills and expertise to offer you the most advanced treatments for complex needs.

Close-up of a medical provider checking the hands of a patient.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As one of the leading orthopedic programs in the region, we offer:

Full range of treatments: We provide a full range of treatment options, from routine procedures to complex reconstructive surgeries. These include multiple advanced options, including nerve repair, skin grafting, pediatric upper extremity surgery and replantation of severed digits or hands.
Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physician-leaders are active researchers, many of whom are training the next generation of experts. We are at the forefront of upper extremity orthopedic care, publishing research and presenting at national meetings. We constantly improve our care by tracking outcomes and offering the most advanced treatments.
Team approach: We recognize that therapy after hand surgery is crucial to a good outcome. Our surgeons work closely with certified hand therapists who help you restore function and decrease pain. At UVM Health, you have access to the largest hand therapy team in Vermont and northern New York.

Conditions We Treat

Many chronic conditions and injuries require hand, wrist or elbow surgery. We treat a wide variety of conditions affecting your upper extremities, including:

Arthritis: The strong, protective covering between your bones (cartilage) wears away, causing friction and pain. Arthritis of the thumb, hand, wrist or elbow can be caused by an injury or an inflammatory disease.
Bicep and triceps tendon tear: The thick tissue that attaches muscles to bones (tendons) tears, usually as the result of a traumatic injury. A tendon may tear at your bicep (the muscle on the front of your upper arm) or the triceps (the muscle on the back of your upper arm).
Carpal tunnel syndrome: The median nerve, one of the major hand nerves running through the wrist, becomes compressed.
Cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve entrapment): The ulnar nerve, a long nerve running from your shoulder to your wrist, becomes compressed at the elbow joint.
Dupuytren’s contracture: The fascia, a layer of tissue beneath the skin, thickens at the base of your fingers, causing your fingers to bend toward the palm.
Fractures: A bone may break or crack, usually as the result of a traumatic injury. You may experience a distal radius fracture, a wrist fracture in the forearm bone closest to the thumb.
Ligament injuries: The bands of tissue that connect your bones to one another (ligaments) may stretch or tear.
Nerve compression problems: Any of the nerves in your hand, wrist or elbow may get squeezed or pinched.
Tendonitis: Your tendons become inflamed.
Trigger finger: Inflammation and thickening occur in the tendons that help you flex your thumb and forefinger. This causes locking or catching sensations when you bend and straighten your finger.

Types of Hand, Wrist & Elbow Surgeries

Our experienced hand surgeons perform the entire range of upper extremity procedures. Specialized techniques and surgeries we offer include:

Arthroscopy

We make tiny incisions, then use a camera and special surgical instruments to access your elbow, wrist or hand. We may use arthroscopy to clean out loose cartilage or bone, repair tendon or ligament injuries, or diagnose conditions.

Complex Reconstructive Surgery

Reconstructive surgeries are complex operations to repair your bones, tissues and nerves. You may need reconstruction if you have an acute or chronic traumatic injury, amputation, burn or congenital deformity. Our surgeons are the most experienced and skilled in reconstructive procedures in the region.

Joint Replacement

We replace a severely damaged finger, wrist or elbow joint with artificial parts. This may be a treatment for severe cases of arthritis. Sometimes, we offer elbow replacement as a treatment for older patients with elbow fractures.

Microsurgery

Microsurgery is a technique that uses a microscope to reveal great detail during a tissue transfer from one part of your body to another. We use microsurgery to repair damaged blood vessels, nerves and tendons in your hand, wrist or elbow.

Nerve Repair

We offer nerve repair for severely damaged or severed nerves. Surgeons may use direct nerve repair to bring nerve ends back together. Nerve grafts can replace a damaged nerve with a piece of nerve from elsewhere in the body. In some cases, surgeons may use nerve transfers — connecting a healthy nerve to a damaged nerve and restoring function as the nerve fibers grow.

Skin Graft

A skin graft may treat severe wounds, burns or areas where tissue has become extensively damaged due to infection. We use advanced techniques, including flap surgery, to transplant healthy skin from another part of the body to repair the damaged area.

Hand, Wrist & Elbow Surgery