Hand and Upper Extremity Surgeon
The field of hand surgery deals with both non-surgical and surgical treatment of problems and issues that may take place in the hand or upper extremity. Most hand surgeons (also known as upper extremity surgeons) treat problems from the tip of the hand to the shoulder.
Plastic surgeons and orthopedic surgeons receive significant training in hand surgery during their residency training, with some graduates continuing on to do an additional one year hand fellowship. Board certified general, plastic, or orthopedics surgeons who have completed approved fellowship training in hand surgery and have met a number of other practice requirements are qualified to take the "Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand" examination, commonly referred to as the "CAQSH."
Whichever was their original field of training once having completed an approved fellowship in hand surgery, all hand surgeons have received training in treating all injuries both to the bones and soft tissues of the hand and upper extremity. Hand surgeons are trained to reconstruct all aspects to salvage the appendage: tendons, muscle, bone and handle complex fractures of the hand and injuries to the carpal bones that alter the mechanics of the wrist.