Finding a Hand and Wrist Surgeon

Who do you trust with the health of your hands and wrist? Small as these appendages may seem in the scheme of things, they perform a wide variety of indispensible tasks in our everyday lives. In order to give yourself the best chance of preserving full functionality of the hands and wrists, finding the right surgeon is crucial. Here are a few steps to go through while you narrow down your choices:

 

 

Just opening your phonebook or starting an online search can hit you with a long, seemingly endless list of hand and wrist surgeons to choose from. Checking each and every one of these options is clearly not the best use of your time, not to mention the amount of frustration that making individual inquiry after inquiry may incur. So start small: ask your personal physician for recommendations. He or she will most likely be able to give you a short list of qualified surgeons. Your work is half done for you: you can rest assured that each one has already received the support of a doctor that you already trust.

 

 

 

Since most hand and wrist surgeries are well-covered by insurance companies, the cost of surgery itself is probably not an overwhelming factor. However, what may play a big part in your ultimate decision are the additional fees involved. If you’re deciding between a small local office and a bigger, more distant, facility, travel fees may significantly increase your personal out-of-pocket expense. Also keep in mind that while there may often be a correlation between reputation and cost, this is not in any way a rule of thumb.

 

 

In the end, the best way to protect yourself from incompetent surgeons is to do your research, and do it well. A thorough background check should form the most essential part of your surgeon search. First, look for your potential hand and wrist surgeon’s credentials. Which societies and organizations has he or she been certified by, and for how long? Most well-established organizations in the US have member directories that you can check. 

 

Second, inquire about your surgeon’s personal experience. Carpal tunnel surgery is a whole different procedure than wrist arthroscopy or finger reattachment—you want to know how much practice your surgeon has had in your specific area of interest. Ask about his or her patient history: how many operations, how recently, and how successful. One of the strongest predictors of a favorable outcome is a surgeon who has very specific, very specialized experience.

 

 

...and ask everything. No question regarding the health of your hands and wrists should be left should be left unasked. Don’t feel shy about double-guessing your surgeon if you feel uncomfortable with a procedure that he or she recommends, for example; a good surgeon will be willing to discuss the pros and cons of all options with you. There are no 100% guarantees in surgery, and any surgeon who tries to convince you otherwise should be approached with extreme skepticism. Make sure that your conversations with any potential hand and wrist surgeon are honest and direct.