A hand surgeon is an orthopedic surgeon who spent an additional fellowship year on the hand, wrist and elbow, then earned a Certificate of Added Qualification in hand surgery.
Three hand surgeons under one roof is unusual for a practice our size. It means short waits, a second opinion down the hall, and a surgeon who does your exact procedure every week.Many hand problems resolve without surgery: splinting, therapy, activity changes and injections. When surgery is the answer, most procedures are outpatient and many take less than thirty minutes.
Nerve compression at the wrist and elbow, trigger finger, thumb and finger arthritis, De Quervain tenosynovitis, Dupuytren contracture, ganglion cysts and TFCC tears.Fractures of the wrist, scaphoid, hand and fingers. Tendon, ligament and nerve injuries from cuts, sports and work. Distal biceps ruptures at the elbow. Complex upper extremity trauma and reconstruction.Congenital hand differences in children, evaluated early and corrected when it improves function.
Hand and Upper Extremity
The Surgeons
Together they hold privileges at Utah Valley Hospital, Orem Community Hospital, American Fork Hospital, Mountain View Hospital, Timpanogos Regional Hospital and Mountain Point Medical Center.
Hand surgery fellowship at UMass Chan. Office-based, wide-awake carpal tunnel release. Fifteen years in practice. Speaks German.
Hand and Upper Extremity
Procedures We Perform
Ten hand and upper extremity procedures. Scaphoid fracture repair, distal biceps repair, Dupuytren release and ganglion cyst removal are listed under Procedures.
The hand is dense with tendons, nerves and small joints, so three hand surgeons see a wide range of problems every day.
Hand and Upper Extremity
When to See Us
Any cut on the palm side of a hand or finger with numbness or weakness is a tendon or nerve injury until proven otherwise and should be seen within days.A wrist that is still tender two weeks after a fall may be a scaphoid fracture or a torn ligament, both of which are missed on first X-rays. Numbness that is now constant, or a hand losing strength, means a nerve is being damaged.Trigger fingers, cysts and arthritis can wait for a convenient appointment. Injuries should not.
Hand and Upper Extremity
Your First Visit
The hand exam is detailed: each tendon and nerve is tested individually, and rotation is checked with the fingers in a fist.X-rays are taken on site. Nerve studies and ultrasound are ordered when they would change the plan.Many treatments start the same day: a splint, an injection, or scheduling a brief office procedure.Dr. Peterson performs wide-awake carpal tunnel release in the clinic, and your surgeon will tell you at the first visit whether your procedure is a candidate.
Hand and Upper Extremity
What Is Wide-Awake Hand Surgery?
Wide-awake, local anesthesia, no tourniquet surgery, often called WALANT, numbs only the hand.No sedation, no general anesthesia, no fasting, and you can drive yourself home from the office.Dr. Peterson performs carpal tunnel release this way in the clinic for appropriate patients. You are awake, comfortable and talking, and the whole visit is usually under an hour.
It is not right for every hand condition or every patient. Your surgeon will tell you whether your procedure is a candidate at your first visit.
ContactTalk toa real person.Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.
