Hand Surgery in NYC
Castle Connolly Top Doctors with 5,000+ hand and wrist procedures. Pioneers in minimally invasive surgery for faster recovery, less pain, and superior outcomes. Same-week appointments available at our Park Avenue location.
Hand Surgery at HSSI
What Is Hand Surgery?
Hand surgery is a specialized field of medicine dedicated to treating conditions and injuries affecting the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow. The hand is one of the body’s most intricate structures—containing 27 bones, 29 joints, 123 ligaments, 34 muscles, arteries, and thousands of nerve endings—all working together to perform the precise movements we rely on every day.
Because of this complexity, hand surgery has evolved as a distinct specialty. Board-certified hand surgeons complete additional fellowship training beyond orthopedic or plastic surgery residencies, developing expertise in the unique anatomy and function of the upper extremity.
At HandSport Surgery Institute, our surgeons bring decades of specialized experience. Dr. Mark E. Pruzansky is triple board-certified in Hand Surgery, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, and Orthopaedic Surgery—credentials held by fewer than 1.4% of surgeons nationwide.
The Hand’s Complex Anatomy
- 27 bones & 29 joints — Incredible range of motion from power grip to fine manipulation
- 34 muscles — Intricate tendon pulley system to move each finger independently
- 3 major nerves — Median, ulnar, and radial nerves travel through narrow tunnels
- Delicate blood vessels — Often requiring microsurgical techniques when injured
- 123 ligaments — Stabilize joints and guide movement
Hand Conditions We Treat
HandSport Surgery Institute treats the full spectrum of hand, wrist, and upper extremity conditions—traumatic injuries, degenerative conditions, sports injuries, and congenital problems.
Nerve Compression Disorders
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the median nerve at the wrist, causing numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand. We’ve performed over 5,000 carpal tunnel releases, endoscopically.
Learn more →Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Ulnar nerve compression at the elbow, causing numbness in the ring and small fingers, weakness, and sometimes elbow pain.
Learn more →Trigger Finger
Catching or locking of fingers due to tendon inflammation. Often responds to injection but may require release surgery.
Learn more →Guyon’s Canal Syndrome
Ulnar nerve compression at the wrist, often seen in cyclists and those who use vibrating tools.
Learn more →Fractures and Traumatic Injuries
Hand & Finger Fractures
Broken bones in the metacarpals (hand) or phalanges (fingers), often from falls, sports, or workplace accidents.
Wrist Fractures
Distal radius, scaphoid, and other carpal bone fractures requiring precise alignment for optimal healing.
Tendon Injuries
Lacerations or ruptures of flexor or extensor tendons requiring meticulous surgical repair.
Ligament Injuries
Sprains and tears affecting joint stability, including thumb UCL tears (gamekeeper’s/skier’s thumb).
Nerve Lacerations
Cut nerves requiring microsurgical repair or reconstruction for recovery of sensation and function.
Arthritis and Degenerative Conditions
Thumb Basal Joint Arthritis
Wear of the carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb, causing pain with pinching and gripping.
Learn more →Finger Arthritis
Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis affecting finger joints, causing pain, swelling, and deformity.
Wrist Arthritis
Degenerative changes in the wrist from prior injury (SLAC/SNAC wrist), osteo or systemic arthritis.
Dupuytren’s Contracture
Progressive thickening of tissue in the palm that pulls fingers into a bent position.
Sports Injuries
Jersey Finger
Flexor tendon avulsion from forceful finger extension during gripping (common in football).
Mallet Finger
Extensor tendon injury causing inability to straighten the fingertip.
Boxer’s Fracture
Metacarpal neck fracture from punching, common in contact sports and altercations.
Scaphoid Fractures
Wrist bone fractures from falls on outstretched hands—often missed on initial X-rays.
UCL Injuries
Thumb ligament tears from ski poles, contact sports, or falls.
TFCC Tears
Wrist cartilage injuries causing ulnar-sided wrist pain, common in falls, contact sports, and gymnastics.
Tumors and Masses
Ganglion Cysts: Fluid-filled sacs arising from joints or tendon sheaths—the most common hand mass. Giant Cell Tumors: Benign but locally aggressive tumors of the tendon sheath. Other Masses: Lipomas, inclusion cysts, and rarely, malignant tumors requiring specialized evaluation.
Learn more →Congenital and Pediatric Conditions
Syndactyly: Webbed or fused fingers present at birth. Polydactyly: Extra fingers requiring surgical management. Trigger Thumb in Children: Pediatric trigger thumb that often requires release for normal development.
Types of Hand Surgery
Our surgeons are proficient in all modern hand surgery techniques, selecting the optimal approach for each patient’s specific situation.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
HandSport Surgery Institute is one of the country’s leading practices for minimally invasive hand surgery. These techniques use smaller incisions, specialized instruments, and often cameras or arthroscopes to perform surgery with less tissue disruption.
Benefits: Smaller incisions and minimal scarring, less post-operative pain, faster recovery, reduced risk of complications, often performed as outpatient procedures, less anesthesia (usually regional or local).
Includes endoscopic carpal tunnel release, arthroscopic wrist surgery, trigger finger release through small incisions, and percutaneous fracture fixation.
Arthroscopic Surgery
Arthroscopy uses a pencil-thin camera inserted through small incisions to visualize and treat problems inside joints. We perform arthroscopic surgery of the wrist, elbow, and small joints of the hand.
Common procedures: Wrist arthroscopy for TFCC tears, ligament injuries, and cartilage problems; ganglion cyst excision; removal of loose bodies; synovectomy for inflammatory arthritis; diagnostic arthroscopy when imaging is inconclusive.
Microsurgery
Microsurgery uses specialized microscopes and instruments to operate on small structures—typically blood vessels and nerves less than 1–2 millimeters in diameter.
Procedures include: Nerve repair and reconstruction, nerve grafting using autografts, allografts, or conduits, and nerve transfers from healthy donor nerves. Dr. Pruzansky’s microsurgical expertise allows us to treat complex nerve injuries and restore sensation and function.
Revision Surgery
Some conditions require reoperation due to complexity, reinjury, or prior disappointing results. Revision surgery demands special expertise and understanding what is needed.
We see many patients whose prior surgeries (performed elsewhere) fell short of expectations. Our experience with revision carpal tunnel release, failed fracture fixations, tendon reconstruction, and complex nerve repairs allows us to generally help patients who have run out of options.
Joint Replacement (Arthroplasty)
When arthritis destroys a joint beyond repair, joint replacement can restore function and relieve pain. Unlike hip and knee replacements, hand joint replacements are highly specialized procedures.
Common replacements: Thumb CMC tendon arthroplasty for basal joint arthritis, finger joint replacement for severe arthritis, wrist replacement or fusion for end-stage wrist arthritis. Silicone or pyrocarbon implants depending on patient needs.
Fracture Fixation
When bones are broken, displaced, or misaligned, surgical fixation restores proper alignment and allows healing. Modern techniques often allow earlier movement and faster return to function.
Methods: Percutaneous pinning through small incisions, plate and screw fixation for unstable fractures, external fixation and bridge plating for severely comminuted fractures, bone grafting for non-unions or bone loss.
Tendon Surgery
Tendons connect muscles to bones and are essential for hand movement. Injuries require precise repair to restore function.
Procedures include: Primary tendon repair for acute lacerations and ruptures, tendon grafting when direct repair isn’t possible, tenolysis to release scar adhesions, tendon transfers to restore lost function, and trigger finger release.
The HandSport Surgery Institute Approach
Kinetic Chain Philosophy
We don’t just look at your hand in isolation. Many hand problems originate from or are affected by conditions in the wrist, elbow, shoulder, or even neck. Our kinetic chain approach evaluates the entire upper extremity to identify root causes that others may overlook. For example, a patient with hand numbness might actually have cervical radiculopathy, thoracic outlet syndrome, or double crush syndrome—not just carpal tunnel. Treating the wrong condition leads to a disappointing outcome. Our comprehensive evaluation prevents this.
Conservative Treatment First
Dr. Pruzansky emphasizes non-operative treatment whenever possible. Many hand conditions respond well to splinting, therapy, injections, or activity modification. We generally do not recommend surgery as a first option when conservative care has a reasonable chance of success. When surgery is needed, we thoroughly discuss the options with the patient and listen to what they have to say during the decision making process. Our patients know that if we recommend an operation, it’s because we’ve determined it offers the best chance of restoring function—not because we skipped the non-surgical options.
Personal, Unhurried Care
Your surgeon—Dr. Mark Pruzansky or Dr. Jason Pruzansky—personally sees you at every visit. They perform every procedure, and supervise your rehabilitation. You won’t be handed off to physician assistants or nurse practitioners for your care. Initial consultations last 30–45 minutes or more because we take time to understand your condition, answer your questions, and explain all options. We don’t rush.
Rapid Rehabilitation
Our Rapid Rehabilitation philosophy maximizes recovery in the shortest safe time using the newest techniques. This includes early mobilization when appropriate, sport-specific exercise progression, and close coordination with hand therapists. Dr. Pruzansky directly supervises exercise and splinting programs, personally evaluating each patient’s progress and adjusting their rehabilitation. This hands-on approach produces faster, more complete recoveries.
On-Site Imaging
Digital X-ray in our office means diagnosis during your visit—results are available in minutes rather than going to a different location. When you need imaging, we take it, review it with you, and make treatment decisions together, all in one appointment.
What to Expect: Hand Surgery at HSSI
Consultation and Diagnosis
Thorough review of symptoms, medical history, and prior treatments. Dr. Pruzansky examines your hand, wrist, and upper extremity. On-site X-rays if needed. Clear explanation of your diagnosis and all treatment options. Most patients leave with a treatment plan.
Treatment Decision
For conditions that may improve without surgery, we start with conservative treatment and monitor progress. When surgery is recommended, we explain the procedure in detail and handle insurance verification and prior authorization.
Surgery
Most procedures are outpatient at Surgicare of Manhattan and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital (part of Lenox Hill Hospital). Some complex surgeries at Lenox Hill and Mount Sinai. Anesthesia options include local with sedation, regional block, or general. Procedure times range from 10 minutes to several hours.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
Detailed written instructions provided. Follow-up visits to monitor healing, remove sutures, adjust splints, and progress rehabilitation. Dr. Pruzansky personally supervises your recovery. Hand therapy coordinated with occupational therapists when needed.
Return to Activities
Our goal: full function. Whether exercising, playing piano, swinging a golf club, or carrying groceries without pain. We clear you based on objective healing milestones. Sport-specific and work-hardening programs incorporated as appropriate.
Hand Surgery Recovery: What to Expect
Minimally Invasive
Fracture Surgery
Soft Tissue
Joint Procedures
Hand Surgery Cost and Insurance
Insurance We Accept
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- United Healthcare
- Medicare
- Oxford, Empire, Emblem Health
- Workers’ Compensation & No-Fault
- Many other commercial plans
Staff verifies coverage before your appointment. Prior authorization handled. Self-pay pricing available—call 212-249-8700.
Understanding Costs
- Surgeon’s fee: Professional fee for performing the surgery
- Facility fee: Hospital or surgery center charges
- Anesthesia fee: Anesthesia services
- Pre/post-op care: Consultations, imaging, follow-up beyond 3 months
For insured patients, out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan’s structure. Many patients schedule to meet their deductible to minimize expenses. We also treat work-related injuries under Workers’ Compensation and motor vehicle injuries under No-Fault insurance.
Why Choose HandSport Surgery Institute?
- Castle Connolly Top Doctors: Both Dr. Mark Pruzansky and Dr. Jason Pruzansky have been named Castle Connolly Top Doctors—a recognition based on peer nomination and research, not advertising or self-promotion. Dr. Mark Pruzansky ranks in the top 1.4% of hand surgeons nationally.
- Triple Board Certification: Dr. Mark Pruzansky holds board certifications in Hand Surgery, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, and Orthopaedic Surgery—credentials held by fewer than 1.4% of surgeons. This breadth of expertise benefits every patient, whether the problem is arthritis, trauma, or sports injury.
- 5,000+ Procedures: Volume matters in surgery. Research consistently shows that higher-volume surgeons achieve better outcomes with fewer complications. With well over 5,000 hand and wrist procedures performed, our experience encompasses almost every variation and complexity.
- Pioneers in Minimally Invasive Surgery: Dr. Mark Pruzansky is recognized as a pioneer in minimally invasive hand surgery. Our patients benefit from smaller incisions, less pain, and faster recovery compared to traditional open techniques.
- Academic Excellence: Dr. Jason Pruzansky serves on the faculty at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, training the next generation of hand surgeons. This academic involvement keeps our practice at the forefront of advances in hand surgery.
- Personalized Care: We’re a physician-owned private practice, not a hospital-employed group or private equity roll-up. Your surgeon knows you, answers your calls, and is invested in your outcome. The relationship matters.
- Convenient Manhattan Location: Our Park Avenue office at 83rd Street is accessible by subway (4/5/6 to 86th Street), bus, and car. On-site digital X-ray during your visit means fewer separate appointments and faster care.
Meet Our Hand Surgeons
Mark E. Pruzansky, MD
A pioneer in hand and upper extremity surgery with over 30 years of experience. Triple board-certified in Hand Surgery, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, and Orthopaedic Surgery. Over 5,000 endoscopic carpal tunnel releases performed. Named Castle Connolly Top Doctor and featured in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Doctors” issue.
View Full Profile →Jason S. Pruzansky, MD
Board-certified in orthopedic surgery with subspecialty certification in hand surgery. Serves on the faculty at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Recognized as a NY Super Doctor based on peer nomination. Specializes in complex reconstructive surgery, sports injuries, and traumatic hand injuries.
View Full Profile →What Our Patients Say
"I recommend Dr. Pruzansky as the premier hand specialist for musicians. He is the person I trust and consult regarding any matters concerning hands."
"I cannot speak more highly about my experience with Dr. Mark Pruzansky. He saw me the same day as my fall, operated on my elbow the very next morning."
"Dr. Pruzansky is the best doctor/orthopedist I’ve ever been to. He fixes issues that other doctors don’t even know how to diagnose."
"After seeing several doctors for chronic wrist pain with no answers, Dr. Pruzansky diagnosed the problem in my first visit and recommended treatment that finally worked."
"Very professional and helpful office. Dr. Pruzansky provided everything I needed for my procedure, followed up and is guiding me through all I can do to heal."