On the injury, Brunson said: “I just knew that the opportunity rarely presents itself, you know, to be in a position like that. So I just wasn’t going to let something that seemed minor take me out. So, just whatever needed to be done, just focus on it afterwards.”

Brunson said his wrist would remain in a cast for roughly six more weeks before rehab begins, with a target of being ready by September. That timeline lines up well with training camp and preseason action in October, meaning New York’s title defense shouldn’t be disrupted.

Read the full article at heavy.com.

In a social media update to his Instagram story, Tiafoe credited Dr. Carlson and the HSS team for successfully diagnosing and treating the condition: “Big S/O to Dr. Michelle Carlson and the Hospital for Special Surgery team. They were able to diagnose and take out a cyst that has been causing some issues for some time now. Everything went well and I appreciate all of the messages and support. I'll be back soon.” 

Read the full article at tennisuptodate.com. The story can also be found on Yardbarker, Yahoo! Sports, MSN, motorcyclesports.net, Tennis Temple, Tennis Head, Tennis World USA, Daily Express, Pro Football & Sports Network and Essentially Sports.

Brunson scored 45 points in an epic Game 5 performance against the Spurs in the NBA Finals to seal the Knicks' first title since 1973.

Read the full article at nypost.com.

Special thanks to dinner co-chairs Dan Benton & Stephanie March, Jamie Dinan & Elizabeth Miller, and Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch. 

Read the full article at newyorksocialdiary.com.

Dr. Hotchkiss is a hand and upper extremity surgeon, and he served as the inaugural Joel and Anne Bick Ehrenkranz Chair in Hand and Upper Extremity Research and Director of Clinical Research at HSS. His career has spanned more than four decades, and he has helped shape modern approaches to complex elbow trauma, instability, stiffness, and reconstructive cases.

Read the full article at beckersspine.com. 

“I’ve identified many problems that using a phone can cause,” shared Dr. Maroldi. Having two cellphones, he said, “increases the risk for faulty mechanics, bad ergonomics. And I think it overemphasizes some of our overuse patterns.” The most common conditions he sees from cellphone overuse are tendinitis, trigger fingers and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Read the full article at nytimes.com. A subscription is required to access.

The part of the thumb most likely to develop osteoarthritis is the joint at the base of the thumb, where it joins the wrist, which is called the basal joint or the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. (A joint is a place where two or more bones meet, in this case metacarpal bone of the thumb and the trapezium bone of the wrist). Your doctor can diagnose this kind of arthritis by evaluating symptoms, which is often the first step.

When a patient says, “It hurts to open a jar or it hurts to turn a door [knob] or I feel like my hand is weak when I’m pinching things,” that’s “classic CMC arthritis,” said Dr. Barr. Other signs can include swelling at the base of the thumb, a bony bump over the joint and limited thumb movement, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 

Read the full article at aarp.org. 

“New Jersey Devils C Jack Hughes underwent successful surgery on his finger. The procedure was performed by Robert N. Hotchkiss, MD, hand and upper extremity surgeon at HSS. The expected return to play timeline is eight weeks and he will be re-evaluated at the six-week mark.”

Read the full article at NHL.com. 

How often you call on your grip strength during your average day? Each time you lift a bag of groceries, pull a weed or turn a key in a lock, you’re relying on muscles in your hands and forearms to work in coordination.

“A lot of these things require more strength than you may really notice until you start to lose it,” said Dr. Maroldi. 

A strong grip is linked to longevity and well-being, while a weak grip often accompanies heart disease, cognitive decline and even some types of cancer. Bringing grip-focused moves in your routine may improve your quality of life by helping everyday tasks feel easier.

And squeezing a stress ball isn’t the best way to do it, experts said. Repeatedly clenching your hand can worsen or even cause issues like carpal tunnel, trigger finger or tendinitis, Dr. Maroldi said. Instead, work the whole muscle chain that supports your grip: hands, wrists and shoulders.

Read the full article at nytimes.com.

Miller, the No. 2 pick in last year's NBA draft, tore the scapholunate ligament in his wrist during the team's 117-112 win over the Utah Jazz on Jan. 15. At the time, the Hornets said he would be out indefinitely.

The surgery was performed by Michelle G. Carlson, MD, hand and upper extremity surgeon at HSS. 

Read the full article at espn.com. 

The 26-year-old likely will not return in 2024 post-surgery, which will cost both the player and organization meaningful games down the stretch.

"The majority of thumb fractures do not require surgery," said John Dowdle, MD, hand and upper extremity surgeon at HSS. "When surgery is indicated, there is typically greater fracture displacement, instability, or involvement of the joint surface of the bone. Surgery allows accurate fracture alignment and fixation, so the bone heals in proper position which minimizes the risk of post-traumatic arthritis and deformity.

“Thumb fractures treated surgically typically take six weeks to heal before resuming normal activities. Sometimes a protective splint is needed for high-risk activities for a bit longer. Occasionally there is some mild stiffness after healing, but it rarely interferes with activities including sports and he should certainly be ready for spring training,” Dr. Dowdle continued. 

Read the full article at si.com. 

Additional coverage: 

MSN.com.

Yardbarker.com. 

Michelle G. Carlson, MD, hand and upper extremity surgeon at HSS performed an open reduction and internal fixation procedure.

Read the full article at wings.wnba.com. 

“I’ve seen injuries from metal rings that have caused people to lose function from nerve damage, soft tissue injuries and fractures that require surgery,” said Nick Maroldi PT, DPT, OCS, CHT, certified hand therapist at HSS. “You can lose your whole finger.”

That’s why Maroldi went with silicone when he got married six years ago. “I was a rock climber and skydiver and having metal on your finger during those activities is dangerous. Even lifting weights, that metal on metal can be uncomfortable.”

Read the full article at CNN.com. 

John Dowdle, MD, hand and upper extremity surgeon at HSS says for some people, arthritis pain and stiffness comes and goes and an occasional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug will keep them comfortable.

Braces or splints can also be helpful. While these can be purchased over the counter, Dr. Dowdle recommends consulting a hand specialist before you invest in one because some are more effective than others and it depends on your specific needs.

In addition, Dr. Dowdle recommends at-home paraffin baths to people with arthritis in their hands. 

Read the full article at goodhousekeeping.com

One of the most interesting aspects of being a hand and wrist specialist at HSS is how many different conditions we treat. These ailments include arthritic or degenerative conditions, traumatic injuries such as fractures and lacerations, repetitive use disorders, and even tumors. Hand surgery combines orthopedic, plastic, and neurosurgical techniques.

In the past, patients accepted certain hand pain and conditions as part of daily life. We encounter patients with arthritis who tell us there’s likely nothing that can be done to help them, but we can do a lot to improve their conditions. As patients become more aware of their ailments and how to address them, they come to us for treatment.

The causes of hand conditions are many: hereditary or congenital factors; degenerative such as arthritis; traumatic events such as falls, fractures or lacerations; and overuse or repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow.

Another factor is greater specialization in sports, especially at the youth level. When I was growing up, playing different sports during the year allowed an athlete to develop a range of muscle groups and flexibilities. There’s greater concentration by athletes now on a single sport year-round which can quickly lead to overuse injuries.

Read the full article at greenwichsentinel.com. 

“Our first job as a team physician when we hear about an injury is to get the information. Talk to the player, see what happened, get them in right away, and evaluate them. I work with my colleague Bob Hotchkiss, our hand and wrist expert and get all the imaging studies. Dr. Hotchkiss did the surgery and did a wonderful job as far as restoring anatomy. But the biggest issue in the recovery process is getting the motion back. Fingers and hands tend to get stiff," said Dr. Rodeo.

“If you put him in a cast for three months, the bone would heal, but then he couldn't move his fingers. But if you move faster than the bone is healed, then that alignment issue that you are trying to protect becomes compromised. So that is the balance,” said Dr. Hotchkiss. 

"When we first started working together, Xavier's entire hand was really tight, so we've been working a lot on opening the span, stretching out and making a first. Once he's warmed up and did some soft tissues massage, it's easier for him to get some motion on his own and his strength is coming back, said Aviva. 

Read the full article at giants.com. 

“I believe this answer is much different today compared to 10 to 15 years ago. When I see a patient with radial nerve palsy after humerus fracture, I get advanced imaging of MR neurography and ultrasound to determine if the radial nerve is injured and if there is fascicular continuity throughout the zone of injury. I am also looking to see if there is any neuroma formation. Other questions I ask the radiologist is whether there is external compression on the nerve, impingement from bone fragments, scar tether, compression from hematoma or other findings. There is more suspicion for operative nerve injury if the fracture is open and if the palsy occurred after manipulation. I also use the advanced imaging gunshot wounds. High resolution imaging can show if the bullet or projectile fragments have made the nerve partially or fully discontinuous,” explained Dr. Lee. 

Read the full article at healio.com. 

The car Orlov was traveling in last October rolled over in flames after suspected Russian gun fire. Pinned in the back seat, Orlov said he was initially unable to get out of the vehicle – his feet had been crushed by the car and his legs had been wounded by the explosion. Once he finally did, he and his team laid in the nearby grass watching the flames to figuring out their next steps.

Orlov was taken to a Ukrainian hospital and told he may need to have at least one leg amputated or that he may never walk again. 

Ashley Matkowsky, Orlov’s American girlfriend and a videographer who had been working in Ukraine, recorded what he looked like after the attack.

That video caught the attention of U.S. volunteers and made its way to Gary Wasserson, a retired American businessman from New York who was already coordinating volunteer aid resources to the region. Wasserson asked HSS  if they’d be able to save Orlov’s legs and, optimistic they could, he was admitted.

Dr. Fufa, who is now helping care for Orlov, described his injuries as extraordinarily complex.

“The complexity comes from the fact that he had both soft tissue wounds as well as bone defects or missing bone from the blast injuries and the multiple fractures in each of the feet,” she said.

Since he arrived in the U.S. in January, Orlov has already undergone “two very lengthy procedures to begin the major step for reconstruction of both his right and his left foot” with care that has involved multiple specialists, Dr. Fufa explained. While Dr. Fufa is optimistic about the path forward for Orlov’s feet, she is quick to point out that reconstruction is one thing, however being able to walk again is not guaranteed just yet.

“I’ve warned him that this is such a long road that I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point we hit roadblocks where it feels like this is taking too long or that this is too challenging to continue to face,” said Dr. Fufa. 

Read the full article at CNN.com. This story also aired during the 7pm news hour on February 17, 2023. 

Additional coverage: cbsnews.com and pix11.com. 

Read the full article at beckersspine.com. 

Bagley underwent surgery to address the injury, Michelle G. Carlson, MD hand and upper extremity surgeon at HSS, in consultation with team's orthopedic surgeon.

Read the full article at yahoo.com. 

Additional coverage: 

• Si.com
• Yardbarker.com
• Freep.com 

Dr. Fufa suggested using a carving kit that’s designed for pumpkins, to use a sawing motion and to never cut toward the hand. Additionally, she advised to never put the hand inside the pumpkin while carving.

Watch the segment at Insideedition.com. This segment also aired on broadcast on October 28, 2022.

Wolff had pioneered an innovative approach to treating sore hands and arms. In her lab, she attaches motion sensors to each musician and analyzes the biomechanics of their playing with multiple cameras, an approach akin to what athletic trainers and conditioning coaches do with professional athletes to tweak a golf swing, a basketball jump shot or pitching form. With the musicians, most of their pain is chronic and the high-tech motion analysis allows Wolff to detect abnormal hand or body placements that are exacerbating their injuries.

While similar in some ways, musicians’ and athletes’ bodies do differ in one key aspect of their performance. “Unlike athletes, musicians have to play without tension,” noted Wolff. “With professional musicians who are using their body optimally, you can see how light they look. It seems effortless, and that’s what you want to see.”

Wolff is currently developing an injury prevention and treatment curriculum for conservatories and orchestras that includes anatomy lessons, stretches and exercises designed for each instrument. She’s also educating her medical colleagues with research from the HSS Motion Analysis Lab that shows specific ways to get injured musicians back to playing in the short-term and in better shape for the long-term. “We are not educated enough in the demands of musicians,” said Wolff. “The musculoskeletal system and our bodies are healing machines. There are solutions out there.”

Wolff created a customized “return to play” plan for Duncan, using the data she captured through her motion analysis studies. One surprise: Though Duncan felt pain and numbness in her hand, Wolff pinpointed exercises for an area no one else had detected as a possible source of the pain — the upper back muscles. “It was really illuminating for her to say, ‘You’re feeling the symptoms here in your hands and your wrist but actually if you strengthen these muscles in the back, that will help your symptoms,” cited Duncan. 

Now Duncan feels secure about her future and her ability to continue to do what she loves best, in the place she loves best. “Slowly but surely as New York is coming back, I’m coming back,” she concluded. “It’s nice to be able to play music again.”

This segment was live streamed via NBC News Now on July 5, 2022. The article and segment can be accessed at NBCNews.com. 

Additional coverage: Phillyvoice.com

Read the full article at Nba.com.

According to Dr. Carlson, osteoarthritis (OA), the most common type of arthritis, is a condition caused by the natural wearing away of the cartilage that covers the bone. In healthy joints, the cartilage coverings at the ends of the bones match up and glide smoothly against one another.

Cartilage cannot not be built back, but motion can be preserved by keeping the soft tissue in the joint as supple as possible.

Dr. Carlson advised incorporating moves to help maintain hand function, such as a shoulder stretch. She noted the impact of tense shoulders, “Stiffness in your shoulders can lead to all sorts of problems in your extremities.”

Other recommended moves include elbow flexion and extension, prayer and reverse prayer, finger spread, finger touch, thumb stretch and a knuckle bend.

However, some exercises, like squeezing a stress ball, can irritate joints by causing rough cartilage to rub together, noted Dr. Carlson.

Read the full article at AARP.org.

According to Dr. Carlson, “Resting your phone on your pinkie can strain the ligament that connects the finger to your hand. Where the pinkie contacts the phone can also become calloused and sore.”

She advised changing positions frequently. “Even if you’re talking on the phone with your elbow bent, switch to the other side … don’t try to power through it because that’s going to cause problems that will last way beyond your phone call,” she noted.

Read the full article at Washingtonpost.com.

Read the full article at Liberty.wnba.com.

Lepp showed Dr. Osei an archived x-ray of Houdini’s left hand which revealed a bullet that was never removed. He asked Dr. Osei if it was possible for Houdini to make his hand small enough to get out of locked handcuffs. Dr. Osei confirmed this is not possible, citing “it was not consistent with anything he had ever seen.”

Watch the full episode at Play.history.com. A subscription is required to access.

Weightlifting and common body-weight exercises can cause a variety of hand and wrist injuries. Maroldi explained, “Oftentimes, tendons or ligaments are overloaded or repetitively strained during certain exercises, leading to tendinitis, tenosynovitis, or ligament sprains or tears.”

Although repetition is a common practice for building muscle, it’s not ideal for hand health. Maroldi noted, “Repetitive stresses from exercise can also lead to ganglion cysts, which most commonly appear on the back of the wrist.”

“Other exercises that involve dynamic movement and loading the wrists, such as snatches and clean and jerks, can lead to ligament tears in the wrist, most commonly the scapholunate ligament (SL ligament),” added Maroldi.

Another watch-out is weight-bearing exercises. “The most common exercises that cause wrist/hand injuries are those that involve weight-bearing or dynamic loading through extended wrists such as pushups and burpees,” said Maroldi.

Maroldi offered tips for avoiding injury during exercise, such as maintaining a neural wrist position. “Neutral wrist position means that the wrist is in slight extension (make a tight fist and the position your wrist is in is your neutral wrist position),” he explained.

Maroldi also advised to avoid overgripping. “Your wrists and hands are constantly working and under tension, and it is therefore not recommended to do specific wrist- or grip-strengthening exercises. Doing wrist curls or repetitive resisted gripping can lead to tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome, but training with proper technique, form, and body positioning will strengthen your wrist and grip functionally with less risk of injury,” he said.

Read the full article at Muscleandfitness.com.

McLeod explained it is crucial to understand your injury before exercising or modifying your routine. "Hands, wrists, fingers, and thumbs are a complex part of the body!" she said. "There are a lot of different types of injury, or causes of pain, that need completely different types of treatment. Some injuries need rest, some injuries do better with exercise.” A certified hand therapist will be able to work with you to give you the best advice for your specific injury and workout preferences, added McLeod.

McLeod noted some modification examples include doing push-ups on a closed fist or push-up bar instead of your palms, and using resistance bands or machines to replace free weights. Easing up on intensive also falls under the category of modification. "If you haven't worked out in a while, be sure to pace yourself!" she advised. "If you've had an injury, you probably won't be able to lift the same weights as before. Start with a weight and a workout intensity that feels a little challenging but still manageable. Then, gradually build up."

McLeod also suggested cardio exercise with the permission from a medical expert. "Walking, jogging, and running are generally safe after most hand injuries. You might want to avoid running out on trails or at night — in these situations, sometimes you're more likely to trip over something, which can affect your hands."

Read the full article at Popsugar.com.

“We believe the new wrist replacement, known as the KinematX Total Wrist Implant, has advantages over traditional implants,” said Dr. Wolfe. “Our extensive research into how the wrist moves helped us design a replacement that more closely matches the anatomy and motion of a normal wrist. This should allow for more natural motion and increased durability compared to currently available implants.”

Read the full article at Healio.com.

Additional Coverage:

• Orthopedics This Week

Read the article at inquirer.com.

Daniel A. Osei, MD, MSc, hand and upper extremity surgeon at HSS, who did not treat Martinez, explains that typically nerves regenerate approximately 1 mm per day. According to Dr. Osei, most younger patients will have improvement in the ability to feel the top of the hand over time. 

"He could have numbness or tingling or even burning pain from the recovering nerve, but his hand and wrist range of motion will be unaffected," said Dr. Osei.

Read the full article at TheFourthPeriod.com.

Read the full article at NYPost.com.

SF Examiner spoke to Daniel A. Osei, MD, MSc, hand and upper extremity surgeon at HSS, who has not treated Curry, about the recovery and repair for this type of injury. While Curry’s injured hand is not his dominant shooting hand, defense mechanisms are a concern. “It’s all the other stuff - the defending, the swatting of balls, the landing on your hand again, and frankly, trying to make sure that you don’t re-injure the area,” explained Dr. Osei. “At three months, I will say that most of these fractures go from, ‘It’s healed, but you could reinjure yourself,’ to healed enough that you basically can’t.”

Regarding methods for surgical repair (plates versus screws), Dr. Osei noted this is dependent on the pattern of the fracture. “Plates are used because they’re a little bit stronger, so it allows for more initial strength, so basically, you can get somebody back a little bit faster.” Dr. Osei added, “Screws are great because they’re more low-profile, and may not bother someone as much, because you can’t feel screws as much as you can feel a plate, but the downside is that they’re not as strong, so the chance of re-injury is a little bit higher. Really, it’s a combination of the location, the pattern of the injury and issues related to how quickly you’re trying to get a guy back,” he said.

Read the article at SFexaminer.com.

Additional coverage: SFexaminer.com, Forbes.com. 

“In general, the index metacarpal is a good bone to break if you have to break one,” said Michelle G. Carlson, MD, hand and upper extremity surgeon at HSS, who has not treated Curry. “It is a little easier to come back from than the other metacarpals.”

Dr. Carlson explains that treatment typically includes elevating the hand to avoid swelling and beginning motion therapy soon after surgery. If surgery is not required, a cast or splint would be used for up to a month.

Read the full article at MercuryNews.com. This story also appeared in the print edition on November 1, 2019. 

Wolff wrote while its unlikely for musicians to cut down on the number of practices and performances which involve highly repetitive and coordinated movements, she underscored the importance of physically warming up prior to playing (i.e. stretches to the forearm muscles). “Warming up before playing increases the blood flow to the muscles and allows musicians to play longer with less pain and fatigue,” she cited. Wolff suggested taking 10-15 minute breaks every hour, doing a few gentle stretches or simply walking around to relieve any muscle tension and give the muscles a chance to recover.

Wolff concluded it’s while common for musicians to give in to poor posture as they are playing for long periods of time in unusual positions, it is advised to practice good body mechanics to help place less stress on the joints and muscles.

Read the article at Dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/Bergenfield.

Dr. Fufa recommended the use of specially designed pumpkin carving kits versus a kitchen knife, which could lead to sliced fingers and hands. “Have the knife blade down, and your hand on top of the knife so that when we’re exerting the downward force, our hand will not slip down the knife.” Dr. Fufa advised using sawing not stabbing-like motions when carving, and to never cut toward the hand. “The blade could inadvertently cut the inside of the palm. Instead you should stabilize the pumpkin and be cutting away from the hand.” Furthermore, never put your hand inside the pumpkin when carving. “You may inadvertently plunge inside and cut the hand when you’re not seeing it,” said Dr. Fufa. “To prevent yourself from being tempted to put your hand in the pumpkin you can put the top back inside while you’re working on making your outside cuts,” she cited.

Watch the segment at Insideedition.com. This segment also aired on broadcast on October 15, 2019.

The Times Picayune spoke to Michelle G. Carlson, MD, hand and upper extremity surgeon at HSS, who does not treat Brees, but commented on the recovery of a UCL injury. Dr. Carlson cited this injury will likely cause him [Brees] to miss a good chunk of the season. “If you were a lineman, you could put your hand in a cast and deal with this at the end of the season,” said Dr. Carlson. She added, “If you need to throw the football, you need to fix it now.”

With regard to return to sport, Dr. Carlson explained it typically takes ligaments 8-12 weeks to fully heal, however it could be as few as five weeks, with the use of suture tape, as the tape acts as an internal brace, offering extra protection while the ligament heals. Dr. Carlson concluded, “Results are excellent, certainly long-term, in terms of return to play.”

Read the full article at Nola.com. 

Additional coverage: Canalstreetchronicles.com. 

Read the article at NBA.com.