Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery

The Division of Hand Surgery was founded in 1970 by Dr. Martin A. Posner after he completed his training with pioneers in the field, Dr. Joseph Boyes in Los Angeles and R. Guy Pulvertaft in England. He served as the Chief of Hand Surgery until 1996, and during his tenure he established Lenox Hill Hospital as a premier center for surgery of the hand and upper limb. He was succeeded by Dr. George Pianka who was fellowship trained by Dr. Posner at both Lenox Hill Hospital and the Hospital for Joint Diseases. During his 14 years as Chief, Dr. Pianka not only increased the volume of hand surgery performed at Lenox Hill Hospital but he also formalized the hand surgery teaching program for the orthopaedic surgery residents in training. The Division today continues its tradition of providing excellence in the treatment of hand and upper extremity problems.

Lenox Hill Hospital offers state of the art technologies for hand and upper extremity reconstruction surgery. The latest generation of arthroscopic equipment facilitates minimally invasive procedures including for the small joints of the elbow, hand and wrist. Surgical microscopes enable our physicians to perform microsurgery for the accurate repair and reconstruction of nerves and vessels. Orthopaedic implants innovated and developed by Lenox Hill Hospital surgeons have improved the repair of sports injuries, traumatic injuries, and degenerative conditions of the upper extremity.

Surgeons from the Division of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery are leaders in the field and regularly present at national as well as international meetings. They serve as instructors in continuing medical education courses and industry courses. They are widely published in peer reviewed medical journals.