Symbrachydactyly

Improving outcomes for upper extremity disorders

The Boston Children's Hospital Hand and Orthopedic Upper Extremity Program is dedicated to the comprehensive care of all upper limb conditions in infants, children and adolescents.

Under the direction of Peter M. Waters, MD, and Donald S. Bae, MD, patients with congenital, neuromuscular, sports-related, oncologic and traumatic or post-traumatic conditions of the upper extremity receive multi-disciplinary care that includes occupational and physical therapy, splinting/casting and reconstructive surgery.

In addition, the Hand and Orthopedic Upper Extremity Program does clinical and basic science research that will have an impact on how we care for our patients in the future. We are currently studying the treatment of a wide variety of upper limb conditions, including:

• Reconstruction of the congenitally deficient hand
• The use of microsurgical techniques in reconstructive surgery for congenital upper extremity differences
• Instability of the sternoclavicular and glenohumeral joints of the shoulder
• Post-traumatic stiffness and deformity of the elbow
• Surgical correction of forearm deformity following previous fracture
• Ligament and/or cartilage injuries of the wrist
• Microsurgical techniques in reconstructive surgery after limb salvage for bone and soft-tissue tumors and treatment for sports-related injuries to the upper limb

Many of these investigations have resulted in national and international presentations or peer-reviewed medical publications—and all have increased our ability to provide the highest standard of patient care.