Hand Center Media

Discover how OrthoCarolina's multidisciplinary approach provides comprehensive care for brachial plexus injuries, limb paralysis, and congenital hand differences. From innovative treatments to personalized rehabilitation, we're committed to enhancing physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

Discover the expertise of Michael W. Aversano, MD, a distinguished Pediatric Hand Specialist at OrthoCarolina. Explore his extensive background, publications, presentations, and contributions to the field of orthopedic surgery. 

Explore how OrthoCarolina's Hand Therapy Fellowship program inspires occupational therapists like Ashley Brooks, who received the prestigious 2023 ASHT Emerging Hand Therapist Award. Discover the dedication and excellence that define our program.

OrthoCarolina is a leading orthopedic practice in the Southeast, offering expert care for musculoskeletal conditions. Meet Dr. Grier and learn more about our comprehensive services at OrthoCarolina.com.

Should you be concerned about Smartphone Pinky? We dive into the details on whether you should change how you support your phone with Hand Surgeon, Dr. Michael Geary & Occupational Therapist, April Hibbeler.

Simple, everyday choices can help relieve hand pain and prevent overuse injuries like trigger finger and carpal tunnel. Learn helpful tips, common symptoms to watch out for and what to expect if you're considering surgery. 

OrthoCarolina is proud to have 29 orthopedic physicians recognized in the 2022 North Carolina Top Doctors: Charlotte Region list.

Following Amy Remer's cancer diagnosis in 2017, her care team was forced to amputate her left arm at the shoulder, and her insurance claim for a specialized prosthetic arm was denied. Amy recently received a donated custom robotic arm through the organization Arms for All, founded by two OrthoCarolina physicians.

Dive into the world of occupational therapy, where empowerment meets independence. Explore health promotion, injury prevention, and individualized care plans tailored to maximize well-being. Join us in celebrating Occupational Therapy Month as we honor the transformative impact of OT professionals.

Have a video visit with your doctor today!

Inflammation and pain is the body’s natural reaction to an injury. To ease that pain and help the body heal faster, is it better to use ice or heat?

In this overview, Dr. Bryan Loeffler, MD, of OrthoCarolina Hand Center touches on what to do when you have hand, wrist, or elbow pain and what your next steps might be moving forward when consulting an orthopedic surgeon.

In this surgery demonstration, Dr. Daniel Lewis, MD, of OrthoCarolina Hand Center shows us what to expect during a Carpal Tunnel Release & Trigger Finger surgery and what happens in the operating room.

 In this edition of our Orthopedic Anatomy Series: Exploring Your Body from the Inside Out, we look at the causes and treatments of common hand, wrist and elbow ailments that can cause this discomfort.

Our panel of five OrthoCarolina hand, wrist, & elbow specialists partnered with the education experts at Experience Anatomy to explore the ins and outs of hand/wrist/elbow pain, from when to consult an orthopedic specialist to pain injections to surgery recovery. 

Save time and book your care, your way. With online scheduling, your personalized orthopedic care is only a few clicks away.

Dr. Gart, Dr. Gaston, and Dr. Loeffler talking about the breakthrough research in hand prosthetics.

OrthoCarolina physicians were honored for their premier patient care receiving Charlotte magazine Top Doctor awards.

Three Charlotte hand surgeons have discovered that people of any age born without a hand already have the functionality needed to control a prosthetic device using only their mind.

Three Charlotte hand surgeons have discovered that people of any age born without a hand already have the functionality needed to control a prosthetic device using only their mind.

Upper extremity injuries like wrist and finger fractures are common in soccer players and can be missed on the field.

Upper Extremity Surgical Amputation Procedure.

Presented by Dr. Bryan Loeffler and Dr. Glenn Gaston of the OrthoCarolina Reconstructive Center for Lost Limbs

When we live streamed from the operating room, our viewers had lots of questions about the surgeries being performed. Our orthopedists have responded with all the answers.

An OrthoCarolina hand surgeon will perform a trigger finger release surgery and a carpal tunnel release on OrthoCarolina’s Facebook page during a live broadcast this Wednesday from Mallard Creek Surgery Center.

We think about stretching our backs, massaging our necks and taking care of the part of our bodies that work that hardest, but hands can be overlooked. A specialist offers three ways to give your hardworking hands a little TLC.

The result of overuse, trigger finger is a common but extremely painful condition that can cause the catching, locking and popping of the painful finger.

The OrthoCarolina RCLL Visiting Professor Program is designed to allow surgeons an unprecedented opportunity to advance their learning and understanding of advancements in the care of upper extremity amputees.

Please note, this video includes some graphic scenes associated with the teaching process of orthopedic surgery. Thank you.

OrthoCarolina has hired 10 new physicians to support the increasing needs of its patients and communities

Joining our Hand Center, Dr. Michael Gart specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the hand.

Explore pioneering medical breakthroughs changing our lives and meet the doctors behind them. On the front lines of your health are tales of desperation, determination and human triumph-from a safer way to manage pain after surgery to groundbreaking techniques that make surgery unnecessary.

Targeted muscle reinnervation is an evolving technique that improves control of myoelectric prostheses and can prevent or treat symptomatic neuromas.

Each year, Charlotte magazine releases a list of Top Doctors in Charlotte and we're proud to have 17 OrthoCarolina providers represented as the best in the city.

In 2013, Jenn Andrews’ focus was on her first pregnancy and a little self-care, when a pedicure technician felt a small bump on Jenn’s foot. What seemed so trivial that day would become so important later. That bump was a tumor – myxoid sarcoma, a rare and potentially life-threatening form of cancer. Despite an initial attempt at removing the tumor, it eventually came back, and now Jenn faced a daunting choice five years later: She could cure the cancer only by losing her foot.

What is possible if two dedicated doctors come together with an idea to help people who have lost fingers use “their fingers” again? For Eddie Chapman, it means he can tie his shoes. See the full story from WTVI/PBS. Physicians from the Reconstructive Center for Lost Limbs, OrthoCarolina

Just 10 months ago, Tiffany Johnson and her husband were snorkeling in the Bahamas when a shark attack changed her life forever: “He had my whole arm in his mouth.” NBC’s Kerry Sanders joins Megyn Kelly TODAY to tell her tale of survival. Featuring the Physicians from the Reconstructive Center for Lost Limbs, OrthoCarolina

Novel muscle transfer technique enables patients to have improved control of a myoelectric prosthesis

A bionic limb is giving hope, and control, back to shark attack victim Tiffany Johnson. OrthoCarolina Hand Center: Reconstructive Center for Lost Limbs feature on CNN International.

Allow us to introduce you to some of the most clever visionaries around town.

A North Carolina man who lost three fingers in an industrial accident more than a year ago can now move individual fingers on his prosthetic hand thanks to an innovative surgery by two OrthoCarolina hand surgeons.

OrthoCarolina hand surgeons Glenn Gaston, M.D., and Bryan Loeffler, M.D., pioneer a targeted muscle reinnervation surgical procedure to help amputee patients like shark attack victim Tiffany Johnson.

In this web extra, meet the doctors who are giving her a prosthetic arm so she can return to life and her routines.

Dr. Glenn Gaston and Dr. Bryan Loeffler were recently honored by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) for their research on advancements in upper extremity amputee care at the 2017 AAOS Meeting in San Diego, CA.

Good Day Charlotte's Jason Harper and Page Fehling talk with Dr. Gaston and Dr. Loeffler about saving the life of a local shark bite victim.

Tiffany Johnson remembers every second of the shark attack that took most of her right arm.

Targeted muscle re-innervation (TMR) is a surgical procedure which involves transferring amputated nerves to activate the remaining muscles in the limb. This has been shown to be an effective way to cure or prevent neuroma pain (sometimes called "phantom" pain). The surgery also allows enhanced control of myoelectric (sometimes called "bionic") prostheses to perform new functions since there are more muscle signals available in the residual limb. For upper extremity amputees, this can mean far greater control of the elbow, wrist, and hand when using a myoelectric prosthesis.

Targeted muscle re-innervation (TMR) is a surgical procedure which involves transferring amputated nerves to activate the remaining muscles in the limb.

Friday will mark three weeks since Tiffany Johnson lost her arm in a terrifying shark attack in the Bahamas.

Dr. Bryan Loeffler from OrthoCarolina discussing the revolutionary outcome and amazing future for Tiffany Johnson via her targeted muscle reinnervation surgery.

Ongoing research for Targeted Muscle Reinnervation and Muscle Transfer for Independent Digit Control

The physicians of the OrthoCarolina Hand Center are orthopedic surgeons who have pursued additional hand and wrist surgery training at the fellowship level in order to provide you with the most up-to-date and comprehensive treatment. In combination with our trained hand therapist and medical staff, they are ready to provide the very best in both surgical and non-surgical evaluation and treatment and have become a center of excellence for the Charlotte area in the treatment of hand problems.

Femoral acetabular impingement and hook of hamate injuries are on the rise in NASCAR pit crews according to new research presented at the 2017 NASCAR Summit in Concord, North Carolina, on January 10, 2017.

An epidemiological study of 118 upper extremity injuries in NASCAR pit crews tracked over a 10 year period shows a surge in hook of hamate (a bone in the palm on the small finger side of the wrist) hand injuries in particular among changers and carriers.

Research study findings presented by Drs. Glenn Gaston, Walter Beaver at NASCAR Summit

Femoral acetabular impingement injuries have increased among rear tire changers, according to research done by OrthoCarolina Hip and Knee surgeon Dr. Walter Beaver, who also serves as head team physician for Hendrick Motorsports, and Bill Heisel, director of the OrthoCarolina Motorsports program.

The OrthoCarolina Brachial Plexus team recognizes the importance of treating the entire patient and not just the affected limb.

Surgeons Glenn Gaston, Bryan Loeffler successfully complete cutting-edge procedure on partial hand amputee

Any sport will cause wear and tear on the bodies of athletes over time, but for a NASCAR pit crew, roles on the team can play a big role in the type of injuries they face.

Multiple injuries, including ligament tears and foot drop, leave Alec Parsons on the sidelines

In an effort to improve the quality of care available in their community, these doctors are making Charlotte a leader in medical research, training, and education

Fast fact: As of 2013 there were 3,000 published injury studies on football, 1,000 each on baseball and basketball, 140 on bowling, 43 on arm-wrestling and 7 on tug-of-war. NASCAR injury studies? There were 3.

Special art show displays works by Hand Center patients

We know, we know, running shoes aren’t cheap. But, as you use your shoes, mile after mile they eventually begin to lose their cushioning, stability, and shock absorption.

Mastectomy is a common treatment for women with breast cancer. Some patients that need a mastectomy also have to have other lymph node tissue removed from the axillary (armpit) region on the same side that the breast tissue was removed from.

Kristan Seaford miraculously survived severe complications from the flu, but the loss of blood flow during treatment resulted in the amputation of both hands, her left lower leg and a portion of her right foot...

One in ten Americans will have Dupuytren's contracture, so many of us will have a friend or family member affected by it.