Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on your insurance plan. Some plans require a referral from a primary care physician and some do not. The office can tell you what your plan requires.

Scheduling depends on the nature of the problem. Acute injuries and time-sensitive nerve problems are prioritised. Contact the office to discuss timing.

Your medication list, insurance card, identification, and any imaging, operative reports, nerve studies or therapy records relating to the problem. Previous operative reports are particularly valuable if you have had surgery before.

No. Many hand conditions are managed without surgery, and nonsurgical treatment is usually where things start. Surgery is considered when it offers something that other treatment cannot.

It varies enormously - from a couple of weeks for a straightforward procedure to many months after complex reconstruction. What matters for planning is the specific procedure, and that is discussed before surgery.

Because hands stiffen. Tendons need to glide, joints need to move, and swelling needs to be controlled. After some procedures - tendon repair especially - therapy is as important to the outcome as the operation itself.

Yes. Persistent or recurrent problems after previous treatment are a recognised reason to seek a further opinion, and they are evaluated on their own terms. Bring your previous operative reports if you can.

For a severe injury, an amputated part, uncontrolled bleeding, a pale or cold hand, or a rapidly spreading infection, go to an emergency department. Do not wait for a clinic appointment.