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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for a Hand Surgeon in Washington, book an appointment, and see the Hand Surgeon within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Hand Surgeons in Washington who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Washington Hand Surgeon who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Hand Surgeons in Washington and book appointments instantly. You can search for Washington Hand Surgeons by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Washington Hand Surgeons on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Hand Surgeons in Washington who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Washington Hand Surgeons with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Hand Surgeons in Washington who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
Hand Surgeons in Washington on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Hand Surgeons who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Hand Surgeons in Washington who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Hand Surgeon who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Hand Surgeons in Washington. Many Hand Surgeons offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
Orthopedic, plastic, or general surgeons specializing in treating the hand and upper extremities are known as 'hand surgeons.' Hand, wrists, forearms, elbows, and fingers are the body parts that hand surgeons treat.
Our hands have a wide range of uses. Ligaments, tendons, bones, joints, muscles, nerves, skin, and blood vessels comprise the distinctively constructed hand, an essential human body part. Our hands need mobility, strength, and sensation to work. When the hand is hurt or malfunctioning, care must be taken with all tissues that enable a hand to function.
Hand surgeons offer both surgical and nonsurgical treatment for various issues. They have specialized training to perform when called upon. A hand surgeon works toward form and function restorations from your initial consultation until your last visit, from the tiniest fracture to the most sophisticated reconstruction or replantation. They concentrate on conditions and wounds affecting the skin, nails, muscles, tendons, nerves, bones, joints, and ligaments. Congenital hand differences may also be treated by hand surgeons who solely work with children.
Hand surgeons treat a variety of disorders, including, but not restricted to:
Additionally, hand surgeons who treat elbows may also address the following conditions:
Hand surgeons treat both surgical and nonsurgical problems. Typically, they split their time between:
Medical students, residents, and fellows are all trained by hand surgeons in academic medical centers. Additionally, they might participate in studies, write articles, and impart knowledge at conferences.
Hand surgery is a distinct subspecialty for orthopedic, plastic, and general surgeons. A hand surgeon:
The American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) accredits hand surgeons in orthopedic surgery. The certificate in 'orthopedic surgery of the hand' is received by board-certified orthopedic surgeons who have undergone additional training, demonstrated qualifications in hand surgery through practice by volume and diversity of cases, or have made significant contributions in this field.
Hand surgery can be categorized into different types depending on the condition and its causes. These include the following:
Hand injuries can occur at any time in different forms. Generally, people often visit their family doctors or the hospital to get it addressed. The condition may range anywhere from crushed fingers and fractures to loss of fingers or traumatic amputation of the hand. Even cuts can lead to infections over time.
It is essential to visit a doctor to identify the extent of the damage. Accordingly, depending on the diagnosis, they will refer you to a hand surgeon near you. However, you can also directly make an appointment with them for the following reasons:
You should also visit them if your condition worsens despite home-based remedies, such as ice packs and rest. Some symptoms may point to a severe condition, such as dislocations or fractures. Moreover, early diagnosis can help the doctor develop the appropriate treatment plan to prevent permanent damage.
Many hand, wrist, and elbow conditions can be treated without requiring surgery. Some other common nonsurgical treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, activity modifications, corticosteroid injections, and rest.
At hospitals, they will transfer you to a hand surgeon in case of amputations and multiple-digit injuries. The doctors base their decision on multiple factors, including the patient's age and scope of injury; this is because some amputations have higher chances of replantations in younger patients.
Hospitals will also transfer you immediately if you have complex hand injuries, multiple finger injuries, open fractures, or infections. They may conduct imaging tests and physical examinations to determine the need for transfer. Additionally, patients can consult their doctors with pictures over the phone if they cannot visit. Doctors will guide you in taking the necessary precautions or ask you to see an ER or a hospital with a hand surgeon near you.
Your hand surgeon will typically review your medical background, including any prior surgeries or injuries, at the beginning of the visit. They will inquire about your daily routine, activities, allergies, relevant family medical history, whether you take any medication, and the specifics and duration of your symptoms.
Subsequently, they will conduct a complete physical examination to assess your condition. This may entail testing your grip and strength, flexibility, range of motion, sensory and fine motor function, and hands' vascular health (color, temperature). Additionally, they will look for any anomalies or malformations.
Additional diagnostic procedures, such as X-rays or blood tests, can also be required to look for anomalies, help determine the source of your symptoms, and ascertain the diagnosis.
Following your physical examination and diagnosis, your hand surgeon will review your findings and develop a suitable treatment plan. Hand surgeons frequently suggest nonsurgical approaches, such as:
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens due to the constant pressure on the median nerve in the wrist's carpal tunnel, a narrow passage encased by bones and ligaments on the palm side. Compression of this nerve can lead to numbness, weakness, or tingling in the thumb and fingers. Factors such as wrist anatomy, certain health conditions, and potentially repetitive hand movements can contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.
To diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, healthcare providers assess sensation in the fingers and hand muscle strength. Certain maneuvers, like bending the wrist, tapping on the nerve, or applying pressure, can often trigger symptoms. For imaging, an X-ray may be taken to rule out other wrist pain causes, such as arthritis or fractures. However, it is not the most helpful in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome specifically. An ultrasound can visualize the tendons and nerves, helping detect any nerve compression.
Electromyography (EMG) is another diagnostic tool that measures electrical discharges in muscles. During EMG, a fine needle electrode is inserted into specific muscles to record electrical activity during muscle contraction and rest, helping to identify any muscle damage linked to the median nerve.
It's best to begin treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome as soon as symptoms appear. Early interventions like the following can often relieve symptoms:
Other treatment options include medications, wrist splinting, and, in some cases, surgery. Conservative treatments like splinting are generally most effective for mild to moderate symptoms that have persisted for less than 10 months.
If you experience hand numbness, seeking care from a hand surgeon near you is important.
Surgery is chosen as a treatment option if carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are severe or don't improve with other treatments. The aim of the procedure is to remove pressure on the nerve by cutting the ligament pressing against it. This can help alleviate symptoms and improve hand function.
Hands are essential and valuable instruments, and we use them to interact with our environment. We use our hands to support our daily lives, engage in hobbies and sports, and care for our family and ourselves. When our hands are injured, several areas of our lives may be affected. Hence, the choice of a healthcare practitioner is crucial.
Consult a hand surgeon near you if you experience discomfort in your fingers, wrist, arm, or hand or any other problems with your upper extremities. Use Zocdoc to find a hand surgeon close to you because we know you don't want to overlook anything crucial about your health. Zocdoc aims to connect patients with the best medical specialists near them. You can use Zocdoc to find the top hand surgeon in Washington, DC, based on your symptoms, the procedure you need, your desired location and time, and your insurance company and plan.
If your insurance plan is not listed on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance card (please note that this option is not available for vision or dental plans). Our system will scan the image and identify your likely plan. If you experience difficulty uploading your card, our dedicated service team is available to assist you. You can also check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.
Additionally, you can filter the search results to choose a hand surgeon depending on the languages they speak, gender, affiliation with a hospital, and whether or not they treat children.
On the Zocdoc platform, each hand surgeon has a profile with information about their training, experience, specialties, affiliations, awards, certifications, and licenses, among more details. You can review these specifics and make online or in-person appointments based on your needs. You can also look through verified patient reviews to find the best hand surgeon near you in Washington, DC.
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Washington, DC, has 261 plastic surgeons, 107 hand surgeons, and one orthopedic surgeon.
As per the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, tumor removal continues to be the most common reconstructive procedure, with about 5.2 million treatments in 2020 (a 4% rise from 2019). Other procedures commonly performed in the U.S. are laceration repair, scar revision, hand surgery, and maxillofacial surgery. In 2020, 6.8 million reconstructive surgeries were performed, a 3% increase over 2019.
As per a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study, the total non-fatal work injury and illness rates in 2022 in the U.S. were 2.7 for every 100 full-time workers.
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.