Salem Health Orthopedics has the largest group of surgeons in the mid-Willamette Valley trained in the treatment of hand and wrist conditions.  

But what does that mean? Hand surgeon Aaron Karlen, MD, said it comes down to fellowship training.

Specialized training after residency

Some orthopedic surgeons do a one-year fellowship after their five- to six-year residency. It could be in sports medicine, shoulder and elbow, hand, joint reconstruction, foot and ankle or even trauma surgery.

“That’s one year of training working on that specifically,” Dr. Karlen said.

After that, there are sub-specialty board exams for hand and sports medicine.

“The hand surgery fellowship is a year of specialized training where you do more intricate cases, the kind of specialty cases that get referred to us by other orthopedic surgeons,” Dr. Karlen said. “Nerve repair, small vessel repair, multi-tendon repair and then your difficult cases like bone transplants.”

Fellowship-trained surgeons at Salem Health

At Salem Health, there are multiple fellowship-trained surgeons who are members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

What does that mean for patients?

“Essentially, we’re more equipped to deal with everything related to the hand. Not just your carpal tunnel or trigger finger,” Dr. Karlen said.

The surgeon notes that to be a member, surgeons must complete a hand fellowship and pass the hand surgery board exams. It takes over three years of practicing after the fellowship until a surgeon can become sub-specialty boarded.

“Not only does it show expertise in your field, but it also shows three years of scrutinized practice and evaluation,” he said.

And when it comes to complex cases, for patients, the choice is clear, Dr. Karlen said.

“They really should be in the hands of someone who has practice solely in this,” he said.

Orthopedic surgery at Salem Health

A year ago, it was taking two to three weeks to get an appointment with a Salem Health Orthopedics provider. Now, with the addition of two more Physician Associates, there are often openings the same day.