Hand Surgeon for Artists: Specialized Care to Preserve Your Creative Expression
Your Hands Are Your Voice. We’re Here to Ensure You’re Always Heard.
For an artist, a hand or wrist condition is a direct threat to your ability to create, express yourself, and make a living. We provide an elite level of subspecialized expertise dedicated solely to the hand and wrist, meticulously tailored to the unique demands of your medium, to restore the intricate function your art depends on.
We Understand the Demands of Your Craft
The artist’s hand is a remarkable instrument, capable of both immense power and the most subtle delicacy. Like the musician’s hand, it requires an exceptional level of fine dexterity. But we understand that the needs of your craft are unique; the powerful grip of a sculptor is different from the endurance of a potter or the precise, nuanced control of a painter. We believe that an individualized treatment plan, based on the specific needs of your art form, is as important as the treatment itself.
Expert Treatment for the Ailments of the Dedicated Artist
Arthritis & Thumb Base Pain
- The constant, forceful pinching and gripping required in many art forms can lead to debilitating thumb base (CMC) arthritis, making it painful to hold a brush, a tool, or a piece of clay. Explore our advanced solutions for arthritis.
Nerve Compression Syndromes
- Long hours spent in sustained, focused positions can lead to “pinched” nerves. Conditions like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can cause the numbness and tingling that can destroy an artist’s essential sense of touch and control. Learn about our approach to nerve conditions.
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)
A Process as Individualized as Your Art
1. In-depth Medium Analysis
- Our consultation begins with a deep dive into your craft. We take the time to understand the specific motions, grips, tools, and physical demands of your artistic medium. Artists are requested to bring an assortment of brushes and tools that they use in their craft so that the interface between the artist’s hand and the implement can be studied. Often, there are solutions that might involve simply modifying the tools and implements themselves, and surgery can be avoided altogether.
2. Advanced Diagnostics
- A thorough history and comprehensive physical examination, when done patiently and meticulously, can yield a diagnosis 90-95% of the time. We use the advanced imaging technologies (when appropriate) to confirm the diagnosis or to rule out other diagnoses.
3. Meticulous, Function-Preserving Surgery
- If surgery is necessary, Dr. French employs sophisticated techniques designed to solve the underlying problem while meticulously protecting and restoring the fine dexterity your work requires.
4. Collaborative Return-to-Studio Program
- We believe in a true partnership. We work closely with you and your Certified Hand Therapist to create a safe, gradual, and confident return to your creative work.
An Artist’s Approach to an Artist’s Hand
An artist’s hand requires a surgeon who is not only a technical expert but who also possesses a deep appreciation for form, aesthetics, and nuanced function. As a Harvard-trained reconstructive plastic surgeon and artist himself, Dr. French brings a unique perspective to your care. His entire specialty is founded on the principles of restoring both function and form, in order to appreciate and address the needs of an artist.
