About HandSport Surgery Institute

HandSport Surgery Institute is the Manhattan-based practice of  Mark E. Pruzansky, MD, a pioneer in the field of hand and upper extremity surgery and sports injuries, and one of the country’s leading practitioners of  Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release — a minimally invasive procedure with a quicker and less painful recuperation in most cases than conventional surgery.

Named one of the Tri-State region’s finest hand surgeons in New York magazine’s medical peer-reviewed “Best Doctors” issue, 2008, Dr. Pruzansky provides patients with innovative diagnostic and surgical techniques, as well as respect and compassion. Languages spoken include German, Yiddish, Italian, Spanish, and French.

Awarded Three Board Certifications - Hand Surgery, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, and Orthopaedic Surgery - Dr. Pruzansky is one of a very few elite surgeons in the country who have earned all of these distinctions and seamlessly blend the principles of sports medicine into the specialty of hand and upper extremity surgery. Dr. Pruzansky currently treats professional hockey and football players and is eager to collaborate with the sports, business and hospitality communities at large to educate its members about the importance of preventive measures and to provide counsel and treatment in instances of injury.

To complete the VIP experience, the Institute uses top-of-the-line equipment, which includes a digital x-ray machine that is located adjacent to the exam rooms and serves to quicken the bone imaging process. Electronic medical records are also used by the Institute and aid in the timeliness of patient correspondence. A computer teaching center located in the patient waiting room enables patients to actively participate in the diagnostic process and discover even more facts about their injuries and treatments.  All of this means a more thorough and accurate consultation—all in one office.

About the Kinetic-Chain Approach
Dr. Pruzansky’s approach to diagnosing and treating a wide spectrum of upper extremity–related conditions is informed by his knowledge of the body’s “kinetic chain,” or the way that energy is transferred from one “link” to the next—starting with the legs and moving up to the trunk, shoulders, upper arms, forearms and, finally to the wrists, hands and fingers. While many movements transfer energy from a proximal (near) to distal (far) direction, injuries that occur in the upper extremities often have their origin lower in the body’s kinetic chain. Rather than looking solely at the site of injury for clues as to what is wrong, Dr. Pruzansky views the body as a dynamic unit with interdependent segments.

Without understanding this model of biomechanics, some doctors may treat, say, a pitcher for an elbow condition without recognizing that an important possible source of the problem—weak quadriceps—must also be assessed to avoid further injury. Tendonitis of the wrist, painful at work and at home, maybe related to deficient upper back and shoulder strength. Ergonomics, professionally and avocationally, is analyzed. Improvements in equipment, furniture and self-alignment are discussed. During the resolution of the upper extremity condition, Dr. Pruzansky collaborates with other physicians, therapists and trainers, whom he will then guide to assist in the treatment of the underlying issues.