The best carpal tunnel specialists in the USA practice at Mayo Clinic, Michigan Medicine, Stanford Health Care, Johns Hopkins, Washington University in St. Louis, Rush, Rothman Orthopaedics, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Duke Health, and Houston Methodist. The 10 hand surgeons below were chosen for board certification in surgery of the hand, national society leadership, Castle Connolly Top Doctor recognition, published carpal tunnel research, and a stated clinical focus on pins and needles in the hands, median nerve compression, and carpal tunnel release. They cover 10 different states, so most patients can find a verified option within driving distance. Specialists are listed for reference and are not ranked by preference.
How This List Was Compiled
Every one of the best carpal tunnel specialists in the USA on this list was confirmed through an official hospital or practice profile page that was live at the time of publication. Selection required active practice at a recognized medical center, board certification in orthopedic, hand, or plastic surgery, and a documented interest in carpal tunnel syndrome, compression neuropathies, or peripheral nerve surgery. Leadership in the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, national clinical guideline work, Castle Connolly Top Doctor status, research awards, and peer-reviewed publications were used to separate strong candidates from the broader field. No surgeon paid to appear, and no credential was included unless it appeared on a verifiable official source.
Verified Hand Surgeons Treating Carpal Tunnel Across the Country (2026)
1. Dr. Sanj Kakar, MD
Hospital/Clinic: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Specialty Focus: Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome, compression neuropathies, wrist arthroscopy, TFCC injuries, scapholunate instability, Dupuytren’s disease
Why Listed: Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2024. Professor of Orthopedics at Mayo Clinic and Director of the Associate Hand Surgery Fellowship Program. Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in orthopedic surgery (2012) and surgery of the hand (2013). Recipient of the Linscheid-Dobyns Excellence in Wrist Research Award (2024), the J.F. Murray Award for Excellence in Surgery of the Hand (2019), and an American Society for Surgery of the Hand Bunnell Fellowship (2017).
Address: 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905
Contact: 507-538-3270 (Mayo Clinic Central Appointment Office)
Profile: Mayo Clinic Official Profile
What Sets Them Apart: Dr. Kakar lists carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, and compression neuropathies as named clinical interests, which makes him a strong fit for patients whose nerve symptoms involve more than one site in the arm.
2. Dr. Kevin C. Chung, MD, MS
Hospital/Clinic: University of Michigan Health (Michigan Medicine), Ann Arbor, Michigan
Specialty Focus: Hand and upper extremity surgery, nerve injuries, complex hand fractures and trauma, rheumatoid arthritis of the hand, congenital hand conditions, microsurgery
Why Listed: Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2000. 75th President of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Inaugural Chief of Hand Surgery for Michigan Medicine and William C. Grabb Distinguished University Professor of Surgery. Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Author of more than 950 peer-reviewed manuscripts. Board certified in plastic surgery.
Address: Plastic Surgery Clinic, Domino’s Farms, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Suite A1200, Lobby A, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Contact: 734-998-6022
Profile: University of Michigan Health Official Profile
What Sets Them Apart: Dr. Chung has served as president of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and has published more than 950 peer-reviewed manuscripts, an unusually deep research record for a practicing hand surgeon.
3. Dr. Robin N. Kamal, MD, MBA
Hospital/Clinic: Stanford Health Care, Chase Hand and Upper Limb Center, Redwood City, California
Specialty Focus: Hand, wrist, and elbow surgery, upper extremity nerve compression syndromes including carpal tunnel, upper extremity trauma
Why Listed: Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford and Co-Director of the Chase Hand and Upper Limb Center. Co-Chair of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Chair of the AAOS Clinical Practice Guidelines for Distal Radius Fractures. Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in orthopedic surgery (2016) and hand surgery (2017). Associate Editor of the journal HAND.
Address: 450 Broadway Street, Pavilion A, 2nd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063
Contact: 650-723-5256
Profile: Stanford Medicine Official Profile
What Sets Them Apart: Dr. Kamal helped lead the national guideline work that tells surgeons how carpal tunnel syndrome should be diagnosed and treated, so his care follows the evidence he helped write.
4. Dr. Dawn M. LaPorte, MD
Hospital/Clinic: Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Specialty Focus: Hand and wrist orthopedic surgery, nerve compression syndromes, ligament injuries, arthritis, avascular necrosis, Dupuytren’s contracture
Why Listed: Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2019. Holder of the Thomas M. Brushart, M.D. Professorship in Hand Surgery at Johns Hopkins. Vice Chair of Education and Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program Director. Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in orthopedic surgery (2003) and surgery of the hand (2004). Oral examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Past President of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society. Author of nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications.
Address: Levi Watkins, Jr., M.D., Outpatient Center, 601 North Caroline Street, Suite 5009, Baltimore, MD 21287
Contact: 443-997-2663 (Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic Surgery appointments)
Profile: Johns Hopkins Medicine Official Profile
What Sets Them Apart: Dr. LaPorte trains the next generation of orthopedic surgeons at Johns Hopkins and examines surgeons for board certification, which reflects a strong commitment to careful, standards-based care.
5. Dr. Ryan P. Calfee, MD, MSc
Hospital/Clinic: Washington University Physicians and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
Specialty Focus: Hand surgery, wrist surgery, carpal tunnel, elbow surgery, distal radius fractures, patient-reported outcomes in upper extremity surgery
Why Listed: Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2016. Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of the Hand and Microsurgery Service at Washington University. Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, with a subspecialty certificate in surgery of the hand (2012). Recipient of the ASSH Emanuel B. Kaplan Award (2014) and Sumner L. Koch Award (2013). Published a prospective study on simultaneous bilateral versus unilateral carpal tunnel release in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Address: Center for Advanced Medicine, 4921 Parkview Place, Suite 6A, St. Louis, MO 63110
Contact: 314-514-3500
Profile: Washington University Physicians Official Profile
What Sets Them Apart: Dr. Calfee has studied whether both hands can be released in one operation, a practical question for the many patients who have carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists.
6. Dr. Mark S. Cohen, MD
Hospital/Clinic: Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
Specialty Focus: Hand, wrist, and elbow surgery, minimally invasive fracture care, wrist and elbow arthroscopy, joint replacement of the hand, wrist, and elbow
Why Listed: Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2000. Professor and Director of the Section of Hand and Elbow Surgery at Rush University Medical Center. Certified in orthopedic surgery and hand surgery. Editor of Green’s Operative Hand Surgery. Named a Chicago Magazine Top Doctor in Hand and Orthopaedic Surgery, including 2025. Team physician and consultant for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls.
Address: 1611 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60612
Contact: 877-632-6637 (Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush)
Profile: Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Official Profile
What Sets Them Apart: As an editor of Green’s Operative Hand Surgery, Dr. Cohen brings textbook level technical depth to hand, wrist, and elbow care for patients in the Chicago area.
7. Dr. Asif M. Ilyas, MD, MBA
Hospital/Clinic: Rothman Orthopaedics, Philadelphia region, Pennsylvania
Specialty Focus: Hand, wrist, elbow, and nerve surgery, wide awake hand surgery, nerve injury, fracture surgery, opioid sparing pain management after surgery
Why Listed: Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2016. Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery. Chairman and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine. Founding Program Director of a Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery Fellowship. Former President of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society. Author of more than 250 scientific studies and papers. Named a Top Doc by Philadelphia and Main Line Today magazines.
Address: 825 Old Lancaster Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Contact: 1-800-321-9999 (Rothman Orthopaedics)
Profile: Rothman Orthopaedics Official Profile
What Sets Them Apart: Dr. Ilyas is known for wide awake hand surgery, an approach where carpal tunnel release can be done under local anesthesia without sedation, which some patients prefer for a quicker return home.
8. Dr. Peter J. Evans, MD, PhD
Hospital/Clinic: Cleveland Clinic Florida, West Palm Beach, Florida
Specialty Focus: Hand and wrist surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, peripheral nerve decompression and repair, shoulder and elbow surgery
Why Listed: Division Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rehabilitation, and Sports Therapy at Cleveland Clinic Florida and Vice Chair of the Integrated Surgical Institute. Inventor of the Universal Carpal Tunnel Guide, a device designed to make carpal tunnel release easier and safer through a mini incision. Recipient of The Best Doctors in America Award in Hand Surgery (2019). Board certified in orthopedic surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Address: Tomsich Health and Medical Center of Palm Beach County, 525 Okeechobee Boulevard, 14th Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Contact: 877-463-2010 (Cleveland Clinic Florida scheduling)
Profile: Cleveland Clinic Official Profile
What Sets Them Apart: Dr. Evans designed a surgical guide specifically for carpal tunnel release, which shows a hands-on focus on making this exact operation safer through a smaller incision.
9. Dr. Marc J. Richard, MD
Hospital/Clinic: Duke Health, Durham and Morrisville, North Carolina
Specialty Focus: Hand, wrist, and elbow surgery, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, trigger finger, arthritis, sports injuries, microvascular surgery
Why Listed: Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2025. Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in orthopedic surgery and surgery of the hand. Fellowship trained in hand, upper extremity, and microvascular surgery at Duke University Medical Center. Holds a 4.91 out of 5 patient rating from 768 ratings on his official Duke Health profile. Accepting new adult patients.
Address: Duke Health Center Arringdon, 5601 Arringdon Park Drive, Suite 300, Morrisville, NC 27560
Contact: 919-613-7797
Profile: Duke Health Official Profile
What Sets Them Apart: Dr. Richard’s patient rating is built on hundreds of reviews, which matters for a condition where clear communication about recovery and return to work shapes the whole experience.
10. Dr. Shari R. Liberman, MD
Hospital/Clinic: Houston Methodist Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Houston, Texas
Specialty Focus: Carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome, endoscopic carpal tunnel release, hand surgery, elbow surgery
Why Listed: Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2021. Holder of the Henrietta and Terence Hall Distinguished Centennial Chair in Orthopedic Surgery at Houston Methodist. Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (2014) with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Surgery of the Hand (2017). Hand and upper extremity fellowship trained at Stanford.
Address: Outpatient Center, 6445 Main Street, Suite 2500, Houston, TX 77030
Contact: 713-441-9000
Profile: Houston Methodist Official Profile
What Sets Them Apart: Dr. Liberman lists endoscopic carpal tunnel release as a named clinical interest, making her a direct choice for Texas patients who want to discuss the smaller incision approach.
Specialist Comparison
| Specialist | Location | Specialty Focus | Key Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Sanj Kakar, MD | Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN | Carpal and cubital tunnel, compression neuropathies | Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2024, Linscheid-Dobyns Award 2024 |
| Dr. Kevin C. Chung, MD, MS | Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI | Hand surgery, nerve injuries | Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2000, 75th ASSH President |
| Dr. Robin N. Kamal, MD, MBA | Stanford Health Care, Redwood City, CA | Nerve compression including carpal tunnel | Co-Chair, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Clinical Practice Guidelines |
| Dr. Dawn M. LaPorte, MD | Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD | Nerve compression syndromes, hand and wrist | Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2019, Brushart Professorship |
| Dr. Ryan P. Calfee, MD, MSc | Washington University, St. Louis, MO | Carpal tunnel, hand and wrist | Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2016, Chief of Hand and Microsurgery |
| Dr. Mark S. Cohen, MD | Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Chicago, IL | Hand, wrist, and elbow surgery | Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2000, Editor of Green’s Operative Hand Surgery |
| Dr. Asif M. Ilyas, MD, MBA | Rothman Orthopaedics, Bryn Mawr, PA | Wide awake hand surgery, nerve injury | Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2016, 250+ studies |
| Dr. Peter J. Evans, MD, PhD | Cleveland Clinic Florida, West Palm Beach, FL | Peripheral nerve surgery, hand and wrist | Inventor of Universal Carpal Tunnel Guide, Best Doctors 2019 |
| Dr. Marc J. Richard, MD | Duke Health, Morrisville, NC | Carpal tunnel, hand and elbow | Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2025, 4.91 of 5 rating from 768 patients |
| Dr. Shari R. Liberman, MD | Houston Methodist, Houston, TX | Endoscopic carpal tunnel release | Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2021, Hall Distinguished Centennial Chair |
How to Choose the Right Hand Surgeon for Carpal Tunnel
Among the best carpal tunnel specialists in the USA, the right one for you is a board-certified hand surgeon who confirms the diagnosis with testing before recommending surgery. Distance, insurance network, and whether you prefer open, endoscopic, or wide awake surgery should guide the final choice.
Start with credentials. Look for board certification in surgery of the hand, which the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery both award after fellowship training. A general orthopedic surgeon can perform carpal tunnel release, but a fellowship-trained hand surgeon handles nerve compression every week.
Make sure the problem is truly at the wrist. Numbness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers often points to the median nerve, but a pinched nerve in the neck can produce a very similar pattern, so a good surgeon will examine your neck as well as your wrist. If your ring and little fingers are also numb, ask whether cubital tunnel syndrome at the elbow is part of the picture. Several surgeons on this list, including Dr. Kakar and Dr. Liberman, specifically treat both conditions.
Weigh research against bedside manner. A surgeon with a long publication list brings depth for unusual or recurrent cases. For a first, straightforward carpal tunnel release, patient ratings, clear explanations, and convenient follow-up often matter just as much.
Seek a second opinion when the diagnosis is uncertain, when nerve testing has not been done, or when symptoms return after a previous release. If you live in New York, our separate list of carpal tunnel doctors in New York covers verified hand surgeons in that city.
Checking insurance before you book saves time and avoids surprise bills:
- Confirm the surgeon is in network for both the office visit and the surgery center or hospital.
- Ask whether your plan requires a referral from a primary care doctor before a hand surgery visit.
- Ask whether surgery needs prior authorization and what documentation of splinting or injections the insurer expects.
- Confirm Medicare or Medicare Advantage acceptance directly with the office if you are 65 or older.
Questions to Ask at Your First Appointment
The best questions help you understand how severe your nerve compression is and whether surgery is truly needed now. Bring these to your first visit, whether you see one of the best carpal tunnel specialists in the USA or a local hand surgeon:
- Based on my exam and nerve conduction testing, how severe is my carpal tunnel syndrome?
- Could my symptoms be coming from my neck or elbow instead of, or in addition to, my wrist?
- Should I try a night splint or a corticosteroid injection before considering surgery?
- If I need surgery, do you recommend open, endoscopic, or wide awake carpal tunnel release, and why?
- How many carpal tunnel releases do you perform each year?
- When can I drive, type, and return to my normal work after surgery?
- If I have symptoms in both hands, can both be treated at the same time?
What to Expect During Your First Visit
A first visit with a carpal tunnel specialist usually includes a detailed symptom history, a hand and wrist exam, and a plan for nerve testing. Most new patient appointments take 30 to 60 minutes.
The surgeon will ask which fingers go numb, whether symptoms wake you at night, and which tasks make them worse. The physical exam checks feeling in each finger, grip and pinch strength, and the muscles at the base of the thumb. Common bedside tests include the Tinel test, where the surgeon taps over the wrist, and the Phalen test, where you hold your wrists bent for about a minute.
Testing often follows. Nerve conduction studies help your doctor decide how severe the problem is and guide treatment. According to Mayo Clinic, a nerve conduction study checks whether electrical signals slow down as they pass through the carpal tunnel, and electromyography (EMG) can detect damage to muscles controlled by the median nerve. Ultrasound may also be used to see whether the nerve is compressed. X-rays do not diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome but may be ordered to rule out arthritis or a fracture.
What to bring:
- A list of your symptoms, when they started, and which fingers are affected
- Results from any previous nerve conduction study, EMG, or imaging
- A list of current medications, including blood thinners
- Your insurance card and any referral your plan requires
- Notes on treatments already tried, such as splints or injections, and how well they worked
Frequently Asked Questions
A fellowship-trained hand surgeon with board certification in surgery of the hand is the most qualified doctor for carpal tunnel syndrome. Hand surgeons come from orthopedic surgery or plastic surgery and complete an extra year of training focused on the nerves, tendons, and bones of the hand and wrist. A neurologist or physiatrist may perform nerve conduction testing, but a hand surgeon makes the final treatment decision when surgery is being considered.
Carpal tunnel surgery improves symptoms for most patients, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Recovery can be gradual, and full recovery may take up to a year. Nighttime numbness often improves quickly, grip and pinch strength usually return within a few months, and carpal tunnel syndrome rarely comes back after surgery.
Endoscopic and open carpal tunnel release produce similar outcomes, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Open release uses one small incision in the palm, while endoscopic release uses one or two smaller incisions and a camera. The best choice depends on the surgeon’s experience, your anatomy, and whether other problems in the hand need attention during the same operation.
Mild carpal tunnel syndrome often improves without surgery. A wrist splint worn at night keeps the wrist straight and reduces pressure on the median nerve. A corticosteroid injection can relieve symptoms, but the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes the benefit is usually temporary. Surgery is considered when symptoms are severe or nonsurgical treatment fails.
Whether a referral is needed depends on your insurance plan, not on the surgeon. HMO plans usually require a referral from a primary care doctor, while many PPO plans and traditional Medicare allow patients to book directly with a hand surgeon. Calling the surgeon’s office and your insurer before scheduling avoids denied claims.
Key Takeaways
- Board certification in surgery of the hand is the most reliable credential to look for in a carpal tunnel specialist anywhere in the United States.
- The 10 surgeons on this list practice in 10 different states, from Minnesota and Michigan to California, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.
- A nerve conduction study helps confirm carpal tunnel syndrome and grade its severity before surgery is recommended.
- Open and endoscopic carpal tunnel release have similar outcomes, so surgeon experience matters more than the technique name.
- Numbness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers can also come from the neck, so a careful exam should rule out other nerve sites.
- Choosing among the best carpal tunnel specialists in the USA should balance credentials, patient ratings, distance, and insurance network.
Doctor’s Recommendation
Before your appointment, it helps to understand that hand numbness does not always start at the wrist. Nnumbness in the index fingertip explains how a pinched nerve in the neck and carpal tunnel syndrome can feel alike and how doctors separate the two. Reading it can help you describe your symptoms clearly and ask better questions during your visit.
References
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment, Mayo Clinic
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS): Verify a Board Certified Surgeon
- Castle Connolly Top Doctors Directory
