Why Choose the Hand and Arm Disorders Program

The Hand and Arm Disorders Program is led by orthopaedic surgeons Apurva S. Shah, MD, MBA, and Robert B. Carrigan, MD, and plastic surgeons Benjamin Chang, MD, and Ines C. Lin, MD. Combined, the program’s medical staff has nearly 75 years of experience treating a variety of hand and arm conditions in babies, children and teens. 

Our surgeons perform some of the most complex microscopic surgical procedures in the world, including replantation, nerve grafting and reconstructive surgery. The Division of Orthopaedics consistently ranks among the top programs in the nation for pediatric orthopaedic care according to U.S. News & World Report's annual survey of Best Children's Hospitals, earning the No. 1 spot on the 2023-24 Honor Roll.

Our team members are surgical innovators — constantly working to create and refine techniques to improve outcomes for children with hand and arm disorders. Dr. Chang, Dr. Carrigan and Dr. Lin participated in one of the first successful hand transplants in the region. Dr. Shah treats children with brachial plexus birth injuries and performs complex reconstructive nerve surgery. 

Treating children with bone issues is more complex than treating adults with the same conditions. Children's bones are still growing and lengthening; their growth plates have not fully fused. That’s why it is important to seek out experts who are specially trained to work with a child's unique physiology.

All four surgeons in CHOP’s Hand and Arm Disorders Program have extensive training and experience; two are board-certified in orthopaedic surgery and two are board-certified in plastic surgery. Additionally, our doctors have completed a fellowship in hand surgery and earned a Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery.


Next Steps
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Would you like a second surgical opinion from a CHOP expert?

Our referral nurse navigator can give your family timely access to world-renowned pediatric orthopaedic surgeons in every specialty.

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Safety in Surgery

Your child's safety is at the root of every decision we make about the care we provide.