Hand & Peripheral Nerve Surgery
Overview of Service
The Hand Surgery and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Department at Royal North Shore Hospital is one of the main tertiary referral centres in New South Wales, specialising in the treatment of traumatic hand injuries, fractures, upper limb nerve injuries. Including hand conditions such as, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. The department provides a 24-hour on-call service supporting elective and emergency surgery.
Key Areas of Education
- Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney
- Supervisor, Plastic Surgery Training, Royal North Shore Hospital Hand Unit
Achievements
- NSW and Australian Hand Surgery Society (Positions held: Treasurer)
- NSW Hand Surgery Association (Positions held: Secretary)
- First surgical department at Royal North Shore Hospital to capture Patient and Clinician Reported Outcomes Measures to support research and improve patient outcomes
Affiliated Organisations
- Australian Hand Surgery Society
- Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Australian Orthopaedic Association
- The Lincoln Centre for Research into Bone and Joint Diseases
- NSW Hand Surgery Society
- University of Sydney
- The Kolling Institute
- American Association for Hand Surgery
- SERT Institute
Meet our Hand and Peripheral Nerve Surgeons
MBBS (Hons I) FRACS (Orth) FAOrthA
Head of Department
Dr Richard Lawson has a special interest in children’s hand surgery, brachial plexus and peripheral nerve surgery and Dupuytren’s disease.
MBBS (Hons) FRACS (Orth) FAOA
Dr Anthony Beard has a special interest in wrist pain, various wrist disorders and hand trauma.
Dr Claudia Gschwind
FRACS, FMH General Surgeon, FMH Hand Surgeon
Dr Claudia Gschwind has a special interest in neuromuscular disorders and runs the state-wide Hand Clinic for patients with spinal cord injuries.
BE(Mech Eng) MBBS FRACS(Orth) FAOrthA
Dr Mark Hile treats all conditions of the hand and wrist, with a special interest in conditions and trauma of the wrist.
MBBS FRACS(Plast)
Dr James Ledgard looks after all conditions of the hand and wrist but has a special interest in tetraplegic hand reconstruction and the treatment of spasticity.
MBChB MRCS(Glas) FRACS(Plast)
Dr David Stewart has a special interest in brachial plexus injuries, congenital hand surgery and reconstructive microsurgery.
Clin. Assoc Prof Brahman Sivakumar
MBBS BSci (Med) MS MSc FRACS FAOrthA PFET
Assoc Prof Brahman Sivakumar has experience and training in acute and reconstructive surgery for the hand and wrist, including trauma and fracture management; nerve and microsurgery; arthroscopy; and a broad range of elective conditions.
BApp Sc (MRT), MBBS (Hons), MS (Plast), FRACS (Plast)
Dr Richard Atkinson has a special interest in microsurgical reconstruction, trauma surgery, limb, and skin cancer reconstruction.