SRO Hand Center
Santa Rosa's Resource for Hand and Upper Extremity Care
The Hand Center at SRO is the only solely focused hand and upper extremity practice in California and Oregon north of San Francisco that consists of two board certified orthopedic hand surgeons who have completed ACGME accredited fellowship training in hand and upper extremity surgery.
The structures of the hand, wrist and arm are complicated and so are the injuries and conditions that can affect them. The bones, nerves, joints and muscles of the hands, wrist and forearm are an important part of everyday activity. When injury or disease occurs overall quality of life is at risk as well. SRO’s Hand Surgeons respond with the latest in orthopaedic technology and a collaborative relationship between the patient, physicians, therapists and professional staff to ensure the best treatment and outcome for patients.
Collaboration with Hand Therapists
What also sets the Hand Center at SRO apart is that the Hand Center’s surgeons, physician assistants and in-house certified hand therapist consult together on cases to ensure quality of care which allows for more successful results for patients. This approach incorporates on-site diagnostic imaging as well as fully automated electronic records system that work to help achieve the highest level of patient recovery.
From Injury Through Recovery
The Hand Center affords each patient, state-of-the-art medical care in a friendly and compassionate environment. Our team treatment model focuses on diagnostics and meticulous surgical details, in addition to carefully monitored post-surgical rehabilitation and recovery.
When you lose mobility due to injury or disease, you want and deserve the best possible care. Specialized attention must be given to all of the physical elements that work together to create healthy function of the hand and arm. Surgeons and orthopaedic specialists at Santa Rosa Orthopaedics provide just that care.
Patients with hand or wrist problems benefit from our integrated services. With our on-site imaging center and other advanced diagnostics, such as Electromyography (EMG) testing — along with X-ray suites at our facilities — diagnosis is timely and accurate. Splinting and casting professionals are also available, along with certified physical and hand therapists. We are committed to providing you with the highest level of care and the fastest possible recovery.
SRO Hand Center Team
SRO’s Hand Center specialists provide the most up-to-date, medically appropriate treatment. In combination with our certified hand therapists and medical staff, our physicians offer exceptional quality, in both surgical and non-surgical evaluation and treatment.
Dominic J. Mintalucci, M.D.
Dr. Dominic Mintalucci is a board certified orthopaedic hand surgeon with subspecialty fellowship training in microsurgical hand, wrist and elbow surgery. He is director of Hand Surgery at Santa Rosa Orthopedics. As Director of the SRO Hand Center, Dr. Mintalucci provides orthopaedic services in concert with multiple certified hand therapists at SRO’s award winning physical and hand therapy department. Together they work to optimize patient outcomes and optimal recovery. Learn More …
Kai-Uwe Mazur, M.D.
Dr. Mazur performs the latest techniques in upper-extremity joint arthroplasty/replacement, advanced arthroscopic reconstruction, ligament reconstruction of the upper extremity, tendon repair, vascularized bone grafting, peripheral nerve surgery and microsurgery. Learn More …
Jennifer Henshaw-Lefever, OTR/L, CHT, PA
Jennifer Henshaw-Lefever is a licensed Occupational Therapist and nationally certified Hand Therapist. Jennifer has broad experience in Hand Therapy with strong evaluation and treatment skills enhanced by her training as a Physician Assistant. She enjoys the proximity, communication and collaboration with the Physicians at SRO and finds it the ideal environment for providing effective care for the patients. Learn More …
Cynthia Syiek MA, OTR/L, CHT
Cynthia graduated with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. She has worked as an occupational therapist since 1982, became credentialed as a hand therapist in 2006 and is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists. Learn More …
Bruce Kolman, OTR/L, CHT
Bruce is a graduate or Temple University with a degree in Occupational Therapy as well as a Certified Hand Therapist. Bruce has been specializing in the evaluation and treatment of the upper extremity for over 20 years.
Additional Services
Our occupational therapists are all board certified hand therapists, guaranteeing their expertise in treating everything from carpal tunnel syndrome to complex post-surgical cases.
SRO’s Hand Therapists specialize in a variety of post surgical and post traumatic injuries including replantations/ revascularizations, tendon repairs, burns, and fractures/dislocations along with degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis and tendon conditions including DeQuervain’s and lateral epicondylitis.
These hand therapists are highly skilled in the application and modification of treatment techniques including range of motion, strengthening, wound care, joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, static and dynamic splinting, physical agent modalities, ergonomic assessments, work station modifications, and patient education. They also work closely with physicians and patients to fabricate specialized splints designed to protect muscles, tendons, and joints.
Regenerative Orthopaedics uses cutting-edge technology to stimulate and accelerate the healing process. Depending on age, health and the severity of condition treatments may include; stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma therapy, and other non-operative treatments.
These therapies are performed as a same day, office-based procedure and require minimal recovery time for patients. Although success may ultimately depend on the site and severity of the injury, improved pain and function can last for years.
PRP and Stem Cell Injections & Regenerative Therapy
While stem cells have the ability to differentiate and form brand new cells, platelets are a small fragment of blood cells, which help in clotting and enhance the healing process. The growth factors present in the platelets work to simulate those cells essential for a quicker recovery. An added benefit of PRP is that the patient faces less risk of infection or allergic reactions due to the procedure, as the injected platelets are of their own blood. This combined with the fact that the procedure itself is quick and does not require general anesthesia or a prolonged recovery makes it a viable option for situations where standard treatments have proven to be ineffective.
Platelets are cells that clot blood and contain over 300 active growth factors. They also contain hormones that help to facilitate growth and healing. The process of extraction followed by centrifugation of the blood allows platelet-rich plasma to be separated from the original sample which is then injected into the site of the injury. For those patients whose tissues are aging and therefore have a slower or reduced ability to repair and regenerate, the growth factors in PRP can help to improve the body’s healing ability.
Advantages include:
- Long-term pain relief
- Quicker recovery time
- Improved function
- Improved healing potential
Common Areas of Treatment:
- Tendon or Ligament injury (tear, sprain)
- Tendonitis
- Arthritis
- Muscle Strains
- Articular Cartilage Injury
