Duke Orthopaedics recently expanded their offerings by adding a new specialist in hand and upper extremity injuries at Duke Sports Medicine Green Level in Cary, NC.

Eliana B. Saltzman, MD, completed her orthopaedic surgical residency at Duke University and then went onto an additional surgical fellowship in hand and microvascular surgery at OrthoCarolina Hand Center in Charlotte, NC. With her high-level expertise to treat complex upper extremity issues and focus on excellent clinical care, Duke was the ideal environment to return to following completion of her fellowship. 

Saltzman is attracted to treating issues of the hand and upper extremity for a number of reasons. “Our hands are how we engage and interact with the world and our environment. Through hand surgery, whether it is a small or large intervention, you can have a profound impact on a patient’s life,” she says. “I love being a hand surgeon because I get to help people return to the activities they love — be it playing sports, playing an instrument, cooking, or just being free of pain during daily life. There is no greater reward than helping a patient overcome an injury or resolve their pain in order to have the life they desire. Duke Health is unique because here, there is no problem too complex for our team to solve.”

Saltzman specializes in the care of hand and upper extremity arthritis, nerve conditions such as carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes, sports injuries, and fractures. Her clinical interests have included exploring hormone therapy as a preventative for frozen shoulder in post-menopausal women.

Her objective is to listen to each patient’s story and together create a plan that fits their goals, from non-surgical care to surgery. Saltzman especially wants patients to know that at Green Level there are convenient options for clinical care, including injections and physical therapy to help them get back to activity as quickly as possible. If surgery is required, patients have options nearby, including at Duke’s ambulatory surgery center at Duke Orthopaedics Arringdon in Morrisville.

“With urgent and primary care, as well as sports medicine, we are able to coordinate for the best patient outcomes,” Saltzman says. “My partners at Green Level and throughout the hospital system are unparalleled.”

Since opening in 2022, Green Level has offered a full range of orthopaedics services including hand, shoulder, and sports medicine, with an additional clinic on the same floor for physical therapy and occupational therapy. 

“This clinic is a one-stop shop for Wake County residents in the Cary area,” says Green Level Medical Director Kendall E. Bradley, MD. “We offer injury clinics for athletes on weekends, non-operative care for injury, and now surgical treatment for shoulder, knee, and hand conditions. We hope to continue to grow in the future.”