Posts by Neal C. Chen, MD
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Wilson Osteotomy Can Be a Reasonable Option for Adults With Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis
Merel Hazewinkel, Jonathan Lans, MD, Neal Chen, MD, and colleagues found retrospectively that, in adults (mean age 52) with stage I/II carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis, outcomes were similar for Wilson osteotomy and CMC arthroplasty at a mean five-year follow-up.
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Volar Locking Plate May Outperform Conservative Treatment of Distal Radius Fracture in Older Patients
Oscar Shen, MBChB, Neal C. Chen, MD, Wen-Chih Liu, MD, and colleagues found that, among patients 60 and older who had distal radius fractures, volar locking plate fixation was associated with better grip strength than conservative treatment, and had a similar complication rate.
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Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions of the Capitellum Have Abnormal Subchondral Bone Density
Massachusetts General Hospital researchers found that, compared with healthy controls, patients with capitellar osteochondritis dissecans have a thicker region of high-density subchondral bone that should be considered during drilling or grafting procedures.
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The 7th Annual Jesse B. Jupiter International Hand Surgery Forum
The seventh annual Jesse B. Jupiter International Hand Forum was virtually hosted by Mass General on Saturday, May 21, 2022, with a thematic focus on fractures of the distal radius. The course director was Chaitanya Mudgal, MD, and associate directors were Neal Chen, MD, and Kyle Eberlin, MD.
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Limb-Salvage Surgery for Upper-Extremity Sarcoma Has Long-term Advantages Over Amputation
In a retrospective study of patients with upper-extremity sarcoma with prospective follow-up, researchers and surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital found that, although the reoperation rate was higher, limb salvage with complex reconstruction had long-lasting functional advantages over amputation.
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Isolated Type II SLAP Tears Undergo Reoperation More Frequently
Researchers in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital recently observed that isolated SLAP type II repair is associated with higher risk of unplanned reoperation than SLAP repair done at the same time as rotator cuff repair or another procedure.
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Case Report: Rupture of the SHB Brachii and Coracobrachialis Tendon
Jon J.P. Warner, MD, and Neal C. Chen, MD, from the Department of Orthopaedics at Massachusetts General Hospital, and colleagues describe how they managed a rare case of complete rupture of the short head of the biceps brachii and coracobrachialis tendon.
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Surgeons Can Take Steps to Minimize Risk of Tuberosity Absorption After ORIF of Proximal Humerus Fractures
Massachusetts General Hospital researchers identified intraoperative and fragment-specific factors that increase the risk of bone resorption of the greater tuberosity after open reduction and internal fixation of complex proximal humerus fractures.
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Simple Measures Optimize Response to Patient-reported Outcomes Questionnaires in Orthopedics
The number of researchers involved, day of the week and time elapsed since treatment all affect patients' rates of response to questionnaires about outcomes after upper extremity orthopedic procedures.
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Lateral Epicondylitis Is a Common, Self-limited Diagnosis of Middle Age
Calcifications associated with lateral epicondylitis were present on 9% of elbow radiographs, with peak prevalence at ages 60 to 80.
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Neurectomy During Wrist Salvage Surgery is Associated with Lower Rates of Revision to Wrist Fusion
Intraoperative anterior and/or posterior interosseous nerve neurectomy was associated with less risk of conversion to wrist arthrodesis after proximal row carpectomy or four-corner arthrodesis, while smoking was associated with higher risk.
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Outcomes of Three-Ligament Tenodesis for Scapholunate Interosseous Ligament Injury are Favorable at One Year
In the largest cohort reported to date, three-ligament tenodesis for scapholunate interosseous ligament reconstruction yielded significant improvement in pain and function in four-fifths of patients at one year after surgery.
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Predictors of Death and Amputation After Acute Leg Compartment Syndrome
Death following acute leg compartment syndrome appears to be related to the initial injury burden and the patient's ability to respond to the injury, rather than the burden of local tissue necrosis.
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Vitamin C Does Not Decrease Risk of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome After Distal Radius Fracture in Double-Blind, Randomized Trial
Researchers at the Department of Orthopaedics are conducting clinical studies to improve the treatment of common clinical problems. A new double-blind randomized trial showed no therapeutic benefit of vitamin C therapy to reduce the incidence of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following distal radius fracture.
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Cyberchondria Increases Health Anxiety in Orthopedic Patients
Among patients presenting for orthopedic care, compulsive searching of the internet for medical information about the current condition (e.g., cyberchondria) was associated with greater intolerance of uncertainty and greater health anxiety.
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Soft Tissue Injury Is Dominant Factor in Reoperation for PIP Joint Fractures
Research by orthopedic surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital provides insights into the frequency and reasons for reoperation for fractures of the proximal interphalangeal joint.
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Most Hand Surgery Patients Support Reduced Opioid Prescribing
Practice-wide policies aimed at reducing the number of opioid pills available for misuse are likely to be well received by patients, according to a Massachusetts General Hospital survey.
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Decision Aid for Trapeziometacarpal Arthritis Reduces Patient Decision Conflict
Hand surgeons at Mass General have developed a web-based decision aid that helps patients with trapeziometacarpal arthritis choose treatment with greater confidence.
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Brief Mindfulness Intervention Benefits Patients in Outpatient Orthopedics Clinic
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have become the first to show that a short mindfulness-based exercise benefits patients in an orthopedic surgery clinic.
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Hand Postures During Exam Suggests Need for Extra Support During Recovery
During examination of a wrist, hand or finger injury, some patients exhibit protective hand postures, such as flexing their wrist when told to make a fist. Researchers have linked these nonverbal signs to thought patterns that can hinder recovery.
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After Distal Radius Fracture, Unilateral Scapholunate Diastasis Does Not Indicate Need for Ligament Reconstruction
When distal radius fracture is associated with scapholunate interosseous ligament injury, it is difficult to predict which patients will develop symptoms. Mass General researchers investigated whether it is necessary to repair the ligament routinely.
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Smartphones Facilitate Teleradiology—But Should Be Used with Caution
Increasingly, physicians are using smartphones to take pictures of radiographs and send them to colleagues for consultation. To understand the implications, Massachusetts General Hospital researchers studied the impacts of orthopedic surgeons interpreting radiographs using a DICOM viewer vs. a mobile messenger application.
Biography
In 2002, Dr. Chen's father was injured in an accident which broke both his arms and legs. At Mass General, Dr. Jesse Jupiter cared for his father's complex elbow and forearm fractures. As a result of his care, his father had an exceptional result. From this experience and the tutelage of Dr. Jupiter, Dr. Chen developed an interest in hand and upper extremity surgery.
Dr. Chen received his BS in Biological Sciences at Stanford University and his MD from Yale University. He completed residency at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, the Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship at Mass General and the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery.
He returned to Mass General after six years of both academic and private practice. He was previously a sports medicine attending at the University of Michigan and subsequently was a partner at the Philadelphia Hand Center, P.C. while serving as an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. As a fellow in New York, Dr. Chen was an assistant team physician for the New York Mets. In Ann Arbor, he served as a consultant to University of Michigan Athletics, a consultant to USA Hockey and team physician for Eastern Michigan University.
He has received a prestigious Basic Science Grant from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand/American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand. He also has research sponsored by the AO Foundation for the study of shoulder fractures.
He has a clinical practice that encompasses complex problems of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. He performs shoulder and elbow replacements, tendon transfers, arthroscopy of the shoulder, elbow and wrist, and repair of malaligned or unhealed fractures.
Orthopaedic Care at Mass General
At Mass General, our world-class physicians and surgeons treat the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions throughout the body, from sprains and strains on the athletic field to carpal tunnel syndrome. Our team offers innovative, research-based treatments that range from limb-saving oncological procedures to complex spinal reconstruction.