How long has Dr. Badia been in practice?
Dr. Badia first came to Miami and co-founded the Miami Hand Center in 1995 when he joined Dr. Jorge Orbay and was later joined by Drs. Roger Khouri, Eduardo Gonzalez, and then Steven Alex. This came directly after performing a traveling fellowship in Europe for complex hand trauma and a hand fellowship in Pittsburgh in 1994. In 2008, Dr. Badia founded the Badia Hand to Shoulder Center in order to satisfy the needs of his international patients as well as traumatic work injuries. The Doral location facilitates both these objectives in a centrally located facility near Miami International Airport.
Do you only treat hands?
Dr. Badia’s practice is limited to surgery of the hand and upper extremity, which includes the wrist, elbow and shoulder area. He also performs microsurgery and arthroscopic surgery but limited to the upper limb. However, Dr. Badia founded OrthoNOW® which includes coverage for ALL orthopedic problems including sports medicine, spine, foot/ankle, hip and knee, etc. OrthoNOW® is an orthopedic urgent care center that requires NO appointment and allows acute injuries to be addressed by the appropriate subspecialist, right away!! OrthoNOW® Doral is upstairs from Badia Hand to Shoulder Center, and the Surgery Center at Doral, although other OrthoNOW® franchise centers are open throughout Florida and Georgia, and others are opening around the country and world in the near future.
Do you perform surgeries alone?
Many of the surgeries are performed with the assistance of Kate Samuels, PA-C, who is a physician assistant that works closely with Dr. Badia in all phases of treatment including initial consultations and post op visits. He occasionally collaborates with one of his orthopedic colleagues from OrthoNOW®.
Can Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) resolve with therapy?
Severe pain resulting from tendon inflammation in carpal tunnel syndrome can be alleviated with anti-inflammatory modalities performed by hand therapists or medication, including the form of a corticosteroid injection in the wrist. However, true nerve compression that is confirmed by nerve conduction studies often needs surgical release in order to achieve a complete and long lasting cure.
Will the injection of cortisone to alleviate inflammation cause weight gain?
This is one of the many myths of cortisone and patients should understand that only high dose intravenous or oral steroids (cortisone-like substances) would cause side effects such as weight gain, hair growth or blood sugar elevation. A small injection in a joint or around a tendon sheath will not cause any significant side effects unless applied inappropriately or excessively.
What causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), and can it be prevented?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a compression of the median nerve in the carpal canal of the wrist. There can be many causes but in the majority of cases the cause is not clear. We do see this with high incidence in certain groups, which indicates there may be some hormonal involvement that leads to tendon inflammation/thickening and thus secondary compression of the nerve. There is no scientific evidence that typing or computer use causes this condition although it is noted that many repetitive activities may exacerbate this condition. It is also noted that symptoms worsen during sleep, while talking on the phone and even driving indicating that certain positions of the wrist can lead to median nerve compression symptoms.
Can I have surgery on both hands at the same time?
This should only be done with endoscopic carpal tunnel releases and traumatic injuries to both hands that require urgent treatment. However, in most elective cases, it is best to stage the carpal tunnel surgeries 4-6 weeks apart as that allows the patient to have one hand free without a dressing and with good strength as the operated hand recovers. Occasionally, bilateral surgery for CTS is performed when a patient travels a great distance to have this performed and a 2nd visit would be difficult.
What is the recovery time for most procedures?
Hand surgery can entail as simple a procedure as a carpal tunnel release or foreign body removal which would allow immediate near full use of the hand, or as complicated as a wrist laceration involving all tendons and nerves which can take up to a year for an adequate functional recovery.
What hospitals are you affiliated with?
Dr. Badia was former chief of hand surgery at Baptist Hospital in Miami. He now only operates at The Surgery Center at Doral. This is because virtually all orthopedic upper extremity procedures can now be done on an outpatient basis which has a lesser complication / infection rate and is much more cost effective. Dr. Badia’s colleagues from OrthoNOW® also operates at The Surgery Center at Doral. Other specialties that operate at The Surgical Center include general/laparoscopic surgery, urology and gynecology procedures. For more information visit https://www.drbadia.com/the-surgery-center-at-doral/
Do you have an on-site surgical facility?
Yes, the Surgery Center at Doral is a fully medicare approved facility with JCAHO certification and has contracts with various major insurance carriers. This includes many commercial insurances, workers compensation carriers and international insurances.
What are your office hours?
Badia Hand to Shoulder center is generally open Monday to Friday from 8:30am a 5:00pm although at least one of the providers is available on off hours in order to handle emergencies. The ambulatory center is frequently active late at night due to the management of emergency hand and upper limb injuries.
However, extended hours are available upstairs at OrthoNOW® Doral, the first orthopedic urgent care center in South Florida, which is now a national franchise, and soon to be international. OrthoNOW® Doral is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00am until 10:00pm; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00am until 7:00pm; and Saturdays from 10:00am until 2:00pm, always without an appointment needed! http://www.orthonowcare.com
Do all surgeries require general anesthesia?
Hand and upper extremity surgery rarely require general anesthesia. The team of anesthesiologists at The Surgery Center at Doral are very experienced in local and regional block anesthesia. This means you will feel no pain or discomfort. Intravenous sedation will also help you relax or even sleep during your procedure.
What is the difference between an orthopedic surgeon and a hand surgeon?
An orthopedic surgeon specializes in medical and surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system. This includes all bones, muscles, tendons and joints. A hand surgeon is a sub specialist in treatment of the hand and often the upper extremity as well. Dr. Badia is an orthopedic surgeon who also performed specialized training to limit his practice to the hand and upper limb. Occasionally, hand surgeons receive their fundamental training in plastic or even general surgery. Someone with this more specialized training should generally perform complex surgeries of the hand, wrist and elbow.
