About Dr. Carlson
Dr. Michelle Carlson is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in treating sports-related hand, wrist, and upper extremity injuries, hand and wrist fractures, arthritis, and neurologic conditions. She has been in practice for more than 25 years at Hospital for Special Surgery, where she also completed her internship, residency, and fellowship after graduating from Cornell Medical School as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society.
Dr. Carlson is the official second opinion physician for the NBA as well as consultant hand surgeon for several professional sports teams, including the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Mets. She has served on the Board of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand for six years and served as Treasurer from 2014-2017.
Throughout her career, Dr. Carlson has won many prestigious awards, including the ASSH Julian Brewer Award, Jacqueline Perry Research Award, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society/Zimmer Research Grant, the Lewis Clark Wagner Research Award, the T. Campbell Thompson Prize, and the Glasgow Memorial Achievement Citation. She has authored more than 200 papers and book chapters and presented at more than 300 national and international meetings.
She is currently an Attending Orthopedic Surgeon at HSS and a Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Departments
Specialized Centers
Center for Brachial Plexus and Traumatic Nerve Injury
Children and Adolescent Hand and Arm (CHArm) Center
Special Expertise
Basal joint arthritis
Carpal tunnel
Dupuytrens
Hand disorders in women
Neurologic injuries in the upper extremity
Pediatric hand surgery
Sports-related hand injuries and fractures
Trigger finger
Patient Stories
Insurance
Please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.
Credentials
Appointments
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College
Certification
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Certificate of Added Qualification Hand Surgery
Awards
Castle Connolly America's Top Doctors, 2012-2020
New York Magazine Top Doctors, 2009-2019, 2021, 2022
Castle Connolly Top Doctors in New York Metro Area, 2002-2022
Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society/Zimmer Research Grant
Lewis Clark Wagner Research Award
AOA Traveling Fellowship Award
T. Campbell Thompson Prize
Glasgow Memorial Achievement Citation
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
Education
MD, Weill Cornell Medical College
Residency
Hospital for Special Surgery
Fellowship
Hospital for Special Surgery, Upper Extremity and Microvascular Surgery, US
State Licensure
Languages
English
For My Patients
Surgical Locations
Dr. Carlson performs surgery at the following locations:
Publications by Dr. Carlson
Patient Education
Blog Posts
Selected Journal Articles
Carlson MG, Hearns KA, Leach ME, Inkellis E. Early Results of Surgical Intervention For Elbow Deformity in Cerebral Palsy Based On Degree of Contracture. The Journal of Hand Surgery. (accepted for publication)
Dy CJ, Young KC, Carlson MG. The Maximum Distal and Ulnar Position of a Fixed-Angle Volar Plate to Avoid Intra-Articular Penetration: A Cadaver Study. The Journal of Hand Surgery European. March 15, 2012 (Epub ahead of print)
Gyuricza C, Carlson MG, Weiland AJ, Wolfe SW, Hotchkiss RN, Daluiski A. Removal of Locked Plates After Distal Radius Fractures. The Journal of Hand Surgery American 36 (6): 982-5 (June 2011)
Kang L, Carlson MG. Extensor Tendon Centralization at the Metacarpophalangeal Joint: Surgical Technique. The Journal of Hand Surgery American 35A (7): 1194-7 (July 2010)
Carlson MG, Spincola LJ, McDermott E, Lewin J. Impact of Video Review on Surgical Procedure Determination in Patients with Cerebral Palsy. Journal of Hand Surgery; 34A(7): 1225-31 (September 2009)
Carlson MG, Brooks C. The Effect of Altered Hand Skills on Stereognosis. The Journal of Hand Surgery American 34(5): 896-9 (May-June 2009)
Carlson MG, Brooks C. Normal and Pathological Dynamic Elbow Electromyography in Patients with Cerebral Palsy. The Journal of Hand Surgery (Submitted)
Carlson MG, Gallagher K, Spiritos M. Surgical Treatment of Swan-Neck Deformity in Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. The Journal of Hand Surgery American 32(9): 1418-22 (November, 2007)
Carlson MG, Athwal G, Bueno R. Treatment of the Wrist and Hand in Cerebral Palsy. Journal of Hand Surgery American 31(3): 483-490 (March 2006)
Carlson MG, Brooks C. Tendon transfers for thumb-in-palm deformity in Atlas of the Hand Clinics 7(1): 119 (March 2002)
Beredjiklian PK, Dugas J, Gerwin M,: Primary repair of the scapholunate ligament. Tech. Hand Up Extrem Surg 2(4): 269-73 (1998 Dec)
For more publications, please see the PubMed listing.
Research
Clinical Trials
- Pre-operative Identifiers Indicating Surgical Intervention for Elbow Flexion Deformity in Children and Adolescents Who Have Suffered a Brain Injury at a Young Age
- A Study of Hyaluronan (Synvisc) for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis in the Thumb: Randomized Control Trial
- The Anatomy of the Collateral Ligaments of the Thumb MP Joint and Strength-Testing of a New Construction
- Long Term Results of Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy for Ulnar Impaction Syndrome
- Location of the Median Nerve in Carpal Tunnel Spasticity in Patients with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
- Development and Testing of the Hand Surgery Expectations Survey
- Treatment of Ultra-Small Proximal Pole Scaphoid Fracture
- Pre-operative Identifiers Indicating Surgical Intervention for Wrist Deformity in Cerebral Palsy
- Upper Extremity and Hemispherectomy: A Case Study
- Open Label Trial for Treating Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis: PILOT STUDY - Sub-study on Normal Controls
- National Registry for Injury, Surgical Treatment and Outcomes of Elite Athletes’ Hand and Wrist Injury
- Removal of Volar Plates after Distal Radius Fracture
- A1 and A2 pulley release for the treatment of MCP hyperextension in Cerebral Palsy
- Treatment of the Upper Extremity in Elite Athletes
Industry Relationships
Industry Relationships
One of the goals of HSS is to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and related disciplines for the benefit of patients. Physicians at HSS may collaborate with outside companies for education, research and medical advances. HSS supports this collaboration in order to foster medical breakthroughs; however HSS also believes that these collaborations must be disclosed.
As part of the disclosure process, this website lists physician collaborations with outside companies. The disclosures are provided by information provided by the physician and other sources and are updated regularly. Further information may be available on individual company websites.
As of November 12, 2019, Dr. Carlson reported no relationships with healthcare industry.
By disclosing the collaborations of HSS physicians with industry on this website, HSS and its physicians make this information available to their patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest Policy does not permit physicians to collect royalties on products developed by him/her that are used on patients at HSS.