Donald M. Lewis, M.D.

Watch Dr. Lewis’ sports injury Q&A videos on YouTube

Dr. Lewis practices orthopedic surgery with a special interest in hand, elbow and shoulder surgery, sports medicine, peripheral nerve surgery, and arthroscopy at Muir Orthopaedic Specialists, with a broad experience with treatment of upper extremity issues from simple to complex.

His special interest is in arthroscopic treatment of shoulder injuries, including rotator cuff tears, impingement, labral and SLAP tears.

Dr. Lewis began practicing orthopedic surgery in 2000 after earning his medical degree from the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. His internship and residency at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York prepared him for two successive fellowships – one in hand and elbow surgery and another in shoulder surgery, arthroscopy and sports medicine.

Dr. Lewis joined MOS after completing his fellowships. Committed and focused, he has published numerous articles and given many lectures on related topics including carpal tunnel syndrome and injuries in athletes.

He treats both simple and complex hand and elbow disorders, which often involve sports related issues. He has expertise in wrist arthroscopy and minimally invasive hand surgery. Common hand and elbow problems Dr. Lewis can treat are carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral nerve disorders/injuries, fractures and ligament injuries, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, tendonitis and tendon ruptures, thumb basal joint and hand osteoarthritis, tumors/masses/ganglions, tennis and golfer’s elbow (lateral and medial epicondylitis).

He also has expertise in treatment of complex peripheral nerve injuries, tendon transfers, rheumatoid hand reconstruction, post-traumatic hand reconstruction, and microsurgery.

In addition to being an avid triathlete, fly fisherman and expert skier, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids.

My Approach to Treating Patients

Since I completed separate fellowships in Hand/Microsurgery and Sports Medicine, I work closely with my Physician assistant Joe Torres to coordinate care in the office and assist me in surgery. I believe in using minimally invasive techniques for treatment of carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome, thumb basal joint arthritis, trigger fingers, and Dupuytren’s contracture of the hand.

When possible, I always start with non-surgical treatment that can return function quickly. In situations requiring surgery, I use minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to decrease pain and shorten the recovery period.

My background in Sports Medicine allows me to participate in the care of athletes all the way from local high schools to collegiate and professional levels, with early return to activity as the goal.  Returning people back to their favorite sport or activity is something I’m very proud of.

I have trained with several experts in needle aponeurotomy (also know as percutaneous fasciotomy) for Dupuytren’s contracture in the hand. My website dupuytrens.biz has an explanation of this technique that is performed in the office with local anesthesia. There are many benefits to this procedure, which can dramatically improve motion and function with an office procedure using no stitches. I also use a similar technique for treatment of trigger fingers that can spare you a trip to the operating room and allow almost immediate use of your hand.

Interacting with my patients and being able to use a mix of science, art, and skill to make dramatic improvements in their lives is what I like most about being an orthopedist.

Curriculum Vitae

GROUP AFFILIATION:
Muir Orthopaedic Specialists

OFFICE LOCATIONS:
2405 Shadelands Drive
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

EDUCATION:
1989 – University of Virginia – BA
1993 – Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons – MD

INTERNSHIP:
1993 – 1994 – Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY; General Surgery

RESIDENCY:
1994 – 1998 – New York Orthopaedic Hospital Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY Orthopedic Surgery

FELLOWSHIP:
1998 – 1999 – Hand, Upper Extremity and Microvascular Surgery – The Philadelphia Hand Center Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA

1999 – 2000 – Sports Medicine and Trauma Surgery, Barton Memorial Hospital, South Lake Tahoe, CA

BOARD CERTIFICATION:
Diplomat, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery

MEMBERSHIPS:
Active Member, American Society For Surgery of the Hand
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
California Orthopaedic Association
Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association
Jefferson Hand Society
San Francisco Bay Area Hand Society

HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS:
John Muir Medical Center
San Ramon Regional Medical Center
Sequoia Surgical Pavilion
Sierra Surgi-Center

PUBLICATIONS:
Avulsion of the Flexor Digitorum Profundus, DM Lewis, RW Culp; MasterCases in Hand and Wrist Surgery, 2004

Scapholunate Injuries in Athletes, DM Lewis, AL Osterman; Clinics in Sports Medicine, 2001

PRESENTATIONS AND LECTURES:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
John Muir Medical Center Grand Rounds 2005
John Muir Orthopedic Health Fair 2005

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
John Muir Medical Center Grand Rounds 2005

Injuries to the Rotator Cuff
Worker’s Compensation Symposium 2005

Carpal Tunnel and Repetitive Stress Syndrome
Worker’s Compensation Symposium 2003, 2004

Skiers Thumb Injury
Canadian Medical Update for Family Practioners 2003

Acute Perilunate and Lunate Dislocations-Outcome of Trans-Scaphoid Cases vs. Scapholunate Ligament Ruptures
Lewis, RW Culp, JS Raphael
American Association of Hand Surgeons National Meeting 2000

Treatment of Distal Phalanx Non-Union with a Mini-Herbert Screw
DM Lewis, JS Vanichkachorn, RW Culp
Philadelphia Hand Society 1999

Understanding Wrist X-rays
PC Amadio, JS Raphael, DM Lewis
Surgery and Rehabilitation of the Hand, National Meeting, Philadelphia 1999

Early Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis Diagnosed at Arthroscopy for Impingement Syndrome
DM Lewis, D Marra, J Arroyo, RG Pollock, EL Flatow, LU Bigliani
Arthroscopy Association of North America Specialty Day American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 1998

Early Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis Diagnosed at Arthroscopy for Impingement Syndrome
DM Lewis, D Marra, J Arroyo, RG Pollock, EL Flatow, LU Bigliani
American Orthopaedic Association Resident’s Conference 1998

Early Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis Simulating Impingement Syndrome
DM Lewis, K Yamaguchi, RG Pollock, EL Flatow, LU Bigliani
Arthroscopy Association of North America National Meeting 1997

Acute Perilunate and Lunate Dislocations- a Single Center Study
DM Lewis, RJ Strauch, MP Rosenwasser, MK Abouzahr, SA Grantham, HM Dick
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 1997

Acute Perilunate and Lunate Dislocations- a Single Center Study
DM Lewis, RJ Stauch, MP Rosenwasser, MK Abouzahr, SA Grantham, HM Dick
American Orthopaedic Association Resident’s Conference 1997

Osteoarthritis in Patients Undergoing Arthroscopic Decompression for Impingement
DM Lewis, JM Glasson, K Yamaguchi, RG Pollock, EL Flatow, LU Bigliani
American Orthopaedic Association Resident’s Conference 1996

Anabolic and Catabolic Markers of Human Osteoarthritis in Knee Synovial Fluids
A Ratcliffe, EJ Zahner, DM Lewis, D Carmack, F Saed-Nejad, R Grelsamer, HA Kiernan
Orthopaedic Research Society 1993

ABSTRACTS AND POSTERS:
Osteoarthritis in Patients Undergoing Arthroscopic Decompression for Impingement
DM Lewis, JM Glasson, K Yamaguchi, RG Pollock, EL Flatow, LU Bigliani
Poster, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 1996

Anabolic and Catabolic Markers of Human Osteoarthritis in Knee Synovial Fluids
A Ratcliffe, EJ Zahner, DM Lewis, D Carmack, F Saed-Nejad, R Grelsamer,
HA Kiernan
Poster, Gordon Research Conference, Proctor Academy 1992
Published Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica Suppl. 1995