Is a hand surgeon the same as an orthopedic surgeon?

In short

Not exactly. Hand surgeons are orthopedic, plastic or general surgeons with at least one extra year of training in the hand. Many hand surgeons are orthopedic surgeons, but not every orthopedic surgeon is a hand surgeon. Dr. Knight is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and fellowship-trained in hand surgery. He practices in Southlake and Plano, Texas.

By The Hand and Wrist Institute Medically reviewed by John T. Knight, MD Reviewed November 4, 2026 Updated November 2, 2026How we write and review

Call (817) 382-6789 to have this looked at, or book online with Dr. Knight.

Where hand surgeons come from

Let's take a look at the training, because that is the real difference. Hand surgery is a subspecialty. Hand surgeons are orthopedic, plastic or general surgeons who complete an initial residency of five to seven years and then at least one more year of training in hand surgery, or what we call a fellowship.¹ Dr. Knight puts general orthopedic training at about five to six years. So the honest answer is that many hand surgeons are orthopedic surgeons, and an orthopedic surgeon becomes a hand surgeon by adding that training.

Dr. Knight's training

Dr. Knight is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He completed his orthopedic residency at Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport, from 1987 to 1992, and then an orthopedic hand fellowship from 1992 to 1993. You can meet him on video in Meet Dr. John Knight.

Where Dr. Knight practices

Dr. Knight sees patients at our Southlake office on weekdays and our Plano office on Tuesdays, and he operates at Legent Surgical Hospital in Plano. Our Plano office replaced our Dallas office on Preston Road, which closed in September 2026. His training and certification are on his hand surgeon profile.

In Dr. Knight's words

"An orthopedic surgeon does a general training of approximately five to six years in everything involving the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. But hand surgery is an extra fellowship, or specialized training, of at least a year, to specifically treat hand and wrist injuries."

When to see a hand surgeon

• Numbness, tingling or weakness in the hand.
• A finger that locks, catches or will not straighten.
• A lump on the hand or wrist.
• A wrist, hand or elbow injury that is not settling.