Dr. Karl Bernard Michalko, MD

Awesome Doctor

Everyone was great at Hand Surgery Associates. Dr. Michalko was great. He is a doctor whose is honest and says things how they are. If you have questions he will answer them completely. The two nurses were great as I needed my cast changed multiple times (my fault). The two ladies in the front office were always helpful as was Dr. Michalko’s office assistant who was wonderful with my questions especially about my insurances. Thank you all so for your help and assistance. I appreciate it so much.

I saw Dr. Michalko several times for my pointer finger knuckle. After 2 appointments for injections which didn’t help at all we decided on surgery. We talked about what was going to be done and agreed on the surgery. Several days after the surgery I went in for suture removal and realized the incision was made in my palm much to my surprise. This did not match up with our discussion prior to surgery. My hand is much worse now than before the surgery and definitely more painful than ever? None of this makes sense? I wish the decision was mine to make seeing how I am the patient. Now I need another surgery and am scared to death to go back to Dr. M. I was in excruciating pain while I was healing and was told to take Motrin which didn’t help the pain at all. Is anyone accountable anymore for wrong doings?

I have entrusted Dr. Michalko with operating on me three separate times, twice on my thumb and once on my elbow. He was very professional and treated me with respect and compassion. The results of each procedure were as Dr. Michalko predicted and satisfactory to me. I have no reservations recommending him to others. I've read and reread the ratings by others on this site and must state there is one negative review that raises some flags with me. I believe there is some untold issues with the author of this review that has created a definite bias that readers should take with a healthy dose of salt. This doctor knows his stuff. Period.

I recently saw Dr Michalko for tennis elbow, his ability to relax me and answer clearly all of my questions and concerns was extraordinary. The injection for was close to painless. I plan on seeing him for surgery soon.

Very happy and my problem is fixed!

I was referred to his office for a routine cast change after a rare tendon injury repaired at Mayo Clinic. Under his care, the tech put a cast on my wrist too tight. The office did NOT respond to my (rather frantic) calls about the casting- so at noon the day after the casting, I just drove there. The office put on two subsequent casts that caused more damage- I was then referred to a "prosthetics and orthotics" office where a woman put a brace on my arm that did not fit- more frantic calls to his office also unanswered- I drove there again and once was refused to be seen even by his PA- the PA was in the office but worked with another MD that day- I was overtly refused care. I got in to see him the next day (more damage done to wrist) and he told me it would stop hurting when the casting was over- wrong- because it caused nerve damage and tendon damage and adhesions in my wrist. After the 3 bad casts, I was referred by Dr. Michalko to physical therapy at Clinton Crossings for a… brace where I was greeted by the PT with the words- "you are on add on at the end of my day" (had his office even answered the phone or my half dozen messages I would have arrived earlier). This PT also told me "Dr. Michako sends too many." The physical therapist (Ms. Glaser) was rude to me- I told Dr. Michalko and he seemed not to care- I needed more splinting- it is not like you can go anywhere off site with out casting after the tendon repair-This caused adhesions in my first dorsal compartment and a trapped nerves. Over 8 years, I had 6 subsequent hand surgeries release the tendons and scarring from the cast, including 3 surgeries to try to repair the nerve bed- to no avail- with each surgery the outcomes are worse. I tried to go to Rochester General in Rochester, NY but that hand surgeon did not want to get in the middle of the casting mess- so I had to go to a out of town and finally had my radial nerve and the lateral antebrachial branch of a subcutaneous resected. I still have debilitating scar tissue in my wrist- even with the nerves cut. I had to go to Johns Hopkins to get neurography studies done of my wrist and nerves- all at great expense. Had the cast been removed in a timely manner- probably none of this would have happened- but no one answers his phone. And the casting techs were awful. A guy Jeff did not know how to make a munster cast and he once sent me out of there with fiberglass digging into my skin. During one cast removal a female cast tech was twisting my wrist- pulling on my surgery- and I had to literally scream at her to stop- take the saw out and move it to the other side of my cast. So go here knowing the follow up care can ruin a good surgery.

For the first time in years I have little or no hand pain. He is the first doctor that came in with all the information and from what he told me I knew he was giving me all of the facts. He told me all the pros and cons but the relief from the pain are worth it. For me the follow ups have been great as have the staff.

Went to see this Doctor for the first time and he was awesome. Answered all questions asked regarding an almost severed finger tip. He knew what he was talking about. Felt confortable as soon as he walked in. Was able to speak to my adult Son confidentally and not over my Sons head. Would recomend Definately.

He did my arm surgery a few years ago and did a great job. Now that he has a new office he refuses to see his prior patients if they do not have the insurance that he wants. I am FULLY covered under workers compensation insurance and I have other insurance as well. Too bad for me. I will just have to sit in pain because he wont see me. Oh wait, he foes accept workers comp but still wont see me due to the fact that I do not have the same insurance as he does. He is losing out of guaranteed money!!! The lady that answered the phone was horribly rude and hung up on me too!