Dr. Steven Marshall Green, MD

After I tore the UCL tendon in my thumb following a dislocation, Dr. Green told me that there was a 75 percent chance that it would heal well on its own, and a 25 percent chance that the tendon would not reattach properly -- and that an invasive surgical procedure to rebuild the tendon might become necessary. Dr. Green said a good option would be an immediate surgical procedure to reattach the tendon to my proximal phalange (bone), and he explained the benefits and ease of scheduling the surgery. He said the choice was up to me, but that he could not recommend either course of treatment over the other. I got a second opinion from another highly respected orthopedic surgeon, who, upon hearing that my first doctor had recommended immediate surgery, asked me, "Who told you that?" and remarked that he absolutely did not share Dr. Green's opinion that surgery would be a good option. I continued my (non-surgical) treatment with the second doctor. After six weeks of immobilization in a… spica brace, my thumb is now completely stable and I'm building its strength back up in physical therapy. Dr. Green seemed to be pushing an unnecessary surgical procedure in the stereotypical "surgeons love to perform surgery" fashion.