Houston Upper Extremity Center specializes in comprehensive orthopedic care for conditions affecting the shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, fingers, and peripheral nerves. Our focus extends from the shoulder to the fingertip.Conditions treated include rotator cuff injuries, shoulder arthritis and instability, shoulder and humerus fractures, scapular disorders and winging, thoracic outlet syndrome, biceps and triceps injuries, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, elbow arthritis and dislocations, cubital tunnel syndrome, forearm and wrist fractures, wrist sprains and arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, Guyon's canal compression, De Quervain's tenosynovitis, trigger finger, finger fractures and dislocations, tendon injuries and lacerations, and many other upper-extremity conditions.Dr. Ahmed also treats injuries involving structures around the shoulder and upper arm, including pectoralis, latissimus dorsi, teres major, and deltoid injuries, as well as clavicle fractures and complex brachial plexus and peripheral nerve conditions.

Not necessarily. The goal is to identify the treatment that makes the most sense for your condition, symptoms, goals, and lifestyle.Many orthopedic conditions can initially be managed without surgery through physical therapy, home exercises, activity modification, bracing, medications, injections, PRP, or other nonsurgical treatments.For elective conditions such as arthritis, surgery may become appropriate when symptoms can no longer be adequately managed or the condition is significantly interfering with your quality of life.Other injuries may require surgery sooner. For example, certain fractures, tendon injuries, nerve injuries, or unstable injuries may have better outcomes when treated surgically without unnecessary delay.Dr. Ahmed will review your options with you and help you understand the advantages, limitations, and expected outcomes of both surgical and nonsurgical treatment.

Dr. Ahmed performs a broad range of surgical procedures involving the upper extremity, from the shoulder to the fingertips.This includes arthroscopic and open shoulder surgery, rotator cuff repair, shoulder stabilization, shoulder replacement, fracture fixation, biceps and triceps repair, elbow surgery, tendon repair, wrist and hand surgery, carpal tunnel surgery, trigger finger procedures, peripheral nerve surgery, and treatment of complex traumatic injuries.He also treats less common injuries involving structures such as the pectoralis, latissimus dorsi, teres major, deltoid, clavicle, and brachial plexus.

Yes. Dr. Ahmed performs both minimally invasive/arthroscopic and traditional open procedures depending on the condition being treated.Many procedures, including certain rotator cuff repairs, shoulder stabilization procedures, and biceps procedures, can be performed arthroscopically through small incisions.However, minimally invasive surgery is not automatically the best approach for every condition. Procedures such as shoulder replacement or fixation of certain fractures may require an open approach.The surgical technique is selected based on which approach provides the safest and most effective treatment rather than simply choosing the smallest incision.

Yes. Certain upper-extremity procedures can be performed directly in the office using local anesthesia and ultrasound guidance, potentially avoiding the need for a traditional operating-room experience.Dr. Ahmed performs select ultrasound-guided procedures, including minimally invasive treatment for conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger when appropriate.For some patients, these procedures can be performed through a very small puncture while the patient remains awake and comfortable. Whether an in-office procedure is appropriate depends on your diagnosis, anatomy, medical history, and individual treatment needs.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound allows Dr. Ahmed to evaluate certain tendons, nerves, and other soft-tissue structures in real time during your visit.For nerve conditions, ultrasound can help visualize the nerve and measure its size at different locations to help evaluate areas of compression. It can also be used to assess tendon anatomy and certain injuries without requiring a separate appointment for imaging.Ultrasound can additionally be used to guide injections and selected minimally invasive procedures, helping Dr. Ahmed precisely visualize the anatomy and treatment location.

Yes. Dr. Ahmed uses ultrasound guidance for appropriate injections and procedures.Ultrasound provides real-time visualization of the underlying anatomy, allowing an injection to be placed precisely at the intended tendon, joint, nerve, or other treatment location.The specific type of injection recommended will depend on your condition and may include corticosteroid, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or other treatments.

Yes. Houston Upper Extremity Center offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment for appropriate patients.PRP may be considered for certain tendon injuries, chronic overuse conditions, early arthritis, partial tears, and other situations where supporting the body's healing response may be beneficial.PRP may also be used in some circumstances alongside a procedure or surgery to support healing. Whether PRP is appropriate depends on the specific injury and individual patient.

Yes. Depending on the condition, additional regenerative or biologic injectable treatments may be available.These treatments are intended to support the body's healing response and may be considered for certain tendon, ligament, joint, and soft-tissue conditions.Not every treatment is appropriate for every patient. Dr. Ahmed will discuss the available options, current evidence, potential benefits, limitations, and alternatives before recommending a regenerative treatment.

The practice is designed for anyone seeking specialized evaluation or treatment of an upper-extremity condition.That may include someone who has just suffered an acute injury, an athlete trying to return to competition, a patient with a fracture, someone who has experienced shoulder or arm pain for years, someone whose previous treatment has not provided enough relief, or someone interested in learning about regenerative or other modern treatment options.Dr. Ahmed also welcomes active adults who simply want to better understand an orthopedic issue and determine how they can remain healthy and active over the long term.

Yes. Houston Upper Extremity Center treats athletes and active individuals across a wide range of activity levels.Whether you are a competitive athlete, recreational athlete, weightlifter, weekend golfer, or simply want to remain active, treatment is designed around both the injury and what you want to get back to doing.

Dr. Ahmed evaluates upper-extremity conditions across a broad range of ages, including many injuries that occur in children and adolescents.The appropriate setting for treatment depends on the patient's age and condition. Some pediatric conditions can be evaluated and treated directly, while younger patients who require certain surgical procedures may need referral to a pediatric facility with the appropriate resources and surgical capabilities.

Yes. Dr. Ahmed treats fractures, dislocations, tendon injuries, nerve injuries, and other acute injuries throughout the upper extremity.Because some injuries can have better outcomes when treated promptly, patients with a new fracture, dislocation, significant weakness, tendon injury, or other acute problem should contact the office as soon as possible for evaluation.

Yes. Patients are welcome to seek a second opinion, including for complex upper-extremity conditions, previous injuries, proposed surgery, persistent symptoms, or problems that have not improved with prior treatment.For complex cases, please bring all available medical records and the actual imaging files, not only the written radiology report, so Dr. Ahmed can independently review the studies.

Yes. Houston Upper Extremity Center welcomes patients traveling from outside the Houston area for specialized upper-extremity evaluation and treatment.If you are traveling for a consultation, please contact the office ahead of time so the team can help make sure the appropriate records and imaging are available for your appointment.

Please bring:A photo ID and current insurance cardRelevant medical records from previous physicians or surgeonsPrevious imaging reportsThe actual imaging studies when available, such as MRI, CT, X-ray, or ultrasound images on disc or through an accessible electronic imaging portalOperative reports if you have previously had surgery on the area being evaluatedWritten imaging reports are helpful, but Dr. Ahmed prefers to independently review the actual images whenever possible, particularly for complex conditions or surgical planning.

Houston Upper Extremity Center is actively accepting new patients and works to schedule patients as soon as possible.Patients with acute injuries or conditions that may require timely treatment are encouraged to contact the office promptly.To request an appointment, call 832-844-0239 or use the appointment request form on our website.