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Expert Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery in Santa Barbara, CA
Associated Hand Surgeons is a leading medical practice specializing in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of injuries, disorders, and conditions affecting the hand, wrist, elbow, arm, and shoulder. Our team of board-certified orthopedic surgeons and physician assistants is dedicated to delivering advanced, personalized care tailored to each patient's unique needs. With over three decades of combined expertise, we provide comprehensive treatment plans, including minimally invasive procedures, joint replacements, and postoperative therapy, ensuring optimal recovery. Our practice operates in specialized offices and state-of-the-art outpatient surgery centers across Santa Barbara, Solvang, and Oxnard, CA, offering a relaxing environment and 24/7 emergency availability.Each senior physician has completed advanced training in hand and microvascular surgery, maintaining affiliations with prestigious institutions like the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. We prioritize patient education, discussing diagnoses and treatment options during face-to-face consultations to facilitate informed decisions. Our commitment to excellence extends to community involvement, including partnerships with the Arthritis Foundation and participation in national medical research. By integrating cutting-edge techniques with compassionate care, we aim to restore function and enhance quality of life for every patient.
Services
Hand Surgery
Wrist Surgery
Elbow Surgery
Shoulder Surgery
Carpal Tunnel Treatment
Tennis Elbow Therapy
Fracture Management
Nerve Entrapment Repair
Arthritis Reconstruction
Post-Traumatic Rehabilitation
Highlights and features
- Our surgeons are board-certified with additional training in hand and microvascular surgery.
- We provide 24/7 emergency care with senior physicians always available.
- We utilize state-of-the-art outpatient surgery centers for advanced care.
- We offer personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs.
- We have three convenient locations across the California Central Coast.
What people say
Expert care
Successful treatment outcomes
Personalized attention
24/7 availability
Trust in surgeons
Services
Hand Surgery
Our hand surgery specialists treat fractures, tendon injuries, and nerve disorders using advanced microsurgical techniques. We address conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture, and arthritis to restore hand function. Patients benefit from personalized rehabilitation plans and state-of-the-art care for both traumatic injuries and chronic conditions.
Elbow Surgery
Specialized elbow surgery addresses tennis elbow, cubital tunnel syndrome, and complex fractures through minimally invasive procedures. Our surgeons combine arthroscopy with traditional techniques to repair ligaments, tendons, and joints. Treatment includes preoperative assessment and postoperative therapy to ensure full recovery and mobility restoration.
Wrist Reconstruction
Wrist reconstruction services treat scaphoid fractures, ligament injuries, and rheumatoid arthritis using cutting-edge surgical methods. We specialize in ligament repair, joint replacements, and fracture management to alleviate pain and improve wrist stability for patients across all activity levels.
Shoulder Arthroscopy
Our shoulder arthroscopy services address rotator cuff injuries, arthritis, and chronic pain through minimally invasive techniques. Board-certified surgeons perform precise repairs while preserving surrounding tissues, followed by customized physical therapy programs to maximize shoulder function and strength.
Nerve Injury Repair
Nerve injury repair focuses on conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and traumatic nerve damage using microsurgical techniques. Our specialists restore sensation and motor function through decompression, grafting, or transfer procedures, supported by comprehensive postoperative care and rehabilitation.
People
Michael J. Behrman, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Behrman is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with specialized training in hand and microvascular surgery from the Hand Rehabilitation Center. He serves on the Arthritis Foundation board and works as a U.S. Olympic ski team physician.
Robert M. Ruth, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Ruth specializes in hand and upper extremity surgery, combining extensive clinical experience with a patient-centered approach to treat complex injuries and degenerative conditions across all age groups.
Adam W. Rives, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Rives focuses on surgical and non-surgical treatments for hand, wrist, and elbow conditions, emphasizing minimally invasive techniques and evidence-based rehabilitation protocols to optimize patient outcomes.
Alex J. Doermann, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Doermann specializes in upper extremity trauma and reconstructive surgery, with expertise in treating sports-related injuries and nerve compression syndromes using advanced surgical and conservative approaches.
Glenn Morrison, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Glenn Morrison provides comprehensive pre- and postoperative care, assisting surgeons in treating hand and upper extremity conditions while ensuring continuity of patient education and recovery support.
Questions
What conditions do you specialize in treating?
We specialize in hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder conditions including fractures, nerve compression, arthritis, sports injuries, and post-traumatic reconstruction using surgical and non-surgical methods.
Do you offer emergency care services?
Yes, we provide 24/7 emergency availability with senior physicians always on call for urgent hand and upper extremity injuries.
What makes your surgeons uniquely qualified?
Our surgeons are board-certified in orthopedic surgery with additional fellowship training in hand and microvascular surgery, maintaining active roles in medical education and research.
How can I schedule an appointment?
Schedule appointments through our Santa Barbara, Solvang, or Oxnard offices via phone or online contact forms, with urgent cases accommodated the same day.
What treatment options are available?
We offer minimally invasive surgery, joint replacements, nerve repairs, and comprehensive rehabilitation programs tailored to each patient's specific condition and lifestyle needs.
Reviews (6)
Donna Tilley
Apr 02, 2022
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Just wanted to share my experiences. I'm 70 year old women and have lots of surgeries. I had hand surgery and from the time we arrived at 7:30 Monday morning on the 28th of March until I left a little after 10, I was made to feel so comfortable and they saw me. The nurse Jane who had to give me two IV, one in each arm was so nice knowing I have always had problems with IVs. She was great and did them both on first try. So from being checked in to the nurses and the Er nurses and Dr Rives and his whole team, this medical establishment is first rate. Thank you so much for making an old lady feel so relaxed.
Cole Jacobs
Feb 21, 2022
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I don't write reviews for anything but went here for climbing related injury, doc was entirely unhelpful, barely even asked any diagnostic questions it was kind of ridiculous-I wouldn't go here for anything sports related. Technician said he had insider info that covid is a biochemical weapon made in a lab in China, so there was that too.
Paul Herzog
Oct 23, 2021
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I visited them and met with a doctor who recommended my hand needed an MRI and that he would request one. After two weeks of having no contact, I called but they said the person who takes care of Insurance requests. Is out of the office but would call me Monday. Finally, I called Wednesday and nothing had be done. I left with a very soar hand and Im still waiting. Excuses but no reason for mistakes. Very unprofessional. Coming up on three weeks.
Karen Roberts
Oct 04, 2021
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From the office staff to the doctors, simply the best and most caring ortho practice. After a traumatic shoulder accident, no one else could get me in for a month or so, so I resorted back to Doc Behrman who had reattached my thumb 20 years ago. They got me in the next business day, fully analyzed my situation, and realized I needed a trauma surgeon. So they arranged for a CAT scan while I was in SB area, set me up with an appropriate hi tech sling, and then followed through by finding the right surgeon for me. Got in to that Doc the same week, surgery the next. This would not have happened otherwise, so TY
Dayna Crow
Sep 24, 2021
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I feel like I have gotten excellent care from Dr Rives. He knows his field and is a pro giving otherwise very painful injections. I trust the doctor and always appreciate the friendliness in the offices (Santa Barbara and Oxnard) and the distracting banter from the staff. Thank you!
LunaH O.
May 21, 2021
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They are just decent, but the bedside manner / empathy are lacking. The support staff is really great, I will say that, I appreciate their help a great deal, especially with paperwork for disability & workers comp stuff. But. the male nurse doesn't pick up on appropriate social queues at all, like when a person is in pain & not in the mood for jokes. The doc isn't much better. He literally spends at most just 5 mins with me at every appointment and has told me the same thing for over a year now, "let me see you back in 4-6 weeks and we'll go from there". I was hoping to be all healed up by now, I feel like I've done better on my own.
