Reid W. Draeger, MD

Medical Degree

University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Residency

Orthopaedic Surgery, University of North Carolina Hospitals

Fellowship

Orthopaedic Hand Surgery and Microsurgery, Mary S. Stern Fellowship, University of Cincinnati

Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

• Carpal tunnel release
• Cubital tunnel and other nerve decompression surgeries of the upper extremity
• Thumb basal joint (CMC) arthritis surgery
• Treatment of complex fractures about the hand, wrist, and forearm
• Wrist and elbow arthroscopy
• Treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture with both surgical and nonsurgical methods, including collagenase (Xiaflex) injections
• Treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis of the hand, wrist, and elbow
• Arthroscopic treatment of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears
• Microsurgical nerve and vascular repair
• Flexor and extensor tendon repair
• Treatment of tendonitis about the wrist and elbow, including DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis and lateral epicondylitis
• Total elbow arthroplasty
• Trigger finger release

UNC Orthopaedics (Ambulatory Care Center)
102 Mason Farm Road
Second Floor
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

• Health literacy
• Hand, wrist, and elbow arthritis
• Trauma to the hand and wrist
• Post-operative pain perception and control
• Infections of the hand
• Dupuytren’s contracture
• Patient-centered orthopaedic care
• Patient access to orthopaedic care

(see entire list available at PubMed)

ulstra AEJ, Crijns TJ, Janssen SJ, Buijze GA, Ring D, Jaarsma RL, Kerkhoffs GMMJ, Obdeijn MC, Doornberg JN, Draeger RW. Factors associated with surgeon recommendation for additional cast immobilization of a CT-verified nondisplaced scaphoid waist fracture. Science of Variation Group. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2021 Nov;141(11):2011-2018. doi: 10.1007/s00402-021-04062-0. Epub 2021 Jul 24. PMID: 34302522

2. Gomez V, Cairns M, Weinhold P, Jeffs AD, Bortner B, Paterno AV, Dahners L, Draeger RW. 2-Octyl Cyanoacrylate (Dermabond®) Inhibits Bridging Bone Formation of Articular Fractures in a Rat Model. Cureus. 2021 Jul 30;13(7):e16758. doi: 10.7759/cureus.16758. eCollection 2021 Jul. PMID: 34476134

3. Feinstein SD, Draeger RW. Intra-arterial Foreign Body following Radial Artery Cannulation Requiring Microsurgical Removal: Case Report and Review of the Literature. J Hand Microsurg. 2020 Oct;12(Suppl 1):S45-S49. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1676871. Epub 2018 Dec 24. PMID: 33335371

4. Shapiro J, Feinstein SD, Jewell E, Taylor RR, Weinhold PS, Draeger RW. A biomechanical comparison of modified radioscapholunate fusion constructs for radiocarpal arthritis. J Hand Surg Am. 2020 Oct;20:S0363-5023(20)30143-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2020.03.006. Online ahead of print.

5. Jernigan EW 3rd, Smetana BS, Rummings WA, Dineen HA, Patterson JMM, Draeger RW. The Effect of Intraoperative Glove Choice on Carpal Tunnel Pressure. J Hand Microsurg. 2020;12(1):3-7. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1669367

6. Leatherwood WH, Bortner BA, Draeger RW, Dahners LE, Rubin J, Weinhold PS. Evaluation of zolendronate, cytochalasin-D, and desferrioxamine on osseointegration in an intramedullary femoral implant model. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2020 Mar 3;20(1):121-127.

7. Allen AD, Bassil AM, Berkoff DJ, Al Maliki M, Draeger RW, Weinhold PS. Minocycline microspheres did not significantly improve outcomes after collagenase injection of tendon. J Orthop. 2019 Jun;16(6):580-584. PMID: 31660026

8. Dineen HA, Feinstein SD, Varkey DT, Jarmul JA, Draeger RW. Rates of corrective osteotomy after distal radius fractures treated nonsurgically and surgically. J Hand Surg Global Online. 2019;1:131-137.

9. Dineen HA, Patterson JMM, Eskildsen SM, Gan ZS, Li Q, Patterson BC, Draeger RW. Gender preferences of patients when selecting orthopaedic providers. Iowa Orthop J. 2019; 39(1):203-210. PMID: 31413695

10. Rummings WA, Honeycutt PB, Jernigan EW, Weinhold PS, Draeger RW. Effect of nerve-cutting technique on nerve microstructure and neuroma formation. J Hand Microsurg. 2019 Apr;11(1):28-34. PMID: 30911209

11. Efird WM, Fletcher AG, Draeger RW, Spang JT, Dahners LE, Weinhold PS. Deferoxamine-soaked suture improves angiogenesis and repair potential after acute injury of the chicken achilles tendon. Orthop J Sports Med. 2018 Oct 23;6(10):2325967118802792. PMID: 30370309.

12. Jernigan EW 3rd, Honeycutt PB, Patterson JMM, Rummings WA Jr, Bynum DK, Draeger RW. Accuracy in screw selection in a cadaveric, small-bone fracture model. J Hand Surg Am. 2018 Dec;43(12):1138.e1-1138.e8. PMID: 29801935.

13. Carpenter D, Draeger RW. Neurogenic edema and fulminant infection from complex regional pain syndrome necessitating below elbow amputation. J Hand Microsurg. 2017 Dec;9(3):159-162. PMID: 29302140.

14. Draeger RW, Bynum DK Jr, Patterson JMM. Simplified cable nerve grafting with nerve-cutting guides and fibrin glue. J Hand Microsurg. 2017 Dec;9(3):167-169. PMID: 29302142.

15. Jernigan EW, Patterson JMM, Draeger RW. How to cut a nerve: morphological implications of instruments used in preparation of severed nerves for neurorrhaphy. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2017 Nov;42(9):961-963. PMID: 28673114.

16. Smetana BS, Jernigan EW, Rummings WA Jr, Weinhold PS, Draeger RW, Patterson JMM. Submuscular Versus Subcutaneous Ulnar Nerve Transposition: A Cadaveric Model Evaluating Their Role in Primary Ulnar Nerve Repair at the Elbow. J Hand Surg Am. 2017 Jul;42(7):571.e1-571.e7. PMID: 28434831.

17. Honeycutt PB, Jernigan EW, Rummings WA Jr, Stern PJ, Draeger RW. Volar Anatomy of the Proximal Phalanx: Implications for Screw Length Selection for Fixation of Shaft Fractures. J Hand Surg Am. 2017 Mar;42(3):e149-e157. PMID: 28259279.

18. Dineen HA, Gentry RD, Draeger RW. Upper extremity complications and concerns in patients with cardiac disease. J Hand Surg Am. 2016 Mar;41(3):470-2. PMID: 26723477.

19. Draeger RW, Stern PJ. The inverted pyramid sign and other eponymous signs of ulnar nerve palsy. J Hand Surg Am. 2014 Dec;39(12):2517-20. PMID: 25239048.

20. Patterson BM, Draeger RW, Olsson EC, Spang JT, Lin FC, Kamath GV. A regional assessment of Medicaid access to outpatient orthopaedic care: the influence of population density and proximity to academic medical centers on patient access. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014 Sep 17;96(18):e156. PMID: 25232086.

21. Osterman MN, Draeger RW, Stern PJ. Acute hand infections. J Hand Surg Am. 2014 Aug;39(8):1628-1635. PMID: 25070032.

22. Osterman MN, Draeger RW, Stern PJ. In reply: The anatomy of deep hand space infections: the deep thenar space. J Hand Surg Am. 2014 Dec;39(12):2550. PMID: 25459962.

23. Draeger RW, Stern PJ. Patient-centered care in medicine and surgery: guidelines for achieving patient-centered subspecialty care. Hand Clin. 2014 Aug;30(3):353-359. PMID: 25066854.

24. Draeger RW, Bynum DK, Schaffer A, Patterson JM. Bicolumnar intercarpal arthrodesis: minimum 2-year follow-up. J Hand Surg Am. 2014 May;39(5):888-894. PMID: 24612830.

25. Draeger RW, Patterson BM, Olsson EC, Schaffer A, Patterson JM. The influence of patient insurance status on access to outpatient orthopaedic care for flexor tendon lacerations. J Hand Surg Am. 2014 Mar;39(3):527-533. PMID: 24559630.

• ASSH Leadership Program Participant, 2017
• AAOS/OREF/ORS Clinical Scholar Career Development Program, 2015
• UNC School of Medicine Musculoskeletal Course Faculty Teaching Cup Winner, 2015
• UNC Hospitals Resident Research Award, 2013
• UNC School of Medicine Alpha Omega Alpha, Gamma Chapter, 2007
• UNC School of Medicine Howard Holderness Distinguished Medical Scholar, 2006-2008
• UNC School of Medicine University Research Day Outstanding Visual Presentation Award, 2005
• UNC School of Medicine NIH NIDDK Short Term Research Training Grant, 2004
• UNC School of Medicine John B. Graham Medical Student Research Travel Award, 2004
• UNC School of Medicine Michiko Kuno Outstanding Presentation Award, 2005
• UNC School of Medicine John B. Graham Student Research Society, 2004

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