- College: Tufts University, Medford, MA
- Medical School: Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY
- Residency: Orthopaedic Surgery, New York Orthopaedic Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY
- Fellowship: Fellowship in Hand and Microsurgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Visiting Clinician Observership in Elbow Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Mark Vitale, MD, MPH, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a fellowship-trained specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of hand, wrist and elbow conditions and injuries in patients ranging from infancy to adulthood. He holds a subspecialty certificate of added qualitifications in surgery of the hand and upper extremity. His expertise includes treatment of arthritis of the hand, wrist and elbow, fractures of the upper extremity, rehabilitation of sports injuries of the hand, wrist and elbow, arthroscopic treatment of wrist and elbow disorders, nerve compression syndromes of the upper extremity including carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome, microsurgical reconstruction of nerve injuries, treatment of masses in the hand such as ganglion cysts, and upper extremity tendon repair and reconstruction. Dr. Vitale takes care of hand differences and disabilities seen in infancy and adolescence as well as pediatric hand, wrist and elbow fractures. Dr. Vitale has been designated by Endo Pharmaceuticals as an ‘experienced injector’ of xiaflex for Dupuytren’s Disease, and he is able to treat many patients with Dupuytren’s contractures non-operatively with an injectable enzyme which breaks down the cords that cause fingers to bend into the palm.
Dr. Vitale graduated from Tufts University where he majored in biopsychology. He earned a doctorate in medicine from Columbia University where he also earned a masters in public health to better understand epidemiology and research methodology as it pertains to healthcare and orthopedic surgery specifically. He completed his residency training in orthopaedic surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center where he served as chief resident. He then completed a fellowship in hand surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, where he was recognized as the Alice D. Jensen Fellow in Hand Surgery.
Dr. Vitale enjoys publishing and lecturing on hand, wrist and elbow injuries and surgical techniques, and has been a leader in orthopedic and hand surgery research throughout his career, having published more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers as well as authoring several book chapters and invited articles. He has presented his work at regional, national and international scientific meetings for the American Society of Surgery of the Hand, the American Association for Hand Surgery, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and other conferences. He serves as a Consultant Reviewer for the Journal of Hand Surgery, the Journal of Wrist Surgery, HAND, the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and the Bone and Joint Journal. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and an Active Member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. In 2014 Dr. Vitale was honored by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand with the Ronald Linscheid-James Dobyns Excellence in Wrist Surgery Award. In 2016 Dr. Vitale was honored by his peers among all practicing physicians in Fairfield County with the Melvin Magida Award in recognition of excellence and compassion in patient care. He is the only orthopaedic surgeon to have been awarded this honor in its 37 year history. In 2016 and 2017, Dr. Vitale was ranked among the Top Doctors in Hand Surgery in the Region and in the New York Metro Area by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Vitale is committed to the highest quality of medical care and seeks the optimal outcomes for his patients via both surgical and non-surgical techniques.
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AFFILIATIONS
American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) Active Member
New York Society for Surgery of the Hand (NYSSH) Member
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS)
Orthopaedics Overseas (OO)/Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO)
American Medical Association (AMA)
Connecticut Orthopaedic Society (COS)
CERTIFICATIONS
Subspecialty Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery and Upper Extremity, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery – Board Certified
ADDITIONAL HONORS
Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor in Hand Surgery, 2016-2017
Castle Connolly New York Metro Area Top Doctor in Hand Surgery, 2016 – 2017
Moffly Media Top Doctors in Fairfield County, Hand Surgery, 201-2017
Melville G. Magida Award, Fairfield County Medical Association – 2016
Excellence in Medical Research, Doctors of Distinction Award – 2015
Ronald Linschied – James Dobyns Excellence in Wrist Surgery Award, American Society for Surgery of the Hand – 2014
40 Under 40 WAG/FFCBJ Award – 2014
Alice D. Jensen Fellow Award, Mayo Clinic – 2012
Frank E. Stinchfield Award, New York Orthopaedic Hospital – 2011
Senior Resident Teacher of the Year Award, New York Orthopaedic Hospital – 2011
Robert E. Carroll Award, New York Orthopaedic Hospital – 2010
Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center Resident of the Year Award – 2008
Third Place Resident Research Award, American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Orthopaedics – 2008
Harold M. Dick Award, New York Orthopaedic Hospital – 2008
Second Place Resident Research Award, Brooklyn Orthopaedic Society – 2008
New York Orthopaedic Hospital Award, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons – 2006
Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons – 2005
Outstanding Clinical Scientific Paper of the Year, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America – 2005
Third Place Resident Research Award, American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Orthopaedics – 2002
Second Place Research Award, International Congress of Spine Surgery -2002
PUBLISHED RESEARCH
Vitale, M.A.; Chen, C.-C.; Rizzo, M.; Moran, S.L. Pyrolytic carbon arthroplasty versus suspensionplasty for trapezial-metacarpal arthritis. Journal of Wrist Surgery. 6(2): 134-143; May 2017.
Ruchelsman, D.E.; Vitale, M.A. Extensor carpi ulnaris subsheath reconstruction. Journal of Hand Surgery. 21(11):e433-439; Nov 2016.
Hodgins, J.L.; Vitale, M.A.; Arons, R.A.; Ahmad, C.S. Epidemiology of medial ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction: A 10-year study of New York State. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 44(3):729-34; Mar 2016.
Seetharamen, M.; Vitale, M.A.; Desai, K.; Crowe, J.F. Extensor pollicis longus rupture after Mini Tightrope suspensionplasty. Journal of Wrist Surgery. 5(2):143-6;May 2016.
Vitale, M.A.; Brogan, D.M.; Shin, A.Y; Berger, R.A. Intra-articular fractures of the sigmoid notch of the distal radius: analysis of progression to distal radial ulnar joint arthritis and impact on upper extremity function in surgically treated fractures. Journal of Wrist Surgery. 5(1):52-8; Mar 2016.
Vitale, M.A.; Fruth, K.R.; Rizzo, M.; Moran, S.L.; Kakar, S. Prosthetic arthroplasty versus arthrodesis for osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis of the index finger proximal interphalangeal joint. Journal of Hand Surgery. 40(10):1937-1948;Oct 2015.
Adams, J.E.; Calfee, R.P.; Vitale, M.A.; Strauch, R.J.; Barron, O.A. Dorsal proximal interphalangeal joint fracture-dislocations: evaluation and treatment. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Instructional Course Lectures. 64:261-72;2015, Rosemont, IL.
Vitale, M.A.; Roden, A.C.; Rizzo, M. Tenosynovitis of the wrist and thumb and carpal tunnel syndrome caused by Histoplasma capsulatum: case report and review of the literature. HAND. 10(1):54-59;Mar 2015.
Sethi, P.M.; Vadasdi, K.; Greene, R.T.; Vitale, M.A.; Duong, M.; Miller, S.R. Safety of open suprapectoral and subpectoral biceps tenodesis: an anatomic assessment of risk for neurologic injury. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 24(1):138-42;Jan 2015.
Vitale, M.A.; Seetharamen, M.; Ruchelsman, D. Perilunate dislocations. Journal of Hand Surgery. 40(2):358-362; Nov 2014.
Vitale, M.A.; Doc, will this injection make my trigger finger go away? Commentary on an article by Robert D. Wojahn, MD et al: “Long-term outcomes following a single corticosteroid injection for trigger finger. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 96-A(22):e191:1-2;Nov 2014.
Huish, EG; Vitale, M.A.; Shin, A.Y. Acute proximal row carpectomy to treat a transscaphoid, transtriquetral perilunate fracture-dislocation: case report and review of the literature. HAND. 8(1):105-109; March 2013.
Conditions & Treatments Include:
Testimonials
I’ve been seeing Dr. Vitale for over a year for a rare condition in my wrist. He is extremely kind and informative. It is very easy to get an appointment and the wait times during your visit are minimal. The physical therapy department is great too. I would recommend him and ONS to anyone.(5 Star Review on Healthgrades from a patient in Stamford, CT)
LOVE this doctor!! I’ve seen Dr. Vitale a number of times–primarily to repair problems from “one of the best” surgeons in NYC who did my carpal tunnel release surgery. Dr. Vitale does beautiful work and has an OUTSTANDING way with patients. Dr. Vitale is extremely kind, unhurried and super attentive and patient, extremely informative and exceedingly concerned with the patient’s comfort. He did beautiful work repairing my surgery (he also took care of my trigger finger with cortisone rather than surgery). I found him through another medical professional who also gave the highest recommendation. He is the only hand surgeon I would see and I cannot recommend him highly enough!! (5 Star Review on Google.)
The staff, from the moment you walk in, are professional, courteous and friendly! Dr Mark Vitale is a top notch orthopedic surgeon! I broke my wrist last week and required surgery. I was not the least bit nervous because I knew I was in great hands! He’s an Intelligent, caring, talented and dedicated surgeon. What more can you ask for!? Don’t get me started regarding Greenwich Hospital! Unbelievably professional hospital! (5 star review on Yelp from Amelia C. in Mamaroneck)
Dr. Vitale was professional and explained everything very clearly. I was impressed with him as well as the entire process. (Patient Survey)
Dr. Vitale– I have been back to work now for about two months. Both hands are getting stronger every day, I am doing things that I never thought I would be able to do again. Pain right now as I am typing is less than a 1 on the scale…I could not be happier with the results! I can not wait to get back out and play golf again, something I could not do for the last 3 yrs. You have really changed my life and I can not thank you enough! Your skills and bedside manner are top notch, ONS is very lucky to have you on their team. (DC)
Dr. Vitale– I’ve been wanting to write to you for some time now to express my sincere appreciation and DELIGHT in the outcome of my finger and wrist surgery done by you back on April 4. I wish you could see the results! Nothing short of professional beauty! — more than I had hoped for. No one could believe the difference. AND, I have complete movement with no limitations or pain at all. Remarkable. Be assured, I will not hesitate to recommend you to anyone I love or know! (SC)
Dr. Vitale– I wanted to tell you that it has been 10 months since my surgery, and it is great! I had a major accomplishment last weekend when I won my USTA match with the team that I joined; I am the oldest guy by almost 20 years and am more than holding my own, that was the reason we did the surgery in the first place! So thank you so much for helping me continue my love of the game. (PT)
The first thing that amazed me about ONS is that there was no wait! I hadn’t even finished filling out my forms when they called me in and I wasn’t used to that. Then Dr. Vitale didn’t make me wait either. X-ray and MRI are all in one place and again, there was no wait. I was reluctant to have the surgery but the doctor took the time to call me on his personal cell in the evening and weekend just to check up on me. I was putting off the hand surgery but Dr. Vitale was concerned I might lose total functionality of my finger or worse if I didn’t take care of it. I realized after the fourth call that this guy was real and this was serious.
I give ONS a five-star rating. It doesn’t get any better than this. It was a good global experience, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop but it didn’t. I’ve never experienced in my life this level of medical care. I’ve just never seen anything like this. I don’t know how your MD’s set this up, I’m absolutely stunned by the level of how this place operates. Even the trouble I had with insurance where Aetna was coded wrong was taken care of by the billing staff.
Here I am with fine hand functionality back, the doctor accomplished what he hoped to accomplish given the circumstances. That’s the ONS Advantage. (CR)
