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 qualifications 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. Since 2016, Dr. Vitale has ranked annually 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.
I recently saw Dr. Vitale for a wrist injury. Dr. Vitale is not only extremely knowledgeable, nice to work with, but he explained my situation and told me how to deal with the problem without the need for surgery. He is an outstanding physician and person. I highly recommend him especially for hand issues. (5 Star Review on Google from Arnold E.)
Watch Dr. Vitale’s presentation on Elbow Nerve Injuries
Dr. Vitale discusses 3D printing for patient-specific wrist surgery
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
Fairfield Doctor of Distinction Award, 2019 Castle Connolly New York Metro Area Top Doctor in Hand Surgery, 2016 – 2019 Moffly Media Top Doctors in Fairfield County, Hand Surgery, 2018-2019 Greenwich Magazine Top Doctor, 2018-2019 Stamford Magazine Top Doctor, 2018-2019 New Canaan/Darien Top Doctor, 2018-2019 New York Magazine Top Doctor, 2018 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
Clain, J.B.; Vitale, M.A.; Ahmad, C.S.; Ruchelsman, D.E. Ulnar nerve complications after ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction of the elbow: A systematic review. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 47(5):1263-1269.
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.
ranging from infancy to adulthood. He holds a subspecialty certificate of added qualifications 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.
