The Right Care For Serious Injuries Make A Dramatic Difference

Dr. Karan Desai, MD, hand and upper extremity surgeon at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute discusses how care for serious injuries at a level 1 trauma center can make the difference between amputation and recovery.  He recently saved the arm of a paramedic that was bitten by an alligator.

Karan Desai, MD, is a board-eligible hand surgeon with Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, where he specializes in both operative and non-operative treatment of the hand and upper extremity. In addition to managing all aspects of traumatic and elective hand and upper extremity surgery, Dr. Desai also has extensive training in microsurgery and is skilled in complex reconstruction of the brachial plexus, peripheral nerves, bones, joints, and soft tissues, using methods such as free tissue transfers and nerve transfers.

He earned his medical degree from the University of South Florida, School of Medicine in Tampa, where he graduated with Alpha Omega Alpha distinction and earned an undergraduate degree cum laude from the University of Florida in Gainesville. Dr. Desai completed an internship and residency in general surgery and another residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Emory University and Grady Hospital in Atlanta, GA. This was followed by a combined orthopedic and plastic hand and upper extremity surgery fellowship at New York University, Langone School of Medicine in New York.

Dr. Desai is active as a candidate member in many professional organizations, including American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS). He has authored numerous book chapters and journal articles and presented his research at national and regional conferences, some of which have resulted in first place awards. He is fluent in English, Hindi and Gujarati.