Classic Papers in Hand & Upper Extremity

Pool built 2026-09-20 · All specialties

These are the 100 most-cited papers published in the Hand & Upper Extremity journals, ranked by lifetime citations (via OpenAlex; retracted papers excluded). The daily digest draws its classic slot from this pool — subscribe to get one with your new articles, or browse the Hand & Upper Extremity archive.

1. Reliability and validity of grip and pinch strength evaluations

   Virgil Mathiowetz, Karen C. Weber, Gloria Volland et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1984 · cited 1,890 times

2. Measuring the whole or the parts?

   Dorcas Beaton, Jeffrey N. Katz, Anne H. Fossel et al. — J Hand Ther · 2001 · cited 1,317 times

3. Triangular fibrocartilage complex lesions: A classification

   Andrew K. Palmer — J Hand Surg Am · 1989 · cited 1,196 times

4. The Carpal-Tunnel Syndrome

   George S. Phalen — J Bone Joint Surg Am · 1966 · cited 1,176 times

5. The SLAC wrist: Scapholunate advanced collapse pattern of degenerative arthritis

   H. Kirk Watson, Frederick L. Ballet — J Hand Surg Am · 1984 · cited 1,150 times

6. Reliability and validity testing of the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire

   Kevin C. Chung, Matthew S. Pillsbury, Madonna R. Walters et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1998 · cited 1,026 times

7. The triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist—Anatomy and function

   Andrew K. Palmer, Frederick W. Werner — J Hand Surg Am · 1981 · cited 998 times

8. The frequency and epidemiology of hand and forearm fractures in the United States

   Kevin C. Chung, Sandra V. Spilson — J Hand Surg Am · 2001 · cited 921 times

9. The Epidemiology of Distal Radius Fractures

   Kate W. Nellans, Evan Kowalski, Kevin C. Chung — Hand Clin · 2012 · cited 918 times

10. Why and how to report surgeons’ levels of expertise

    Jin Bo Tang, Grey Giddins — J Hand Surg Eur Vol · 2016 · cited 878 times

11. Carpal dislocations: Pathomechanics and progressive perilunar instability

    Jack K. Mayfield, Roger P. Johnson, Raphael K. Kilcoyne — J Hand Surg Am · 1980 · cited 830 times

12. Nerve transfer to biceps muscle using a part of ulnar nerve for C5–C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus: Anatomical study and report of four cases

    C. Oberlin, David Beal, Somsak Leechavengvongs et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1994 · cited 810 times

13. Digital function following flexor tendon repair in Zone II: A comparison of immobilization and controlled passive motion techniques

    James W. Strickland, Stevan Glogovac — J Hand Surg Am · 1980 · cited 738 times

14. Nerve Physiology

    Ron M.G. Menorca, Theron S. Fussell, John C. Elfar — Hand Clin · 2013 · cited 726 times

15. Surgical management of basal Joint arthritis of the thumb. Part II. Ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition arthroplast

    Richard I. Burton, Vincent D. Pellegrini — J Hand Surg Am · 1986 · cited 680 times

16. A 25-year perspective of peripheral nerve surgery: Evolving neuroscientific concepts and clinical significance

    Göran Lundborg — J Hand Surg Am · 2000 · cited 657 times

17. Functional wrist motion: A biomechanical study

    Andrew K. Palmer, Frederick W. Werner, Dennis J. Murphy et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1985 · cited 625 times

18. Volar fixation for dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius: A preliminary report

    Jorge L. Orbay, Diego L. Fernández — J Hand Surg Am · 2002 · cited 624 times

19. Kinematics of the wrist. I. An experimental study of radial-ulnar deviation and flexion-extension.

    Youngil Youm, R Y McMurthy, Adrian E. Flatt et al. — J Bone Joint Surg Am · 1978 · cited 606 times

20. The vascularity of the scaphoid bone

    Richard H. Gelberman, Jayasanker Menon — J Hand Surg Am · 1980 · cited 602 times

21. Endoscopic release of the carpal tunnel: A randomized prospective multicenter study

    John M. Agee, H. Relton McCarroll, Richard Tortosa et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1992 · cited 591 times

22. Factors affecting functional outcome of displaced intra-articular distal radius fractures

    Thomas E. Trumble, Susan R. Schmitt, Nicholas B. Vedder — J Hand Surg Am · 1994 · cited 575 times

23. Tendon: Biology, Biomechanics, Repair, Growth Factors, and Evolving Treatment Options

    Roshan James, Girish S. Kesturu, Gary Balian et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2008 · cited 571 times

24. Perilunate dislocations and fracture-dislocations: A multicenter study

    Guillaume Herzberg, J J Comtet, Ronald L. Linscheid et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1993 · cited 546 times

25. Primary flexor tendon repair followed by immediate controlled mobilization

    Graham Lister, Harold E. Kleinert, Joseph E. Kutz et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1977 · cited 532 times

26. Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis

    Richard G. Eaton, Steven Z. Glickel — Hand Clin · 1987 · cited 532 times

27. Relative tension and potential excursion of muscles in the forearm and hand

    P W Brand, Robert B. Beach, David E. Thompson — J Hand Surg Am · 1981 · cited 526 times

28. A new vascularized bone graft for scaphoid nonunion

    Carlos Zaidemberg, John W. Siebert, Claudio Angrigiani — J Hand Surg Am · 1991 · cited 521 times

29. Ulnar variance determination

    Andrew K. Palmer, Richard R. Glisson, Frederick W. Werner — J Hand Surg Am · 1982 · cited 507 times

30. Functional ranges of motion of the wrist joint

    Jaiyoung Ryu, William P. Cooney, Linda J. Askew et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1991 · cited 502 times

31. Volar fixed-angle plate fixation for unstable distal radius fractures in the elderly patient

    Jorge L. Orbay, Diego L. Fernández — J Hand Surg Am · 2004 · cited 499 times

32. The ligaments of the wrist

    Julio Taleisnik — J Hand Surg Am · 1976 · cited 496 times

33. Flexor tendon forces: In vivo measurements

    Frédéric Schuind, Marc García‐Elías, William P. Cooney et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1992 · cited 491 times

34. Anatomical variations of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel

    U. Lanz — J Hand Surg Am · 1977 · cited 489 times

35. The repeatability of testing with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments

    Judith Bell-Krotoski, Elizabeth Tomancik — J Hand Surg Am · 1987 · cited 482 times

36. Minimal Clinically Important Differences of 3 Patient-Rated Outcomes Instruments

    Amelia A. Sorensen, Daniel R. Howard, Wen Hui Tan et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2013 · cited 480 times

37. Effects of graded compression on intraneural blood flow

    Björn Rydevik, Göran Lundborg, U. Bagge — J Hand Surg Am · 1981 · cited 467 times

38. Three-Ligament Tenodesis for the Treatment of Scapholunate Dissociation: Indications and Surgical Technique

    Marc García‐Elías, Alberto Lluch, J. K. Stanley — J Hand Surg Am · 2006 · cited 466 times

39. Scaphoid malunion

    Peter C. Amadio, Thomas H. Berquist, Douglas K. Smith et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1989 · cited 465 times

40. Functional Outcome and Complications After Volar Plating for Dorsally Displaced, Unstable Fractures of the Distal Radius

    Tamara D. Rozental, Philip Blazar — J Hand Surg Am · 2006 · cited 459 times

41. Ligament reconstruction for the painful thumb carpometacarpal joint: A long-term assessment

    Richard G. Eaton, Lewis Lane, J. William Littler et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1984 · cited 455 times

42. Distal radioulnar joint arthroplasty: The hemiresection-interposition technique

    William H. Bowers — J Hand Surg Am · 1985 · cited 434 times

43. A classification for congenital limb malformations

    Alfred B. Swanson — J Hand Surg Am · 1976 · cited 433 times

44. The Classification and Treatment of Heterotopic Ossification About the Elbow and Forearm

    Hill Hastings, Thomas Graham — Hand Clin · 1994 · cited 433 times

45. Review of treatment results for ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow

    A. Lee Dellon — J Hand Surg Am · 1989 · cited 428 times

46. Reconstruction of the Amputated Finger Tip with a Triangular Volar Flap

    Erdoğan Atasoy, Evangelos Ioakimidis, Morton L. Kasdan et al. — J Bone Joint Surg Am · 1970 · cited 428 times

47. Hand strength: Normative values

    Carla A. Crosby, Marwan A. Wehbé — J Hand Surg Am · 1994 · cited 420 times

48. Avulsion of the profundus tendon insertion in athletes

    Joseph P. Leddy, John W. Packer — J Hand Surg Am · 1977 · cited 414 times

49. Responsiveness of the short form-36, disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire, patient-rated wrist evaluation, and physical impairment measurements in evaluating recovery after a distal radius fracture

    Joy C. MacDermid, Robert S. Richards, Allan Donner et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2000 · cited 413 times

50. Development of a Scale for Patient Rating of Wrist Pain and Disability

    Joy C. MacDermid — J Hand Ther · 1996 · cited 409 times

51. Twenty years' experience of limb replantation—Review of 293 upper extremity replants

    Susumu Tamai — J Hand Surg Am · 1982 · cited 407 times

52. Nerve transfer to deltoid muscle using the nerve to the long head of the triceps, part II: a report of 7 cases

    Somsak Leechavengvongs, Kiat Witoonchart, Chairoj Uerpairojkit et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2003 · cited 406 times

53. Epidemiology of distal radius fractures and factors predicting risk and prognosis

    Norma J. MacIntyre, Neha Dewan — J Hand Ther · 2016 · cited 404 times

54. Trigger Digits: Principles, Management, and Complications

    Mark Ryzewicz, Jennifer Moriatis Wolf — J Hand Surg Am · 2006 · cited 401 times

55. A Multicenter Prospective Study of 3,110 Consecutive Cases of Elective Epinephrine Use in the Fingers and Hand: The Dalhousie Project Clinical Phase

    Donald H. Lalonde, Michael Bell, Paul Benoı̂t et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2005 · cited 401 times

56. Report of the Committee on Tendon Injuries

    Harold E. Kleinert, C Verdan — J Hand Surg Am · 1983 · cited 400 times

57. Opioid Consumption Following Outpatient Upper Extremity Surgery

    Jeffrey Rodgers, Kimberly Cunningham, Keely Fitzgerald et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2012 · cited 398 times

58. Complications and range of motion following plate fixation of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures

    S Page, Peter J. Stern — J Hand Surg Am · 1998 · cited 396 times

59. Effects of early intermittent passive mobilization on healing canine flexor tendons

    Richard H. Gelberman, Savio L‐Y. Woo, Kimberly Lothringer et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1982 · cited 394 times

60. Assessment of upper extremity impairment, function, and activity after stroke: foundations for clinical decision making

    Catherine E. Lang, Marghuretta D. Bland, Ryan R. Bailey et al. — J Hand Ther · 2012 · cited 394 times

61. Scapholunate Instability: Current Concepts in Diagnosis and Management

    Christina E. Kuo, Scott W. Wolfe — J Hand Surg Am · 2008 · cited 388 times

62. Flexible Implant Arthroplasty for Arthritic Finger Joints

    Alfred B. Swanson — J Bone Joint Surg Am · 1972 · cited 383 times

63. Orthopedic physical assessment

    Robert G. Ross — J Hand Ther · 2003 · cited 382 times

64. Development of flexor tendon surgery: Twenty-five years of progress

    James W. Strickland — J Hand Surg Am · 2000 · cited 381 times

65. Arthroplasty of the basal joint of the thumb. Long-term follow-up after ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition.

    Matthew M. Tomaino, Vincent D. Pellegrini, Richard I. Burton — J Bone Joint Surg Am · 1995 · cited 380 times

66. Injectable Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum: A New Nonsurgical Treatment for Dupuytren's Disease

    David Gilpin, Stephen Coleman, Stephen Hall et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2010 · cited 375 times

67. Grip Strength in Healthy Caucasian Adults: Reference Values

    Christian Günther, Alexander Bürger, Markus Rickert et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2008 · cited 373 times

68. Architecture of selected muscles of the arm and forearm: Anatomy and implications for tendon transfer

    Richard L. Lieber, Mark D. Jacobson, Babak M. Fazeli et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1992 · cited 373 times

69. Hand strength: Normative values

    William P. Cooney — J Hand Surg Am · 1995 · cited 372 times

70. Outcome following nonoperative treatment of displaced distal radius fractures in low-demand patients older than 60 years

    Burt T. Young, Ghazi M. Rayan — J Hand Surg Am · 2000 · cited 371 times

71. Essential Radiographic Evaluation for Distal Radius Fractures

    Robert J. Medoff — Hand Clin · 2005 · cited 369 times

72. The dorsal ganglion of the wrist: Its pathogenesis, gross and microscopic anatomy, and surgical treatment

    Alexander C. Angelides, Paul F. Wallace — J Hand Surg Am · 1976 · cited 365 times

73. Thumb reconstruction with a free neurovascular wrap-around flap from the big toe

    Wayne A. Morrison, Bernard McC. OʼBrien, A. M. MacLeod — J Hand Surg Am · 1980 · cited 363 times

74. Reorganization of Cortical Representations of the Hand Following Alterations of Skin Inputs Induced by Nerve Injury, Skin Island Transfers, and Experience

    Michael M. Merzenich, William M. Jenkins — J Hand Ther · 1993 · cited 363 times

75. Risk of Prolonged Opioid Use Among Opioid-Naïve Patients Following Common Hand Surgery Procedures

    Shepard P. Johnson, Kevin C. Chung, Lin Zhong et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2016 · cited 360 times

76. Pathophysiology of nerve compression

    Susan E. Mackinnon — Hand Clin · 2002 · cited 360 times

77. Median nerve compression in the carpal tunnel—Functional response to experimentally induced controlled pressure

    Göran Lundborg, Richard H. Gelberman, Martha A. Minteer-Convery et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1982 · cited 356 times

78. Capsulodesis in Reconstructive Hand Surgery

    Gerald Blatt — Hand Clin · 1987 · cited 356 times

79. An Approach to Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Injuries

    Howard M. Clarke, Christine Curtis — Hand Clin · 1995 · cited 355 times

80. Residual function in peripheral nerve stumps of amputees: implications for neural control of artificial limbs

    Gurpreet Singh Dhillon, S.M. Lawrence, Douglas T. Hutchinson et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2004 · cited 351 times

81. The effect of avascular necrosis on Russe bone grafting for scaphoid nonunion

    David P. Green — J Hand Surg Am · 1985 · cited 351 times

82. Results of Reinnervation of the Biceps and Brachialis Muscles with a Double Fascicular Transfer for Elbow Flexion

    Susan E. Mackinnon, Christine B. Novak, Terence M. Myckatyn et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 2005 · cited 350 times

83. Tendon Biomechanics and Mechanobiology—A Minireview of Basic Concepts and Recent Advancements

    James H‐C. Wang, Qianping Guo, Bin Li — J Hand Ther · 2011 · cited 348 times

84. Surgical treatment of scapholunate advanced collapse

    Joel D. Krakauer, Allen T. Bishop, William P. Cooney — J Hand Surg Am · 1994 · cited 344 times

85. Functional range of motion of the joints of the hand

    Mary Hume, Harris Gellman, Harry A. McKellop et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1990 · cited 340 times

86. Midcarpal instability caused by malunited fractures of the distal radius

    Julio Taleisnik, H. Kirk Watson — J Hand Surg Am · 1984 · cited 340 times

87. Autologous blood injections for refractory lateral epicondylitis

    Scott G. Edwards, James H. Calandruccio — J Hand Surg Am · 2003 · cited 339 times

88. Open reduction of carpal dislocations: Indications and operative techniques

    David P. Green, Eugene T. O’Brien — J Hand Surg Am · 1978 · cited 338 times

89. Economic Impact of Hand and Wrist Injuries: Health-Care Costs and Productivity Costs in a Population-Based Study

    C.E. de Putter, Ruud W. Selles, Suzanne Polinder et al. — J Bone Joint Surg Am · 2012 · cited 333 times

90. Aspects of Sensation in Reconstructive Surgery of the Upper Extremity

    Erik Moberg — J Bone Joint Surg Am · 1964 · cited 332 times

91. An anatomic and mechanical study of the interosseous membrane of the forearm: Pathomechanics of proximal migration of the radius

    Robert N. Hotchkiss, Kai‐Nan An, David T. Sowa et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1989 · cited 330 times

92. Complications of surgical release for carpal tunnel syndrome

    Rodney I. MacDonald, David M. Lichtman, Jon J. Hanlon et al. — J Hand Surg Am · 1978 · cited 330 times

93. Responsiveness of the disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) and patient-rated wrist/hand evaluation (PRWHE) in evaluating change after hand therapy

    Joy C. MacDermid, Virginia Tottenham — J Hand Ther · 2004 · cited 329 times

94. Treatment of Scaphoid Fractures and Nonunions

    Kenji Kawamura, Kevin C. Chung — J Hand Surg Am · 2008 · cited 327 times

95. The gross and histologic anatomy of the scapholunate interosseous ligament

    Richard A. Berger — J Hand Surg Am · 1996 · cited 323 times

96. Stability of the Distal Radioulna Joint: Biomechanics, Pathophysiology, Physical Diagnosis, and Restoration of Function What We Have Learned in 25 Years

    William B. Kleinman — J Hand Surg Am · 2007 · cited 318 times

97. Effect of elbow position on grip and key pinch strength

    Virgil Mathiowetz, Cheryl Rennells, Lori Donahoe — J Hand Surg Am · 1985 · cited 318 times

98. Degenerative arthritis of the wrist: Proximal row carpectomy versus scaphoid excision and four-corner arthrodesis

    Mark S. Cohen, Scott H. Kozin — J Hand Surg Am · 2001 · cited 317 times

99. The Ulnar Impaction Syndrome

    Steven L. Friedman, Andrew K. Palmer — Hand Clin · 1991 · cited 317 times

100. An anatomic reconstruction of the distal radioulnar ligaments for posttraumatic distal radioulnar joint instability

     Brian D. Adams, Richard A. Berger — J Hand Surg Am · 2002 · cited 316 times

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