Michael William Kessler, MD| Hand Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery

About me

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Michael W. Kessler, MD, MPH, FAOA, is the chief, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Hand Surgery of the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute and performs surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. A highly skilled and double Board Certified (Orthopaedic Surgery & Hand Surgery) hand and upper extremity surgeon, he completed his orthopaedic residency at North Shore/Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY, where he was elected academic chief resident and obtained extensive training managing a broad spectrum of orthopaedic cases. He then completed a hand, microvascular, and upper extremity surgery fellowship at the Philadelphia Hand Center and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he gained specialized training in the surgical and nonsurgical management of various hand and upper extremity conditions.

During his training, Dr. Michael Kessler has cared for a variety of professional sports organizations, including the New Jersey Devils, Association of Tennis Professionals, Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Flyers. Dr. Kessler has been a consulting hand surgeon for the D.C. United, and currently works with the Georgetown University Athletic Department and as a consultant for the Marymount University, Catholic University and Gallaudet University Athletic departments. He also serves as a consultant to the Washington D.C. Police & Fire Clinic. Dr. Kessler has received multiple awards for his clinical and basic science research, including the prestigious Joseph H. Boyes Award from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand in 2009.

Dr. Kessler serves as the Orthopaedic Residency Program Director at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and as Medical Director of the OT/Certified Hand Therapy (CHT) program at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital.

With a patient-centered approach to care, Dr. Michael Kessler's areas of expertise include:

Hand and wrist conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome
Elbow conditions
Advanced arthroscopic techniques
Complex reconstructions
Tendon and nerve lacerations
Care of traumatic injuries including fractures and joint dislocations

Dr. Kessler's Philosophy of Care
Not all patients who come to my office require surgery. However, they all require well thought out, respectful, and individualized care. During the course of an office visit, we will come to understand the nature of their problem or injury, its anatomic basis, and its effect on the individual's activities. Nonoperative treatment is often sufficient and is begun at that first office visit. When surgery is indicated, it is tailored to the individual, their underlying diagnosis, and the demands of their daily lives. Maximizing function, minimizing recovery time, and assuring a durable reconstruction remain the goals for all of my patients whether they be avid gardeners, or professional athletes.

Michael W. Kessler, MD, MPH, FAOA, Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association
We congratulate fellowship-trained hand surgeon Michael W. Kessler, MD, MPH, FAOA, newly inducted as a Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association on June 27, 2019.

The American Orthopaedic Association is the oldest and most distin

Clinical areas of focus

Carpal Tunnel Release
Cubital Tunnel Release
Finger Arthroscopy
Finger Phalangeal Joint Fusion
Hand And Wrist Fracture
Hand Tendon Repair
Radial Nerve Entrapment
Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
Scaphoid Fracture Treatment
Trigger Finger
Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
Wrist And Hand Tendonitis
Wrist Instability Reconstruction

Conditions and procedures

Conditions I treat

Acquired Absence Of Limb
Acquired Finger Deformity
Acquired Wrist Deformity
Amputation Of Fingers
Arm Fracture
Arm Injury
Arthritis
Arthropathy
Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
Benign Tumor
Bone Density Disorder
Bone Discontinuity
Bone Disorders
Bone Infection (OSTEOMYELITIS)
Boxer's Fracture
Bursopathy
Chronic Gout
Complications Of Reattachment And Amputation
Congenital Hand Deformities
Congenital Malformations Of Limb
Dupuytren's Contracture
Elbow And Forearm Injury
Elbow Arthritis
Elbow Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
Finger Arthritis
Finger Infection
Finger Injury
Finger Joint Dislocation
Finger Laceration
Finger Sprains
Finger Tendon Rupture
Finger Tendonitis
Flexor Tendon Rupture
Forearm And Elbow Joint Instability
Forearm Fracture
Forearm Tendon Injury
Ganglion Cysts
Gout
Hand And Wrist Arthritis
Hand And Wrist Fracture
Hand Deformity
Hand Infection
Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation
Hand Joint Pain
Hand Tendinitis
Hand Tendon Injury
Joint Derangement
Joint Disorder
Limb Deformity
Malignant Neoplasm Of Connective And Soft Tissue
Mallet Finger
Median Nerve Compression
Minimally Invasive Hand Surgery
Mononeuropathy Of Upper Limb
Muscle Disorders
Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis Of First Carpometacarpal Joint
Osteoarthritis Of The Finger
Osteochondropathies
Osteonecrosis
Polyosteoarthritis
Presence Of Functional Implants
Radial Nerve Entrapment
Radial Nerve Injury
Reduction Defects Of Upper Limb
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis Of Hand
Rheumatoid Arthritis With Rheumatoid Factor
Scaphoid Fracture
Shoulder And Upper Arm Amputation
Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
Superficial Frostbite
Syndactyly
Synovium And Tendon Disorder
Tendinous Disorders
Tendonitis In Children
Tendonitis Of The Hand
Thumb Arthritis
Thumb Synovitis
Trigger Finger
Trigger Thumb
Wrist And Hand Amputation
Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
Wrist And Hand Tendon Injury
Wrist And Hand Tendonitis
Wrist Blood Vessel Injury
Wrist Drop
Wrist Joint Dislocation
Wrist, Hand, And Finger Crushing Injury

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Procedures I perform

Amputation With Direct Closure
Arthroscopic Elbow Debridement
Articular Fracture Treatment
Bennett Fracture Treatment
Bone Graft
Bursa Excision
Capsulotomy Of Wrist
Carpal Bone Fracture Treatment
Carpal Scaphoid Fracture Fixation
Carpal Scaphoid Fracture Treatment
Carpal Tunnel Release
Carpectomy Of All Bones Of Proximal Row
Carpectomy Of One Bone
Carpometacarpal Dislocation Treatment
Cubital Tunnel Release
Detachment At Left Middle Finger
Digital Neuroplasty
Digital Ray Amputation
Distal Phalangeal Fracture Treatment
Distal Radius Fracture Fixation
Distal Radius Fracture Treatment
Dupuytren Contracture Treatment
Elbow Replacement
Excision Of Tendon
Excision Of Tendon Sheath Or Joint Capsule Lesion
Excision Of Tumor Or Vascular Malformation, Of Hand Or Finger
Excision, Olecranon Bursa
Extensor Tendon Grafting
Extensor Tendon Sheath Incision
Fasciectomy Of Palm
Fasciectomy With Release Of Single Digit
Finger Arthroscopy
Finger Contracture Release
Finger Joint Replacement
Finger Nail Repair
Finger Phalangeal Joint Fusion
Ganglion Cyst Excision
Ganglion Excision
Hand Skin Excision
Hand Subcutaneous Tissue And Fascia Drainage
Hand Tendon Excision
Hand Tendon Repair
Intercarpal Arthroplasty
Interphalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
Interphalangeal Joint Capsulectomy
Interphalangeal Joint Dislocation Treatment
Joint Drainage
Joint Replacement Of The Hand
Left Ulnar Artery Repair
Lesion Excision
Lunate Dislocation Treatment
Median Nerve Decompression
Median Nerve Release
Metacarpal Fracture Treatment
Metacarpal Joint Arthrodesis
Metacarpal Reposition With Internal Fixation
Metacarpophalangeal Dislocation Treatment
Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty
Metacarpophalangeal Joint Capsulectomy
Microsurgery
Nail Plate Avulsion
Nerve Graft
Nerve Grafting
Neuroma Excision, Digital Nerve
Neuroplasty
Open Carpal Tunnel Release
Open Ulnar Fracture Treatment
Opponensplasty
Osteotomy
Palmar Fasciectomy
Palmar Fasciotomy
Phalangeal Shaft Fracture Treatment
Phalanx Bone Excision
Radial And Ulnar Shaft Fracture Fixation
Radial Head Arthroplasty With Implant
Radial Head Prosthetic Replacement
Radial Nerve Release
Radial Shaft Fracture Fixation
Radius Reposition With Internal Fixation
Reconstructive Surgery Of The Hand
Scaphoid Fracture Fixation
Scaphoid Fracture Treatment
Scaphoid Nonunion Treatment
Surgical Repair Of Flexor Tendon
Synovectomy Of Tendon Sheath
Tendinitis Treatment
Tendon Sheath Drainage
Tendon Transplantation
Tenolysis
Tenotomy
Trigger Finger Treatment
Ulna Reposition With Internal Fixation
Ulnar Nerve Release
Ulnar Shaft Fracture Fixation
Ulnar Shaft Fracture Treatment
Ulnar Styloid Fracture Treatment
Wrist Arthrotomy
Wrist Arthrotomy With Exploration
Wrist Instability Reconstruction
Wrist Instability Treatment

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5454 Wisconsin Ave
Ste 1100
Chevy Chase, MD, 20815

202-444-8766

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 855-385-5335

1120 20th St NW
Bldg 1 S A Level
Washington, DC, 20036

202-416-2000

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 202-877-6602

3800 Reservoir Rd NW
1 Main
Washington, DC, 20007

202-444-3668

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 202-444-5391

Insurance

MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.

List of insurance plans we accept
- IH-Open POS II
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- HighMark
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Network OA
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-POS
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- IH-PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Optimum Choice
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-HMO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Navigate
- Aetna Basic
- Choice POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- OA Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- IH-Open HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- CIGNA EPO
- TRICARE East Select
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Tricare Reserve Select
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- First Health PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Prime
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Choice POS II
- IH-Indemnity
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Sentara Health
- Police and Fire Clinic
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- IH-POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CIGNA PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst NASCO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- POS OA
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice