Dr. Loree Kalliainen | Hand & Peripheral Nerve Surgery Specialist

About Dr. Kalliainen

After training in Plastic Surgery at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, USA, I did a combined Plastic/Orthopedic Surgery Hand Surgery fellowship at the University of Virginia. I had completed two years of basic science research during my Plastic Surgery training focused on nerve injuries and their relationship to altered muscle strength. Following my fellowship, I have had the honor of working at recognized academic health care practices through the US: The Ohio State University, the University of Minnesota, Health Partners Institute, the University of North Carolina, and Brown University.

During 26 years of surgical practice, I have developed a special interest in peripheral nerve surgery in addition to general hand and wrist surgery. Peripheral nerve surgery involves more common operations like carpal tunnel releases and complex operations to help improve hand and arm function after major injuries. I have also developed expertise in operations which improve pain related to nerve injuries.

Peripheral nerve surgery is a relatively small specialty, and I enjoy training medical students and surgical trainees how to recognize and treat these devastating injuries. It is also gratifying to collaborate with skilled hand therapists to work with patients with peripheral nerve conditions to improve function where possible. Recovery from peripheral nerve injuries is not fast, and our teams build long-standing relationships with our patients.

In addition to clinical work, medical education has always been important to me. I have served in leadership roles as the hospital Chief of Staff and the Director of a Hand Surgery Fellowship in Minnesota and as Division Chief of Hand Surgery in Rhode Island. In the US, I have served on and chaired committees in major plastic and hand surgery organizations. My proudest leadership achievement was to be elected to a six-year term as a Director of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Qualifications

Medical School: The University of Michigan Medical School, MD
Residency: University of Iowa (General Surgery); University of Michigan (Plastic Surgery)
Fellowship: University of Virginia, Hand Fellowship
Post-graduate: Muscle Mechanics Laboratory, University of Michigan; Master’s Degree in Philosophy, University of Minnesota
Board Certification: American Board of Plastic Surgery; Subspecialty certification of Surgery of the Hand

Services & Conditions

Upper Extremity

Bones & Joints

Osteoarthritis

The surface of the joints has become rough like a rusty hinge, making it difficult and painful to move the fingers or wrist.

ASSH Overview Cleveland Clinic Guide

Specific Joint Arthritis

Treatment for finger joints, base of thumb, and wrist pain.

Base of Thumb Terminal Finger Joint MCP Joint Arthritis Finger Joint Arthritis (AHTA) Ulnar Wrist Pain Rheumatoid Arthritis Psoriatic Arthritis

Bone Tumors (Enchondroma)

A lump that grows inside the bone. Most of the time it isn't scary, but it can make the bone weaker.

Hopkins Medicine

Fractures & Nonunion

Nonunion/Malunion: When a broken bone doesn't grow back together correctly, either staying apart or healing in a crooked way.

Broken Hand Scaphoid Fracture Boxer's Fracture Broken Finger Tip Malunion Info

Soft Tissue Masses

Dupuytren Disease

When the skin on your palm gets thick and pulls your fingers down so they stay bent, making it hard to flatten your hand.

Dupuytren’s Contracture Info

Ganglion Cysts

A tiny water balloon sitting under your skin near a joint in your wrist or fingers.

ASSH Condition Info

Lipomas & Inclusion Cysts

Lipoma: A soft, squishy ball of fat under the skin. Inclusion Cyst: A little pocket filled with skin cells.

Lipoma Info

Giant Cell Tumors

A bump that grows near a joint that isn't cancer but needs to be removed so it doesn't cause trouble.

Tenosynovial Tumor Info

Tendon & Ligament Disorders

Trigger Finger

When a finger gets stuck in a bent position and then pops open like a trigger on a toy.

Condition Guide

Mallet Finger

When the tip of your finger droops and won't straighten because the helper strap inside is hurt.

ASSH Info

DeQuervain’s & Intersection

Intersection: Pain in the forearm where different muscles cross over each other like a busy intersection.

DeQuervain’s Info Intersection Syndrome (Physiopedia)

Gamer's & Texter's Thumb

Hurting your thumb because you used a video game controller or a phone for too long.

HandCare Guide

Peripheral Nerve

Nerve Compression

Common Compressions

Like a garden hose being stepped on, so the signals (the water) can't get through correctly.

Carpal Tunnel Ulnar Nerve Radial Tunnel

Pronator Syndrome

Compression of the median nerve in the forearm.

Orthobullets Guide

Peroneal Nerve

When a nerve in your leg gets squeezed near your knee, making your foot feel weak or hard to lift up when you walk.

Cleveland Clinic Guide

Tarsal Tunnel

When a nerve in your ankle gets pinched, making the bottom of your foot feel tingly, numb, or painful.

Cleveland Clinic Guide

Hunter Syndrome

A rare condition that some children are born with that makes it hard for their bodies to break down certain sugars. This can cause the paths where nerves travel to get too narrow and squeeze the nerves.

Nerve Injuries & Pain

Neuromas & Transfers

Neuroma: A sensitive ball of nerve endings that forms after an injury. Nerve Transfers: Moving a healthy nerve to a new spot.

Neuroma (RPNI) Nerve Transfers

Acute Flaccid Myelitis

A rare but serious problem that affects the spinal cord, making muscles feel very weak and sometimes hard to move, almost like they have gone limp.

Cleveland Clinic Info

Post-Stroke Spasticity

When a brain injury makes muscles stay tight and stiff, making it hard to move the arm.

Mayo Clinic Overview

Tetraplegia & Brachial Plexus

People with severe injuries to their spinal cord or to nerves in their shoulder going to the arm can have difficulty using their arm. There are operations that may help gain some movement by moving tendons and nerves to replace missing functions.

NCBI Tendon Transfer Nerve Transfer Research

Additional Services

Skin Cancer Reconstruction

Specialized excision and reconstruction of BCC, SCC, and Melanoma.

DermNet NZ Resources

Fat Grafting (Lipofilling)

Taking a little bit of fat from one part of the body and putting it somewhere else to help it heal or cushion a spot.

Mass General: Fat Transfer Lipofilling for Osteoarthritis Heel Fat Pad Syndrome Radiation Injury Study

Therapeutic Botox

Using medicine to relax muscles so a wound or blood vessels can stay still and heal.

Surgical FAQs

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) research aims to reduce stress and speed recovery. Key measures include:

Pre-operative Preparation

Anxiety: Use guided meditation or EFT tapping to reduce stress. Exercise: Walking 20km/week (1 hour/day) significantly improves postoperative outcomes. Smoking/Vaping: Nicotine impairs healing and increases infection risk. Nutrition: Limit added sugars (25-50g/day) and alcohol (48h before surgery). Ensure medical conditions like diabetes (HbA1c < 40 mmol/mol) are stable.

The Day of Surgery

Clean the surgical site with soap and water (do not shave). Follow "Sip Til Send" protocols: stop eating 6 hours before, but clear fluids (water, black coffee/tea) are fine until send-off.

After Surgery

Keep your arm elevated above your heart to reduce swelling. Use ice packs on the armpit or elbow (20 mins an hour). Use non-opioid medications like ibuprofen and paracetamol. Hand Therapy is essential to regain motion and strength.

Cortical Remodeling Protocol

Recovery from nerve injury involves "teaching" the brain. Elements include mirror therapy daily and touching numb skin with materials of differing textures (silk, sandpaper, cotton) while visualizing the sound and feel.

Myth: Wounds can't be washed with tap water. Fact: If you can drink it, you can clean wounds with it.
Myth: Sutured incisions can't get wet. Fact: A quick shower is generally fine within 1-2 days.
Myth: Use peroxide or alcohol. Fact: These damage healing cells. Use soapy water.
Myth: Use sea water. Fact: Sea water contains bacteria that can infect wounds.
Myth: Air out the wound. Fact: Wounds heal faster in a moist, covered environment.

Care is tailored to the individual. Dr. Kalliainen has no financial conflicts of interest or ownership in healthcare facilities. Privacy: Browsing this site does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship. External links are for convenience and do not imply endorsement.

Dr. Loree Kalliainen – Hand & Peripheral Nerve Surgery Specialist