A Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr. Polatsch is board certified in both orthopaedic surgery and hand surgery. He underwent expert specialty training in Hand/Elbow Surgery at the renowned Harvard Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship in Boston. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and he has served as the associate fellowship director of the Albert Einstein Hand Surgery Fellowship at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City since 2005. Dr. Polatsch is on the editorial review board of the American Journal of Orthopaedics for his expertise in hand surgery and has published extensively on a wide variety of hand and upper extremity topics in a multitude of peer reviewed medical journals. He has also presented a substantial number of papers at regional and national society meetings.

	New York Times Best Doctors 2010 - Present"

Dr. Polatsch earned his undergraduate degree with distinction at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine and was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society in 1997 for his superior scholastic achievements. While in medical school, he received additional honors for his independent research. His post-graduate training included a surgical internship at NYU Medical Center followed by an orthopaedic surgery residency at NYU-The Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, where he was named Administrative Chief Resident in his final year. He then underwent further specialty training in hand and upper extremity surgery at the Harvard Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship which included training at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Owing to his expertise in sports-related elbow, wrist, and hand injuries, Dr. Polatsch has treated numerous professional athletes in every major sport, performing state-of-the-art surgical techniques that have permitted their return to sports activities without impairment. In addition, his clinical interests include carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, distal radius fractures, golf injuries, hand fractures, nerve injuries, flexor tendon injuries, and extensor tendon injures.

Dr. Polatsch's professional memberships include:

• Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• New York Society for Surgery of the Hand
• International Wrist Investigation Workshop
• Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
• American Medical Association
  

As a founding member of the Laurence Polatsch Memorial Fund, Dr. Polatsch has helped raise money to fund a pediatric playroom at Mt. Sinai Hospital, a pediatric recovery room at Beth Israel Medical Center, a Neonatal Intensive Care Family room at NYU Medical Center, and to fund a full time social worker role at Mt. Sinai Hospital to assist with needs of children who unfortunately suffer from Crohn's and Colits. This was all done in memory of his brother who was lost on September 11th. He is also on the board of directors for the GLS Memorial Fund, which provides scholarships to University of Michigan students whose parents were affected by the September 11th attacks. Dr. Polatsch also contributes to numerous other charitable organizations including the Scleroderma Foundation, The Theodore Atlas Foundation, UJA, Muscular Skeletal Association, Community of Care, Shalva, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Race for the Cure, Autism Speaks, and Nephcure.

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Publications

1. Melone,Polatsch,Flink,Horak,Beldner. Scapholunate Interosseous Ligament Disruption in Professional Basketball Players: Treatment by Direct Repair and Dorsal Ligamentoplasty. Clinics of Sports Med (In Press)
2. Melone, Polatsch, Beldner, Khorsandi. Volar Plate Repair for Post-Traumatic Hyperextension deformity of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint.  American Journal of Orthopaedics, 2010, Apr;39(4):190-4.
3. Melone CP Jr, Polatsch DB, Beldner S. Disabling hand injuries in boxing: boxer's knuckle and traumatic carpal boss.  Clin Sports Med. 2009 Oct;28(4):609-21,vii.
4. Polatsch, Melone, Beldner, Incorvaia.  Ulnar Nerve Anatomy. Hand Clin. 2007 Aug;23(3):283-9.
5. Polatsch, Paksima.  Basal Joint Arthritis: Evaluation and Treatment.  Bull Hosp Jt Dis. 2006;64(3-4):178-84.
6. Polatsch, Foster, MD, Posner, MD.  An Unusual Rupture of the Flexor Carpi Radialis Tendon: A Case Report. American Journal of Orthopaedics. 2006(3):141-3.
7. Zuckerman JD, Shin SS, Polatsch DB, Schweitzer M. Concurrent bilateral femoral neck stress fractures and osteonecrosis of the hip. A case report.  J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006 Apr;88(4):857-60. 
8. Shin, Polatsch, Rokito, Zuckerman. Posterior capsulorrhaphy for treatment of recurrent posterior glenohumeral instability. Bull Hosp Jt Dis. 2005;63(1-2):9-12.
9. Bong, Polatsch, Jazrawi, Rokito .Chronic exertional compartment syndrome: diagnosis and management. Bull Hosp Jt Dis. 2005;62(3-4):77-84.
10. Polatsch, Baskies, Homman, Egol, Koval.  Tape Blisters That Develop After Hip Fracture Surgery:  A Retrospective Series and a Review of the Literature.  American Journal of Orthopaedics.  2004:452-6.
11. Elkowitz SJ, Kubiak EN, Polatsch D, et al.  Comparison of two headless screw designs for fixation of capitellum fractures.  Bull Hosp Jt Dis. 2003;61(3-4):123-6
12. Koval, Egol, Polatsch.  Tape Blisters Following Hip Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized  Study of Two Types of Tape.  J Bone Joint Surg Am, 85-A(10), 1884-7, 2003.
13. Polatsch, Bong, Rokito. Severe Ulnar Neuropathy Following Anterior Subcutaneous Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve in a Collegiate Tennis Player Am J Orthopedics, 31(11):643-646, 2002.
14. Stein, Polatsch, Gidumal, Rose, Low-Energy Anterior Hip Dislocation in a Dancer: A Case Report and Literature Review.  Am J Orthopedics, 31(10):591-594, 2002.
15. Elkowitz, Polatsch, Egol, Kummer, Koval. Capitellar Fractures: A Biomechanical Evaluation of Three Fixation Methods. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 16:503-6, 2002.
16. Koval, Skovron, Polatsch, Ahronoff, Zuckerman, Dependency after Hip Fracture in Geriatric Patients:  A Study of Predictive Factors. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 10:531-5, 1996.
17. Koval, Polatsch, Kummer, Cheng, Zuckerman. Split Fractures of the Lateral Tibial Plateau:  Evaluation of Three Fixation Methods. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 10:304-308, 1996.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

1. Melone, Polatsch: Hand Injuries in Boxers. In: Jordan &Herrera (Editors), Medical Aspects of Boxing, Second Edition. The Humana Press Inc., New Jersey, (In Press).
2. Melone, Polatsch, Pallotta, Beldner:  Traumatic Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Disruption: Subluxation, Dislocation, Rupture.  In: Slutzky (Editors). Principles and Practice of Wrist Surgery. Elsevier, 2009.
3. Polatsch & Jazrawi:  Residency Etiquette. In: Jazrawi, DellaValle, Elbeshbeshy, Koval, Zuckerman (Editors). Orthopaedic Residency: How to Get Into a Program and Succeed Once You're There. NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases/Green, New York, 2001.

PRESENTATIONS:

1. Melone, Beldner, Horak, Polatsch. Silicone Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis of the PIP Joint Employing the Dorsal Approach: Mid to Long-Term Analysis.
   -Paper Presentation, American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2011
2. Melone, Beldner, Horak, Polatsch. Silicone Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis of the PIP Joint Employing the Dorsal Approach: Mid to Long-Term Analysis.
   -Paper Presentation, New York Society for Surgery of the Hand, Residents and Fellows Night, New York, NY, May, 2011
3. Melone, Polatsch, Beldner, Ciaglia. Trapezium Excisional Arthroplasty with     APL Stabilization for OA of Basal Joint – Long Term Analysis.
   -Paper Presentation, American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, 2010
4. Polatsch DB. Advances in the treatment in Dupuytren’s Disease. 
   -Orthopaedic Grand Rounds, St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, Patterson, NJ, 1/11/11
5. Melone, Polatsch, Beldner, Ciaglia. Trapezium Excisional Arthroplasty with     APL Stabilization for OA of Basal Joint – Long Term Analysis.
   - Paper Presentation, New York Society for Surgery of the Hand Residents and Fellows Night, New York, NY, 2010
6. Melone, Beldner, Polatsch, Vallem. A Case Control Outcome Study of Distal Radius Fracture Using Volar Locking Plating System-Young Vs. Old Population,
   -Paper Presentation, New York Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Residents and Fellows Night, New York, NY, 5/12/2009
7. Melone, Polatsch, Beldner, Pallotta.  Chronic Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Instability in Professional Athletes.
   -Poster Presentation, American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois 2008
8. Polatsch, Melone, Beldner, Khorsandi. Volar Plate Reconstruction for Chronic Post-Traumatic Hyperextension Deformity of the PIP Joint
   -Paper Presentation, American Academy Orthopaedic Surgery Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois 2006
9. Melone, Beldner, Polatsch, Finuoli.  Silicone Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis of the PIP Joint Employing the Dorsal Approach.
   -Poster Presentation, American Academy Orthopaedic Surgery Annual Meeting Chicago, Illinois 2006
10. Melone, Beldner, Polatsch, Finuoli.  Silicone Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis of the PIP Joint Employing the Dorsal Approach.
    -Poster Presentation, American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual     Meeting, San Antonio, Texas 2005
11. Melone, Beldner, Polatsch, Khorsandi. Volar Plate Reconstruction for Chronic Post-Traumatic Hyperextension Deformity of the PIP Joint
    -Poster Presentation, American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual     Meeting, San Antonio, Texas 2005
12. Melone, Beldner, Polatsch, Thomas.  Digital Sympathectomy for Raynaud’s Syndrome in Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (CREST Syndrome).
    -Paper Presenation, American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, New York, New York, 2004.
13. Beldner, Polatsch, Finuoli, Melone.  A Fluoroscopic Study to Determine the Accuracy of Intra-Articular Stepp-Off for Distal Radius Fractures
    -Paper Presenation, American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, New York, New York, 2004.
14. Stuart J. Elkowitz, MD; Daniel B. Polatsch, MD; Kenneth A. Egol, MD; Kenneth J. Koval, MD; Fixation of Unstable Capitellum Fractures: Effects of Screw Type and Orientation
    -Poster Presentation, Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, Toronto, Ontario, 2003
15. Polatsch, Elkowitz, Guttman, Rokito, Zuckerman. Posterior Capsulorrhaphy for Isolated Recurrent Posterior Shoulder Instability.
    -Poster Presentation, Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, San Francisco, California, 2001.
16. Polatsch, Guttman, Mohrman, Rokito, Rose, Raffi, Sherman.  Diagnosis of Superior Labral Anterior Posterior (S.L.A.P.) Lesion: Correlation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Arthroscopic Findings.
    -Scientific Paper Presentation, Annual Alumni Meeting New York University-Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, New York, 2000.
17. Stein, Jeong, Polatsch, Puopolo, Paksima, Koval. Distal Radius Fractures: A Critical Look at Surgical Indications.
    -Poster Presentation, Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, San Francisco, California, 2001
18. Guttman, Jazrawi, Maurer, Polatsch, Rokito. Effect of Suture Augmentation on Rotator Cuff Tendon Repair: Biomechanical Testing in a Cadaveric Model.
    -Poster Presentation, Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, San Francisco, California, 2001.
19. Polatsch. Elbow Arthroscopy.
    -Paper Presentation, Sports Medicine Conference, New York University - The Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, New York, NY, 1999.
20. Polatsch, Posner.  Basal Joint Arthritis: Evaluation and Treatment
    –Paper Presentation, Ground Rounds, New York University - Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, New York, NY, 2002.