Hand surgery may be performed by a general surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon, or a plastic surgeon after illness or injury, or to repair a congenital condition. A hand surgeon has special training in medical, surgical and rehabilitative means of healing the hand and arm, and sometimes recommends a non-surgical approach. The surgeon excels at diagnosis, preservation and restoration to the form and function of the hand, wrist and arm after disorders such as carpal tunnel, arthritis, fractures, tendonitis, or when amputation is required.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, including carpel tunnel syndrome.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. California has 336 practicing hand surgeons. Broken out by city, hand surgery doctor density in Sacramento is 11, in Saint Helena is 1, in San Bernardino is 8, in San Bruno is 1, in San Clemente is 1, in San Diego is 30, in San Dimas is 2, in San Francisco is 21, in San Jose is 11, in San Leandro is 2, in San Mateo is 5, in San Pablo is 1, in San Rafael is 2, in San Ramon is 8, in Santa Ana is 6, in Santa Barbara is 8, in Santa Clara is 1, in Santa Clarita is 2, in Santa Cruz is 1, in Santa Monica is 6, in Santa Rosa is 5, in Sherman Oaks is 4, in Simi Valley is 2, in Solvang is 5, in Sonora is 1, in South Lake Tahoe is 1, in South San Francisco is 1, in Stanford is 1, in Stockton is 2, in Sun City is 1, in Sunnyvale is 1, and in Sylmar is 2.

California’s population is 36,142,137, and it is America’s third largest and most populous state. It also claims the highest and lowest altitudes in the lower 48 states. The lowest point in the country, Death Valley, is also home to the nation’s highest recorded temperature, 134 degrees. Tourists flock to this state for its many outdoor activities and attractions, including Universal Studios, Disneyland, Rodeo Drive shopping, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, wine country tours, and California’s numerous beaches and parks. Los Angeles is the nation’s second largest city, but California’s capital is Sacramento. The giant sequoias in California’s forests are among the oldest living things in the world, and a redwood in the Redwood National Park is said to be the world’s tallest tree, at 365 feet. California achieved statehood in 1850, and was named the Golden State after the beginning of the Gold Rush in 1848.

According to 2005 Census estimates, California has a population of 36,132,147. Of this population, 9,308,563 are under the age of 18 and 3,827,038 are at or above the age of 65.