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. Illinois has 141 practicing hand surgeons. Broken out by city, hand surgery doctor density in Alton is 1, in Arlington Heights is 6, in Aurora is 3, in Bannockburn is 1, in Bartlett is 4, in Belleville is 4, in Bloomingdale is 1, in Bloomington is 3, in Bradley is 1, in Buffalo Grove is 1, in Carol Stream is 3, in Centralia is 1, in Chester is 1, in Chicago is 40, in Danville is 2, in Decatur is 3, in Des Plaines is 4, in Downers Grove is 3, in East Saint Louis is 1, in Effingham is 4, in Elgin is 2, in Elk Grove Village is 1, in Elmhurst is 7, in Fairfield is 1, in Flora is 1, in Flossmoor is 1, in Galesburg is 1, in Geneseo is 1, in Geneva is 2, in Glen Ellyn is 1, in Glenview is 2, in Granite City is 3, in Herrin is 1, in Hinsdale is 4, in Hoffman Estates is 3, in Homewood is 1, in Jacksonville is 1, in Joliet is 3, in La Grange is 2, in La Grange Highlands is 1, in Lake Forest is 2, in Lemont is 1, in Libertyville is 3, in Lincoln is 1, in Lincolnwood is 1, in Lombard is 1, in Martinsville is 1, in Maryville is 3, in Mattoon is 1, in Maywood is 4, in Melrose Park is 2, in Mokena is 1, in Moline is 5, in Monticello is 1, in Morton Grove is 3, in Mount Vernon is 1, in Naperville is 7, in Nashville is 1, in New Lenox is 1, in Niles is 1, in Northbrook is 3, in O Fallon is 1, in Oak Forest is 1, in Oak Lawn is 4, in Oak Park is 4, in Oakbrook Terrace is 1, in Olney is 1, in Olympia Fields is 1, in Orland Park is 4, in Ottawa is 1, in Palos Hills is 1, in Park Ridge is 2, in Peoria is 5, in Plainfield is 2, in Rockford is 3, in Schaumburg is 2, in Silvis is 1, in Skokie is 1, in Springfield is 8, in Swansea is 1, in Sycamore is 2, in Tuscola is 1, in Urbana is 2, in Warrenville is 5, in Westchester is 1, in Westmont is 1, in Wheaton is 4, in Wilmette is 2, in Winfield is 1, and in Winnetka is 1.

Most people think that Chicago, because of its size and popularity, is Illinois’ capital city, but that distinction belongs to Springfield, home of the Abraham Lincoln Museum. Illinois has hundreds of museums, numerous yearly art and ethnic festivals, a lakeshore bordering Lake Michigan, and the many national forests and parks that offers visitors camping, horseback riding, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Chicago is home to the Sears Tower, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, and other cultural opportunities and restaurants in the Navy Pier area.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Illinois has a population of 12,763,371. Of this population, 3,172,677 are under the age of 18 and 1,523,937 are at or above the age of 65.