Christopher Dy, MD, MPH | Hand and Wrist Surgeon | Washington University Orthopedics

Dr. Dy has clinical interests in brachial plexus injury, peripheral nerve surgery (including nerve injuries of the upper and lower limb), wide-awake hand surgery, compression neuropathy, nerve grafting, nerve transfers, nerve repair, nerve decompression, carpal tunnel release (mini open and ultrasound guided), cubital tunnel release and ulnar nerve transposition, neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, hand fractures, wrist fractures, distal radius fractures and hand surgery.

Dr. Dy has traveled internationally to gain additional expertise in the treatment of brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries. He has learned treatment philosophies and surgical techniques from experts at:

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan (Professor David Chuang)
Ganga Hospital in India (Professor Raja Sabapathy)
Wenzhou Medical College in China (Professor Weiyang Gao)
Stockholm Hand and Foot Center in Sweden (Professor Elisabet Hagert)
Lerdsin Hospital Institute of Orthopedics in Thailand (Professor Somsak Leechavengvongs)
Universidade do Sol du Santa Catarina in Florianopolis, Brazil (Professor Jayme Bertelli)

Learn more about Dr. Dy's practice by listening to The Upper Hand Podcast.

Common Diagnoses Treated

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Compression neuropathy
Cubital tunnel syndrome
Distal radius fractures
Finger fractures
Metacarpal fractures
Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Traumatic adult brachial plexus injuries
Upper and lower extremity nerve injury
Wrist fractures

Common Procedures

Brachial plexus surgery
Carpal tunnel release
Cubital tunnel release
Hand and wrist fracture fixation
Nerve grafting
Nerve reconstruction
Nerve repair
Nerve transfer
Tarsal tunnel release (primary and revision)
Thoracic outlet decompression
Ulnar nerve transposition

Clinical Office Locations

Center for Advanced Medicine (CAM)

4921 Parkview Place

St. Louis, MO 63110
Center for Advanced Medicine - South County

5201 Midamerica Plaza

St. Louis, MO 63129

Hospital Affiliations

Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis Children's Hospital

Academic Office Mailing Address

Washington University School of Medicine

Campus Box 8233

660 Euclid Avenue

Saint Louis, MO 63110

MyChart Patient Portal

Patient Education

Hand & Microsurgery patient education

Meet Dr. Dy’s Patients

Patient Resources

Patient Forms

Click here for patient forms.

Dy CJ, Brown DS, Keller M, Maryam H, Olsen MA. Two State Comparison of Total Joint Arthroplasty Utilization Following Medicaid Expansion. J Arthroplasty. 2018 Dec 22. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2018.12.019. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 30642704
Goldfarb CA, Rizzo MG, Rogalski BL, Bansal A, Dy CJ, Brophy RH. Complications Following Overlapping Orthopaedic Procedures at an Ambulatory Surgery Center. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 Dec 19;100(24):2118-2124. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.18.00244. PMID: 30562292
Dy CJ, Antes AL, Osei DA, Goldfarb CA, DuBois JM. The “critical portions” of carpal tunnel release, ulnar nerve transposition, and ORIF distal radius. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 Dec 5;100(23):e148. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.17.00654. PMID: 30516635
Dy CJ, Osei DA, Maak TG, Gottschalk MB, Zhang AL, Maloney MD, Presson AP, O’Keefe RJ. Safety of Overlapping Inpatient Orthopaedic Surgery: A Multicenter Study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 Nov 21;100(22):1902-1911. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.17.01625. PMID: 30480594
Dy CJ, Kazmers NH, Baty J, Bommarito K, Osei DA. An Epidemiologic Perspective on Scaphoid Fracture Treatment and Frequency of Nonunion Surgery in the USA. HSS J. 2018 Oct;14(3):245-250. doi: 10.1007/s11420-018-9619-3. PubMed PMID: 30258328
Yannascoli S, Stwalley D, Saeed MJ, Olsen MA, Dy CJ. A Population-based Assessment of Depression and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Brachial Plexus Injuries. J Hand Surg Am. 2018 May 19. pii: S0363-5023(17)31489-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2018.03.056. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 29789186
Dy CJ, Aunins B, Brogan DM. Barriers to perineural scarring: role in treatment of traumatic nerve injury and chronic compressive neuropathy. J Hand Surg Am. 2018 Apr;43(4):360-367. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2018.01.013. PMID: 29482956
Khalifeh JM, Dibble CF, Dy CJ, Ray WZ. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Combined Dual Motor Nerve Transfers versus Alternative Surgical and Nonsurgical Management Strategies to Restore Shoulder Function Following Upper Brachial Plexus Injury. Neurosurgery. 2018 Mar 14. doi: 10.1093/neuros/nyy015. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30371909
Lalezari RM, Pozen A, Dy CJ. State variation in medicaid reimbursements for orthopaedic surgery. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 Feb 7;100(3):236-242. PMID: 29406345
Mancuso CA, Lee SK, Saltzman EB, Model Z, Landers ZA, Dy CJ, Wolfe SW. Development of a questionnaire to measure impact and outcomes of brachial plexus injury. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 Feb 7;100(3): e14. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.17.00497. PMID: 29406348
Trehan SK, Wall LB, Calfee RP, Shen TS, Dy CJ, Yannascoli SM, Goldfarb CA. Arthroscopic diagnosis of the triangular fibrocartilage complex foveal tear: A cadaver assessment. J Hand Surg Am. 2018 Jan 25. pii: S063-5023(17)30956-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.12.017. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 29395584
Dardas AZ, Goldfarb CA, Boyer MI, Osei DA, Dy CJ, Calfee RP. A prospective observational assessment of unicortical distal screw placement during volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures. J Hand Surg Am. 2018 Jan 25. pii: S0363-5023(17)31177-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.12.018. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 29395586
Mancuso CA, Lee SK, Dy CJ, Landers ZA, Model Z, Wolfe SW. Compensation by the uninjured arm after brachial plexus injury. HAND. 2016 Oct; 11(4): 410-415. doi:10.1177/558944715627635. PubMed PMID: 28149206; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5256649
Dy CJ, Baty J, Saeed MJ, Olsen MA, Osei DA. A population-based analysis of time to surgery and travel distances for brachial plexus surgery. J Hand Surg Am. 2016 Sep;41(9):903-909.e3. Pubmed PMID: 27570225. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5004775
Morris MT, Daluiski A, Dy CJ. A thematic analysis of online discussion boards for brachial plexus injury. J Hand Surg Am. 2016 Jun 14. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27311862
16. Dy CJ, Lane JM, Pan TJ, Parks ML, Lyman S. Racial and socioeconomic disparities in hip fracture care. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016 May 18;98(10):858-65. PubMed PMID: 27194496. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4866580
Patel AA, Alhandi AA, Milne E, Dy CJ, Latta LL, Ouellette EA. Biomechanical analysis of all-inside, arthroscopic suture repair versus extensor retinaculum capsulorrhaphy for triangular fibrocartilage complex tears with instability. J Hand Surg Am. 2016 Mar;41(3):387-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.11.025. Epub 2016 Jan 13. PubMed PMID: 26794124
Mancuso CA, Lee SK, Dy CJ, Landers ZA, Model Z, Wolfe SW. Expectations and limitations due to brachial plexus injury: a qualitative study. Hand (N Y). 2015 Dec;10(4):741-9. doi: 10.1007/s11552-015-9761-z. Epub 2015 May 1. PubMed PMID: 26568734; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4641103
Dy CJ, Lyman S, Boutin-Foster C, Felix K, Kang Y, et al. Do patient race and sex change surgeon recommendations for TKA? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2015 Feb;473(2):410-7. PubMed PMID: 25337976; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4294909
Dy CJ, Marx RG, Ghomrawi HM, Pan TJ, Westrich GH, et al. The potential influence of regionalization strategies on delivery of care for elective total joint arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2015 Jan;30(1):1-6. PubMed PMID: 25282073
Nwachukwu BU, Dy CJ, Burket JC, Padgett DE, Lyman S. Risk for Complication after Total Joint Arthroplasty at a Center of Excellence: The Impact of Patient Travel Distance. J Arthroplasty. 2015 Jan 19;PubMed PMID: 25639857
Jang E, Dy CJ, Wolfe SW. Selection of tendon grafts for distal radioulnar ligament reconstruction and report of a modified technique. J Hand Surg Am. 2014 Oct;39(10):2027-32. PubMed PMID: 25135250; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4177282
Garcia GH, Taylor SA, Dy CJ, Christ A, Patel RM, et al. Online resources for shoulder instability: what are patients reading? J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014 Oct 15;96(20):e177. PubMed PMID: 25320207
Dy CJ, Lyman S, Do HT, Fabricant PD, Marx RG, et al. Socioeconomic factors are associated with frequency of repeat emergency department visits for pediatric closed fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2014 Jul-Aug;34(5):548-51. PubMed PMID: 24590328; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4051828
Dy CJ, Jang E, Taylor SA, Meyers KN, Wolfe SW. The impact of coronal alignment on distal radioulnar joint stability following distal radius fracture. J Hand Surg Am. 2014 Jul;39(7):1264-72. PubMed PMID: 24857823
Dy CJ, Bozic KJ, Padgett DE, Pan TJ, Marx RG, et al. Is changing hospitals for revision total joint arthroplasty associated with more complications? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2014 Jul;472(7):2006-15. PubMed PMID: 24615420; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4048404
Dy CJ, Bozic KJ, Pan TJ, Wright TM, Padgett DE, et al. Risk factors for early revision after total hip arthroplasty. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2014 Jun;66(6):907-15. PubMed PMID: 24285406; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4269321
Dy CJ, Marx RG, Bozic KJ, Pan TJ, Padgett DE, et al. Risk factors for revision within 10 years of total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2014 Apr;472(4):1198-207. PubMed PMID: 24347046; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3940740
Dy CJ, Pean CA, Hearns KA, Swanstrom MM, Janowski LC, et al. Long-term results following surgical treatment of elbow deformity in patients with cerebral palsy. J Hand Surg Am. 2013 Dec;38(12):2432-6. PubMed PMID: 24275052
Dy CJ, Lyman S, Schreiber JJ, Do HT, Daluiski A. The epidemiology of reoperation after flexor pulley reconstruction. J Hand Surg Am. 2013 Sep;38(9):1705-11. PubMed PMID: 23845587; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3932671
Dy CJ, Tucker SM, Hearns KA, Carlson MG. Comparison of in vitro motion and stability between techniques for index metacarpophalangeal joint radial collateral ligament reconstruction. J Hand Surg Am. 2013 Jul;38(7):1324-30. PubMed PMID: 23747165; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3755456
Dy CJ, Gonzalez Della Valle A, York S, Rodriguez JA, Sculco TP, et al. Variations in surgeons' recovery expectations for patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty: a survey of the AAHKS membership. J Arthroplasty. 2013 Mar;28(3):401-5. PubMed PMID: 23142456
Dy CJ, Kitay A, Garg R, Kang L, Feinberg JH, et al. Neurotization to innervate the deltoid and biceps: 3 cases. J Hand Surg Am. 2013 Feb;38(2):237-40. PubMed PMID: 23267757
Dy CJ, Tucker SM, Kok PL, Hearns KA, Carlson MG. Anatomy of the radial collateral ligament of the index metacarpophalangeal joint. J Hand Surg Am. 2013 Jan;38(1):124-8. PubMed PMID: 23200946
Dy CJ, Schmicker T, Tran Q, Chadwick B, Daluiski A. The use of a tablet computer to complete the DASH questionnaire. J Hand Surg Am. 2012 Dec;37(12):2589-94. PubMed PMID: 23174074
Dy CJ, Lange DJ, Jones KJ, Garg R, DiCarlo EF, et al. Diagnostic biopsy of the pronator teres and a motor branch of the median nerve: indications and technique. J Hand Surg Am. 2012 Dec;37(12):2570-5. PubMed PMID: 23174072
Dy CJ, Young KC, Carlson MG. The maximum distal and ulnar position of a fixed-angle volar plate to avoid intra-articular penetration: a cadaver study. J Hand Surg Eur. Vol. 2012 Nov;37(9):895-7. PubMed PMID: 22422776
Dy CJ, Thompson MT, Usrey MM, Noble PC. The distribution of vascular foramina at the femoral head/neck junction: implications for resurfacing arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2012 Oct;27(9):1669-75. PubMed PMID: 22522108
Dy CJ, Ouellette EA, Makowski AL, Milne E, Latta LL. Peripheral triangular fibrocartilage complex tears cause ulnocarpal instability: a biomechanical pilot study. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2012 Oct;470(10):2771-5. PubMed PMID: 22644423; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3441979
Dy CJ, Taylor SA, Patel RM, Kitay A, Roberts TR, et al. The effect of search term on the quality and accuracy of online information regarding distal radius fractures. J Hand Surg Am. 2012 Sep;37(9):1881-7. PubMed PMID: 22857909
Memtsoudis SG, Dy CJ, Ma Y, Chiu YL, Della Valle AG, et al. In-hospital patient falls after total joint arthroplasty: incidence, demographics, and risk factors in the United States. J Arthroplasty. 2012 Jun;27(6):823-8.e1. PubMed PMID: 22115762; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3653584
Dy CJ, Dossous PM, Ton QV, Hollenberg JP, Lorich DG, et al. The medical orthopaedic trauma service: an innovative multidisciplinary team model that decreases in-hospital complications in patients with hip fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 2012 Jun;26(6):379-83. PubMed PMID: 21885997
Dy CJ, Daluiski A, Do HT, Hernandez-Soria A, Marx R, et al. The epidemiology of reoperation after flexor tendon repair. J Hand Surg Am. 2012 May;37(5):919-24. PubMed PMID: 22459656
Dy CJ, Hernandez-Soria A, Ma Y, Roberts TR, Daluiski A. Complications after flexor tendon repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hand Surg Am. 2012 Mar;37(3):543-551.e1. PubMed PMID: 22317947
Dy CJ, Wilkinson JD, Tamariz L, Scully SP. Influence of preoperative cardiovascular risk factor clusters on complications of total joint arthroplasty. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2011 Nov;40(11):560-5. PubMed PMID: 22263208
Dy CJ, Dossous PM, Ton QV, Hollenberg JP, Lorich DG, et al. Does a multidisciplinary team decrease complications in male patients with hip fractures? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011 Jul;469(7):1919-24. PubMed PMID: 21350887; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3111804
Dy CJ, McCollister KE, Lubarsky DA, Lane JM. An economic evaluation of a systems-based strategy to expedite surgical treatment of hip fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2011 Jul 20;93(14):1326-34. PubMed PMID: 21792499
Dy CJ, Thompson MT, Crawford MJ, Alexander JW, McCarthy JC, et al. Tensile strain in the anterior part of the acetabular labrum during provocative maneuvering of the normal hip. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008 Jul;90(7):1464-72. PubMed PMID: 18594094
Crawford MJ, Dy CJ, Alexander JW, Thompson M, Schroder SJ, et al. The 2007 Frank Stinchfield Award. The biomechanics of the hip labrum and the stability of the hip. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2007 Dec;465:16-22. PubMed PMID: 17906586

Edited Textbooks

Ed: Dy CJ, Isaacs J. Surgical Anatomy: Nerve Reconstruction. American Society for Surgery of the Hand (2017)

Research Interests

Dr. Dy has research interests in health services research, health policy research, health care disparities, health care delivery science, brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries and qualitative outcomes assessments. Dr. Dy has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, and the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand. To learn more about Dr. Dy's nerve research, click here.

Clinical Interests

Dr. Dy has clinical interests in brachial plexus injury, peripheral nerve surgery (including nerve injuries of the upper and lower limb), wide-awake hand surgery, compression neuropathy, nerve grafting, nerve transfer, nerve repair, nerve decompression, carpal tunnel release, cubital tunnel release, neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, hand fractures, wrist fractures, distal radius fractures and hand surgery.

Background

Dr. Dy received his medical degree and masters of public health degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. He completed an internship at the New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, NY, then completed an orthopaedic surgery residency and postdoctoral research fellowship in health services at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, NY. During this time, he received the Young Investigator research grant from the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation. Dr. Dy then went on to complete a hand and upper extremity surgery fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. He has completed additional international training in evaluation and treatment of brachial plexus and peripheral nerve conditions and has visited international leaders in peripheral nerve surgery as part of the ASSH Richard H. Gelberman Traveling Scholarship. Reflecting his interest in health services and health policy research, Dr. Dy was selected for the AAOS Washington Health Policy Fellowship and the AAOS Musculoskeletal Healthcare Disparities Symposium. Dr. Dy is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), a fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA), and a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Society for Peripheral Nerve, and the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society.

Board Certifications

Diplomate of American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Board Certified (July 27, 2017 – December 31, 2027)
Subspecialty Certificate in Surgery of the Hand, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (August 29, 2018 – December 31, 2027)

Medical Degree

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL

Residency

Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY

Fellowship

Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Honors and Awards

2019, Lee T. Ford MD Award for Academic Achievement (Washington University Orthopedics)
2019, Richard H. Gelberman Scholar (American Society for Surgery of the Hand)
2019, Richard J. Smith Lecturer (American Society for Surgery of the Hand)
2019, OREF/CCJR Clinical Practice Award
2018, J. Leonard Goldner Pioneer Award – American Society for Surgery of the Hand
2017, Young Leaders Program - American Society for Surgery of the Hand
2017, ORAU Junior Faculty Enhancement Award
2014, Hospital for Special Surgery Lewis Clark Wagner Award for Clinical/Translational Research: Racial and socioeconomic disparities in hip fracture timing of care, complications, and mortality
2013, AAOS Washington Health Policy Fellowship
2013, Presidential Scholar: Academy Health National Health Policy Conference
2012, Hospital for Special Surgery Patient Safety Champion Award
2011, Young Surgeon Traveling Fellowship: ASSH/AFSH and Health Volunteers Overseas
2011, Resident Writer’s Award: American Journal of Orthopedics: Influence of preoperative cardiovascular risk factor clusters on complications of total joint arthroplasty
2011, ASSH Representative, AAOS/OREF/ORS Clinician Scholar Development Program
2010, Young Investigator: AAOS Musculoskeletal Healthcare Disparities Symposium
2007, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (University of Miami)
2007, Stinchfield Award (The Hip Society): Normal biomechanics of the acetabular labrum
2005, Iron Arrow Society (University of Miami): The University’s Highest Honor

Committees

2022-present, Executive Committee (American Society of Peripheral Nerve)
2022-present, Executive Committee (American Orthopaedic Association)
2022-present, Education Committee (American Society of Peripheral Nerve)
2019-present, Research Management Committee (American Society for Surgery of the Hand)
2019-present, Subspecialty Review Editor for the JBJS Specialty Update What’s New in Hand Surgery
2019-present, Early Career Reviewer Program – NIH Center for Scientific Review
2018-present, Social Media Advisory Board for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
2015-present, Government Affairs Committee, American Society for Surgery of the Hand (Chair 2018-present)
2014-present, Consultant reviewer for the Journal of Hand Surgery
2014-present, Consultant reviewer for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
2013-present, Consultant reviewer for the Bone and Joint Journal
2011-2013, Residency Review Committee, Orthopaedic Surgery - Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

Washington University Orthopedics

Christopher Dy, MD, MPH, FACS