Our Physicians

Physician Bio

At the age of 18, Dr. Jim Plettner was working on a barge in New Orleans when he suffered a complex injury. What began as an accident turned out to be a life-changing incident, that inspired him to become a surgeon. Originally trained in General and Vascular Surgery, Dr. Plettner also worked at the National Cancer Institute. Later, while doing research at the Shriner’s Burns Institute, his interests turned to surgery of the hand, and he began studying under the pioneering hand surgery group in the country with Dr. Kutz and Dr. Kleinert.

Using microsurgical techniques, Dr. Plettner performs vascular and nerve surgery for small vessel repair as well as treating fractures and sprains of the hand and wrist. . “The hand is one of our major contacts with our world- from the sensation to caress and express our love to our children, to the strength and dexterity necessary to earn a living. Today, people who previously would have been permanently disabled are being restored to normal function”. Dr. Plettner is married and has two children. He sees patients of all ages- from children with congenital hand defects through adults with sports injuries to seniors with rheumatoid arthritis.