Writer Mark Schreiner’s routine was disrupted after a bicycle accident left him with broken fingers and hand bones, making him unable to work for three months. After surgery and occupational therapy at Duke Health, he’s back at his keyboard—and on his bike. "Duke treats you as more than just bones and hands," Schreiner said.
Schreiner was referred to Duke Orthopaedics, where imaging specialists discovered additional fractures. He was introduced to Dr. David S. Ruch, Chief of Hand Surgery, who performed the surgery. "He explained the complexity of the procedure like a watchmaker, using tiny screws and wires."
Schreiner credits Duke’s exceptional care and his wife’s support for his recovery. “When something like this happens, you realize how much your hands matter,” he said.
“Duke is internationally regarded as having one of the finest hand and upper extremity surgery programs in the world,” said Dr. Ruch. “And the Duke lineage is such that we have trained probably more than 50 of the top hand surgeons in the country.”
Schreiner credits his team at Duke and his wife, Jennifer, for their unwavering support. “When something like this happens, you realize your hands are how you interact with the world,” said Schreiner. “I’m just grateful to have access to such wonderful care.”