Internal medicine practitioners
Nikolas H. Kazmers
Nikolas H. Kazmers, M.D. M.S.E. is an Associate Professor (with Tenure) of Orthopaedic Hand and Microvascular Surgery at the University of Utah Hospital and Clinics. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (Board Certified), and holds additional board certification in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery (Subspecialty Certificate / Certificate of Added Qualifications). He exclusively specializes in hand and upper extremity (elbow / forearm / wrist / hand / finger-thumb) problems and microvascular surgery. He treats upper extremity disorders such as fractures, dislocations, lacerations to nerves and tendons, and all other injuries of the hand and arm for adults and children. He also diagnoses and treats all types of arthritis of the hand, fingers, and wrist, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome (carpal tunnel release), cubital tunnel syndrome (decompression), Dupuytren's disease (collagenase/Xiaflex injection, needle aponeurotomy, surgical fasciectomy), trigger finger, tendinitis, arthritis (hand, fingers, thumb, and wrist) and many other common surgical and non-surgical problems that occur in the fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow. He is also an expert in peripheral nerve repair and reconstruction, which may involve a combination of nerve transfers, tendon transfers, fusions, or other related procedures. He works out of the University Orthopaedic Center (UOC) in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as out of the Farmington Health Center (FHC) in Farmington, Utah. He works closely at both sites with Rachel Decker-Male APRN, a nurse practitioner who works exclusively with the Division of Hand Surgery within the Department of Orthopaedics. He is the only physician at the Farmington Health Center with board certification in hand surgery and a primary clinical focus on upper extremity conditions. For selected smaller procedures including carpal tunnel release or trigger finger/thumb release, and based on patient preference, he commonly performs "wide-awake" surgery--a streamlined experience that can help decrease the time, expense, anesthesia side-effects, and inconvenience associated with having surgery such as fasting. This treatment option substantially reduces the burden of costs (no anesthesia bills, and lower facility charges) and time for patients. Although he specializes in all treatments and conditions related to the fingers, thumb, hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow, Dr. Kazmers has specific interest in complex post-traumatic reconstruction of the upper extremity. This includes bony reconstruction with fibula or medial femoral condyle bone flaps, peripheral nerve reconstruction, vascular disorders involving the hands, as well as an interest in fracture care and injuries to the fingers, hand, wrist, and elbow related to sports and active outdoor pursuits (skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, etc). He is one of few surgeons in this region of the country to perform medial femoral condyle bone free flaps to treat scaphoid nonunion with avascular necrosis or other fractures or fusions (including those in the lower extremity) that have failed to heal despite prior surgical attempts. Dr. Kazmers also is engaged in helping both current and future amputees of the upper and lower extremity. He performs a nerve transfer surgery called Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) to help treat patients who are suffering from neuroma symptoms (both amputees and non-amputees). TMR has also been shown to reduce phantom pain when performed at the same time as planned amputations of the upper and lower extremities, which he performs regularly. He works closely with Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physicians as well as anesthesiologists when diagnostic nerve blocks are needed. Dr. Kazmers received his B.S.E. and M.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan College of Engineering. He received his medical degree (M.D.) from Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine. He completed orthopaedic surgery residency at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by completion of the hand and microvascular surgery fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (Board Certified), and has additional board certification in hand and upper extremity surgery (Subspecialty Certificate / Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hand Surgery).
