Christian J. Zaino, MD

Christian J. Zaino, MD is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Orthopedic Surgeon with sub-specialized training in hand, upper extremity, and microscopic surgery. He treats both children and adults with any orthopedic injury or ailment of the arm.

Dr. Zaino is board-certified in Orthopedic Surgery and holds a Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Surgery of the Hand through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, as well as the American Association of Hand Surgery.

Dr. Zaino completed a formal fellowship in hand, upper extremity, and microscopic surgery at the University of Chicago. He also received training in congenital hand surgery at the National Children’s Hospital of Lima, Peru, and microscopic surgery at the Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minnesota. Most recently, he completed a traveling fellowship in complex wrist arthroscopy and reconstruction at the Hand Institute of Auckland, New Zealand.

While in Orthopedic Residency at SUNY Downstate / Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, he was chief resident and team physician for two Brooklyn high school football teams – one was his Alma Mater. He completed his surgical internship at New York University Medical Center / Bellevue Hospital in New York. Dr. Zaino also has numerous first-author publications and has given several national and international presentations.

In medical school at New York University, Dr. Zaino was elected class president four times and gave the commencement valediction as well. For college, Dr. Zaino also graduated from New York University with Magna Cum Laude and Departmental Honors in Architectural History and Urban Planning. He also studied abroad in London, England.

In his free time, Dr. Zaino enjoys art, off-road driving, snorkeling, traveling, and building sand sculptures with his wife, Joanna, and son, Alessio, on Long Beach Island, NJ.

Clinical Expertise:

• Arthritis (rheumatoid and osteoarthritis)
• Arthroscopy of the wrist, elbow, and shoulder
• Bursitis, synovitis and tendonitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome and endoscopic carpal tunnel release
• Casts and splints for fractures, breaks, and dislocations
• Congenital hand issues
• Cost-effective options
• Ganglion cysts, mucous cysts, and other masses
• DeQuervain tenosynovitis / mommy thumb
• Distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) and triangular fibrocartilage (TFCC) injuries
• Dupuytren’s contracture and injections
• Lacerations and crush injuries of the hand and fingertip
• Infections of bone (osteomyelitis) or soft tissue
• Joint replacement – fingers, wrist, elbow, and shoulder
• Loose bodies and cartilage damage
• Malunion (bone deformity) correction
• MicroTip tendonitis treatment
• Minimally invasive surgery for fractures and dislocations
• Muscle, ligament, and tendon laceration/tears/sprains and repair
• Nerve injuries and microsurgical repair
• Occupational injuries
• Pain management
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Revision joint replacement
• Sports injuries / tennis elbow
• Steroid injections
• Surgical options without sedation, tourniquets, or intubation
• Trigger finger/thumb
• Unsolved injuries
• Wounds, scarring, and joint contracture
• Wrist fractures, injuries, and reconstruction

Practice:

Orthopedic Physician

Education:

• Fellowship in Orthopedic Hand and Upper Extremity surgery, University of Chicago Medical Center. With additional training in both microscopic surgery from the Mayo Clinic as well as congenital hand surgery at the National Children's Hospital of Lima, Peru.
• Traveling fellowship in complex wrist arthroscopy and reconstruction at the Hand Institute of Auckland, New Zealand.
• Residency in Orthopedic Surgery, State University of New York Health Science Center, SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Team physician for two Brooklyn high school football teams.
• Internship in General Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center
• Medical Degree, New York University School of Medicine, where he was elected class president and gave the valedictory address. Recipient of the Alumni Association Award and the Faculty Council Student Leader Award.
• Undergraduate Degree, New York University NYU (Departmental Honors, Magna Cum Laude in Urban Design and Architecture Studies).

Board Certificates:

Dr. Zaino is board-certified in Orthopedic Surgery and holds a Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Surgery of the Hand through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, as well as the American Association of Hand Surgery.