Michael S. Shuler

Dr. Shuler was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergraduate education. He obtained his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, and completed his orthopedic surgery training at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, then spent an additional year of training focused solely on hand and upper extremity surgery and microsurgery at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Dr. Shuler joined Athens Orthopedic Clinic in 2008 and founded the Hand & Upper Extremity Center, which serves patients through specialty-trained surgeons and a team of certified hand therapists. By providing this comprehensive team approach, care is individualized and tailored to the needs of the patient in order to maximize recovery while limiting down time. The Center focuses on both acute injuries and chronic conditions of the hand, wrist, and arm.

Dr. Shuler has specialized in minimally invasive procedures including carpal tunnel release and cubital tunnel release. Post operative restrictions after surgery are limited to 3 days of a soft dressings with no activity limitations. Surgery usually takes from 5-15 minutes and dissolvable sutures are used to speed recovery. Dr. Shuler has taught other orthopedic surgeons the technique for minimally invasive/ endoscopic carpal tunnel release since 2015.

Dr. Shuler has been a pioneer in minimally invasive Cmc thumb arthritis management (arthroplasties). Cmc arthritis (base of the thumb arthritis) is a very common and painful degenerative condition. Using a novel technique stabilizing the thumb with a suture bridge allows for reduced recovery time. Dr. Shuler has published a paper describing excellent results on the first 242 patients with up to 9 year follow up. Casting is limited to only 2 weeks versus the standard 6 weeks. Limited post op immobilization allows for faster recovery.

Dr. Shuler is also active in research exploring the use of biological non-operative management (amniotic fluid and platelet rich plasm-PRP) for common conditions such as trigger fingers and tennis elbow.

Dr. Shuler also has significant experience with Dupuytren’s contracture and the use of Xiaflex injections. Xiaflex injections allow for minimal recovery and no surgery to dissolve the hard palmar nodules and cords with minimal down time and limitations.

Dr. Shuler is active in medical research and device development as well. Dr. Shuler has published over 25 peer reviewed publications. He currently is helping manage of a Department of Defense grant working toward developing a non-invasive monitoring system for compartment syndrome. He has helped raise over $10,000,000 in federal funding for medical device development.

Additionally, Dr. Shuler is leading the efforts to develop a sponge-less negative pressure wound therapy dressing that can be used without the need for change for up to 6 days. The novel dressing allows for irrigation and wound visualization.

Dr. Shuler is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and has a Subspecialty Certificate in Surgery of the Hand. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH). Dr. Shuler sits on several medical journal review boards as well Department of Defense grant review boards.

Dr. Shuler sees patients and performs surgery in Athens, Loganville. and Greensboro. Dr. Shuler’s team consists of physician's assistant (PA) Karl Kline and nurses Wendy Wynne and Sandy McCannon. They would be happy to see you and discuss what options exist to tailor a treatment to maximize your function and minimize recovery.