Brandon S. Smetana, M.D., FAAOS

Biography

Dr. Smetana is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and nerve surgeon at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center and has affiliations with both St. Vincent and Indiana University Hospitals. Dr. Smetana specializes in the treatment of all disorders of the upper extremity including shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand pathology in both adults and children. He is trained in arthroscopy, minimally invasive surgical approaches, and microvascular surgery. He has particular interests in peripheral nerve surgery, arthritis surgery, shoulder surgery, trauma surgery, and upper extremity reconstruction utilizing nerve transfers and tendon transfers. Dr. Smetana adopts a personal approach to each patient, taking time to understand their unique circumstances in order to develop a collaborative treatment plan that addresses their individual goals.

Dr. Smetana grew up in San Francisco, CA where he attended the French American International School passing the French Baccalaureate examination with a Science Major and a Specialization in Mathematics Magna Cum Laude honors. He then earned a BA degree in Biology with a concentration in Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY where he was a Pauline and Irving Tanner Dean’s Scholar.

Dr. Smetana received his medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA, graduating in the top 5% of his graduating class. He was a junior class inductee into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Medical Society and received numerous accolades including multiple named academic scholarships as well as the Mellinger Medical Student Research Scholarship.

Dr. Smetana then completed his Orthopaedic Surgery residency training at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC where he was elected the Administrative Senior and Chief Resident. Following residency he completed his fellowship training in hand, upper extremity, and microvascular surgery at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, one of the most prestigious fellowships in the country. While in fellowship he was the recipient of the Best Research Paper and Presentation Award at the The Mary S. Stern, Christine M. Kleinert, and Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center Tri-State Annual Meeting.

Dr. Smetana is actively engaged in the education of the next generation of hand and upper extremity surgeons, focusing on mentorship at all levels of training including medical students, residents, and fellows, both locally throughout the state of Indiana and nationwide. In addition to publishing clinical and basic science research papers, Dr. Smetana has also contributed chapters for multiple textbooks. He is a reviewer for the prestigious Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. He is a frequent presenter at national meetings and has recently traveled to Nicaragua as part of a pediatric hand surgery outreach project. Dr. Smetana is an active candidate member in the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Association for Hand Surgery, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Smetana has also been recognized by the American Orthopaedic Association as an Emerging Leader.

In addition to spending time with his family, Dr. Smetana enjoys playing soccer, hiking the National Parks, watching Big Ten sports and continuing to train as a classical pianist.

Patient Stories

• Katie B., Age 27, Parsonage-Turner Syndrome
• Emily M., Age 33, Cubital Tunnel Surgery

For Fun

Education

Undergrad
Cornell University

Medical School
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

Ortho Residency
University of North Carolina

Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery Fellowship
Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center

Certifications

• Board Certified, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
• American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• American Association for Hand Surgery
• American Orthopaedic Association Emerging Leaders Program
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Awards

• ASSH Young Leaders Program Delegate
• The Mary S. Stern, Christine M. Kleinert, and Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center
• Tri-State Hand Surgery Fellowship Award of Excellence for Best Research Paper and Presentation
• Sylvia & Gilbert Nurick Medical Achievement Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence
• Medical Student Research Award
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
• Ruth S. Wolfe Memorial Scholarship
• James Herring Teeter and Mae McDaniel Teeter International Scholarship
• Virchow Scholarship Award with induction into the Pathology Honors Society
• Dr. C McCollister and Nancy L Evarts Scholarship Award
• College of Medicine Medical Student Research Award
• Edward C. Hammond, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Award
• Mellinger Medical Student Research Scholarship
• Named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor 2019-2023

Publications

• Jernigan EW, Smetana BS , Rummings WA, Dineen HA, Paerson JMM, Draeger RW. The Effect of Intraoperave Glove Choice on Carpal Tunnel Pressure. J Hand Microsurg.
• Cao J, Smetana BS, Carrey P, Peck K, Merrell GA. A pediatric medial epicondyle fracture study using fresh frozen adult cadavers comparing fracture displacement and loss of terminal elbow extension. J Pediatr
• Orthop B.
• Smetana BS , Cao J, Merrell GA, Greenberg JA. Testing of Direct Neurorrhaphy Strain . Journal of Hand Surg Am.
• Cao J, Smetana BS, Carrey P, Peck K, Merrell GA. A pediatric medial epicondyle fracture cadaveric study comparing standard AP radiographic view with the distal humerus axial view. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedic

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