Dr. Neal C. Chen brings a wide breadth of expertise to his practice, from advanced arthroscopy to complex extremity reconstruction. He has a balanced approach towards novel technologies and evidence-based medicine.
In 2002, Dr. Chen's father was in an accident, which broke both his arms and legs. At Mass General, Dr. Jesse Jupiter cared for his father's complex elbow and forearm fractures. As a result of his care, his father had an exceptional result. From this experience and the tutelage of Dr. Jupiter, Dr. Chen developed an interest in hand and upper extremity surgery.
Dr. Chen received his BS in Biological Sciences at Stanford University and his MD from Yale University. He completed residency at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, the Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship at Mass General and the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery.
He returned to Mass General after six years of both academic and private practice. He was previously a Sports Medicine Attending at the University of Michigan and subsequently was a partner at the Philadelphia Hand Center, P.C. while serving as an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. As a fellow in New York, Dr. Chen was an assistant team physician for the New York Mets. In Ann Arbor, he served as a consultant to University of Michigan Athletics, a consultant to USA Hockey and team physician for Eastern Michigan University.
He has received a prestigious Basic Science Grant from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand/American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand. He has research sponsored by the AO Foundation for the study of shoulder fractures.
Dr. Chen has a clinical practice that encompasses complex problems of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. He performs shoulder and elbow replacement, tendon transfers, arthroscopy of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist, and repair of malaligned or unhealed fractures.
Hand Surgery, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery/General, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Accepted Insurance Plans
Aetna
Beech Street
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
Cigna
Commonwealth Care Alliance
Coventry
Fallon Health
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Humana
Maine Community Health Options
Mass General Brigham Health Plan
MassHealth
Medicaid CT
Medicaid ME
Medicaid NH
Medicaid RI
Medicaid VT
Medicare
Medicare ACO
Multiplan
Railroad Medicare
Senior Whole Health
TriCare
Tufts Health Plan
United Health Care
Wellpoint
WellSense
WellSense NH
Note: This provider may accept more insurance plans than shown; please call the practice to find out if your plan is accepted.
Research
Dr. Chen's research interests include:
Advanced wrist and elbow arthroscopy
Arthroscopic assisted fracture repair
Improving treatment of complex upper extremity fractures
Improving elbow and wrist replacement
Publications
Select publications:
Chen NC, Jupiter JB, Steinmann SP, Ring D. Non-acute treatment of elbow fracture with persistent ulnohumeral dislocation or subluxation. J Bone Joint Surg 2014; 96(15):1308-1316.
Chen NC, Jupiter JB: Current Concepts: Treatment of distal radius fractures. J Bone Joint Surg 2007; 89: 2051-62.
Smith MV, Bedi A, Chen NC. Surgical treatment for osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum. Sports Health. 2012;4:425-32.
Chen NC, Shauver MJ, Chung KC. Cost-effectiveness of open partial fasciectomy, needle aponeurotomy,and collagenase: injection for Dupuytren contracture. J Hand Surg Am. 2011; 36:1826-1834.
Chen NC, Bedi A. Rotator cuff defect: acute or chronic? J Hand Surg Am. 2011; 36:513-5.
Chen NC, Culp RW, Osterman AL, Chung KC. "Wrist Arthroscopy" in Hand Surgery Update 5. ed. Chung KC. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Rosemont, 2011.
Chen NC, Cohen MS. "Total Elbow Arthroplasty" in Green's Operative Hand Surgery 7th Edition. Churchill Livingstone.
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A Top Hospital in America
Mass General is recognized as a top hospital on the U.S. News Best Hospitals Honor Roll for 2024-2025.
After a three-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 31st annual Richard J. Smith Memorial Lectureship and the 8th Annual Jesse Jupiter International Forum brought surgeons from around the globe to Boston for in-person presentations, roundtable conversations and networking.
Numbness and tingling of the fingers and hands are often related to common nerve compressions. Dr. Neal Chen discusses the common problems, treatment for mild symptoms, and when to see a provider for medical care.
Specialists from Mass General’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery offer timely advice on creating an ideal work-from-home setup for relaxed and sustainable productivity.
Mientras trabajaba, David se lesionó gravemente la mano derecha, cortándose los tendones del dorso. En busca de una solución, David abordó un vuelo de dos horas de las Bermudas a Boston para reunirse con un equipo de médicos de Mass General.
David Scraders traveled to Mass General for complex hand surgery in the hospital’s Plastic and Orthopaedic Hand Surgery Services, with care coordination by the International Patient Center.
من جانبه قال ديفيد: "عندما أخبرني أطبائي بمدى خطورة الإصابة، أُصبتُ بانهيار وبكيت. لو انتشر الالتهاب أكثر، كانوا سيبترون يدي وهو أمر كان سيمثل مصيبة لي باعتباري محبًا لرياضة التاي تشي وعملي صانعًا للوحات."