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Richard Irving Burton, M.D.

Richard Irving Burton, M.D.

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Office (585) 275-3030

About Me

Dr. Burton is an orthopaedic surgeon with special expertise in surgery of the hand and wrist. He led the team of orthopedists that developed a breakthrough surgery for patients with a common type of arthritis of the thumb. Known internationally as the "Burton procedure," the technique is now the gol...
Dr. Burton is an orthopaedic surgeon with special expertise in surgery of the hand and wrist. He led the team of orthopedists that developed a breakthrough surgery for patients with a common type of arthritis of the thumb. Known internationally as the "Burton procedure," the technique is now the gold standard therapy for this condition and is taught to orthopaedic surgeons throughout the nation. Dr. Burton has performed the procedure on many well-known people.

Dr. Burton earned his medical degree at Harvard Medical School and then completed two years of general surgical training at Strong Memorial Hospital. He served two years in the United States Air Force assigned to the Strategic Air Command. Then, after an Honorable Discharge, he received his orthopaedic residency at Massachusetts General, Peter Bent Brigham, and Boston Children's Hospitals. He also completed a fellowship in hand surgery at The Roosevelt Hospital with J. William Littler, MD, and Richard G. Eaton, MD.

Throughout his career, Dr. Burton has authored more than 80 medical textbook chapters and journal articles on topics such as orthopaedic problems of the hand and wrist and surgical techniques to treat them. Dr. Burton is listed in Who's Who in America, in The World, and in Education; he has given many invited lectureships and visiting professorships, including those at Brown's RI Hospital, The Ochsner clinic, Washington University, The Curtis Hand Center, The Mayo Clinic, The Hand Center of San Antonio, The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, The University of Washington, and The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre of Oxford University in England.

For several years as Director of The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, he was responsible for overseeing the certification of hand surgeons in orthopaedic, plastic, and general surgery specialties across America.

In 1992-93, Dr. Burton served as President of The American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Dr. Burton was department chair and Wehle Professor of Orthopaedics from 1988 until 2000. During that period with his leadership, patient care services expanded as URMC Orthopaedics became the Rochester, NY region's largest provider of Orthopaedic care, the residency educational programs greatly improved and expanded, and the department emerged as one of the nation's best-funded Orthopaedic departments for research.

Since 2002, Dr. Burton has served as Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Faculty Appointments

Professor Emeritus - Department of Orthopaedics (SMD)

Emeritus Marjorie Strong Wehle Professor in Orthopaedics - Department of Orthopaedics (SMD)

Emeritus Senior Associate Dean, Academic Affairs - Dean's Office M&D - Administration (SMD)

Emeritus Chair - Department of Orthopaedics (SMD) - Joint

Credentials

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

Fellowship, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Fellow in Surgery of the Hand at The Roosevelt Hospital with J. William Littler, MD and Richard G. Eaton, MD 1970 - 1971

Combined Harvard Orthopaedic Residency -
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, West Roxbury Veterans Hospital, Robert Breck Brigham Hospital, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts 1966 - 1970

Assistant Resident, General Surgery
Strong Memorial Hospital
Rochester, New York 1963 - 1964

Education

MD | Harvard Medical School. Medicine. 1962

BA | Amherst College. Embryology, Developmental Anatomy. 1958

Awards

Who's Who in Finance and Industry 2001

Who's Who in the East 2001

Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare 1996

Who's Who in Science and Engineering 1993

Who's Who in Education 1993

Best Doctors in America 1992

Who's Who in the World 1991

Who's Who in America 1990

Executive of the Year 1981

Henry C. and Bertha Buswell Distinguished Service Fellow
University of Rochester 1980 - 1981

Publications

Journal Articles

Volar plate arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint: a preliminary report.

Burton RI, Campolattaro RM, Ronchetti PJ

The Journal of hand surgery.. 2002 November 27 (6):1065-72. Epub 1900 01 01.

Nerve entrapments of the upper extremity: A surgical perspective.

Levine BP, Jones JA, Burton RI

Neurologic clinics.. 1999 August 17 (3):549-65, vii. Epub 1900 01 01.

Arthroplasty of the basal joint of the thumb. Long-term follow-up after ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition

Tomaino,M. M.; Pellegrini,V. D.,Jr; Burton,R. I.

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American volume. 1995; 77(3): 346,355.

Long-term results following proximal row carpectomy.

Tomaino MM, Delsignore J, Burton RI

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1994 July 19 (4):694-703. Epub 1900 01 01.

Comparative effects of growth factors on fibroblasts of Dupuytren's tissue and normal palmar fascia.

Alioto RJ, Rosier RN, Burton RI, Puzas JE

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1994 May 19 (3):442-52. Epub 1900 01 01.

Outcome assessment following limited wrist fusion: objective wrist scoring versus patient satisfaction.

Tomaino MM, Miller RJ, Burton RI

Contemporary orthopaedics. 1994 May 28 (5):403-10. Epub 1900 01 01.

Discovering the right questions--our call to action--who will define health care rationing, and how?

Burton RI

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1994 March 19 (2):169-80. Epub 1900 01 01.

Scapholunate advanced collapse wrist: proximal row carpectomy or limited wrist arthrodesis with scaphoid excision?

Tomaino MM, Miller RJ, Cole I, Burton RI

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1994 January 19 (1):134-42. Epub 1900 01 01.

The prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with basal joint arthritis of the thumb.

Florack TM, Miller RJ, Pellegrini VD, Burton RI, Dunn MG

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1992 July 17 (4):624-30. Epub 1900 01 01.

Osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the hand: arthroplasty or fusion?

Pellegrini VD, Burton RI

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1990 March 15 (2):194-209. Epub 1900 01 01.

Small joint injuries of the hand. Dynamic and functional implications.

Burton RI

Hand clinics.. 1988 February 4 (1):xi-xii. Epub 1900 01 01.

Basal joint implant arthroplasty in osteoarthritis. Indications, techniques, pitfalls, and problems.

Burton RI

Hand clinics.. 1987 November 3 (4):473-87. Epub 1900 01 01.

Basal joint arthritis of thumb.

Burton RI, Pellegrini VD

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1987 July 12 (4):645. Epub 1900 01 01.

Surgical management of the rheumatoid wrist--fusion or arthroplasty.

Vicar AJ, Burton RI

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1986 November 11 (6):790-7. Epub 1900 01 01.

Small-joint arthrodesis in the hand.

Burton RI, Margles SW, Lunseth PA

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1986 September 11 (5):678-82. Epub 1900 01 01.

Reflex modification: a method for assessing cutaneous dysfunction.

Ison JR, Foss JA, Falcone P, Sakovits L, Adelson AA, Burton RI

Perception & psychophysics.. 1986 September 40 (3):164-70. Epub 1900 01 01.

Basal joint arthritis. Fusion, implant, or soft tissue reconstruction?

Burton RI

The Orthopedic clinics of North America.. 1986 July 17 (3):493-503. Epub 1900 01 01.

Complications following surgery on the basal joint of the thumb.

Burton RI

Hand clinics.. 1986 May 2 (2):265-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Surgical management of basal joint arthritis of the thumb. Part I. Long-term results of silicone implant arthroplasty.

Pellegrini VD, Burton RI

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1986 May 11 (3):309-24. Epub 1900 01 01.

Surgical management of basal joint arthritis of the thumb. Part II. Ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition arthroplasty.

Burton RI, Pellegrini VD

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1986 May 11 (3):324-32. Epub 1900 01 01.

Overview for athletic upper extremity injuries.

Burton RI

Instructional course lectures.. 1985 34 :297-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Problems in the evaluation of results from replantation surgery.

Burton RI

The Orthopedic clinics of North America.. 1981 October 12 (4):909-13. Epub 1900 01 01.

Avoiding pitfalls in the diagnosis of the acutely injured proximal interphalangeal joint.

Woods GL, Burton RI

Clinics in plastic surgery.. 1981 January 8 (1):95-105. Epub 1900 01 01.

Continuous suction drainage in hand surgery.

Lunseth PA, Burton RI, Braun RM

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1979 March 4 (2):193-4. Epub 1900 01 01.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the forearm: report of a case and review of the literature.

Hubbard LF, Burton RI

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1977 July 2 (4):292-6. Epub 1900 01 01.

Multiple chondrosarcomas in a hand: a case report.

Block RS, Burton RI

The Journal of hand surgery.. 1977 July 2 (4):310-3. Epub 1900 01 01.

Skeletal alterations following irradiation for Wilms' tumor: with particular reference to scoliosis and kyphosis

Riseborough,E. J.; Grabias,S. L.; Burton,R. I.; Jaffe,N.

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American volume. 1976; 58(4): 526,536.

Nontraumatic soft tissue afflictions of the hand.

Burton RI, Littler JW

Current problems in surgery.. 1975 July :1-56. Epub 1900 01 01.

Common hand injuries in the athlete.

Burton RI, Eaton RG

The Orthopedic clinics of North America.. 1973 July 4 (3):809-38. Epub 1900 01 01.

Implant arthroplasty in the hand. An introduction.

Burton RI

The Orthopedic clinics of North America.. 1973 April 4 (2):313-6. Epub 1900 01 01.

Basal joint arthrosis of the thumb

Burton,R. I.

The Orthopedic clinics of North America. 1973; 4(2): 347,348.

Books

Hand and Wrist Surgery Secrets (1999)

Chapter: Tendon Transfers

Authors: Melchior, J.A. and Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Hanley and Belfus 1999

Master Techniques In Orthopaedic Surgery, The Hand (1997)

Chapter: Resection/Suspension Arthroplasty of the Basal Joint of the Thumb for Osteoarthritis

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Lippincott-Raven 1997

Techniques In Hand Surgery (1996)

Chapter: Ligament Reconstruction with Tendon Interposition Arthroplasty for the Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint

Authors: Tomaino, M.M. and Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Williams & Wilkins 1996

Mercer's Orthopaedic Surgery (1996)

Chapter: Afflictions of the Wrist and Hand

Authors: Burton, R.I., Cillen, J.P. and Doerschuk, S.H.

Publisher: Arnold Publishers 1996

Complications in Orthopaedic Surgery (1994)

Chapter: Complications of Implant Surgery in the Hand

Authors: Pellegrini, V.D. and Burton, R.I.

Publisher: J.B. Lippincott 1994

The Hand (1993)

Chapter: Principles of Surgery

Authors: Burton, R.I. And Rockwell, B.

Publisher: McGraw-Hill 1993

Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System (1990)

Chapter: The Arthritic Hand

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1990

Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System (1990)

Chapter: Extensor Mechanism Disorders

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1990

Principles of Hand Surgery (1990)

Chapter: Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1990

Regional Anesthesia in Hand Surgery (1990)

Chapter: Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1990

Thumb Reconstruction (1990)

Chapter: Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System

Authors: Burton, R.I. and Littler, J.W.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1990

Hand Anatomy (1990)

Chapter: Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System

Authors: Burton, R.I., Beasley, R and Littler, J.W.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1990

Principles of Surgery (1989)

Chapter: The Hand

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: McGraw-Hill 1989

Operative Hand Surgery (1988)

Chapter: Late Extensor Mechanism Reconstruction

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers, New York 1988

Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System (1983)

Chapter: The Arthritic Hand

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1983

Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System (1983)

Chapter: Extensor Mechanism Disorders

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1983

Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System (1983)

Chapter: Principles of Hand Surgery

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1983

Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System (1983)

Chapter: Regional Anesthesia in Hand Surgery

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1983

Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System (1983)

Chapter: Compartment Syndromes in the Upper Extremity

Authors: Burton, R.I. and Miller, R.J.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1983

Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System (1983)

Chapter: Thumb Reconstruction

Authors: Burton, R.I. and Littler, J.W.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1983

Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System (1983)

Chapter: Hand Anatomy

Authors: Burton, R.I., Beasley, R and Littler, J.W.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers 1983

Principles of Surgery (1983)

Chapter: The Hand

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: McGraw-Hill 1983

Operative Hand Surgery (1982)

Chapter: Late Extensor Mechanism Reconstruction

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone Publishers, New York 1982

Atlas of Orthopaedic Surgery (1981)

Chapter: The Forearm

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Mosby 1981

Atlas of Orthopaedic Surgery (1981)

Chapter: The Wrist

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Mosby 1981

Atlas of Orthopaedic Surgery (1981)

Chapter: The Hand

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Mosby 1981

Acute Hand Injuries: A Multi-specialty Approach (1980)

Chapter: Acute Joint Injuries of the Hand

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Little Brown Publishers 1980

Principals of Pediatrics: Health Care of the Young (1978)

Chapter: The Upper Extremity

Authors: Burton, R.I. and Woods, G.L.

Publisher: McGraw-Hill 1978

The Hand:Surgical and Non-Surgical Management (1977)

Chapter: Fractures of the Hand

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Lea and Febiger 1977

The Hand: Surgical and Non-Surgical Management (1977)

Chapter: Small Joint Arthrodesis in the Hand

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Lea and Febiger 1977

Fractures of the Hand (1977)

Chapter: The Hand:Surgical and Non-Surgical Management

Authors: Burton, R.I

Publisher: Lea and Febiger 1977

The Hand: Surgical and Non-Surgical Management (1977)

Chapter: the Hand in Osteoarthritis, Traumatic Arthritis, and Gout

Authors: Burton, R.I.

Publisher: Lea and Febiger 1977