Mark Braunstein Archives

10 Oct 2016

Physician Spotlight: Dr. Mark Braunstein

10 Oct 2016 Doctors, Mark Braunstein carpal tunnel syndrome, hand surgery, shoulder surgery

A. Mark Braunstein, undefined Dr. Mark Braunstein is an orthopedist and surgeon with the Tucson Orthopaedic Institute in Tucson, Arizona, specializing in the hand and upper extremities.

Dr. Braunstein attended medical school in New Brunswick, New Jersey at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, also completing his internship and residency at Robert Wood Johnson. He is board certified and fellowship trained in hand and upper extremity, completing his fellowship at Stony Brook Medical Center in New York before joining Tucson Orthopaedic Institute.

Dr. Braunstein’s specialty includes the entire arm, from shoulder to the fingertips. He is trained in the latest surgical techniques, such as arthroscopic and microsurgical procedures for the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. He works closely with each patient, helping them to understand the cause of their pain, and the best treatment going forward.

He has experience with rotator cuff tears and complete shoulder replacements, as well as more general orthopedic conditions such as bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, and fracture care.

“The worst pain is from carpel tunnel syndrome…”, Dr. Braunstein recently stated at a lecture given at Green Valley Recreation’s East Center in 2015. Other common conditions of the upper extremities are “golfer’s elbow” (lateral epicondylitis) and De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, which is painful inflammation of the thumb tendons. Dr. Braunstein also treats patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We are proud and privileged to have Dr. Braunstein working with us here at Tucson Orthopaedic. His expertise with the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder is invaluable. He provides both surgical and non-surgical treatments, and is committed to involving his patients in every part of their treatment to bring them back to a healthy, full and pain-free life.

If you are experiencing pain in your wrist or hand, or have had a recent injury to your elbow or shoulder, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with Dr. Braunstein today. He sees patients in our East office located at 5301 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712.

Request an appointment online or call (520) 784-6200 to schedule a visit with Dr. Mark Braunstein.

7 Dec 2015

Lecture Focuses on Hand Pain

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7 Dec 2015 Doctors, Mark Braunstein carpal tunnel, golfers elbow, hand pain, hand surgery, health lecture, Mark Braunstein MD, tennis elbow, treatment options, Tucson Orthopaedic Institute

As published on Green Valley News

written by: Ellen Sussman

12/07/2015 – Aches, pains and discomfort of the hand and arm may be the result of years of physical labor handling heavy loads that is only now taking its toll years later. Pain may also be due to falls, traumatic injuries or arthritis, said Dr. Mark Braunstein at a Wednesday lecture at Green Valley Recreation’s East Center.

Braunstein, an orthopedist at Tucson Orthopedic Institute told an audience of 28 that elbow, wrist and hand pain are common.

Lateral Epicondylitis, also known as “golfers elbow,” may be treated with surgery, which Braunstein said is successful 50 to 80 percent of the time. Less invasive is a cortisone injection that shows results within two to three days.

Stretching exercises often work well for anyone with “tennis elbow,” and splints and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) offer relief for bursitis. Whenever bones, tendons and ligaments move against each other, especially near joints, the contact points are cushioned by small fluid-filled sacs called bursae. When a bursa becomes irritated or swollen, it’s called bursitis.

“The worst pain is from carpal tunnel syndrome. Tendons swell. Blood flow is affected in the hand,” Braunstein said, adding that tingling and/or numbness is a bad sign.

Carpal tunnel syndrome may be treated with night splints, a change or cessation of activity causing the pain. Aches associated with gripping, numbness and a history of overuse may be treated with a splint, massage or cortisone injection.

De Quervain tenosynovitis, named for a Swiss surgeon, is an inflammation of the sheaths that cover the tendons that move the thumb up and out and may also be successfully treated with cortisone.

Arthritis in finger joints may be the result of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, Braunstein said. A common indication of arthritis in the fingers is swollen knuckles, and cortisone injections often provide pain relief in the knuckles, too.

Contact Green Valley freelance reporter Ellen Sussman at ellen2414@cox.net.

30 Oct 2015

Surgeons vs. Chefs 2015

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30 Oct 2015 Christopher Stevens, Doctors, General, Joel Goode, Mark Braunstein, Stephen Curtin, Stephen Hanks Children's Miracle Network, Pumpkin Carving Contest, TMC for Children, Tucson Medical Center, Tucson Orthopaedic Institute

Surgeons from Tucson Orthopaedic Institute joined Tucson Medical Center and Embassy Suites Tucson – Paloma Village for their 6th annual ‘Surgeons vs. Chefs’ Pumpkin Carving Contest to raise money for TMC for Children, Children’s Miracle Network.

Surgeons and chefs from local restaurants carved pumpkins in front of 200 attendees.

The night’s proceeds totaled over $6,800 from raffles and pumpkin auctions!

Attendees also voted for their favorite pumpkins in the following categories: Best Overall Pumpkin, Best Overall Surgeon, Best Overall Chef, Most Creative Pumpkin, Ugliest Pumpkin, and Scariest Pumpkin.

Check out how all the participating physicians carved their pumpkins and see who won each category.


A. Mark Braunstein, MD	Baby and the Giant Pumpkin

Stephen L. Curtin, MD *BEST Overall Surgeon	Scary Pumpkin Shell

Ali H. Dalal, MD	Dia de los Muertos & Howling Wolf

Joel R. Goode, MD *UGLIEST PUMPKIN	“WiFi is Down’ & Candy Corn Face

Stephen E. Hanks, MD	Frankenstein & Ninja Turtle

Chris G. Stevens, MD *MOST CREATIVE	Hippie

The additional winning pumpkins were voted for by attendees. The remaining winners by category are:

Best Overall Chef: Dominic Jones, The Living Room

Scariest: Jan Osipowicz, Hilton El Conquistador

Best Overall Pumpkin: Ken Harvey, Loews Ventana Canyon

30 Oct 2014

Surgeons vs. Chefs 2014

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30 Oct 2014 Christopher Stevens, Doctors, Joel Goode, John Wild, Mark Braunstein, Stephen Curtin, Stephen Hanks Children's Miracle Network, Pumpkin Carving Contest, TMC for Children, Tucson Medical Center, Tucson Orthopedic Institute

Surgeons from Tucson Orthopaedic Institute joined Tucson Medical Center and Embassy Suites Tucson – Paloma Village for their 5th annual ‘Surgeons vs. Chefs’ Pumpkin Carving Contest to raise money for TMC for Children, Children’s Miracle Network.

Surgeons and chefs from local restaurants carved pumpkins in front of 200 attendees.

The night’s proceeds totaled over $12,000 from raffles and pumpkin auctions which is the most amount raised in the event’s history!

Check out how all the participating physicians carved their pumpkins and see who won each category.


A. Mark Braunstein, MD		Cookie Monster

Stephen L. Curtin, MD		Too Much Candy!

Joel R. Goode, MD		Warty

Stephen E. Hanks, MD		Mummy

Chris G. Stevens, MD		U of A

John J. Wild, Jr., MD