About Me
Summit Orthopedics hand surgeon Lauren L. Smith, M.D., always knew she wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. “I was born with bilateral metatarsus adductus, a condition similar to club foot. I had my first corrective surgery at age 5, followed by surgery on the other foot at age 12. I’ve wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon since I was a kid,” she said.
Lauren L. Smith, M.D. background
“I’m a triple Gopher, which is not something many people can say,” Dr. Smith said. After earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, she attended medical school at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, followed by residency training, also at the U. In college, she also swam for the university — her specialty was the backstroke, although she also swam butterfly. As an orthopedic surgeon, she combines her interest in medicine and athletics.
“When I was choosing an orthopedic specialty, I wanted to focus on an area in which I could take care of people across the spectrum: children as well as older adults, trauma as well as nontraumatic injury, and hand surgery was a perfect fit,” Dr. Smith said. “Hand surgery also includes minimally invasive surgical techniques, nerve surgery, and microsurgery, all of which were appealing to me.”
Lauren L. Smith, M.D. practice philosophy
After residency, Dr. Smith traveled to New York City to complete a hand surgery fellowship at New York University. “I feel very fortunate to have trained at the University of Minnesota for residency and then NYU for my fellowship, having the opportunity to spend a year in Manhattan learning and applying specialized techniques in hand surgery,” she said.
Dr. Smith looks forward to bringing what she has learned back to patients in Minnesota. “I love it here in the Twin Cities, and I’m so happy to be back. I am excited to be able to take care of my friends and family members, as well as giving back to the community,” Dr. Smith said.
Summit Orthopedics provides personalized hand and wrist expertise
The function of our hands is integrated through our wrists and arms to our shoulders; a problem anywhere along our arm may have a significant impact on hand function and quality of life. If you experience an injury or uncomfortable symptoms, our fellowship-trained hand and wrist surgeons are here to help. Summit physicians receive the highest levels of training and exclusively provide individualized care for conditions of the hand, wrist, and elbow.
Start your journey to better function and less pain. Find your hand expert, schedule an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.
Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.
Education
Undergraduate Studies
Bachelor of Science | Neuroscience
University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, MN
Medical School
Doctorate of Medicine
University of Minnesota Medical School — Minneapolis, MN
Residency
Orthopedic Surgery
University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, MN
Fellowship
Hand Surgery
New York University | Department of Orthopedic Surgery — New York, NY
Professional Memberships
- American Society for Surgeons of the Hand (ASSH)
- Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS)
Honors and Awards
- 2022 NYSSH Annual Resident and Fellow Meeting 3rd Place Poster
- 2021 ASSH Annual Meeting Scholarship recipient
- 2020 ASSH Annual Meeting Scholarship recipient
- 2019 ASSH Annual Meeting Scholarship recipient
- 2019 Resident Teacher of the Year
- 2019 Best Poster in the Trauma classification at the 2019 AAOS Annual Meeting
- 2016 Honors of Neurology clerkship at VAMC
- 2016 Honors in Emergency Medicine clerkship at RH
- 2016Honors in Critical Care Sub-internship at RH
- 2015 Honors in Orthopaedic Surgery Externship at GRMEP
- 2015 Honors in Dermatology clerkship at VAMC
- 2015 Honors in Orthopaedic Surgery Externship at VAMC
- 2015 Honors in Orthopaedic Surgery Externship at HCMC
- 2014 Honors in Anesthesiology clerkship
- 2012 BS in Neuroscience with distinction
- 2011 Deans List: Spring/Fall
- 2009 4.0 Scholar AthleteAward, Deans List: Spring/Fall
- 2008 Deans List: Fall
Specialties
My Team
My Team
At Summit, each physician works alongside a team of professionals to care for you, our patient.
Locations
Reviews
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Articles
Resources
Resources
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Tatman, LM, Upchurch, WJ, Scholz, N, Wagstrom, E, Smith, LL, Bechtold, JE, Schmidt, AH, Iaizzo, PA. (2020) “Compartment Syndrome: Evaluation of Skeletal Muscle Ischemia and Physiologic Biomarkers in Controlled Conditions Within Ex Vivo Isolated Muscle Bundles” Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 34.10: 518-523.
- Wise, KL, Peck, S, Smith, L, & Myeroff, C. (2021). Locked plating of geriatric olecranon fractures leads tolow fixation failure and acceptable complication rates. JSES International.
- Economic Implications of Implant Selection in the Treatment of Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures: A Review of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Database 2006-2016. PI: Brian Cunningham, MD. Printpublication in JAAOS in 2021.
Web based journal articles
- Gauger, EM, Casnovsky, LL, Gauger, EJ, Bohn, DC, and Van Heest, AE. (2016) “Acquired Upper Extremity Growth Arrest.” Orthopedics. 40.1: E95-103.
- Wise, K. Blaschke, B, Parikh, H, Gorman, T, Casnovsky, LL, McMillan, L, Flagstad, I, Okelana, A, Horst, P, Cunningham, B. (2020) “Variation of the Inpatient Cost of Care in the Treatment of Isolated Geriatric Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures.” Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation.
- Casnovsky LL, Blaschke BL, Parikh HR, et al (2020) “Does implant selection affect the inpatient cost of care for geriatric intertrochanteric femur fractures?” Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation.
Books & Book Chapters
- Casnovsky, LL. Harrison, AK. Craig, EV. “Posterior Glenoid Wear in TSR: Eccentric Reaming.” Shoulder Surgery: Tricks of the Trade. New York City, New York: Thieme.
Published 2019.
- Casnovsky, LL. Williams, AA. “Vascular Pathology of the Hand and Upper Extremities, including Kienbock’s Disease.” Synopsis of Hand Surgery. New York City, New York: Thieme.
Chapter submitted.
Podium Presentations at Regional/National Meetings
Locked Plating Of Geriatric Olecranon Fractures And Early Mobilization Leads To Low Fixation Failure In Patients Over The Age Of 75.
- American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Annual Meeting 2019 New York City, New York
Poster Presentations at Regional/National Meetings
A Novel Radiographic Technique to Assess Metacarpal Malrotation: The Head-Shaft Ratio (HSR)
- New York Society for Surgery of the Hand Residents and Fellows Research Meeting 2022
- NYU Langone Department of Orthopedics Annual Fellow Research Meeting 2022
Trend and Economic Implications of Implant Selection in the Treatment of Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures: A Review
of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Database 1999-2017
- Minnesota Orthopaedic Society 2018 Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Orthopaedic Trauma Association 2018 Orlando, Florida
- Orthopaedic Research Society 2019 Austin, Texas
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2019 Las Vegas, Nevada
Acquired Upper Extremity Growth Arrest
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2014 Boston, Massachusetts
Technique Videos
Free Fibula Transfer for Radial Shaft Nonunion. ASSH 2022.
Tendon Transfers to Restore Intrinsic Function of the Fingers and Thumb. ASSH 2022.
Lecture / Teaching Presentations
Grand Rounds:
11/09/2016: VA Hospital. The Ailing Ankle: Arthrodesis vs Total Ankle Arthroplasty?
09/19/2017: Regions Hospital. Lateral Condyle Fractures
10/03/2018: VA Hospital: Proximal Humerus Fractures: To Fix or Replace?
12/19/2018: VA Hospital: Dupuytren’s Contracture
6/19/2019: VA Hospital: Midshaft Humerus Fractures: The #1 Bone
5/29/2020: University of Minnesota: Olecranon Fractures: Evolution of Treatment
02/2021: Organization and Efficiency in Orthopedic Residency. Department of Orthopedic Surgery Residents as Teachers Lecture Series.
