Sanjay S. Desai, MD

Specialties

Physician assistants / nurse practitioners

OrthoVirginia Offices

Dr. Sanjay Desai has over 25 years of experience in Richmond specializes in hand, wrist, and elbow treatment, including repairing broken bones, reattaching tendons, and treating arthritis. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and has been recognized for his expertise locally and nationally. In his spare time he enjoys fly fishing and shooting sporting clays.

Make an Appointment with Dr. Desai

for Elbow, Hand & Wrist

using MyChart

Or call
804-915-1910

If you would like to be seen sooner, make an appointment with Dr. Desai's team.

Education & Training

  • Duke University Medical Center, Hand and Microvascular Surgery Fellowship, 1994
  • University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Residency, 1990
  • Washington Hospital Center, Internship, 1985
  • George Washington University, Medical Degree, 1984
  • Brown University, Bachelor of Science, 1980

Certifications

  • Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery
  • Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery

ABOS board certified in orthopedic surgery

Hospital & Team Affiliations

  • Boulders Ambulatory Surgery Center
  • OrthoVirginia Operatory
  • Parham Doctors’ Hospital
  • Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital

Organizations & Awards

  • Voted Top Doctor by Richmond Magazine 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
  • Voted Top Doctor by Virginia Living Magazine 2019
  • Named one of the top hand surgeons in the country by US News
  • Meritorious Service Medal & Army Achievement Medal, Operation Desert Storm
  • Alec Horowitz Prize in Surgery, George Washington University
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • American Association for Hand Surgery
  • American Society for Surgery of the Hand
  • Duke Hand Society, President 2016-2019
  • Medical Society of Virginia
  • Piedmont Orthopaedic Society
  • Richmond Academy of Medicine
  • Southeastern Hand Society, President 2012
  • Virginia Orthopaedic Society

Patient Testimonials

“Dr. Sanjay Desai and Molly Cheng, FNP, DNP need to be cloned not only at OrthoVirginia but other doctor’s offices as well. I was suffering with carpal tunnel and Dr. Desai was very thorough in explaining why I was experiencing the pain and what steps need it to be done to rectify the situation. He has a great bedside manner and his staff is awesome!

I have several family members that use OrthoVirginia and also see Dr. Desai and Molly Cheng. None of them have been disappointed and really sing their praises. They are very professional and hands-on with making certain you completely understand the procedures and what your options are.

My experience from the beginning to the end has been a positive one! I have highly recommended them to friends and coworkers.” – Lisa A.

Treatments

  • Biceps tendon reinsertion
  • Biceps tendon rupture surgery
  • Carpal tunnel release
  • Closed reduction (elbow)
  • Closed reduction (finger)
  • Elbow arthritis surgery
  • Elbow arthroscopy
  • Elbow joint replacement
  • Elbow surgery
  • Endoscopic carpal tunnel release
  • Fasciotomy
  • Ganglion cyst surgery
  • Hand and wrist joint reconstruction surgery
  • Hand fracture surgery
  • Hand, wrist and elbow arthritis surgery
  • Hand, wrist and elbow joint replacement
  • Hand, wrist and elbow trauma
  • Minimally invasive hand, wrist and elbow surgery
  • Minimally invasive technique – Dupuytrens disease
  • Nerve decompression
  • Non-operative carpal tunnel treatment
  • Non-operative cubital tunnel syndrome treatment
  • Non-operative elbow bursitis treatment
  • Non-operative elbow spur treatment
  • Non-operative finger fracture treatment
  • Non-operative finger sprain treatments
  • Non-operative ganglion cyst treatment
  • Non-operative golfer’s elbow treatment
  • Non-operative hand and wrist arthritis treatments
  • Non-operative hand fracture treatment
  • Non-operative mallet finger treatment
  • Non-operative olceranon fracture treatment
  • Non-operative radial head fracture treatment
  • Non-operative tennis elbow – lateral epicondylitis treatment
  • Non-operative trigger finger
  • Non-operative ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) treatment
  • Non-operative wrist fracture treatment
  • Non-operative wrist tendonitis treatment
  • Olceranon fracture surgery
  • Radial head fracture surgeries
  • Tennis elbow – lateral epicondylitis surgery
  • Thumb CMC replacement
  • Trigger finger surgery
  • Vascularized free fibular grafting
  • Wrist arthroscopy
  • Wrist fracture surgery
  • Wrist tendonitis surgery

  • Duke University Medical Center, Hand and Microvascular Surgery Fellowship, 1994
  • University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Residency, 1990
  • Washington Hospital Center, Internship, 1985
  • George Washington University, Medical Degree, 1984
  • Brown University, Bachelor of Science, 1980

Certifications

  • Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery
  • Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery

ABOS board certified in orthopedic surgery

  • Boulders Ambulatory Surgery Center
  • OrthoVirginia Operatory
  • Parham Doctors’ Hospital
  • Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital

  • Voted Top Doctor by Richmond Magazine 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
  • Voted Top Doctor by Virginia Living Magazine 2019
  • Named one of the top hand surgeons in the country by US News
  • Meritorious Service Medal & Army Achievement Medal, Operation Desert Storm
  • Alec Horowitz Prize in Surgery, George Washington University
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • American Association for Hand Surgery
  • American Society for Surgery of the Hand
  • Duke Hand Society, President 2016-2019
  • Medical Society of Virginia
  • Piedmont Orthopaedic Society
  • Richmond Academy of Medicine
  • Southeastern Hand Society, President 2012
  • Virginia Orthopaedic Society

“Dr. Sanjay Desai and Molly Cheng, FNP, DNP need to be cloned not only at OrthoVirginia but other doctor’s offices as well. I was suffering with carpal tunnel and Dr. Desai was very thorough in explaining why I was experiencing the pain and what steps need it to be done to rectify the situation. He has a great bedside manner and his staff is awesome!

I have several family members that use OrthoVirginia and also see Dr. Desai and Molly Cheng. None of them have been disappointed and really sing their praises. They are very professional and hands-on with making certain you completely understand the procedures and what your options are.

My experience from the beginning to the end has been a positive one! I have highly recommended them to friends and coworkers.” – Lisa A.

  • Biceps tendon reinsertion
  • Biceps tendon rupture surgery
  • Carpal tunnel release
  • Closed reduction (elbow)
  • Closed reduction (finger)
  • Elbow arthritis surgery
  • Elbow arthroscopy
  • Elbow joint replacement
  • Elbow surgery
  • Endoscopic carpal tunnel release
  • Fasciotomy
  • Ganglion cyst surgery
  • Hand and wrist joint reconstruction surgery
  • Hand fracture surgery
  • Hand, wrist and elbow arthritis surgery
  • Hand, wrist and elbow joint replacement
  • Hand, wrist and elbow trauma
  • Minimally invasive hand, wrist and elbow surgery
  • Minimally invasive technique – Dupuytrens disease
  • Nerve decompression
  • Non-operative carpal tunnel treatment
  • Non-operative cubital tunnel syndrome treatment
  • Non-operative elbow bursitis treatment
  • Non-operative elbow spur treatment
  • Non-operative finger fracture treatment
  • Non-operative finger sprain treatments
  • Non-operative ganglion cyst treatment
  • Non-operative golfer’s elbow treatment
  • Non-operative hand and wrist arthritis treatments
  • Non-operative hand fracture treatment
  • Non-operative mallet finger treatment
  • Non-operative olceranon fracture treatment
  • Non-operative radial head fracture treatment
  • Non-operative tennis elbow – lateral epicondylitis treatment
  • Non-operative trigger finger
  • Non-operative ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) treatment
  • Non-operative wrist fracture treatment
  • Non-operative wrist tendonitis treatment
  • Olceranon fracture surgery
  • Radial head fracture surgeries
  • Tennis elbow – lateral epicondylitis surgery
  • Thumb CMC replacement
  • Trigger finger surgery
  • Vascularized free fibular grafting
  • Wrist arthroscopy
  • Wrist fracture surgery
  • Wrist tendonitis surgery
Visit
Dr. Desai's Full Website