Ryan M. Garcia, MD

• Clinical – Denise, CMA
• Surgery Scheduler – Barbara
• Administrative Assistant – Kim Haynes

Kristi Wheeler, PA-C

• University of California, Los Angeles - Bachelor of Science
• The George Washington University - Doctor of Medicine
• University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve - Internship
• University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve - Residency, Orthopedic Surgery
• Duke University Medical Center- Residency, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
• Duke University Medical Center - Fellowship, Hand, Upper Extremity, Microvascular Surgery

• Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Specializes in Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
• Microsurgical reconstruction including free tissue transfers
• Clinical interests are traumatic, degenerative, vascular and neuromuscular disorders
• Minimally invasive techniques including arthroscopic procedures & endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery
• Cosmetic rejuvenation for the aging hand

• Named a 2023 Top Doctor by Charlotte Magazine
• 2022 North Carolina's Top Doctors, Charlotte Region, SouthPark Magazine
• Named a 2021 Top Doctor by Charlotte Magazine
• Named a 2019 Top Doctor by Charlotte Magazine
• Named a 2018 Top Doctor by Charlotte Magazine
• Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Society
• Julius Nevaiser Award of Distinction in Orthopaedic Surgery

Published papers:

• Watkins R 4^th, Watkins R 3^rd, Williams L, Ahlbrand S, Garcia R, Karamanian A, Sharp L, Vo C, Hedman T. Stability Provided by the Sternum and Rib Cage in the Thoracic Spine. Spine. 2005 Jun; 30(11):1283-6.
• Ponsky TA, Brody F, Giordano J, Garcia RM, Kardon D, Schwartz A. Brachial Artery Occlusion Secondary to Hypereosinophilic Syndrome The Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2005 Oct; 42(4):796-9.
• Garcia RM, Miller J, Ponsky TA. Parastomal Herniation of the Gallbladder. Hernia: The World Journal of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery. 2005 Dec; 9(4):397-9.
• Garcia RM, Ponsky TA, Brody F, Long J. Bilateral Luxatio Erecta Complicated by Venous Thrombosis. The Journal of Trauma. 2006 May; 60(5):1132-4.
• Garcia RM, Messerschmitt PJ, Furey CG, Bohlman HH, Cassinelli EH. Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Patients following Successful Lumbar Decompression. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 2008 April; 90(4):742-747
• Cassinelli EH, Dean CL, Garcia RM, Furey CG, Bohlman HH. Ketorolac Use for Postoperative Pain Management following Lumbar Decompression Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Spine 2008 May; 33(12):1313-1317
• Messerschmitt PJ, Rettew AN, Brookover RE, Garcia RM, Getty PJ, Greenfield EM. Specific Tyrosine Kinases Regulate Human Osteosarcoma Cells in Vitro. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2008 Sept; 466(9):2168-75.
• Garcia RM, Kraay MJ, Goldberg VM. Retention of Superficially Damaged Femoral Components Following Metal-Backed Patella Component Failure. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2008 Sept; 23(6):850-58.
• Garcia RM, Kraay MJ, Goldberg VM. Isolated All-Polyethylene Patellar Revisions for Metal-Backed Patellar Failure. Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research. 2008 Nov; 466(11):2784-9.
• Garcia RM, Kraay MJ, Conroy-Smith PA, Goldberg VM. Management of the Deficient Patella in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2008 Nov; 466(11):2790-7.
• Lee MJ, Garcia RM, Cassinelli EH, Furey C, Riew KD. Tandem Stenosis: An Anatomic Study in Osseous Morphology. The Spine Journal. 2008 Nov-Dec;8(6):1003-6.
• Garcia RM, Goldberg VM. Update on Contemporary Lower Extremity Total Joint Arthroplasty. Minerva Ortopedica E Traumatologica. 2008 Dec;59:355-63.
• Garcia RM, Kraay MJ, Messerschmitt PJ, Goldberg VM, Rimnac CM. Analysis of Retrieved UHMWPE Tibial Components from Rotating Platform Total Knee Replacements. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2009 Jan; 24(1):131-8
• Garcia RM, Messerschmitt PJ, Ahn NU. An Evaluation of Information on the Internet of a New Device: The Artificial Disc Replacement. Journal of Spinal Techniques and Disorders. 2009 Feb; 22(1):52-7.
• Messerschmitt PJ, Garcia RM, Abdul-Karim FW, Wiersma SR, Greenfield EM, Getty PJ. Osteosarcoma. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS). 2009 Aug; 17(8):515-27.
• Garcia RM, Hardy BT, Kraay MJ, Goldberg VM. Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty in the Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2010 Jan; 468(1):82-9.
• Garcia RM, Kraay MJ, Goldberg VM. Isolated Resurfacing of the Previously Unresurfaced Patella in Total Knee Arthroplasty. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2010 Aug;
• 25(5):754-8
• Garcia RM, Qureshi SA, Cassinelli EH, Biro C, Furey CG, Bohlman HH. Detection of Postoperative Neurologic Deficits Using Somatosensory Evoked Potentials Alone During Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty. Submitted to The Spine Journal. The Spine Journal. 2010 Oct; 10(10):890-5.
• Garcia RM, Messerschmitt PJ, Xin W, Lacey SH. Aseptic Flexor Tendon Tenosynovitis Caused by a Plant Thorn: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Current Orthopaedic Practice. 2011 Sept/Oct; 22(5):461-463
• Messerschmitt PJ, Garcia RM, Thompson GH, Furey CG. Osteosarcoma of the Spine Causing Vascular Compression and Pulmonary Emboli at Presentation: A Case Report. Current Orthopaedic Practice. 2011 Nov/Dec; 22(6):573-576.
• Faber C, Garcia RM, Davis J, Guyuron B. A Socio-Economic Analysis of Surgical
• Treatment of Migraine Headaches. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2012 April; 129(4):871-877.
• Qureshi SA, Koehler SM, Lin JD, Bird J, Garcia RM, Hecht AC. An Evaluation of Information on the Internet of a New Device: The Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement. Spine. 2012 May; 37(10):881-3.
• Garcia RM, Belding JA, Bohlman HH. Lumbar Decompression and Fusion in a Centenarian. Orthopedics. 2012 July; 35(7)e:1141-4.
• Wera GD, Garcia RM, Goldberg VM. Reducing Perioperative Bleeding with Antifibrinolytics. An update on agents used in orthopaedic surgery. AAOS Now. 2013 Feb:41
• Garcia RM, Cassinelli EH, Messerschmitt PJ, Furey CG, Bohlman HH. A Multimodal Approach to Postoperative Pain Management Following Lumbar Decompression Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized Trial. Spinal Disorders and Techniques. 2013 Aug; 26(6):291-7.
• Erdmann D, Garcia RM, Blueschke G, Brigman BE, Levin LS. Vascularized Fibula based Physeal Transfer for Pediatric Proximal Humerus Reconstruction. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2013 Aug;132(2):281e-7e.
• Garcia RM, Ruch DS. Scaphoid Fractures in the Athlete: Open and Percutaneous Methods of Fixation. Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review. 2014 Mar;22(1):22-8.
• Levinson H, Garcia RM, Miller K, Levin LS. Major Hand Replantation after an Extended Search for the Missing Part: A Case Report. Current Orthopaedic Practice. 2014 May/Jun;25(3):302-4
• Cho EH, Garcia RM, Penn, I, Thomas S, Levin LS, Hollenbeck ST. An Algorithmic Approach for Managing Orthopaedic Surgical Wounds for the Foot and Ankle. Clinical Orthopedic and Related Research. 2014 Jun;472(6):1921-9.
• Garcia RM, Leversedge F, Aldridge M, Richard M, Ruch DS. Scaphoid Nonunions Treated with 2 Headless, Compression Screws and Bone Grafting. Journal of Hand Surgery. 2014 Jul;39(7):1301-7.
• Garcia RM, Cassinelli EH, Hultman CS, Erdmann D. Patient Perception of Physician
• Reimbursement in Plastic Surgery. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2014 Jul;73(1):74-6.
• Louer C, Garcia RM, Earle A, Hollenbeck ST, Erdmann D, Levin LS. Free Flap Reconstruction of the Knee: An Outcome Study of 34 Cases. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2015 Jan;74(1):57-63
• Hughes DB, Perez E Garcia RM, Aragon OR, Erdmann D. Sexual and Overall Quality of Life Improvements after Surgical Correction of “Buried Penis.” Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2015 EPub
• Cho EH, Garcia RM, Pien I, Kuchibhatla M, Levinson H, Erdmann D, Levin LS, Hollenbeck ST. Vascular Considerations in Foot and Ankle Free Tissue Transfer: Analysis of 231 Free Flaps. Microsurgery. 2015 EPub
• Garcia RM, Hadlock TA, Klebuc MJ, Simpson RL, Zenn MR, Marcus JR. Contemporary Solutions for the Treatment of Facial Nerve Paralysis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2015 Jun;135(6): 1025e1046e.
• Soltanian H, Hollenbeck ST, Garcia RM. Current Concepts of Lower Extremity Reconstruction. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. In Press
• Garcia RM, Gosain A, Zenn MR, Marcus JR. Early Postoperative Complications following Gracilis Free Muscle Transfer for Facial Reanimation: A Systematic Review and Pooled Data Analysis. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery. In Press
• Cho EH, Garcia RM, Blau J, Levinson H, Erdmann D, Levin LS, Hollenbeck ST. Microvascular Anastomoses using End-to-End versus End-to-Side Technique in Lower Extremity Free Tissue Transfer. J Reconstructive Microsurgery. In Press

book chapters

• Garcia RM, Guyuron B. Chin : Augmentation. Aesthetic Head and Neck: An Operative Atlas
• Garcia RM, Ruch DS, Hultman CS. Hand Surgery. 50 Articles Every Plastic Surgeon Should Know

peer-reviewed publications

• Garcia RM, Ruch DS: Free tissue transfer. Hand Clinics August 2016