Dr. Robert Michael Baltera, MD

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Physicians & Surgeons, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists

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(317) 875-9105Call Visit WebsiteVisit Website Map & DirectionsDirections8501 Harcourt RdIndianapolis, IN 46260 Write a ReviewWrite Review

Accepted Insurance

Aetna
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Colorado
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Connecticut
Anthem Blue Cross of California
Assurant Health

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Specialties

Primary: Surgeon

Sub-Specialty: General,Hand Surgery,Vascular Surgery

Additional Specialties: Orthopedic Surgeon, Hand Surgery

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Extra Phones

Fax: (317) 875-8638

AKA

Baltera Robert M MD

DR Robert M Baltera MD

Baltera Robert M

Other Link

http://indianahandtoshoulder.com

Categories

Physicians & Surgeons, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Physicians & Surgeons, Dermatology, Physicians & Surgeons, Emergency Medicine, Physicians & Surgeons, Family Medicine & General Practice, Physicians & Surgeons, Hand Surgery, Physicians & Surgeons, Neurology, Physicians & Surgeons, Orthopedics, Physicians & Surgeons, Pain Management, Physicians & Surgeons, Plastic & Reconstructive, Physicians & Surgeons, Radiology, Physicians & Surgeons, Rheumatology (Arthritis), Physicians & Surgeons, Sports Medicine, Physicians & Surgeons, Surgery-General, Physicians & Surgeons, Vascular Surgery, Sports Medicine & Injuries Treatment, Surgery Centers

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Details

Phone: (317) 875-9105

Address: 8501 Harcourt Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46260

Website: http://indianahandtoshoulder.com

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Dr. Robert Michael Baltera, MD

General Practitioners

Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your body’s immune system attacks the lining of your joints and tendons. This causes pain, swelling and joint deformity. Because rheumatoid arthritis involves the body’s immune system, it can impact multiple joints in the upper extremity, including the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand.
Fibromyalgia
We also help patients with hand pain caused by cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, lupus, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, strokes, transverse myelitis, and vitamin B
Primary Care
Your insurance card or other health coverage information. Please be aware that many insurance carriers require you to have a referral (authorization from your primary care physician) before treatment is provided by a specialist, such as an orthopedist. Check with your insurance carrier if you have any questions about your plan or coverage.
Family Practice
Emergency Care
If you should need an additional prescription please plan ahead by calling early in the day (and during the week), as we will not be able to accommodate your request after the hour of 4:30 p.m. or on weekends. Should you feel that you need a prescription or a refill outside of these hours you will need to be seen in an emergency room or office, and be evaluated by a physician.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The carpal tunnel is a passageway in the wrist formed by the eight carpal (wrist) bones, which make up the floor and sides of the tunnel, and the transverse carpal ligament, a strong ligament stretching across the roof of the tunnel.
Neurolysis
Occasionally, an otherwise healthy nerve is compressed or embedded in a scar and cannot glide. Removing the compression or scar tissue and ensuring the nerve rests in a healthy soft tissue bed can alleviate pain for many patients.
Multiple Sclerosis

Ultrasound
When patients are reasonably comfortable, flexibility, stretching and cross-frictional massage exercises are helpful. These are progressed into careful strengthening exercises. Other modalities: Corticosteroid injections have been the mainstay in treatment of tendinopathy yet long-term efficacy of corticosteroids has not been demonstrated. Corticosteroid injections often help for the first 6 weeks but have not been demonstrated to show long-term benefit at 6-12 months. Other modalities that have been tried without demonstrated clear success are low-energy laser treatment, extracorporeal shockwave treatment, manipulation, iontophoresis and phonophoresis. In the presence of calcific tendinitis, ultrasound may be helpful.
MRI
X-rays are usually not necessary unless there is concern for underlying arthritis or the elbow exhibits a lack of full range of motion or has swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be of assistance if the physician is concerned about ligament instability.
X-Rays
Iontophoresis

General Surgery
William B. Kleinman, M.D., is one of the original founders of the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center. He has been in the practice of hand and upper extremity surgery at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center since the completion of his post-residency fellowship training in 1978. He earned his doctorate degree in medicine from Cornell University/New York Hospital in New York City in 1972, then completed a two-year general surgery residency at the University of Colorado Medical Center in Denver in 1974. He returned to New York City in 1974 to complete a three-year residency training in orthopaedic surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. His formal one-year fellowship training in hand surgery was also completed at Columbia-Presbyterian, under the tutelage of his legendary mentor, Dr. Robert E. Carroll. Dr. Kleinman’s training in microvascular reconstruction followed at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina. He moved to Indianapolis in 1978.
Orthopedics
Arthroscopy
Dr. Crosby performs surgery of the entire upper extremity with special interest in shoulder and elbow reconstruction, trauma and sport-related conditions as well as arthroscopy of the shoulder, elbow and wrist. He also has a special interest in volunteer health and medical care developed as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow and through a surgical mission trip to Nicaragua. Dr. Crosby is fluent in Spanish.
Wound Care
Following surgery, the hand is wrapped and immobilized in a large “boxing glove” type bulky compressive dressing, which is generally removed three to five days following surgery. The surgical wounds may be slow to heal and may occasionally gap open during the rehabilitation process. The physicians and therapists will monitor this closely in order to balance the program of wound care, exercise, and splinting.
Pinched Nerve
The best part of being a hand surgeon is the ability to take care of pretty much anything that is wrong with the arm. Whether it is an arthritic joint, a compound fracture-dislocation of the elbow, a clotted artery in the hand, severed nerve, or a torn labrum, it is all within the wheelhouse of a hand surgeon. I love being able to decompress a pinched nerve, remove a tumor, arthroscopically repair a torn rotator cuff, and replant a severed thumb, all in a day's work. I’m passionate about patient care and nothing is better than helping a patient overcome a potentially life-changing injury or problem.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Other techniques used to treat Dupuytren’s are limited fasciotomy and dermofasciectomy. Limited fasciotomy is a minimally-invasive surgery where a small section of the diseased cord is removed. It is often done under a local anesthetic. Dermofasciectomy is most commonly done for patients with recurrent disease in a finger previously operated on. It involves not only the removal of the diseased fascia, but also the overlying skin, in order to try to prevent further recurrence.
Joint Replacement
Arthritis can often be treated conservatively, ranging from medication to splinting or therapy. In severe cases, however, surgery may be required to provide function and mobility to the affected joints. Because the hand is comprised of intricate bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and blood vessels, it’s important to choose a surgeon who specializes in this type of surgery. Our surgeons perform hundreds of arthritis joint replacement surgeries each year and have expertise utilizing the most state-of-the-art surgery techniques available.
Cyst Removal
Following surgery a compressive dressing and a splint may be used. Exercises supervised by an occupational therapist may be necessary especially after removal of a cyst from the wrist area. The expected recovery time following cyst removal is usually 2 to 3 weeks for small finger ganglions and 6 to 8 weeks for ganglion cysts of the wrist.
Arthritis Surgery
Hand Surgery
The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center began in 1971 as a private hand surgery practice located near downtown Indianapolis at Winona Hospital. Since then we have grown to become a renowned center of excellence, recognized across the world for our specialization in problems and injuries of the upper extremity. Now located on the northwest side of the city the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center employs 11 board-certified orthopedic surgeons, 6 fellows and has 10 locations throughout central Indiana.
Orthopedic Surgery
As pioneers in orthopedic surgery they have developed prosthetic devices, surgical techniques and surgical instruments that are used around the world. They are trained and experienced in performing the most advanced techniques and using the latest technology.
Neurosurgery
The nationally and internationally renowned surgeons at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center are dedicated to research, education, and innovation that directly impacts patients’ lives. Surgeons within our Program are preeminent researchers in the field of nerve surgery and are dedicated to providing contemporary care for patients with limb trauma.
Gangrene
Arthroscopy
Multiple labs provide hands-on skill training, from an “ER Boot Camp” at the beginning of the fellowship, to sessions on nerve repair and transfer, flaps, tendon transfers, and both arthroscopy and arthroplasty of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. Our fellows also participate in monthly Journal Club, Quality Improvement conference, and Difficult Problems Conference.
Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. Greenberg’s specialty interests include reconstructive surgery of the upper extremity with emphasis on the wrist, shoulder and nerve problems. He has great interest in arthroscopic management of wrist and shoulder disorders as well as treatment of nerve problems due to injury or prior surgery. In addition, Dr. Greenberg continues to be actively involved in scientific research, writing and teaching. His research on a new method for biceps tendon repair led to a new surgical technique. He holds a patent for a wrist replacement device that he has developed. He is an active faculty member on numerous courses focusing on teaching hand and upper extremity reconstruction and nerve reconstruction to surgeons nationally and worldwide. He has been the chairman for many courses held at annual meetings and has also written numerous book chapters and articles. He has been an associate editor for the Journal of Hand Surgery as well as the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. In addition to his teaching activities at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, he holds a clinical teaching appointment at Indiana University. He is actively involved with the American Society for Surgery of the Hand as well as the American Association for Hand Surgery, serving on a variety of committees, on the foundation boards for both societies and coordinating academic sessions and scientific presentations. He is on the presidential line for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and will serve as president in 2021. In addition, he is an active volunteer and has done medical missions to under-served areas including India, Guatemala, Honduras and Northeastern Arizona.

Plastic Surgeons

Plastic Surgery

Cyst
Frostbite
Lesions
Ganglion cysts are easily diagnosed visually by their location and appearance. They may be firm or soft depending on the consistency or quality of the fluid contained within the cyst. Occasionally, x-rays will show a degenerative joint that may be associated with the cyst. It is very common for cysts to change in size due to the accumulation or elimination of fluid from within the sac. The cysts do not invade other tissues, nor do they become malignant lesions.
Burns

Physical Therapists

Sports Medicine
Many sports injuries can stop you in your tracks, such as ligament tear or a fracture. Other injuries such as a sprain or overuse injury can cause continuous pain. You should seek medical attention if pain persists in one area of your body when participating in sports or other activities.
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Frozen Shoulder
As one ages, the rotator cuff tendons can gradually deteriorate. These tendons can become inflamed causing shoulder pain (called rotator cuff tendinitis or impingement syndrome). The bursa sac usually becomes inflamed along with the rotator cuff tendons (bursitis). The pain is usually localized to the shoulder or outside of the upper arm. It is usually worse with overhead activities or positioning of the arm behind the back and often wakes you from sleep. If the pain persists for an extended period limiting the use of the shoulder, the joint may stiffen. This is commonly referred to as a frozen shoulder.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a generic term that describes degeneration of tendon fibers that arise off the bony prominences on the outside (lateral) or inside (medial) of the elbow.
Shoulder Pain

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