Biography:
Dr. Ratliff is an Orthopedic Surgeon with subspecialty fellowship training in Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery.
A general partner of Northtowns Orthopedics, P.C., his practice focuses on the management of musculoskeletal and neurovascular conditions of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand in adults, children, and infants. Dr. Ratliff sees patients from the greater Buffalo area, and Canada for new injuries, chronic problems, and to correct complications from failed surgeries.

Born and raised in Rutland, Massachusetts, David Ratliff completed his undergraduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Ratliff received his Medical Doctorate in New York City at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his fellowship training under leaders in the field of hand and upper extremity surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Ratliff was involved with the cutting edge hand transplant program at the University of Pittsburgh, and participated in the care of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dr. Ratliff cares for various conditions including: bone fractures, general orthopedic trauma, sports injuries, tendon tears, congenital problems, as well as numb, stiff, swollen, or sore fingers.  Dr. Ratliff specializes in minimally invasive techniques including: arthroscopy of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand, and endoscopic carpal tunnel release. He is also proficient in microsurgery, limb reconstruction, and hand replantation surgery.

Dr. Ratliff is a candidate member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), the American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS), and the Erie County Medical Society (AMA). David Ratliff MD has presented at various functions, and medical conferences. Most recently he presented “Uses of crossfinger flaps for severed recurrent dupuytrens disease” in Las Vegas for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH). He has also published work on rheumatoid arthritis and dendritic cells.

Orthopedic patients of all ages are seen by Dr. Ratliff. Those in need of general orthopedic issues with the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, clavicle, foot, ankle, leg, knee and hip are easily accommodated by our scheduling staff. David Ratliff has a special interest in arthroscopic surgery of the elbow, hand and wrist. His expertise is in the treatment of traumatic and degenerative issues of the upper extremities.

An avid runner, snowboarder, and mountain biking enthusiast, Dr. Ratliff understands the needs of sports minded individuals and their desires to resume activities after injury. He shares the Northtowns Orthopedics mission of providing quality care that is sensitive, compassionate, prompt, and cost-effective.

Dr. David Ratliff’s practice is based out of the Kenmore Northtowns Orthopedics location, and works in satellite offices in East Amherst, Williamsville, and West Seneca.

Dr. Ratliff operates out of The Ambulatory Surgery Center of Western New York, Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Millard Fillmore Surgery Center, and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.

Call 716-636-1470 x 270 or 716-204-2550 to book an appointment today!

Conditions Dr. Ratliff treats:

• Upper extremity trauma
• Bone fractures
• Ligament injuries
• Sports related injuries in children and adults
• Chronic injuries and failed surgeries
• Nerve, blood vessel and tendon injuries
• Arthritis conditions
• Carpal Tunnel
• Elbow pain and “tennis elbow”
• Wrist Pain
• TFCC Tears
• Hand Pain
• Shoulder Pain
• Ganglion Cysts
• Growths, lumps, tumors
• Trigger Finger
• Numb, Stiff, Sore, or “Clicking” joints
• Rotator cuff tendonitis; bursitis
• Sprains
• Congenital deformities
• Finger Pain
• Forearm Pain
• Painful Cysts
• And More!

Procedures Dr. Ratliff routinely performs:

• Arthroscopic and ‘minimally invasive’ surgery of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand
• Bone fracture surgery
• Ligament Repair
• Tendon Repair
• Carpal Tunnel Surgery
• Cubital Tunnel Surgery
• Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Surgery
• Hand reconstruction
• Wrist reconstruction
• Shoulder reconstruction
• Rotator Cuff Repair
• Microsurgery (nerve and small vessel repair)
• Ganglion Cyst Removal
• Trigger Finger
• TFCC Tear Repair
• Joint replacement of the Shoulder
• Joint replacement of the Elbow
• Joint replacement of the Hand
• Joint replacement of the Fingers
• Arthritis Surgery of the Shoulder
• Arthritis Surgery of the Elbow
• Arthritis Surgery of the Wrist
• Arthritis Surgery of the Hand
• Arthritis Surgery of the Fingers
• Tumor surgery of the Upper Extremity

Recommended Links From The American Society for Surgery of the Hand:

• Dupuytren’s Disease  - Print Dupuytren’s Information
• de Quervain’s Tendonitis – Print de Quervain’s Tendonitis Information
• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome – Print Cubital Tunnel Syndrome or “Tennis Elbow” Information
• Trigger Finger – Print Trigger Fingers Information
• Ganglion Cysts – Print Ganglion Cyst Information
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Print Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Information

Education:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Cambridge, MA – B.S.
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Bronx, NY – M.D.

Residency:

• Orthopedic Surgery – Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Bronx, NY.

Fellowship:

• Upper Extremity Surgery – University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA.

Professional organization membership:

• American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery
• American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• American Association for Hand Surgery

Publications:

• Ratliff D, Hardin JA. Dendritic cells in rheumatoid arthritis. Keio Medical Journal: Antibodies and Autoimmunity. 51-57. 2003.

Presentations:

• Ratliff DF, Imbriglia JE. Results of flap use for recurrent Dupuytren’s contracture. Eposter presented at ASSH Annual Meeting 2011.
• Green MC, Haller DJ, Yaghoobian A, Ratliff D, Banffy M, Hannon M, Nandi S, Hardin JA, Cobelli NJ. The role of peripheral dendritic cells in periprosthetic osteolysis. Abstract presented at American College of Rheumatology conference 2006.

License:

• New York State.

Board certification:

• Board Eligible.

Insurances Accepted:

• Dr. Ratliff accepts most major insurances, and is happy to serve Canadian and self-pay patients. Call us to learn if we are within your provider network!