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John C. Wu M.D.

John C. Wu M.D. orthopedic Surgeon
Specializing in Hand & Wrist, Elbow, Shoulder

Dr. John Wu was born and raised in London, Ontario (Canada). He attended Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario) for his undergraduate and Master’s degree before obtaining his medical degree at SUNY Upstate University (Syracuse, NY). His orthopedic surgery residency was at Beaumont Health (Royal Oak, MI) and he then completed two additional specialty training fellowships at the University of Tennessee – Campbell Clinic for hand and microsurgery (Memphis, TN) and University of Washington (Seattle, WA) for shoulder and elbow surgery.

As a result of Dr. John Wu’s passion for the upper extremity and advanced training, he has a special interest and the expertise to treat the large variety of ailments from the shoulder to fingertip. These include shoulder arthritis, rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability and labral injuries, acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular joint instability and pain, various scapular pathologies, tendon injuries, lacerations and ruptures throughout the upper extremity and hand, nerve compression syndromes, nerve injuries and lacerations, arthritis in the elbow, wrist and hand and many others. Please see full list of conditions. He has an understanding and knowledge for both non-surgical and surgical options, as well as appropriate rehabilitation after surgery to optimize results. He has been published in multiple peer-reviewed articles including original research. He is committed to life-long learning and continuing to stay informed and critically assess the newest technologies and techniques for the benefit of his patients.

Dr. John Wu and his wife, Dr. McKenna Knych, have settled in the Milwaukee area. They have two children, Quinn and Maeve, who keep them busy and balanced.

Mission Goals:

My goal is to provide the highest level of care and to form a strong patient-physician partnership with shared medical decision making. I hope to be upfront and forthcoming during patient visits and for me and my team to be accessible to your questions and concerns. I am committed to life-long learning for my patients to be able to provide the newest medical advances available, with the caveat that they are supported by objective medical research, data and patient outcomes.

As a dual fellowship trained upper extremity surgeon in both shoulder/elbow and hand surgery subspecialities, I am committed and highly trained to help my patients navigate through both non-surgical and surgical treatments for chronic and acute ailments. My job is to explain the pros and cons of all treatment options, so that my patients and I can make the best decision for them.

I spent an extra year of specialty training in shoulder surgery to tackle difficult and challenging cases and a variety of complex glenohumeral, shoulder girdle and scapular pathologies - including those with multiple revision shoulder surgery. In addition, the extra year of training was commitment to my future patients and I vowed to become adept and learn from the most prominent and experienced leaders in shoulder surgery. I felt that in order to be committed to a strong patient-physician partnership to all my patients, my training should prepare me for the routine cases and the most difficult ones in shoulder surgery.

The same truth can be said for hand pathology and both fellowships compliment my ability to care for the wide variety of pathologies within the upper extremity with non-surgical and surgical treatment options.

Employment:

Hand to Shoulder Specialists of Wisconsin (HSSWI):

  • 5007 S. Howell Avenue, Suite 320, Milwaukee, WI 53207
  • 2500 N. Mayfair Road, Suite 670, Milwaukee, WI 53226
  • 525 W River Woods Pkwy, Suite 230, Glendale, WI 53212

Orthopedic Fellowships:

  • University of Washington: ACE Shoulder Elbow Fellowship, Seattle, WA
  • University of Tennessee: Campbell Clinic Hand Fellowship, Memphis, TN

Orthopedic Residency:

Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI

Prior Education:

  • SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, M.D.
  • Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Masters of Science (Microbiology)
  • Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Bachelor of Science with Honors

Research/Publications:

  • Wu J, Whitson AJ, Yao JJ, Matsen FA, Hsu JE. Anatomic Shoulder Arthroplasty in Patients with Worker’s Compensation: Predictors of Success. Seminars in Arthroplasty: Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2021 July;31(2):232-238
  • Wu J and Calandruccio JH. Evaluation and management of scaphoid-trapezium-trapezoid (STT) arthritis.Orthop Clin North Am. 2019 Oct;50(4):497-508. PMID: 31466665
  • Wu J, Calandruccio JH, Weller WJ, Henning, PR and Swigler, CW. Arthritis of the Thumb Interphalangeal and Finger Distal Interphalangeal Joint.Orthop Clin North Am. 2019 Oct;50(4):489-496. PMID: 31466664
  • Wu J, Daley E, Koueiter D, Lilly R, Vara AD, Settecerri J. Operating Room Intervention Rates of Resident-reduced Pediatric Both-Bone Forearm Fractures Relative to the Academic Calendar. J Pediatr Orthop. 2019 Aug 14. PMID: 31425402
  • Wu J, Mills A, Grant KD and Wiater PJ. Fracture fixation with shape-memory (ninitol) staples. Orthop Clin North Am. 2019 Jul;50(3):367-374. PMID: 31084839
  • Wu J, Strickland C, Chambers, JS. Wrist fractures and osteoporosis. Orthop Clin North Am. 2019 Apr;50(2):211-221. PMID: 30850079
  • Wu J, Lilly R, Vara A, Sobol G. Post-traumatic bifid ulna in a pediatric Galeazzi-equivalent forearm fracture: A Case Report. J Hand Surg Am. 2019 Sep;44(9):802.e1-802.e8. PMID: 30528966
  • Vara A, Wu J, Shin AY, Sobol G, Wiater B.Video Recording with a GoPro® in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. J Hand Surg Am. 2016 Oct;41(10):e383-e387. PMID: 27569784

Articles:

Book Chapter:

  • Wu J, Rapp C, Shields E, Wiater JM. Management of the failed anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty in Complex and Revision Shoulder Arthroplasty: An evidence based approach to Evaluation and Management. Springer International Publishing. Editor: Robert Z. Tashjian. Hardcover ISBN 978-3-030-02755-1. 2019

ASSH Hand-E videos:

  • Wu J, Vara A and Magnell T. Reconstruction of the thumb radial collateral ligament. ASSH Annual Meeting: Austin, TX.
  • Vara A, Wu J, and Sobol G. Mini-open carpal tunnel release recorded with a GoPro. ASSH Annual Meeting: Austin, TX.
  • Vara A, Wu J. Hematoma block for distal radius fracture reduction. ASSH Annual Meeting: Austin, TX.

Presentations

  • Podium: Dynamics of Cutibacterium Reconstitution onto the Skin Surface of the Shoulder After Chlorhexidine Application. Van Dyke RO, Whitson AJ, Long DR, Wu J, Matsen FA, Hsu JE, Paper #4320. AAOS Annual Meeting 2021. San Diego, CA. August 31 – Sept 4, 2021.
  • Poster: Anatomic Shoulder Arthroplasty in Workers’ Compensation Patients: Predictors of Success and Return to Work. Wu J, Whitson AJ, Yao JJ, Matsen FA, Hsu JE. ASES Fellows Virtual Symposium. June 20th, 2020.
  • Online Podium: Dynamics of Cutibacterium reconstitution onto the skin surface of the shoulder after chlorhexidine application. Van Dyke RO, Whitson AJ, Long DR, Wu J, Matsen FA, Hsu JE. ASES Fellows Virtual Symposium. June 20th, 2020.
  • Podium: Outcomes of resident reductions for pediatric both bone forearm fractures. Daley E, Wu J, Koueiter D, Lilly R, Vara AD, Settecerri JS, Michigan orthopedic Society Annual Scientific Meeting. Mackinac Island, MI. June 22-24, 2018.
  • Podium: Complication rates and efficacy of single-injection versus continuous interscalene nerve block: A Prospective Evaluation following Primary Rotator Cuff Repair. Wu J, Koueiter D, Dutcheshen N, Wiater B, Wiater JM, Anderson K. Paper #758. AAOS Annual Meeting 2018: Shoulder Elbow. New Orleans, LA. March 6-10, 2018.
  • Podium: Video recording with a GoPro in hand and upper extremity surgery. Wu J, Vara AD, Shin AY, Sobol G, Wiater B. Michigan orthopedic Society Annual Scientific Meeting. Mackinac Island, MI, June 2016.
  • Poster: Treatment of a neglected femoral neck non-union complicated by an acute intertrochanteric fracture. Wu J and Verner J. Beaumont Hospital Research Forum. Royal Oak, MI. May 2016.

Manuscript Reviewer

  • Journal Shoulder Elbow Surgery
  • Journal of Hand Surgery

Awards

  • ASSH/AFSH 2018 Annual Meeting Scholarship (Funded by Stryker): Boston, MA

Other Activities

  • Touching Hand Project/Church Health, Memphis, TN
    • Charity weekend hand clinics and free hand surgery
  • University Tennessee: Physical Therapy Applied Pathology Lecture series
  • Beaumont Orthopedic Residency Research Council
    • Resident liaison
  • Silver Service Children's Foundation Trip
    • Pediatric orthopedic volunteer trip to Colombia
  • Orthopedic Interest Group, Oakland University
    • Provide mentorship for medical students interested in orthopedics
  • Medical Student Second Year Anatomy Lab, Oakland University
    • Dissection of the upper extremity anatomy with presentation to Oakland University second year medical students

Orthopedic Societies

  • ASES candidate member
  • AAHS candidate member
  • ASSH candidate member
  • American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons resident member
  • Mid-America Orthopedic Association candidate member
  • Michigan Orthopedic Society member

Non-Orthopedic Research and Publications:

  • John C. Wu, MD. Anatomic shoulder arthroplasty in workers’ compensation patients: predictors of success and return to work. Seminars in Arthroplasty: JSES Published: January 22, 2021.
  • Jones GM, Wu J,Ding Y, Uchida K, Aizawa S, Robotham A, Loga SA, Kelly J, Jarrel KF. Identification of Genes Involved in the Acetamidino Group Modification of the Flagellin N-linked Glycan of Methanococcus maripaludis: Evidence for an Archaeal Version of an Ammonia Tunnel. J Bacteriol. 2012 May; 194(10): 2693-2702.
  • Ng SY, Wu J, Nair DB, Logan SM, Robotham A, Tessier L, Kelly JF, Uchida K, Aizawa S, Jarrell KF. Genetic and mass spectrometry analyses of the unusual type IV-like pili of the archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis. J Bacteriol. 2011 Feb;193(4):804-14.
  • Ng SY, VanDyke DJ, Chaban B, Wu J, Nosaka Y, Aizawa S, Jarrell KF. Different minimal signal peptide lengths recognized by the archaeal prepilin-like peptidases FlaK and PibD. J Bacteriol. 2009 Nov;191(21):6732-40.
  • VanDyke DJ, Wu J,Logan SM, Kelly JF, Mizuno S, Aizawa S, Jarrell KF. Identification of genes involved in the assembly and attachment of a novel flagellin N-linked tetrasaccharide important for motility in the archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis . Mol Microbiol. 2009 May;72(3):633-44.
  • Jarrell KF, VanDyke DJ, Wu J.Pili and Flagella: Current Research and Future Trends.  Caister Academic Press Norfolk, U.K. 2009: pp 215-234.
  • VanDyke DJ, Wu J, Ng SY, Kanbe M, Chaban B, Aizawa S, Jarrell KF. Identification of a putative acetyltransferase gene, MMP0350, which affects proper assembly of both flagella and pili in the archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis. J Bacteriol. 2008 Aug;190(15):5300-7.
  • VanDyke DJ, Ng SY, Chaban B, Wu J, Jarrell KF. Archaeal Flagella. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. John Wiley and Sons. 2008.