Owen L. Ala, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon

Owen L. Ala, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon

  • Specialty

    Hand & Wrist

  • Location

    Anchorage

  • Fellowship

    Hand, Upper Extremity, and Microvascular Surgery
    University of Pennsylvania

  • Residency

    Orthopedic Surgery
    University of New Mexico

  • Medical School

    Medical Degree
    Cornell University Medical College

About

Dr. Ala is fellowship trained in hand, upper extremity and microvascular surgery. He focuses on treating patients with hand, wrist and elbow conditions including fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, joint replacement and more. He also has extensive training in wrist, elbow, and shoulder arthroscopy.

Dr. Ala earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in New York City in 2008. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he also served as chief resident. After residency, Dr. Ala received subspecialty fellowship training in Hand, Upper Extremity and Microvascular Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. During his fellowship Dr. Ala received extensive training in hand and digit replantation and participated in one of the few hand transplant programs in the world. Dr. Ala also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University. Among his numerous papers and presentations, Dr. Ala co-authored “Stick Dominance Versus Hand Dominance in Youth Hockey,” recently presented in San Francisco. He has also written a number of book chapters on wrist surgery and lectured on a number of topics, including pediatric elbow fracture treatment, sports injuries of the hand and wrist, and radial head fracture operative and non-operative management.

Dr. Ala is excited to return to his home state with his wife and three children and establish his practice here in Anchorage. He was born and raised in Soldotna where his grandparents homesteaded in the 1940s. He grew up working on the family farm, commercial fishing, and playing hockey.

  • Special Interests
    • Hand, Wrist and Elbow
    • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Microvascular Surgery
    • Arthritis and Joint-Related Pain
    • Upper Extremity Trauma
    • Lacerations & Wound Problems
    • Tendinitis
    • Dupuytren’s Contracture
    • Pediatric Hand
    • Wrist, Elbow, Shoulder Arthroscopy
  • Sample Procedures
    • Carpal Tunnel Release
    • Distal Radius Fracture
    • Elbow Fracture Repair
    • Elbow Replacement
    • Total Shoulder Replacement
    • Trigger Finger/Thumb Release
  • Affiliations
    • Providence Alaska Medical Center
    • Alaska Regional Hospital
    • Alaska Surgery Center
    • Alpine Surgery Center
    • Providence Seward
    • Creekside Surgery Center
  • Publications
    • Wrist Pathology Chapter, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Text Book
    • Evaluation of Hand Transplant Patients
    • Stick Dominance Versus Hand Dominance in Youth Hockey
    • Glenoid Baseplate Fixation in Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement: Use of a Spine Awl to Gain Screw Trajectory
    • Radiographic and Histopathologic Analysis of Osteolysis After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
    • Comparison of Early and Delayed Failed Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
    • Observations on Retrieved Glenoid Components From Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
    • Comparison of Conforming and Nonconforming Retrieved Glenoid Components
    • Sports Injuries of the Hand and Wrist, Lecture; Pediatric Elbow Fractures: Assessment and Treatment, Lecture
    • Radial Head Fractures Operative and Non-operative Management, Grand Rounds Presentation
    • Management of Hand and Finger Amputations, Lecture

Patient Testimonials

Dr. Ala is very professional, has an excellent bedside manner and was able to communicate what to expect along with a projected outcome. Where I was able to understand it.

– Jim

Questions?

The OPA team includes Alaska’s leading specialists and offers some of the latest, most advanced treatment procedures available today.

OPA treats a wide variety of conditions and offers comprehensive treatment options — including many non-surgical solutions, minimally invasive arthroscopies (repairs), and total joint replacement.

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