When you think about how much you rely on your hands every single day—from typing a text to picking up a child—it’s clear why an injury or chronic pain in that area can feel so overwhelming. In the Eastside community, Dr. Todd Guyette has become the go-to expert for people looking to get that functionality back. Based at Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle with a primary office in Kirkland, Dr. Guyette is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has dedicated his entire career to the intricate world of hand, elbow, and upper extremity care. He isn't just a doctor who fixes bones; he’s a specialist who understands the delicate balance of nerves, tendons, and joints that allow your hands to perform complex tasks.
Dr. Guyette’s path to becoming a top-rated surgeon in Washington started with a high-level education at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, followed by a rigorous residency at Case Western Reserve University. He further honed his skills with a specialized fellowship in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most prestigious medical centers in the world. This background means he is just as comfortable performing a complex microsurgical nerve repair as he is treating a common case of carpal tunnel syndrome. Because he is double board-certified in both Orthopedic Surgery and Hand Surgery, his patients benefit from a level of expertise that covers everything from the fingertips all the way up to the shoulder.
What truly makes a visit to Dr. Guyette’s Kirkland office unique is his philosophy that surgery should rarely be the first step. He is known throughout the Pacific Northwest for his thoughtful, conservative approach to medicine. He spends a significant amount of time during the initial consultation listening to how an injury is impacting your specific lifestyle—whether you’re a professional musician, a software engineer, or a local gardener. He often works closely with hand therapists to find non-invasive ways to manage conditions like "trigger finger," tendonitis, or arthritis. When surgery is the best path forward, he utilizes minimally invasive techniques and wide-awake hand surgery options that prioritize safety and a much faster recovery time.
As a consistent recipient of the "Top Doctor" award by Seattle Met and Seattle Magazine, Dr. Guyette is highly respected by his peers for his surgical precision and his warm, approachable bedside manner. His office at the Totem Lake Medical Plaza is designed to be a streamlined, patient-centered environment where you aren't just a number on a chart. He is affiliated with EvergreenHealth and Swedish Medical Center, ensuring that his patients have access to the best facilities in the state if a procedure is required. He accepts most major insurance plans and is currently seeing new patients who are ready to stop living with hand and arm pain.
