Main office
Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance
Columbia
1050 N James Campbell Blvd. Suite 200
Columbia, TN 38401
Orthopedic surgery in Columbia
For Referring Physicians
How to refer a patient to Dr. Hunter.
For physicians
Referring a patient
Dr. Lee Hunter focuses his practice on conditions of the hand, wrist, and elbow, treating trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, fractures, and tendon injuries for referring practices across Columbia, Tennessee. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Campbell Clinic and holds his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, training that underlies his concentration on hand and wrist disorders. He is affiliated with Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance.
For trigger finger referrals, Dr. Hunter performs both conventional trigger finger release and an in-office sutureless release, completed without an operating room visit. Background on his training is detailed on his physician profile, and condition-specific referral thresholds are laid out in the when-to-refer guide.
Dr. Hunter is accepting new patients.
This page is written for referring clinicians and does not replace independent clinical judgment.
Training and credentials
Education and training
Medical school at University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Residency at Campbell Clinic.
- ResidencyCampbell ClinicOrthopaedic Surgery Residency
- Medical schoolUniversity of Tennessee Health Science CenterDoctor of Medicine
- Board statusAmerican Board of Orthopaedic SurgeryBoard certified
For physicians
Which patients should I refer to Dr. Hunter?
Any patient with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis of the wrist or elbow, an upper-extremity fracture, or a tendon injury is appropriate to refer.
Dr. Hunter completed his residency at Campbell Clinic and limits his practice to hand, wrist, and elbow conditions, so referrals are appropriate at any stage, from a new trigger finger diagnosis through a fracture needing surgical fixation. Patients whose trigger finger has not resolved with a corticosteroid injection are candidates for in-office sutureless trigger finger release, performed without an operating room visit. Full referral timing by condition, including red-flag findings, is covered in the practice's referral criteria guide.
For physicians
What should I send with the referral?
Send your clinic note describing the exam findings, any imaging already obtained, and a clear statement of what conservative treatment has been tried and for how long.
For carpal tunnel syndrome, include the results of a nerve conduction study if one was ordered; a trial of splinting and activity modification is reasonable before referral, with six to twelve weeks typically cited as a reasonable conservative window (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Clinical Practice Guideline on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, 2016). For trigger finger, note whether a corticosteroid injection was given and the response; one to two injections before surgical referral is standard practice (American Society for Surgery of the Hand, 2022). A packet with this information lets the office schedule the right type of visit on the first call.
For physicians
How do I reach the office to refer a patient?
Referrals reach the same scheduling desk whether submitted by phone, fax, or electronic referral; the direct contact numbers are listed in the referral block on this page.
The practice, affiliated with Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance in Columbia, is accepting new patients, and a referring office can request a copy of Dr. Hunter's training and clinical focus from his full profile to include with the referral letter if useful.
For physicians
What happens at my patient's first visit?
A focused history and physical exam of the hand, wrist, or elbow, often with same-day x-ray if the presentation calls for it.
Dr. Hunter trained in orthopaedic surgery at the Campbell Clinic residency program and limits his practice to hand, wrist, and elbow conditions, so the visit is built around that single region rather than a general orthopedic workup. For trigger finger, this frequently means the diagnosis and the in-office sutureless trigger finger release happen within the same visit window, without a separate surgical scheduling step. More background on his training and focus areas is on the physician's background page.
For physicians
How will I learn what Dr. Hunter found?
A consultation letter goes to the referring practice before the patient's next scheduled visit with you.
The letter states the exam findings, the working diagnosis, and the treatment plan in standard clinical terms, not a patient-facing summary. If imaging or a procedure changes the plan mid-course, a follow-up note is sent at that point rather than held for the next scheduled communication.
For physicians
Will Dr. Hunter send my patient back to me, or manage them going forward?
Both, depending on the diagnosis.
Conditions with a defined endpoint, trigger finger treated with in-office sutureless release, straightforward carpal tunnel syndrome, uncomplicated fractures, are typically returned to your practice for ongoing primary care once the hand, wrist, or elbow issue is resolved. Conditions with a longer arc, inflammatory arthritis or a tendon injury requiring staged rehabilitation, are co-managed, with the referring practice continuing as the primary point of contact for non-orthopedic care throughout. If a different presentation comes up later for the same patient, our referral guidance by urgency tier covers how to route it.
This page is educational for referring practices and does not substitute for direct provider-to-provider communication on an individual patient.
2 locations
Our offices
Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance
Spring Hill
2160 Reserve Blvd. Suite 100
Spring Hill, TN 37174
Appointments
Ready to talk about your hand, elbow and wrist?
Call the office or request an appointment. Accepting new patients.