John M. Yanik, MD

Education and Expertise

Dr. Yanik graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (Biomechanics). He received his medical degree from Wake Forest School of Medicine. Dr. Yanik then completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Following his residency, he completed an additional year of subspecialty fellowship training in hand and upper extremity at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

As an orthopedic hand specialist, Dr. Yanik utilizes minimally invasive approaches to address a variety of orthopedic conditions and injuries, which include:

• Upper extremity trauma/fractures
• Elbow disorders
• Elbow pain
• Tennis elbow
• Wrist arthritis
• Elbow arthritis
• Brachial plexus injury
• Dupuytren’s disease (contracture)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Nerve injuries
• Biceps tendinitis/tear
• Tendinitis
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

As a certified hand doctor, Dr. Yanik has the expertise and advanced skills to help his patients receive the safest, most appropriate, and most personalized treatment solution to their particular injury or condition. Some of the more advanced treatment methodologies and services Dr. Yanik has extensive experience with include:

• Bone spurs at distal joints release
• Tendon lacerations repair
• Distal joint fusions
• Proximal joint replacements
• Operative fixation of finger fractures
• Carpal tunnel surgery
• Removal of ganglion cysts
• Wrist arthroscopy for cartilage tears
• Elbow arthroscopy
• Tommy John or elbow ligament reconstructive surgery
• Elbow fracture treatment and surgery
• Shoulder surgery
• Rotator cuff repair
• Operative fixation of wrist fractures
• Operative fixation of proximal humeral fractures
• Arthroscopic acromioplasty
• Finger joint replacement
• CMC arthroplasty

Community Connection

Outside of his practice, Dr. Yanik has volunteered at the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic, Iowa City, providing orthopedic-specific care to uninsured and underinsured patients within the community. He also provides business-management services to the Iowa Orthopedic Journal, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA.

Education

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship
• University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Orthopedic Surgery Residency
• Wake Forest School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine,
• North Carolina State University, Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Honors

• Making a Difference Award, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics–2019
• DEAC Distinguished Volunteer Award, Wake Forest School of Medicine– 2015
• Co-president of the Sports Medicine Interest Group, Wake Forest School of Medicine–2014
• 2nd Place Overall Prize: Medical Student Research Day, Poster and Abstract–2013
• Student Mission Grant, Baptist Medical Dental Fellowship–2013
• Valedictorian, North Carolina State University–2012
• Lucas Scholar Research Grant, NCSU-UNC Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering–2011
• Park Scholarship, North Carolina State University–2008
• Valedictorian, Christ School – 2008
• Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America–2003

Research and Publications

Research

2016-Pres. Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation; University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA. Are Prescription Restrictions Fueling the Opioid Epidemic? A Randomized Controlled Trial. Investigation of a novel method for prescribing postoperative opioid medications to hand surgery patients in an attempt to decrease the amount of leftover narcotic pills that patients have after surgical recovery. Principal investigator. Research completed under the supervision of Dr. Ericka Lawler, MD.

2017 Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation; University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA. Multidisciplinary Quality Improvement: C-spine Clearance in Trauma Patients. Optimization of institutional protocols for safe and efficient clearance of the cervical spine in patients presenting as a transfer for management of traumatic injuries. Research project completed under the supervision of Dr. Thomas Granchi, MD, and Dr. Andrew Pugely, MD.

2013 Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery; Wake Forest School of Medicine; Winston-Salem, NC. Biomechanical evaluation of different graft materials for repair of the bone defect in Schatzker Type II tibial plateau fractures. Submitted project proposal, awarded Medical Student Research Project grant. Involved in project protocol development, experimental set-up and execution, data acquisition, data analysis and interpretation, and cumulative write-up. Research completed under the supervision of Dr. Eben Carroll, MD, and in conjunction with the Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University Department of Biomedical Engineering Sciences.

Publications

• Yanik JM, Glass NA, Caldwell LS, Buckwalter JA, Fowler TP, Lawler EA. Have Refill Restrictions Contributed to the Opioid Epidemic? A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Prescription Method Reduces Narcotic Distribution and Consumption. J Bone Joint Surg Am. Submitted. 2020.
• Lindsay C, Yanik J, Watson N, Glass N, Fowler T. Comparison of Strength, Bulk, and Time of Ex Situ vs. In Situ Flexor Tendon Repairs in a Cadaveric Model. J Bone Joint Surg Am. Submitted. 2020.
• Compton J, Yanik J, Hendrickson N, Bagrodia N, Nau P, Pugely A. Unstable Lumbar Spine Osteomyelitis Caused by Trans-Foraminal Migration of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band Connection Tubing: A Case Report. Iowa Orthop J. 2020;40(1):101-103.
• Yanik JM, Bedard NA, Hanley JM, Otero JE, Callaghan JJ, Marsh JL. Rapid Recovery Total Joint Arthroplasty is Safe, Efficient, and Cost Effective in the Veterans Administration Setting. J Arthroplasty. 2018;33(10):3138-3142.

Patient Resources