Home » Physicians » R. Clayton Link, MD
Orthopedic Surgery, Board Eligible Hand & Upper Extremity Fellowship Area of Focus in Shoulder to Fingertip
Shoulder & Elbow Care
Orthopedic Hand and Wrist Care
Orthopedic Pediatric Care
Orthopedic Sports Medicine Services
Robert “Clayton” Link, MD, is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in comprehensive surgical and non-surgical care of the hand and upper extremity. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of traumatic and degenerative conditions affecting the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. His surgical expertise includes joint replacement, minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques, and microsurgery, with an emphasis on restoring function and helping patients return to the activities that are most important to them.
Originally from Missouri, Dr. Link grew up playing hockey, a lifelong passion that helped shape his appreciation for movement, performance, and the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle. He earned undergraduate degrees in Biology and Psychology from the University of Alabama, where he met his wife, Audrey. Together, they moved to Kansas City, where Dr. Link earned his medical degree and completed his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. He subsequently pursued advanced subspecialty training through a Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship at the internationally recognized Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center.
Central to Dr. Link’s practice is the belief that exceptional orthopedic care should be highly individualized. He takes the time to understand not only a patient’s condition, but also their lifestyle, priorities, and personal goals. From there, he develops a thoughtful, tailored treatment plan designed to restore function and help each patient return to their desired level of activity. Whether treatment is surgical or non-surgical, his approach is grounded in careful evaluation, clear communication, and shared decision-making.
Dr. Link also believes that excellent outcomes extend beyond the operating room. He values a collaborative approach to recovery and works closely with skilled occupational and physical therapists to provide coordinated, individualized rehabilitation throughout each patient’s recovery.
Outside of his practice, Dr. Link and his wife, Audrey, a nurse, enjoy spending time outdoors with their Goldendoodle, Louie. They are proud to call the Twin Cities home and look forward to building lasting relationships within the community while providing exceptional orthopedic care to their patients for years to come.
Hand care, including fracture care, ligament and tendon injuries, hand arthritis, thumb CMC joint osteoarthritis, mucous and ganglion cysts, ligament and tendon injuries, Dupuytren’s contracture, trigger finger, nerve injuries, and carpal tunnel syndrome
Hand procedures, including open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of hand and finger fractures, malunions, and nonunions; closed reduction and percutaneous fixation (CRPF) of hand and finger fractures; ligament repair and reconstruction; Dupuytren’s partial palmar fasciectomy, Xiaflex infection, and needle aponeurotomy; excision of hand masses (eg. Enchondroma, giant cell tumor of tendon sheath, mucous and ganglion cysts); joint fusion; small joint replacement; thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint arthroplasty using ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI), suture suspensionplasty, and mini-tightrope techniques; tendon repair and transfer, A1 pulley release for trigger finger; nerve repair – primary, autograft, and allograft repair. In-office wide-awake, local-anesthesia no-tourniquet (WALANT) procedures including: trigger finger release, mucous or ganglion cyst excision, mass excision, DeQuervain’s release.
Wrist Care, including wrist and forearm fracture care, wrist arthritis, DRUJ arthritis, carpal instability, ligament and tendon injuries, and excision of wrist masses (eg. ganglion cysts)
Wrist procedures, including open reduction and screw fixation (ORIF) of scaphoid fractures, scaphoid nonunion repair with bone grafting, proximal row carpectomy, scaphoid excision and 4-corner fusion, total wrist fusion; complex distal radius and ulna fractures, forearm fractures, and carpal fractures; Scapholunate ligament repair and reconstruction; minimally-invasive wrist arthroscopy; TFCC repair; DRUJ arthritis treatment; wrist mass excision (eg. ganglion cysts); carpal tunnel release – primary and revision, open and endoscopic. In-office wide-awake local-anesthesia, no-tourniquet (WALANT) procedures including: mini-open carpal tunnel release.
Nerve care, including primary and recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome, primary and recurrent cubital tunnel syndrome, proximal median nerve compression, radial tunnel syndrome, Guyon’s canal syndrome, neuroma, hand and wrist nerve injuries, lower extremity nerve compression
Nerve procedures, including carpal tunnel release – primary and revision, open and endoscopic; proximal median nerve decompression; radial tunnel decompression; cubital tunnel decompression – primary and revision, anterior ulnar nerve transposition; Guyon’s canal release; nerve repair – primary, autograft, and allograft repair; targeted muscle reinnervation; common peroneal nerve decompression; tarsal tunnel decompression
Elbow care, including management of olecranon fractures, distal humerus fractures, radial head and neck fractures, ligament and tendon injuries, lateral and medial epicondylitis, and cubital tunnel syndrome
Elbow procedures, including open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of olecranon fractures, radial head and neck fractures; distal humerus fractures; total elbow arthroplasty; radial head replacement; ligament and tendon repair; lateral epicondylitis debridement; cubital tunnel decompression – primary and revision
Shoulder care, including fracture care, arthritis, and rotator cuff tears
Shoulder procedures, including open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of clavicle (collarbone) and proximal humerus fractures, shoulder arthroscopy, subacromial decompression, distal clavicle excision, rotator cuff repair, hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty, and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty
Ankle care, including management of ankle fractures
Ankle procedures, including open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of ankle fractures
Certification
Board Eligible, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship
Hand & Upper Extremity Fellowship, Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, Indianapolis, IN
Residency
Orthopedic Surgery, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Medical Degree
Doctor of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Allina Health Mercy Hospital
Blaine Orthopedic Surgery Center
North Memorial Ambulatory Surgery Center at Maple Grove
North Memorial & Maple Grove Hospitals
Plymouth Orthopedic Surgery Center
American Association for Hand Surgery, Candidate Member (2025-Present)
American Society for Surgery of the Hand, Candidate Member (2023-Present)
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2020-Present)
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (2019-Present)
Sir William Osler Society of Medicine (2016-Present)
American Medical Association (2016-Present)
Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society (2014-Present)
Administrative Orthopedic Chief Resident (2025)
Rex L Diveley, M.D., Outstanding Orthopaedic Resident Award (2025)
AOA 2024 C. McCollister Evarts Resident Leadership Forum (2025)
Mark Bernhardt, M.D., Compassionate Physician Award (2024)
ASSH/AFSH 79th Annual Meeting Scholarship (2024)
Junior Administrative Chief Resident (2024)
ASSH/AFSH 78th Annual Meeting Scholarship (2023)
Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Society (2019)
Gold Humanism Honors Society (2019)
Missouri American College of Physician’s Physical Diagnosis Award (2017)
Summa Cum Laude, Undergraduate Honor (2015)
Outstanding Major in Psychology, Undergraduate Honor (2015)
Presidential Scholar Scholarship Recipient, Undergraduate Honor (2011-2015)
