Biography

Courtney J. Amor, MD, is a hand surgeon and assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

He specializes in hand and upper extremity surgery. He treats conditions involving the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. In addition, as a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, he provides care for hand fractures and dislocations, tendon injuries, nerve injuries, arthritis, and sports-related problems. As a result, his clinical focus centers on restoring motion, reducing pain, and improving function for patients of all ages.

He emphasizes non-operative treatment whenever possible. In many cases, hand and upper extremity conditions respond well to evidence-based therapies. These treatments help patients recover without surgery. However, when surgery is the best option, he offers minimally invasive and arthroscopic techniques for the hand, wrist, and elbow. These advanced approaches allow precise treatment of joint pain, ligament injuries, nerve compression, and complex trauma. They also support faster recovery times. Moreover, his care philosophy prioritizes clear communication so patients understand their diagnosis and every available treatment option.

Dr. Amor completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. He earned his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, a program known for its strong orthopedic foundation. During his internship and orthopedic surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, he gained extensive experience in upper extremity trauma and reconstruction. He then continued his specialized training with a Hand Surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. There, he advanced his skills in microsurgery, tendon reconstruction, nerve repair, and complex wrist and elbow procedures.

Ultimately, his goal is to help each patient return to daily activities with confidence. He provides comprehensive care for the full range of hand, wrist, and elbow conditions. Whether treating common injuries or complex disorders, Dr. Amor remains dedicated to personalized treatment that supports long-term function and quality of life.

Patients can visit him at our Memorial Villages location for expert evaluation and treatment. Click here to make an appointment today.

Education

Undergraduate Degree
University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Medical School
Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
Residency
Orthopedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Fellowship
Hand Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

Hand & Wrist Conditions

  • Arthritis of the hand, wrist, and thumb (CMC arthritis)

  • Finger and wrist dislocations

  • Hand and wrist fractures

  • Tendon injuries, including flexor and extensor tendon repairs

  • Nerve injuries and compression syndromes (carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel)

Elbow Conditions

  • Elbow arthritis

  • Elbow fractures and dislocations

  • Tendon injuries (tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow)

  • Nerve compression around the elbow

Upper Extremity Trauma & Reconstruction

  • Complex fractures of the hand, wrist, and elbow

  • Ligament and soft-tissue injuries

  • Reconstructive procedures following trauma

Hand and Upper Extremity Sports-Related Injuries

Research Interests

Research Mentor: Gloria Gogola, MD 2010 – present Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Houston, Texas Research involved several projects related to evaluation and management of arthrogrypotic deformity in children. First project was a retrospective study to establish the utility of a outcomes measurement tool in this patient population and has been published and selected by the Journal of Hand Surgery as a Journal Club article in 2011. Second project was a retrospective study of outcomes of carpal wedge osteotomy in this patient population and is nearing submission.

Research Mentor: Keith Bridwell, MD 2006 – 2007 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri Study of adult scoliosis looking at long term outcomes of long spinal fusions to L5 and subsequent L5-S1 disc degeneration using subjective and radiographic outcomes as indicators.

Research Mentor: Nina Schneider, PhD 2003 – present West Los Angeles VA/Neuropsychiatric Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California Developed and implemented an application for educating and assessing knowledge of nicotine replacement therapies. Ongoing studies have been directed at both smokers and health care professionals.

Research Mentor: J. Eric Gordon, MD 2004 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri Project involved assessing the inter- and intra-observer reliability of a set of radiographic measurements commonly used to study pediatric hip disorders.

Research Mentor: Todd Yeates, PhD Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 2003 Implemented an algorithm to calculate solvent accessibility for each atom in a protein based on known 3-D structure and displaying results graphically through computer-based volume rendering.

Publications

Visit the PubMed profile page

Amor CJ, Spaeth MC, Chafey DH, Gogola GR. Use of the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument to Evaluate Functional Outcomes in Arthrogryposis. J Pediatr Orthop, 2011 Apr-May;31(3):293-6.

Amor CJ, Gogola G. Use of the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument to Evaluate Functional Outcomes in Arthrogryposis. Poster presented at the International Pediatric Orthopedic Symposium, Orlando, Florida, December 2-5, 2009.

Schneider NG, Cortner C, Justice M, Gould JL, Amor C, Hartman N, Kleinman L, Olmstead RE. Preferences among five nicotine treatments based on information versus sampling. Nicotine Tob Res. 2008 Jan;10(1):179-86.

Schneider NG, Cortner C, Justice M, Gould JL, Amor C, Hartman N, Kleinman L, Olmstead RE. Preferences among five nicotine treatments based on information versus sampling. Nicotine Tob Res. 2008 Jan;10(1):179-86.

Kuhns CA, Bridwell KH, Lenke LG, Amor C, Lehman RA, Buchowski JM, Edwards C 2nd, Baldus C. Thoracolumbar deformity arthrodesis stopping at L5: fate of the L5-S1 disc, minimum 5-year follow-up. Spine. 2007 Nov 15;32(24):2771-6.