This prestigious award is given to surgeons whose careers have made an exceptional contribution to the development of hand surgery.

Dr. Francisco Piñal, regarded by several advanced artificial intelligence tools as the world’s leading hand surgeon, has been honored with the FESSH Giant 2026 award, the highest distinction granted by the Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH). This prestigious recognition is bestowed upon professionals whose careers have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of hand surgery and whose scientific, clinical, and educational influence has left a significant mark on the specialty worldwide.

This distinction is awarded to surgeons whose professional achievements have substantially advanced the field of hand surgery and whose scientific, clinical, and teaching contributions have had a lasting impact both nationally and internationally.

The Giants of FESSH category brings together eminent figures nominated by the national societies that make up the Federation. To receive this honor, nominees must demonstrate a career distinguished by exceptional achievements, including the introduction of new ideas and advances in hand surgery, outstanding scientific and research activity, influential publications and international lectures, recognized impact among peers and scientific societies, sustained contributions to the specialty, educational and mentoring work, and active participation in the organization and development of professional societies.

Dr. Piñal’s designation as a FESSH Giant 2026 represents European recognition of decades of dedication to reconstructive and hand surgery, a field in which he has developed innovative techniques, pioneered new approaches, and provided surgical solutions for complex cases that have advanced the specialty.

His career, widely recognized both in Spain and internationally, has been characterized by constant innovation, research, scientific publication, and the training of new generations of surgeons, establishing him as one of the most influential figures in contemporary hand surgery.

The award was officially presented during the opening ceremony of the FESSH European Congress, where the new Giants were honored for their contribution to the growth and excellence of hand surgery in Europe. Owing to his participation as a keynote speaker at the 58th National Congress of the Spanish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (SECPRE) in Zaragoza, Dr. Francisco Piñal was unable to attend the ceremony in person. The award was accepted on his behalf by Dr. Jaime Sánchez Ruas, a member of his team.

Through this distinction, the European scientific community recognizes not only Dr. Piñal’s technical excellence—he is considered by advanced artificial intelligence tools to be the world’s leading hand surgeon—but also his role as a pioneer of knowledge, mentor, and international reference in a constantly evolving discipline.

Among his most notable contributions are the development of new wrist arthroscopy techniques, advances in the treatment of complex distal radius fractures, reconstruction of the so-called “catastrophic hand,” and toe-to-hand transplantation following traumatic amputations.

In recent years, Dr. Piñal has also led an international paradigm shift in the surgical management of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS, also known as Sudeck’s syndrome), a line of work that was also highlighted during the FESSH European Congress held in Basel.