HAND & WRIST SURGERY
Hand and wrist surgery represents a surgical subspecialty that preoccupies itself with the restoration of form and function in those two anatomical areas in children and adults. In a comparably small volume of the body a large number of anatomical structures are contained. Bones, ligaments, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and skin may be affected by injuries, congenital deformities and age related disorders. These in turn impede hand function – the ability to move, feel, grasp, and manipulate. Like many other things that render surgery more an art than a science, the intricacies of interplay of anatomical elements, which keep the hand functional, are incompletely understood at best. Well-defined disorders such as carpal tunnel or trigger finger result in highly satisfactory results, whereas others permit only partial restoration, for example the reattachment of amputated parts of the hand. A large part of hand surgery is related to the treatment of injuries from infections, severed tendons, and nerves, to fractures and dislocated joints, loss of skin cover, or interruption of blood supply to the hand. Often, these require the application of microsurgical techniques or tissue transplantation.
Read more from the ASPS about hand surgery.
HAND & WRIST SURGERY
Hand and wrist surgery represents a surgical subspecialty that preoccupies itself with the restoration of form and function in those two anatomical areas in children and adults. In a comparably small volume of the body a large number of anatomical structures are contained. Bones, ligaments, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and skin may be affected by injuries, congenital deformities and age related disorders. These in turn impede hand function – the ability to move, feel, grasp, and manipulate. Like many other things that render surgery more an art than a science, the intricacies of interplay of anatomical elements, which keep the hand functional, are incompletely understood at best. Well-defined disorders such as carpal tunnel or trigger finger result in highly satisfactory results, whereas others permit only partial restoration, for example the reattachment of amputated parts of the hand. A large part of hand surgery is related to the treatment of injuries from infections, severed tendons, and nerves, to fractures and dislocated joints, loss of skin cover, or interruption of blood supply to the hand. Often, these require the application of microsurgical techniques or tissue transplantation.
Read more from the ASPS about hand surgery
Carpal tunnel release surgery is used to reduce the pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. This is done by cutting the ligament that forms the top of the carpal tunnel. Cutting this ligament relieves pressure on the median nerve. Any other tissue (such as a tumor) that may be putting pressure on the median nerve can also be removed during surgery.
Treatment for Dupuytren’s contracture depends on the severity, with the goal being to reduce symptoms and disability caused by the condition. Over the course of Dupuytren’s disease, fibrous tissue in the palm thickens and tightens. This causes one or more fingers to progressively stiffen, bend, and lose flexibility.
Trigger finger release surgery is used to release the compressed tendon sheath so the tendon can freely glide again. The procedure is relatively simple and is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Non-surgical treatments are also available.
Hand surgery is a broad term covering many different types of procedures. Our physicians who perform hand surgery seek to restore hand and finger function while retaining the hand’s physical appearance. Hand surgery may be needed for many reasons, including: hand injuries; rheumatic diseases; degenerative changes to the hand’s structure; congenital problems or defects; or infections.
Tendons are the soft, band-like tissues that connect muscles to bone. When the muscles contract, the tendons pull the bones and cause them to move. Tendon repair is surgery done to treat a torn or otherwise damaged tendon.
There are several types of joint surgeries that may be recommended to arthritis patients to assess the health of the joint or to improve a severely damaged joint.
Carpal tunnel release surgery is used to reduce the pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. This is done by cutting the ligament that forms the top of the carpal tunnel. Cutting this ligament relieves pressure on the median nerve. Any other tissue (such as a tumor) that may be putting pressure on the median nerve can also be removed during surgery.
Treatment for Dupuytren’s contracture depends on the severity, with the goal being to reduce symptoms and disability caused by the condition. Over the course of Dupuytren’s disease, fibrous tissue in the palm thickens and tightens. This causes one or more fingers to progressively stiffen, bend, and lose flexibility.
Trigger finger release surgery is used to release the compressed tendon sheath so the tendon can freely glide again. The procedure is relatively simple and is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Non-surgical treatments are also available.
Hand surgery is a broad term covering many different types of procedures. Our physicians who perform hand surgery seek to restore hand and finger function while retaining the hand’s physical appearance. Hand surgery may be needed for many reasons, including: hand injuries; rheumatic diseases; degenerative changes to the hand’s structure; congenital problems or defects; or infections.
Tendons are the soft, band-like tissues that connect muscles to bone. When the muscles contract, the tendons pull the bones and cause them to move. Tendon repair is surgery done to treat a torn or otherwise damaged tendon.
There are several types of joint surgeries that may be recommended to arthritis patients to assess the health of the joint or to improve a severely damaged joint.