What are the different types of hand surgery?
- Skin grafts. Skin grafts for the hand involve replacing or attaching skin to a part of the hand that has missing skin. …
- Skin flaps. …
- Closed reduction and fixation. …
- Tendon repair. …
- Nerve repairs. …
- Fasciotomy. …
- Surgical drainage or debridement. …
- Joint replacement.
What hand injuries require surgery?
Additional hand conditions that may require surgery include: abnormally shaped fingers or hands, amputations, ganglion cysts, DeQuervain’s disease, dupuytren’s contracture, flexor tendon injuries, fractures, lacerations, mallet finger, missing fingers, nailbed injuries, polydactyly (extra fingers), reflex sympathetic …
Is hand surgery serious?
Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles and lungs can occur and may be temporary or permanent. Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications. Infection. Injury to the blood vessels, nerves or tendons.
Why would I need hand surgery?
The most obvious reason to seek surgery for your hand is if you have pain or immobility that prevents you from using your hand. In fact, any inability to use your hands as you normally would is a sign that something isn’t quite right with your hand structure or functionality.
What are the most common hand surgeries?
The following are some of the most frequently performed types of hand surgery:
- Carpal Tunnel Surgery. One of the most common hand surgeries is performed to address carpal tunnel syndrome. …
- Skin Graft Surgery. …
- Trigger Finger Surgery. …
- Nerve Repairs. …
- Hand Surgery in San Antonio.
What is a hand surgeon called?
What is an orthopedic hand surgeon? An orthopedic hand surgeon has been specially trained to diagnose and treat problems of the hand, wrist, and forearm, and many are also experts in caring for shoulder and elbow issues.
How can I avoid hand surgery?
Easy Lifestyle Changes That Could Prevent Hand Surgery
- Avoid activities that cause pain. Nerve-related hand problems can cause local pain and tenderness as well as pain that radiates into your fingers, your wrist, and even your forearm. …
- Use a wrist splint. …
- Try OTC pain medicines. …
- Apply cold and hot therapies.
When should I consult hand surgery?
Consider seeing a hand surgeon if you’re experiencing the following issues: Pain in your forearm, wrist, hand, or fingers that lasts more than three days. Trouble using your hands for daily tasks. Bruising or swelling around your hand and wrist.
How long does it take to recover from hand surgery?
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Hand Surgery? While the obvious answer is it depends, there are some general rules and guidelines about recovering from surgery. Generally, it takes 2 to 4 months before the typical patient experiences enough recovery to return to work.
Do you need a cast after hand surgery?
A: Many surgeries require a short time of protection to allow your body to start its recovery from your procedure. Leaving surgery, your hand, wrist, or forearm may be wrapped with a bulky dressing. Surgeons will frequently include a splint as a part of the dressing.
Are you awake during hand surgery?
When local anesthesia is used alone, the patient is wide-awake during the surgery. The patient can cooperate with instructions from the surgeon. Sometimes the surgeon may ask the patient to move the hand or fingers to see if a finger is still triggering or to check the tension on a tendon repair.
How much pain is there after hand surgery?
Mild to severe pain may be expected after many types of hand surgeries. Pain medications may be given to help alleviate the discomfort. The following are some of the other possible outcomes that you may be told to expect following hand surgery: Your hand may be immobilized in a bandage or splint after surgery.
Do I really need hand surgery?
Depending on the severity and location of the hand fracture (broken bone), surgery may be necessary to ensure it heals properly. Most minor fractures (where the bone fragments have not moved out of place) are treated nonsurgically and just require rest, pain relief medication, and splinting until the fracture heals.
Can I make my fingers longer with surgery?
What is Trapeziectomy procedure?
Page 2. There are two main surgical options: (a) Trapeziectomy. This is the most common form of surgery and involves a complete removal of the trapezium. Some surgeons fill the gap left by the removed bone using a piece of tendon from your wrist.
What specialty does hand surgery?
While orthopedic surgeons are able to perform many different kinds of procedures, orthopedic hand surgeons specialize in hand surgeries. They have devoted significant time to studying, examining, and treating hand-related musculoskeletal issues.
What is surgery on the wrist called?
Wrist Fusion (Total Wrist Arthrodesis) is a surgical procedure used to relieve pain and correct deformities of the wrist caused by injury, trauma, arthritis, or genetic defect.
Can nerve damage in a finger be repaired?
Surgical nerve repair can restore sensation and movement to the hand and fingers and must be done promptly to minimize long-term damage. An orthopedic surgeon will typically try to complete a direct nerve repair if possible. Direct nerve repair reattaches the damaged nerve endings to one another.
Do hand surgeons do wrist surgery?
Hand surgery is a medical specialty that addresses the problems and conditions that occur in your hand, all the way to your wrist, forearm and shoulder. Given their extensive, specialized training, a hand surgeon is an expert in more than just surgery.
DO orthopedic doctors treat hands?
A hand specialist is an orthopedic doctor who specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders in the hand, wrist, and forearm. They have a profound understanding of the complex networks of blood vessels, nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones that make up the hand and fingers.
What kind of doctor treats nerve damage in hand?
Neurologists are specialists who treat diseases of the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles.
How do I know if I need wrist surgery?
Pain, especially when flexing your wrist or moving your fingers. Swelling. Difficulty moving or using your hand or wrist. A deformed appearance due to swelling or a bone that’s out of place.
Is trigger finger the same as Dupuytren contracture?
The answer to that question is no. Upon first glance, these two things might seem very similar, but they are actually very different medical conditions. In fact, the only similarity is that they both affect finger flexion. Trigger finger involves the tendons, and Dupuytren contractor involves the tissue.
What is Dupuytren’s syndrome?
Dupuytren’s contracture (also called Dupuytren’s disease) is an abnormal thickening of the skin in the palm of your hand at the base of your fingers. This thickened area may develop into a hard lump or thick band. Over time, it can cause one or more fingers to curl (contract), or pull sideways or in toward your palm.
What is the most common hand injury?
The three most common hand injuries are fractures/avulsions, tendinitis, and dislocations/deformities.
How steady are surgeons hands?
The vast majority of surgeons have stable hands. That’s something that’s been developed by lots of routine practice. Experience and confidence also helps. Trainee surgeons just starting out, or med students on surgical rotations, are much more likely to experience shaky hands.
What is the average cost of hand surgery?
Typical costs: Without health insurance, diagnosis and treatment for a broken hand typically includes the cost of the X-ray, a facility fee and a doctor fee for a typical total of $6,000 or more for non-surgical treatment and from $7,000 to $15,000 or more if surgery is required.
What are the risks of hand surgery?
Complications of hand surgery
- Introduction.
- Tendonopathies and tendon injuries of the hand.
- Surgical management of arthritis of the fingers and thumb.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Dupuytren’s contracture.
- Fractures of the hand.
- Complex regional pain syndrome.
- Conclusion.
Can I walk after hand surgery?
Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. For 1 to 2 weeks after surgery, avoid using your hand.
