Hand and Wrist

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is very common and is caused by compression on the median nerve in the wrist. The excessive compression causes symptoms such as numbness in the hand and fingers, often waking the patient at night. As the disease progresses, it may lead to weakness and even wasting away of the muscles in the palm. Treatment may be as simple as wearing a brace or stretching or may require a simple surgical procedure to remove the pressure off the nerve.

Trigger finger is a common condition that involves a finger getting “stuck” in a flexed position. This often begins as pain and a catch/click in the finger and may progress to a finger that is “locked” in a flexed position. This condition is caused by tendinitis and the formation of a nodule on the tendon. The normal motion of the swollen tendon is inhibited as it travels in a tunnel (aka pulley system) within the palm/finger. This can often be successfully treated with a steroid injection but may require a small surgical procedure to correct the problem.

Arthritis involves the wearing down of the cartilage (smooth bearing surface) of a joint. This may be a result of an old injury, an inflammatory condition, or simple wear and tear. Arthritis of the hand or wrist may cause swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints, often leading to loss of mobility and deformity. Our skilled physicians are able to expertly manage these symptoms with injections/ bracing/ therapy, and when conservative measures fail, surgery may be the right option. Your surgeon may recommend a fusion surgery or a joint replacement surgery (yes, even in your hand!!).

A portion of the population has a predisposition to forming firm cords in the hand called Dupuytren's. These are thickening of normal tissue whose function is to decrease the mobility of the skin on the palm to facilitate gripping/grasping. When these abnormal cords form they can cause a contracture that leads to the loss of the ability to straighten out the involved finger. When these become advanced enough to cause disability, they can be treated by either simply breaking up the cord, or removing the cord entirely depending on its specific characteristics.