Hand injuries are most commonly suffered in accidental falls, recreational activities and in work-related incidents at home or on the job.
While accidents can lead to a traumatic injury that needs immediate attention, Mendelson Kornblum doctors see a wide array of painful hand conditions that come from everyday wear and tear and overuse. Think about all the tasks that your hand bones, ligaments, tendons and joints of our hands are involved in every day and there’s little wonder why the body part is prone to injuries.
Many minor injuries will heal on their own with rest or physical therapy, but sometimes surgery is necessary to achieve long-term pain relief and to regain complete functional hand movements.
Here are six categories of common hand surgeries:
Tendon repairs: Tendons attach bones to muscles and are key to movements, but they are often damaged through repetitive use. These procedures are typically performed based on the severity of injury. Tendon damage and tears are most often seen in contact sports, but can also occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Joint replacement: Finger joints that are damaged by arthritis are replaced with an artificial joint that can be constructed from metal, rubber, plastic or the patient’s body tissue. The surgery creates a stronger and pain-free joint area, but compromises flexibility.
Nerve repair: Nerves carry messages to and from our brain and a hand nerve injury affects a patient’s ability to experience the sensation of touch. Damage can be suffered by any of the ulnar, median or radial nerves, limiting movement and the ability for normal hand function. This injury can be repaired by reattaching the nerve ends to each other or by using a nerve graft.
Surgical drainage or debridement: Hand infections are often a trigger for a patient’s doctor visit and drainage of an abscess will remove the collection of pus. A debridement removes infected cells and cleanses the wound to promote healing.
Compartment release: This surgery relieves trauma-induced pressure in the affected compartment of the hand and removes damaged tissue. Compartments are small areas bounded by bone or fibrous tissue that containing blood vessels and nerves. Compression can compromise circulation and have serious consequences.
Closed reduction: A reduction is performed when there is a fracture in part of the hand, including the fingers. The surgery realigns the fractured bone and then immobilize the area during the healing phase. Immobilization can be done with internal fixtures, such as with wires, rods, splints, and casts.
Mendelson Kornblum’s hand specialists are experts in their field and will focus on your complete recovery. Call us at 734-266-3349 for a same-day appointment.