Hand and wrist care

The hand and wrist is a complex anatomical region of the body. With numerous bones in the small bones of the fingers (phalanges) and the long bones within the palm (metacarpals), trauma to the hand is often associated with a fracture of these small bones. Tendons are tissues that connect muscles to bone. When muscles contract, tendons pull on bones. This causes parts of the body (such as a finger) to move. The muscles that move the fingers and thumb are located in the forearm. Long tendons extend from these muscles through the wrist and attach to the small bones of the fingers and thumb. In the absence of trauma, patients are commonly affected by carpel tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the space around the flexor tendons becomes limited causing pressure on the median nerve. Your surgeons at Beach Orthopaedics Specialty Institute are skilled in treating a myriad of problems that can affect the hand and wrist.

The video below can walk you through some of the common hand and wrist injuries to help you understand conditions and their treatments.

The BOSI team are specialists in helping you find relief of fractures & trauma about the hand a wrist caused by some of the following conditions:

Conditions:

• Carpal Tunnel – A common compressive peripheral nerve neuropathy that can cause numbness and tingling in the hand.

• Fractures – Includes fractures of carpal bones such as the Scaphoid and distal radius fractures.

• Dislocation – Finger and wrist dislocations that can result from trauma.

• Injury to ligaments – Such as ligament tears that can severely affect mobility.

• Sprains – Overextension or tearing of ligaments, often leading to pain and swelling.

• Arthritis – Affecting both the hand and wrist, leading to stiffness and joint pain.

• Tendinitis – Encompasses flexor and extensor tendonitis, causing inflammation and discomfort.

• Trigger Finger – A condition where a finger gets stuck in a bent position and then snaps straight.

Additional Conditions:

• Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome – Another form of compressive peripheral nerve neuropathy affecting the ulnar nerve.

• Digital Nerve Injuries – Can result from cuts or trauma to the fingers, affecting sensation.

• Finger Flexor and Extensor Tendon Injuries – Impacting the ability to bend or straighten the fingers.

• Ganglion Cyst – Noncancerous lumps that develop along tendons or joints of the wrists and hands.

• Dupuytren’s Contracture – A gradual thickening of tissue under the skin in the hand, leading to fingers curling inward.

• Kienbock’s Disease – A condition where the blood supply to one of the small bones in the wrist is interrupted, causing pain and stiffness.

• TFCC Tear – Injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex, crucial for wrist stability.

By understanding these conditions, you can better appreciate the complexities of hand and wrist health and the expertise required for effective treatment.