The hands and the wrists are especially vulnerable parts of the body thanks to their high-performance and all-day usefulness, plus the fact that they are composed of many tiny bones, muscles, and other tissues. Infections, fractures, and damage to their various tissues and structures are fairly commonplace, which is why surgery is often recommended as a treatment option for severe injury or pain in the hands and wrists.
These surgeries can range from quick and minimally invasive to traditional open surgery, depending on the patient’s needs. Let’s talk about some of the main types of hand and wrist surgery and how they can be successfully performed to treat your pain or debilitating hand condition.
Arthroscopic Surgery
Also called keyhole surgery, this minimally invasive surgery allows a doctor to examine and repair problem areas via tiny tools passed through a small incision. Because of the smaller incisions, patients enjoy a faster recovery time, smaller scars, and less damaged tissue than with traditional open surgery.
Skin Graft Surgery
Skin graft surgery is primarily reconstructive and is usually performed on burn injuries or injuries in which a large amount of skin has been removed. A patch of healthy skin is surgically excised from a different part of the body and is then transplanted onto the damaged area to replace missing or injured skin.
Fasciotomy
When too much pressure builds up in your limbs, your muscles can swell, causing pain and even mobility loss. A fasciotomy helps to relieve the discomfort, prevent muscle weakness, and revive circulation in the area. The surgery involves cutting into the fascia surrounding your muscles, thereby reducing pressure.
Trigger Finger Surgery
Trigger finger is when the tendon of a finger or the thumb becomes swollen or inflamed. This makes it difficult to move the finger, sometimes leaving the finger stuck in a bent position. Any movements will cause the finger to “snap” into a bent or straightened position. You may also experience pain in the finger and in the hand. Trigger finger surgery involves the release and repair of the affected tendon.
Carpal Tunnel Release
Your forearm and wrist have a channel running through them called the carpal tunnel, and your median nerve resides comfortably in this channel. This nerve controls your fingers’ movement, everything except the pinkie. If the median nerve is pinched or compressed, it can cause hand pain and weakness.
During carpal tunnel release surgery, your doctor opens the transverse carpal ligament located at the top of the carpal tunnel. This helps to relieve the pressure on the median nerve by giving it more space in the tunnel where it was compressed before.
Hand and Wrist Surgery in Boynton Beach, FL
When conservative, nonsurgical modalities no longer work to relieve your pain, weakness, loss of mobility, or discomfort, there’s a surgical option to help solve your problem. Our medical team here at Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches are highly qualified and experienced physicians who can take care of any hand or wrist injury you may have.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call our office today. You may also fill out our appointment request form online. We look forward to serving you!
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. For advice about your condition, talk with your physician. Request an appointment with our team.
