Surgery of the Hand

Wrist Fractures

Surgery of the Hand — The wrist is made up of eight small bones and the two forearm bones, the radius and ulna (see Figure 1). The bones come together to form multiple large and small joints. At each joint, the ends of the bones are lined with a very smooth covering ...More…

Scaphoid Non-union

Surgery of the Hand — MRI of scaphoid fracture non-union with avascular proximal fragment What is scaphoid non-union? The scaphoid bone is one of the eight small bones that comprise the wrist joint. The two rows of small wrist bones act together to allow the wide ...More…

DeQuervain's Tendonitis

Surgery of the Hand — First dorsal compartment tendonitis, more commonly known as deQuervain's tendonitis or tenosynovitis after the Swiss surgeon Fritz de Quervain, is a condition brought on by irritation or inflammation of the wrist tendons at the base of the thumb ...More…

Wrist Sprains

Surgery of the Hand — These types of injuries are common in falls and sports. The wrist is usually bent backwards when the hand hits the ground such as when someone slips or trips and falls. These injuries also frequently occur during sports such as football and ...More…

Thumb Sprains

Surgery of the Hand — These types of injuries are common in sports and falls. The thumb is jammed into another player, the ground, or the ball. The thumb may be bent in an extreme position, causing a sprain. The thumb will usually swell and may show bruising. It is ...More…

Arthritis: Base of the Thumb

Surgery of the Hand — In a normal joint, cartilage covers the end of the bones and serves as a shock absorber to allow smooth, pain-free movement. In osteoarthritis (OA, also called degenerative arthritis) the cartilage layer wears out, resulting in direct contact ...More…

Nerve Injuries

Surgery of the Hand — Nerves are the "telephone wiring" system that carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body. A nerve is like a telephone cable wrapped in insulation. An outer layer of tissue forms a cover to protect the nerve, just like the insulation ...More…

Systemic Diseases

Surgery of the Hand — The hand is known to frequently present signs or symptoms of generalized or systemic diseases. Because the hand contains structures from the skin, muscular, skeletal, circulatory, and nervous systems, it often provides clues to diseases which are ...More…

Snowblower and Lawnmower Injuries

Surgery of the Hand — What to expect if you sustain a snowblower or lawnmower injury After the machine is turned off and unplugged, any obstruction should be removed with a tool and not the hand or fingers. Snowblower and lawnmower injuries are seasonal injuries that ...More…

Arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Surgery of the Hand — Arthritis means an inflamed joint. A joint normally consists of two cartilage-covered bone surfaces that glide smoothly against one another. When joints become inflamed, the joint swells and does not move smoothly. Over time, the gliding surface ...More…

Arthritis: Osteoarthritis

Surgery of the Hand — Arthritis literally means "inflamed joint." Normally a joint consists of two smooth, cartilage-covered bone surfaces that fit together as a matched set and that move smoothly against one other. Arthritis results when these smooth surfaces become ...More…

Hand Infections

Surgery of the Hand — In some instances, a tendon sheath infection can be caused by an "atypical mycobacterium." These develop gradually and may be associated with swelling and stiffness without much pain or redness. This type of infection is treated with special ...More…