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  Link   Amputation and Prosthetics
What is amputation? Amputation is the complete removal of an injured or deformed body part. An amputation may be the result of a traumatic injury or may be the result of a planned operation where the finger must be removed. Some traumatically ampu
  Link   Animal Bites
Bites are extremely common and can cause significant pain and other problems, especially when associated with an infection. Early recognition of warning signs and appropriate treatment are key in minimizing potential problems from the bite. When a
  Link   Arthritis: Base of the Thumb
What is arthritis at the base of the thumb? In a normal joint, cartilage covers the ends of the bones and allows them to move smoothly and painlessly against one another. In osteoarthritis (or degenerative arthritis), the cartilage layer wears out
  Link   Arthritis: MP Joint
What is MP Joint Arthritis? The large joints in the hand at the base of each finger are known as the metacarpophalangeal (MP, or MCP) joints (see Figure 1). They act as complex hinge joints and are important for both power grip and pinch activitie
  Link   Arthritis: Osteoarthritis
What is arthritis? 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 smoot
  Link   Arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis
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 irre
  Link   Brachial Plexus Injury (Erb’s Palsy)
What is the brachial plexus? The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originate near the neck and shoulder. These nerves begin at the spinal cord in the neck and control the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder (see Figure 1). Nerves are the el
  Link   Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
What is carpal tunnel syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition brought on by increased pressure on the median nerve at the wrist. In effect, it is a pinched nerve at the wrist. Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, and pain in the
  Link   Congenital Hand Differences
What are congenital hand differences? Babies born with hands that are different than the normal hand have a congenital hand difference
  Link   Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
What is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome? Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition brought on by increased pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow. There is a bump of bone on the inner portion of the elbow (medial epicondyle) under which the ulnar nerve pas
  Link   Cumulative Trauma Disorder
American Society for Surgery of the Hand Position Statement on Cumulative Trauma Disorder and Repetitive Strain Injury The American Society for Surgery of the Hand is concerned that patients with upper extremity pain are being assigned specific d
  Link   Dupuytren’s Disease
What is Dupuytren's disease? Dupuytren’s disease is an abnormal thickening of the fascia (the tissue just beneath the skin of the palm). It often starts with firm lumps in the palm. In some patients, firm cords will develop beneath the skin, stret
  Link   Extensor Tendon Injuries
What is an extensor tendon? Extensor tendons, located on the back of the hand and fingers, allow you to straighten your fingers and thumb (see Figure 1). These tendons are attached to muscles in the forearm. As the tendons continue into the finger
  Link   Flexor Tendon Injuries
Flexor tendons in the hand and forearm The muscles that bend or flex the fingers are called flexor muscles. These flexor muscles move the fingers through cord-like extensions called tendons, which connect the muscles to bone. The flexor muscles st
  Link   Ganglion Cysts
What are ganglion cysts? Ganglion cysts are very common lumps within the hand and wrist that occur adjacent to joints or tendons. The most common locations are the top of the wrist (see Figure 1), the palm side of the wrist, the base of the finge
  Link   Hand Fractures
What is a fracture? The hand is made up of many bones that form its supporting framework. This frame acts as a point of attachment for the muscles that make the wrist and fingers move. A fracture occurs when enough force is applied to a bone to br
  Link   Hand Infections
Urgency of treatment of hand infections Hand infections can cause severe problems that persist even after the infection has resolved, such as stiffness, loss of strength, and even loss of tissues such as skin, nerve and even bone.
  Link   Hand Surgery: Anesthesia
There are several options for anesthesia for patients undergoing hand surgery. These would include local anesthesia, general anesthesia, and regional anesthesia. The type of anesthesia used depends on the nature and duration of the surgery, patient’s
  Link   Kienbock’s Disease
What is Kienbock’s Disease? Kienbock’s disease is a problem in the wrist caused by the loss of blood supply to the lunate. The lunate is one of the eight small bones that make up the “carpal bones” in the wrist (see Figure 1). There are two rows o
  Link   Snowblower and Lawnmower Injuries
Snowblower and lawnmower injuries are seasonal injuries that can cause severe damage to the hands. They generally occur when a patient tries to remove an object in the way of the machine or an object that is stuck in the machine. Snowblowers and lawn
  Link   Nail Bed Injuries
What is involved with nail bed injuries? Injuries to the nail are often associated with damage to other structures that are in the same location. These include fractures of the bone (distal phalanx), and/or cuts of the nailbed, fingertip skin (pul
  Link   Nerve Injuries
What are nerves? 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
  Link   Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
What is RSD? Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also known as chronic regional pain syndrome, is characterized by pain, swelling and abnormal sympathetic nerve activity in the affected hand or extremity.The pain is out of proportion to the injury
  Link   Replantation
What is replantation? “Replantation” refers to the surgical reattachment of a finger, hand, or arm that has been completely cut from a person’s body (see Figure 1). The goal of replantation surgery is to give the patient back as much use of the in
  Link   Scaphoid Fractures
What are scaphoid fractures? The scaphoid bone is one of eight small bones that make up the “carpal bones” of the wrist. There are two rows of bones, one closer to the forearm (proximal row) and the other closer to the hand (distal row). The sca
  Link   Scaphoid Non-union
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 variety of wrist positions and motions that we take for granted. The scap
  Link   Hands in Systemic Diseases
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 ye
  Link   Tendon Transfer Surgery
What is Tendon Transfer Surgery? Tendon transfer surgery is a type of hand surgery that is performed in order to improve lost hand function. A functioning tendon is shifted from its original attachment to a new one to restore the action that has b
  Link   Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
What is tennis elbow/lateral epicondylitis? Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, is a painful condition involving the tendons that attach to the bone on the outside (lateral) part of the elbow. Tendons anchor the muscle to bone.
  Link   Thumb Sprains
What are thumb sprains? A sprain is an injury to a ligament. Ligaments are the connective tissues that connect bones to bones across a joint.
  Link   Hand Transplantation: Current Status
  Link   Trigger Finger (Stenosing Tenosynovitis)
What is trigger finger or stenosing tenosynovitis? Stenosing tenosynovitis, commonly known as “trigger finger” or “trigger thumb”, involves the pulleys and tendons in the hand that bend the fingers. The tendons work like long ropes connecting the
  Link   Vascular Disorders of the Upper-Extremity
Vascular disorders of the upper-extremity are uncommon, but ones that may have lasting implications
  Link   Wrist Arthroscopy
What is wrist arthroscopy? Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique of visualizing the inside of a joint. The word arthroscopy comes from two Greek words, "arthro" (joint) and "skopein" (to look). The wrist is a complex joint made up of many
  Link   Wrist Fractures
The wrist is made up of eight small bones and the two forearm bones, the radius and ulna (see Figure 1). The shape of the bones allows the wrist to bend and straighten, move side-to-side, and rotate, as in twisting the palm up or down. A fracture may
  Link   Wrist Sprains
A sprain is an injury to a ligament. Ligaments are the connective tissues that connect bones to bones; they could be thought of as tape that holds the bones together at a joint (see Figure 1).
 

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