If you or someone you love has experienced having a medical condition in your hand, you know how difficult a hand condition can make daily life. Sometimes, you can handle the pain, swelling, or other symptoms with conservative treatment, but it might not be enough in some situations.
Alternatively, maybe you’d prefer a permanent fix. Surgical intervention could be your best option for treating hand conditions. Read on to find out the most common types of hand surgeries.
Carpal Tunnel Surgery
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a medical condition affecting your hands and occurs when the carpal tunnel, a pathway in your forearm, compresses the median nerve. It happens to many people and is a particularly common medical condition affecting the nerves. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Pain in the hand
- Numbness in the hand
- Weakness in the hand
- Difficulty gripping objects
The effects of carpal tunnel syndrome can spread beyond the hands and may affect the wrists and arms.
This hand surgery typically involves releasing the median nerve and easing the pressure in the forearm. It can be a minimally invasive procedure if your hand surgeon uses an endoscope. In endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will only need to make a comparatively small incision to work on the carpal tunnel. Endoscopic surgery typically offers a shorter recovery time and less scarring. Open carpal tunnel surgery is also available and may involve fewer complications while costing less. Both surgeries have comparable success rates.
Fracture Surgery
A hand fracture refers to the breaking of one or more bones. There are two types of fractures:
- Open: Open fractures are when the skin is pierced.
- Closed: The skin remains intact in a closed fracture.
Your hand surgeon will realign the bones and restrict their movement to promote healing in either type. A cast or splint is enough to immobilize most fractures, but sometimes, implants are needed.
In a fracture surgery, your doctor will install metal rods, pins, and screws to hold bones in place while they heal. This procedure may be best for patients with an open fracture or those who have sustained damage to surrounding tissues. A fracture surgery may also be necessary if loose pieces of a broken bone risk entering a joint.
Tendon Repair Surgery
A tendon is a fibrous band of connective tissue attaching muscles to bones. The two tendons in your hand (extensor and flexor) allow you to straighten and bend your fingers. Your provider may recommend tendon repair surgery if one or more of your hand tendons break. The procedure involves reattaching the ends of the damaged tendons.
It typically takes three months of rest, hand immobilization, and physical therapy before you can resume intense activities. However, you may begin doing light activities a month after your surgery if your recovery goes well. You may not regain full movement after surgery, but you will recover from the injury better than if you don’t have it at all.
Nerve Repair Surgery
Nerves are integral to your body functions and movement. Your nerves send, receive, and interpret information throughout your body and come up with a response. If a nerve is damaged, you may experience various symptoms, such as:
- Numbness or tingling
- Weakness
- Total loss of sensation or function in the affected hand
Your provider may recommend nerve surgery to assess the damage accurately. They may also suggest nerve repair surgery to reconnect severed nerves or free a nerve from being squeezed. Other procedures include nerve grafting or implanting a nerve from a different part of your body to replace the damaged one.
It’s critical to receive immediate treatment for nerve damage, especially if your condition is severe. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, consult with your provider as soon as possible. However, full recovery may be impossible in severe nerve damage cases.
Hand Surgeon In Jessup, MD
Hand injuries and diseases can prevent you from performing tasks and living your daily life normally. Surgery is typically the best option if conservative treatment is insufficient, you want a permanent solution to an orthopedic problem, or you need immediate care for a severe injury. The type of surgical procedure you need depends on your injury or disease.
If you’re looking for a hand surgeon in Jessup, MD, look no further than The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics. We have a team of board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic doctors who can give you the comprehensive care you deserve. If you want to know more about our services, you may call our friendly staff at (410) 644-1880. If you want to book a consultation, you may use our secure online appointment request form.
We look forward to serving you at one of our convenient locations in Catonsville, Columbia, Eldersburg, Fulton, Ellicott City, and Jessup, MD!
