Cause

Usually a result of blunt or sharp trauma to the hand, fractures cause pain and loss of function. 

Treatment

Depending on localization and type of fracture different treatment options are available. Some fractures might not have to be surgically treated whereas others have to be reduced and fixed by wires, pins or screws.

Hospital Admission:                Depends on procedure

Recuperation Time:                 Depends on procedure

Post Surgery

Physiotherapy is often necessary.

Cause

Rheumatic disease is a very common condition where the immune system of a person will attack its own tissue for example joints, ligaments or tendons.

Treatment

Hand surgery offers techniques to restore function and reduce painful limitation in a rheumatic hand or wrist. Options can include reconstruction of tendons or joints or treatment of pain by disconnecting the pain nerves that service the inside of the wrist.  

Hospital Admission:             Depends on treatment

Recuperation Time:              Depends on treatment

Post Surgery

Physiotherapy depends on treatment

Cause

Because of age, over-use or joint fractures, arthrosis (translation: sick joint) can commonly occur in the hand and wrist. Especially common is the degeneration of the base of the thumb called Rhizarthrosis which can be particularly painful and debilitating. The carpal bone that builds the connection of the thumb with the wrist (trapezium) is very often subject to chronic degenerative structural change causing pain and weakness of the hand that in the long run will result in a painful frozen joint.

Treatment

The treatment of this condition depends on the degree of degeneration and can range from non surgical methods to joint prosthesis or fusion of joints. An experienced hand surgeon can remove the affected bone to allow for pain relief, a better range of motion and a stronger grip. The patient would require six weeks of immobilization in a cast or an orthosis (brace) to fully recover.

Hospital Admission:            Depends on diagnosis

Recuperation Time:             Depends on diagnosis

Post Surgery

Physiotherapy is advisable.

Cause

After trauma or overuse, a nerve might be compressed by a scar or other anatomical structures passing over the nerve in its path along the arm. Depending on the nerve affected and the location, the symptoms may vary however, both numbness and paralysis are possible.

Treatment

Depending on the nerve that is affected and localization, an open approach to surgically release the nerve from the constricting structure will be taken. Suture removal after 10 days.

Hospital Admission:            Outpatient

Recuperation Time:            2-4 weeks

Post Surgery

Physiotherapy is helpful in severe cases

Cause

Tendons very often get fixed in a scar after an injury restricting the range of motion of the respective joint. The release of the tendon may allow the tendon to move freely in their path and thereby restore the range of motion.

Treatment

Surgical release of tendons with suture removal after 10 to 14 days.

Hospital Admission:      Outpatient

Recuperation Time:      3-4 weeks

Post Surgery

Physiotherapy is mandatory to avoid new adhesions.

Cause

This condition is due to an over-use of the flexor muscle in the lower arm (wrist benders) and is a chronic inflammation of those muscles where they attach to the inside of the elbow.

Treatment

The muscles can be released through a small surgical incision. This treatment does not cause any loss of function. The elbow will be immobilized in a cast for two weeks. Dissolvable sutures will be used so suture removal will not be necessary.

Hospital Admission:         Outpatient 

Recuperation Time:          2 weeks 

Post Surgery

Physiotherapy is helpful in severe cases.