Hand and Wrist

Effective hand surgery requires the skill and precision of an experienced surgeon to successfully treat the condition and restore full function to the hand. At CORE, our surgeons have years of experience performing a full range of hand surgery procedures and utilize the latest techniques while doing so.

Because of their frequent use, the hands are a common location for injuries and degenerative disorders such as arthritis. Many people are also born with birth defects of the hands. Hand surgery can restore function, relieve pain and improve the appearance of the hands for patients suffering from cysts, nerve conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, birth defects and other problems. Hand surgery may also be performed to re-attach or reconstruct severed fingers after trauma.

Hand surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation on an outpatient basis. Many hand procedures can be performed laparoscopically, allowing patients to benefit from smaller incisions, less bleeding and shorter recovery times.

Hand surgery procedures include:

• Carpal tunnel surgery. Tissue that is causing pressure on the nerve is removed to relieve pressure.
• Rheumatoid arthritis surgery. Damaged tissue is removed from the joint, tendons and ligaments are repositioned or the entire joint is replaced with a prosthetic.
• Dupuytren’s contracture surgery. Thickened, scar-like tissue is separated to improve range of motion and prevent nerve damage.
• Grafting. Bones, nerves or other tissue from healthy areas of the body is transferred to the damaged area, commonly after trauma.

After your condition is treated, your incision will be closed with or without sutures, depending on each individual patient.

Patients usually require a course of physical therapy in order to restore full function and range of motion to the hand.

BRIAN CHALKIN, D.O.