The movement and power in hands and wrists are controlled by muscles and tendons. Hand and wrist surgery refers to the treatment of bones and soft tissue injuries with the use of the latest equipments and tools.
Who should consider hand & wrist surgery ?
It is not necessary that people who have arthritis-related problems with their hands and wrists, need surgery. But those who need it, surgery is a great help in relieving pain and in the improvement of the functioning of the hand.
Whether a surgery is needed or not, following become the considerations:
- The severity of problem
- The preferences of the patient
- Response of the patient to other treatments
Most Common Hand and Wrist Injuries
Following are some of hand and wrist conditions which need surgery:
- Bone and Joint Problems of the Wrist and Hand- Fractures and dislocations, Arthritis, Joint contractures and Amputations
- Muscle, Tendon and Ligament- Tendon lacerations (ruptures), Ligament and cartilage injuries and Tendon inflammation
- Nerve- Nerve laceration or palsy and Nerve compression (carpal tunnel syndrome)
- Skin and Soft Tissue Issues Ganglion cysts in wrists and hands, Foreign body evaluation and removal, Nailbed and fingertip injuries, Infections, burns, or contractures and Skin grafts
- Vascular- Microvascular repair and Surgical treatment of Raynaud’s and other vasospastic disease
- Congenital- Duplicate thumb and Syndactyly
Advantagesof Hand and Wrist Surgery
The main advantages of hand and wrist surgeries are:
- Reduced pain
- Improves in hand functioning
- Hand- appearance can get improved
Hand Joint Replacement Surgery
Hand surgery is an orthopedic process dealing with problems dealing with the fingers, hands and wrists. This procedure helps in improving the range of motion, for repairing muscles, tendons or damage in hones due to injury or disease. It also helps in restoration of the appearance of hands and fingers, due to any reason.
Who should consider Hand Surgery ?
Hand injuries in automobile accidents or other forms of trauma can get treated
- Restoration of hand function
- Advantageous for people with medical conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis or osteoporosis
- Reduce pain
- Restoration of range of motion
- Patients suffering from birth defects or severe infections can get treated
What Are the Different Kinds of Orthopedic Hand Surgery?
Common types of hand surgeries are :
- Tendon or nerve repair
- Skin grafts
- Closed Reduction and Fixation
- Joint replacement
Tendon or nerve repairs are for patients with conditions due to trauma, infections and sports injuries. It is performed within 24 hours of injury for best results. These are very complex procedures and need to be done carefully.
Skin grafts are needed in the case of replacement or reattachment of skin of the hands or fingers, mainly used in the case of amputations of fingers. Here healthy skin is used from another area of the body to cover the problem area.
Closed Reduction and Fixation is necessary in the case of fractures occurred in the fingers or the bones of the hands. The process helps in proper re-alignment, reconstruction and repair of the bones with the help of rods, wires, splints and casts.
Joint Replacement, that is arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure for patients suffering from severe arthritis problems and needs replacement of joints of the fingers or wrist that are made of plastic, metal or silicone rubber.
Wrist Injuries And Disorders
Wrist of human beings is a complex structure of our hand, which consists of eight kinds of carpal bones.
There are various conditions seen in the wrist joint:
Ligament Injury
a) Scapholunate Ligament Rupture – Writs have many ligaments (soft tissues) to connect bones to each other. If due to any trauma, it gets ruptured, this surgery is performed.
b) Skiers (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Thumb – This injury common in footballers and skiers, deals with the treatment of Ulnar collateral ligament of thumb. It happens when the thumb is bent backwards from the fingers
Fracture
Scaphoid Fractures – This is the most important wrist bone and most commonly injured too. This surgery is performed in the case of a fracture.
Arthroscopy
a)T.F.C.C. Tears– Triangular Fibrocartilage (T.F.C.) is a strong ligament type in the wrist important for a number of purposes. When torn, causes pain in clicking or catching.
b)Wrist Arthroscopy– Performed under local anesthesia, it is useful in a number of conditions like removal scar tissues, assessment of joint surface etc.
Lumps and Bumps
a) Ganglion-It is a form of a lump/ cyst (non-cancerous), that occurs mainly in 4 sites. It might be painful and for its correction, a surgery is required.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This is a painful condition in wrist, hands and arms that is caused due to depression of the median nerve, caused due to a number of reasons.
Cost of Hand and Wrist Surgery in India
The major benefit of hand and wrist surgery in India is its price that is absolutely affordable. Any surgery involved here is done at pocket-friendly if a comparison is done with UK, USA and other western countries. A patient can avail such excellent-quality services internationally-trained medical practitioners who get the assistance of dedicated assistants . IN the case these surgeries, state-of-the-art equipments are put into use.
FAQs of Hand & Wrist Surgery
Ques: What are Hand & Wrist injuries?
Ans: With our hands, we do many activities in our daily lives like eating, dressing, writing, bathing, drawing, and many more activities. When we have difficulties in hand movements, pains in hands & wrist, any injuries or conditions like arthritis, this means we have to ask for treatment for the same.
Ques: Will any particular activity can give you a higher risk for developing hand and wrist arthritis?
Ans: There are no particular activities with which someone can have a risk for arthritis. However, the injuries or normal wear and tear in the hand and wrist can develop arthritis. When a ligament tears in the wrist, the movements will change and leads to arthritis. In this situation, you should meet a joint replacement surgeon.
Ques: What do you mean by Arthritis?
Ans: Arthritis is a medical term and in this condition, the swelling and tenderness occur in the joints. Arthritis affects a large number of people every year and has symptoms like stiffness, pain, swelling, and fewer movements in affected joints.
Ques: What is wrist replacement?
Ans: Wrist replacement is also known as wrist arthroplasty. It is a procedure in which the surgeon removes injured bone and cartilage from the joint. These bones are resurfaced with metal and plastic implants. The main reason for doing this procedure is to create a stable range of movements and decrease pain.
Ques: What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Ans: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a kind of indication related to the impingement of main nerve cells and is caused by the pressure on the median nerve. This nerve passes in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. When this nerve gets hurt, it can cause weakness and uncomfortable problems in the wrist.
Ques: How would I know that I should undergo Hand or Wrist Surgery?
Ans: If you are feeling pain and discomfort in your hand & wrist, you should consult with your joints replacement doctors. After the complete checkup, the doctor will recommend the treatment. However, everyone who is having pain in hand and wrist is not required to undergo surgery as they can be treated with medications, injections, physiotherapies, wearing splints, taping, etc.
Ques: At what age someone needs to undergo hand or wrist surgery?
Ans: Adults who have long-lasting medical problems in hand and wrist can undergo wrist surgery. Whereas children and young people are good candidates for this surgery. Although specialized doctors can help you with the solutions at any age.
Ques: How long does it take to recover from hand or wrist surgery?
Ans: The recovery time will vary from weeks to months and sometimes it can take longer as well. It depends on the type of surgery you have and the severity of your condition. After the surgery, you should be on regular follow-ups with your doctor to maintain your progress and healing.
Ques: What is Wrist Fractures?
Ans:It is a medical term for a broken wrist. The wrist is made up of 08 small bones connected with 02 two long forearm bones (radius and ulna). However, the wrist fractures can occur in any of 10 bones but most fractures occur in the radius bone.
Ques: Will Osteoporosis increase the chances of fracturing my wrist?
Ans:Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which bones become stiff and delicate from the loss of the tissues which results in calcium deficiency, weak bones, and hormonal changes. Due to this reason, the wrist bones can easily fracture. You should ask your doctors for calcium medicines and diet plans.
Ques: What is De Quervain’s disease?
Ans: In this disease, the pain and swelling occur in the thumb and wrist. This condition occurs by repeated hand and wrist movements, trauma, and sometimes pregnancy. This disease is very common in women in comparison to men. This disease can be identified through physical examination and it can be treated with non-surgical treatments to relieve pain, minimize swelling and discomfort.
Ques: How should I take care of my dressing?
Ans: You should not remove your dressing yourself. The dressing should not get wet and if your dressing becomes tight because of swelling then it is advisable to visit the doctor and he will change it.
Ques: How long do I need to wear my sling?
Ans: It is recommended to wear the sling for a few weeks for your comfort and to reduce swelling. You should not wear the sling while sleeping.
Ques: How long after the surgery I can start my sports activities?
Ans: Your wound will take 4 to 6 weeks to heal. So the doctor will recommend you not to participate in the sports activities for 3 to 6 months. However, it will also depend on the type of surgery and the severity of your condition.
Ques: Can exercises help my Carpal Tunnel symptoms to go away?
Ans: Exercises of hand, wrist, and fingers may help you with the relieving of the pain, although you can discuss the same with the doctor. Even deep tissue massage of the hand and wrist can also temporarily reduce your pain.
Ques: What is the approximate cost for hand and wrist surgery? How can I get an appointment?
Ans: To know about the surgery cost and appointment, kindly contact on below details:
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