Hand Surgery - Get an Idea of the Treatment Available For Hand Injuries

Most people use their hands often, whether to work or perform daily tasks. Therefore, when you experience an injury on this body part, it is necessary for it to be fixed quickly. Fortunately, there are a few types of hand surgery that are meant to cure some of the most common issues encountered.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is quite common, but luckily, it can be repaired in most cases. The hand surgery available for this ailment requires the surgeon to make an incision near the wrist, cutting the tissue that is putting pressure on the affected nerves. Once the pressure is relieved, the hands will be bandaged up, and a wrist brace will need to be worn while the area heals.

The splint will need to stay on for at least two weeks usually, and pain medication will likely be necessary during that time. The recovery time varies depending on the person, as well as how long the pain was present before the operation.

One type of malady that many do not know about is called Dupuytren's contracture, which usually involves thickening of the skin of the palm. The result is that the fingers contract, and there is also a reduction in the ability for the hands to function. The operation involves cutting into the area where the thickened tissue is, which should allow the fingers to move freely again.

Occasionally, a skin graft is needed to replace the thickened skin, and physical therapy may be needed afterward to help the fingers move freely once again.

Another ailment is rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disorder that results in inflammation of the joints. Treatment varies depending on the patient and how severe the disease is.

Sometimes, surgical cleaning works fine, in which the old inflamed tissue is simply removed so that it does not hurt as much to move the joints. However, many older patients with severe cases need to undergo arthroplasty, which involves replacing the joint with an artificial one. These are just some of the most common types of hand surgery for this condition.

There are plenty of issues that can occur with hands and wrists. Luckily, there are surgeries appropriate for nearly all of them. If you ever have an injury in this area, it is important to know immediately whether there is a way to correct the issue. This way, you can set up an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible in order to fix the issue.