The human hand is an intricate system comprised of bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. When injury occurs鈥攐r congenital deformities, tumors, infections, or other medical conditions are diagnosed鈥hand surgery may be necessary.
Hand surgery can restore function, mobility, and appearance so the patient can get back to their daily activities.
An Intricate and Diverse Specialty
鈥淭he hand is one of the most critical functioning parts of the body,鈥 says Shaun Mendenhall, MD, a surgeon who specializes in pediatric, adult hand, and upper-extremity surgery at 香蕉视频 of Utah Health. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very intricate network of structures, including the skin, bones, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, that all work together to help us accomplish tasks of daily life.鈥
Because the hand is so complex, reconstructive surgery requires precision and skill. Hand surgeons can execute delicate procedures in the following fields:
- Orthopedics: Repair of bones, tendons, ligaments, joints, and muscles
- Nerve surgery: Nerve repair, transfer, and grafting, or nerve release after entrapments such as carpal tunnel syndrome
- Microvascular surgery: Repair of blood vessels in the hand and upper extremity to restore blood flow
- Plastic surgery: Restoring form and function of the hand through soft tissue reconstruction, grafting of damaged skin, and replacement of missing tissue through flap surgery
- Pediatrics: Addressing congenital deformities or injuries in children
- Emergency treatment: Severe injuries that require immediate action
When Is Hand Surgery Needed?
Someone may need hand surgery for many reasons. These range from traumatic injuries to conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis. Hand surgery includes minimally invasive procedures and more complex microsurgeries, when a surgeon uses a microscope or magnification to repair smaller structures in the hand.
The following procedures all fall under the umbrella of hand surgery:
- Hand and wrist fracture or dislocation repair : , plus the radius and ulna that attach the forearm to the hand. Surgery can repair fractures or joint dislocations of these bones that occur after an injury.
- Tendon repair: Tendons can become damaged after an injury and may need to be surgically repaired. Surgeons can even transfer tendons from nearby muscles or another part of your body to replace a badly injured tendon or restore function in your hand or forearm.
- Joint replacement or fusion: Commonly used to treat severe arthritis of the small joints of the hand, this procedure can help reduce joint pain, straighten crooked fingers, and sometimes increase mobility.
- Nerve repair, transfer, or reconstruction: This is an intricate microsurgery procedure where a surgeon must reconnect or rebuild torn nerve fibers or transfer nearby nerves to restore function.
- Nerve decompression surgery: Often performed to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, this type of hand surgery can be minimally invasive. It involves a surgeon relieving pressure on a pinched nerve that may be causing pain, numbness, or weakness.
- Skin grafting and flap surgery: If the skin has been damaged or lost from an injury, burn, or illness, healthy skin can be taken from another part of the body and transferred to the hand. A skin graft involves just the skin, while flap surgery also involves the transfer of larger areas of tissue along with its blood supply.
- Replantation surgery: A severed finger, hand, or arm can be surgically reattached after a serious injury.
- Congenital hand surgery: Congenital deformities are present at birth and include syndactyly (webbed or fused fingers), polydactyly (extra fingers), and thumb aplasia or hypoplasia (born missing a thumb or with one that鈥檚 unusually small), among others.
- Removal of hand lesions, cancers, or tumors: This ranges from surgical removal of benign ganglion cysts or nevi to malignant cancers that may involve a more major surgery.
However, not all hand injuries or conditions require surgery. A hand specialist will work with you to determine the best care plan for your specific needs.
鈥淎s a hand specialist, we have to be an expert in every single condition of the hand. We do all of the non-operative hand treatments as well鈥攁nything from placing a cast or splint to injections of medications like cortisone.鈥
The functionality of the hand is central to everyday life. You use your hands to feed yourself, get dressed, work, communicate, and perform a slew of other daily tasks. An issue affecting your hands can be very disruptive, but hand specialists who are experts in different types of reconstructive surgery can tailor your treatment and help get you back to normal life.