Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What is hand surgery?

If your hand is impaired in any way, surgery may improve your condition. This type of very specialized surgery can treat diseases that cause pain and impair the strength, function and flexibility of your wrist and fingers. Surgery seeks to restore to near normal the function of fingers and hands affected by disease, injured by trauma or to correct abnormalities that were present at birth.

What hand surgery can treat

Carpal tunnel syndrome: A condition caused by increased pressure to the median nerve within the wrist, or carpal tunnel. You might feel pain, a tingling sensation, numbness of the fingers, weakness or aching. Carpal tunnel syndrome is associated with multiple conditions including: repetitive motion or overuse, fluid retention during pregnancy, injury to the nerve in the carpal tunnel or rheumatoid arthritis.

Who is a good candidate for hand surgery?

Patients with painful conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain’s tendinosis, triggrer finger and Dupuytren's contracture may be suitable candidates for hand surgery.

These procedures can be performed on people of any age and is a good option for you if:

• You do not have additional medical conditions or other illnesses that may impair healing
• You are a nonsmoker/ nonvaper
• You have a positive outlook and realistic goals for your hand surgery
• You are committed to following your plastic surgeon's prescribed course of treatment

In some conditions, hand surgery is necessary to treat wounds and injuries. Plastic surgeons are often involved in treating patients who come to the emergency room with severe hand trauma.