Hand

This involves severe injuries that may damage multiple structures, including bones, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. These traumatic hand injuries can be caused by:

• Car accidents
• Slips and falls
• Sports injuries
• Work-related accidents

Our hand surgeons are skilled in microsurgical techniques required to repair these intricate injuries and optimize functional recovery.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel in the wrist, becomes compressed. Symptoms often include numbness, tingling, or pain in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, as well as weakness in the hand or a tendency to drop objects.

Diagnosis typically involves a physical exam, reviewing symptoms, and tests such as nerve conduction studies. Carpal tunnel treatment options range from wearing wrist splints and activity modifications to reduce strain to physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, and, in severe cases, surgical intervention to relieve pressure on the median nerve.

This progressive, chronic hand condition forms dense knots of tissue beneath the skin of the palm. These knots can thicken and form cords, pulling one or more fingers into a permanently bent position. Symptoms usually begin with lumps or nodules in the palm, gradually leading to cords that restrict finger movement. Often painless, this condition can still impair hand function.

Treatment often begins with nonsurgical options like steroid injections or needle aponeurotomy to break the cords. For severe cases, XIAFLEX® injections or surgical intervention aimed at releasing or removing the thickened cords may be recommended.

Fractures, or broken bones, are common in the hand and wrist due to injuries such as falls, sports, or accidents. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and bruising; however, an X-ray may be needed to confirm a fracture has occurred.

Oftentimes, minor fractures can be treated with casting or a hand splint to immobilize the bone as it heals. Severe fractures may require surgical intervention. Our dedicated hand specialists offer fracture surgery to patients as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Ganglion cysts are noncancerous lumps most commonly found along the tendons or joints of the wrists or hands. These cysts are filled with a jelly-like fluid, can vary in size, and can either feel firm or soft to the touch.

If you wish to treat your ganglion cyst, our physicians may recommend aspiration, or draining the fluid from the cyst with a fine needle. If the cyst causes a great deal of pain or begins limiting function, your physician may recommend excision. This surgical procedure can be performed in the office and removes the mass in its entirety.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks joint tissues within the hands. This often leads to pain, stiffness, swelling, and potentially joint deformity. Your physician may diagnose your rheumatoid arthritis with a blood test and/or imaging to assess joint damage.

While arthritis can often be managed with anti-inflammatory medications and biologics, advanced treatment may require surgical intervention. The skilled hand surgeons at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder offer surgical treatment options, including joint fusion and replacement, to restore hand function and quality of life.

Trigger finger is characterized by a finger becoming stuck in a bent position, sometimes snapping straight suddenly, like pulling and releasing a trigger. This condition is caused by inflammation in the tendon sheath.

In mild cases, trigger finger can be treated with splinting or steroid injections. However, more severe cases may require using a surgical technique called trigger finger release surgery for effective treatment. During the procedure, your hand surgeon will make a small incision to release the tendon sheath, allowing for smoother movement.