Hand surgery encompasses the treatment of disorders and injuries affecting the hand, wrist, and upper limb nerves. While many conditions can be managed non-surgically using splints, injections, and physiotherapy, some require surgical intervention. Hand surgery operations are often performed as day-cases under regional anesthesia, with the patient awake or lightly sedated. The surgeon utilizes fine instruments and may employ magnifying glasses or an operating microscope to repair delicate structures. Post-operative hand therapy is crucial for optimal recovery.
Hand Conditions We Treat
Conditions that often respond to surgery include:
- Arthritis
- Bone fractures
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Congenital abnormalities
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Damaged nerves, tendons, or muscles
- De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Ganglion cysts
- Hand tumors
Symptoms
- Abnormally bent joints
- Decreased grip strength
- Difficulty grasping or pinching
- Joint stiffness
- Noticeable bumps or deformities
- Numbness or tingling
- Persistent or intermittent pain
- Restricted range of motion
- Swelling of joints or tendons
Diagnosis
Diagnosing a hand injury or condition begins with a thorough physical exam and patient history, focusing on how the injury affects daily life. Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound may be ordered to further assess the injury and rule out other conditions. For added convenience, these imaging studies can be conducted in the same building as the hand clinic.
Innovative Surgical Care
When non-surgical treatments fail to alleviate symptoms, our doctors collaborate with patients to determine if surgery is the best option. We offer a comprehensive range of surgical procedures, including cutting-edge endoscopic techniques, computer-assisted 3D surgery, and innovative microsurgery. A personalized treatment plan is created for each patient, considering their age, activity level, and goals. The surgeon will also discuss the expected recovery time with the patient, which varies depending on the injury and type of surgery.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Hand surgeons pioneered the use of minimally invasive surgery, a technique involving a small incision and a tiny camera to visualize the procedure. Small surgical instruments are then inserted through the incision to perform the surgery. This approach is commonly used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome and diagnose and treat wrist pain. Minimally invasive surgery offers several advantages over traditional surgery.
- A smaller incision
- Less scarring
- Shorter recovery time
Open Surgery
In cases where minimally invasive surgery isn’t suitable, open surgery may be necessary. For instance, fractures may require open surgery to properly align and stabilize the bones. Even with traditional open surgery, advancements in techniques enable surgeons to use the smallest possible incisions, leading to faster recovery times.
Surgical Procedures
Our most common hand surgery procedures include:
- Acute tendon repair or reconstruction: Injured tendons require urgent repair or reconstruction to restore hand function. Our surgeons are meticulous and achieve excellent results.
- Carpal tunnel release surgery: Our team has extensive experience performing endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgeries, which typically result in faster healing and fewer complications. Small, powerful cameras are used to direct the surgeon as he or she releases the tight ligament over the nerve.
- Cubital tunnel release surgery: Cubital tunnel causes numbness in the little finger due to a pinched ulnar nerve at the elbow. Cubital tunnel release surgery involves releasing the pinched nerve to restore feeling in the little finger.
- Ganglion cyst excision: For cysts that return after aspiration or injection, excision can be a good option to remove the cyst completely.
- Fracture care: With 29 bones in the hand and wrist, fractures are very common. Our surgeons are experts at fixing fractures that occur anywhere from the forearm to the fingertip.
- Hand and wrist arthritis: Many types of arthritis can be treated with steroids. However, in select patients, our surgeons might recommend surgery to replace a joint or to perform a fusion when replacement is not an option. Arthritis surgeries can relieve pain and improve function, but it takes an experienced surgeon to be effective.
- Thumb base arthritis: One of the most common types of hand arthritis, this can significantly reduce hand function. Our surgeons use the newest techniques, as well as time-tested procedures, to treat arthritis pain while maintaining hand mobility.
- Trigger finger: One of the most common hand ailments, trigger finger can be painful and debilitating. When injections are not enough, our surgeons offer a quick and minimally invasive surgical treatment.
After Hand Surgery
Effective postoperative care is vital to ensure patients regain full hand function. Our surgeons collaborate with certified hand therapists to create personalized treatment plans, which may include rehabilitation to restore movement and strength. We also recommend fixation devices or technologies to optimize outcomes. Additionally, we can facilitate referrals to local therapists for patients’ convenience.
Reduction procedures
- Trim procedure. With this approach, your surgeon removes excess tissue from the outer edge of one or both sides of your labia minora so that they’re even with or inside the edges of your labia majora.
- Wedge procedure. With this approach, your surgeon removes a wedge or pie-shaped piece of tissue from the inner areas of one or both sides of your labia minora. They leave the submucosa intact so that the wrinkled edge of your labia remains intact after they stitch (suture) it. This retains a more natural look for your labia minora. Similarly, if you’re having surgery to reduce your labia majora, your surgeon removes an inner portion of each labium of your labia majora.
Enlarging procedure
To enlarge your labia majora, your surgeon takes a small amount of fat from another body area, like your abdomen or thigh (in a liposuction procedure) and injects it into your labia majora. Injecting hyaluronic acid into your labia majora is an alternative option.
What are the risks and complications of labia surgery?
- Removing too much tissue or not enough tissue.
- Bleeding.
- Bruising (hematoma).
- Infection.
- Wound breakdown.
- Ongoing pain, pain with sex or loss of sensitivity.
When will results be at their very best?
The initial swelling, soreness and temporary discoloration decrease over the first couple of weeks after surgery. Most swelling is gone after six weeks. But it may take up to four to six months of healing time for swelling to completely go away before seeing the final results of your labiaplasty. There’s usually little to no scarring.
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