Arthritis can affect any joint in your body. In your hand and wrist, there are 29 joints that can be affected. The most common types are osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis. 

This occurs due to normal wear with aging or following a traumatic injury. Your joints are lined with cartilage which provides a smooth surface for your joints to glide as they move. Disruption of the cartilage leads to exposure of the underlying bone and pain with movement.

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The most common sites of osteoarthritis in the hand are the base of the thumb (basilar joint) and the small joints at the end of the finger (DIP joints).

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Initial treatment options depend on the severity of your symptoms and include rest, splinting and steroid injections. Surgery may be required in severe cases and may include joint fusion (arthrodesis), joint replacement (arthroplasty) and/or ligament reconstruction.

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Learn more here: Osteoarthritis, Thumb Arthritis  or visit www.handcare.org 

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The hand has 19 bones and any of them can break (fracture) when subjected to enough force. Some types of fractures can heal in a good position with a splint or cast.

 

Some fractures require surgery. This may involve placement of temporary pins while the bone heals or implanted screws and/or plates that stay in place permanently. Your surgeon will advise you what is best for your type of fracture. 

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Learn more HERE or visit www.handcare.org

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This condition causes pain over the thumb (radial) side of the wrist or base of the thumb with gripping or motion. It results from swelling around the tendons that go to your thumb as they pass through a tight tunnel (the first extensor compartment).

 

Often the pain is reduced with use of a splint to rest the wrist, or a steroid injection. If these options fail to improve your symptoms, surgery may be required to release the tight compartment.

 

Learn more HERE or visit www.handcare.org 

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The joints in your hand are supported on all 4 sides (like a box) by thickened tissue called ligaments. When you jam your finger or bend it the wrong way, these structures can become injured, resulting in a sprain, tear or dislocation.

 

Dislocations need to be reduced (put back in place) right away to reduce the chance of long-term problems. Ligament injuries range from sprains to complete tears, and the treatment depends on the severity of the injury. Sometimes you only need a splint or cast and some  injuries require surgical repair.  

 

Learn more HERE or visit www.handcare.org

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This is an abnormal thickening of tissue beneath the skin that tends to grow slowly over many years. It most commonly affects the palm, ring and small fingers. Symptoms include lumps (nodules) and pits in the palm and cords may develop from the palm to one or more fingers. We do not know why it occurs, but it can be inherited (run in families). 

 

You generally only need treatment when you can no longer place your hand flat on a table. There are many treatment options including needle aponeurotomy, enzyme injections and surgery. Dr. Power can help you to determine which option is best for you. 

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Learn more HERE or visit www.handcare.org

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Also known as: retinacular cyst, mucous cyst

 

Ganglions are very common benign masses that occur next to tendons or joints. The most common locations are the top (dorsal side) of the wrist, palm (volar) side of the wrist, base of the finger (palm side) or top of the small joint at the end of the finger.

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The cyst is filled with a clear gel and has a stalk that connects to the tendon sheath or joint. They often fluctuate in size and may disappear spontaneously with no treatment. If it causes you pain or discomfort, the cyst can be aspirated (drained) or removed surgically.

 

Learn more HERE or visit www.handcare.org 

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The scaphoid is one of eight bones in your wrist. Injury to the scaphoid often occurs after falling on an outstretched hand. Symptoms include pain on the thumb-side of your wrist and reduced motion. 

 

The diagnosis is typically made with an x-ray, although sometimes a CT or MRI scan may be required. If you think you may have broken your wrist, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. Delay in treatment can lead to problems because this bone can be more difficult to heal than other bones. This is because its blood supply can be disrupted with a fracture.

 

Treatment options depend on what part of your scaphoid is fractured and include casting or surgical fixation with a screw or pins. 

 

Learn more HERE or visit www.handcare.org 

Also known as: stenosing tenosynovitis

 

Patients with trigger finger experience clicking and locking when bending their finger. This is often caused by swelling or a nodule on the tendon that gets caught as the tendon glides underneath the pulleys. Pulleys are thickened areas of tissue that help to keep the tendons in place. Dr. Power may initially recommend a steroid injection and/or splinting of the finger. You may need surgery to release the pulley if these measures do not work. 

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Learn more HERE or visit www.handcare.org