Centre for hand surgery

Osteoarthritis of the wrist can be treated by conservative or surgical measures. Conservative treatment consists of stabilising the thumb with a splint in order to take the weight off the wrist and to relieve the pain by various means. These measures are only intended to relieve pain, surgery is necessary for the treatment of wrist osteoarthritis.

The first signs of osteoarthritis in the digits of the hand are having stiff fingers or thumbs in the morning. It is difficult to clench the fist and the movement causes pain. Pain in the fingers and thumbs even occurs during periods of rest. Indications that the osteoarthritis has progressed include swelling and very warm joints

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a pinched nerve in the tunnel of the wrist. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include swollen or stiff fingers in the morning. Those affected also complain of tingling in the palms of the hands, which extends to the fingers.

Ganglion cysts are benign soft-tissue lesions commonly found on the hand or wrist. These soft synovial membranes fill with fluid, causing a bulge to appear. The exact causes of ganglion cysts are not fully known. They may appear as a result of weak connective tissue, a sprain or irritation in the joint. Ganglion cysts also commonly occur as a result of osteoarthritis.

Dupuytren’s disease is a disease of the palms of the hands that affects the connective tissue. It affects people over the age of 50, whose connective tissue changes in such a way that knots and strands appear in the palms of the hands. It is not usually painful, but as the disease progresses it can result in the fingers no longer being able to be stretched.

Plastic surgery – particularly hand surgery – also includes the treatment of open and closed injuries. Open hand injuries are any injuries to the hand where the skin has been damaged. Bone fractures are usually closed injuries.