The Hand
Because of the many joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the hand, there are many ways that it can be injured. Hand injuries can be due to a one-time traumatic injury or occur over time due to repetitive use. Examples of common traumatic injuries include the hand being crushed in an auto accident, sprained while playing sports, or fractured by falling. Sometimes, these types of traumatic injuries are also seen in the workplace where manual labor is performed.
When diagnosing a hand condition or injury, a hand specialist will perform a physical examination. They may also order X-rays or other types of imaging tests to better understand the cause of the condition or injury. Sometimes, hand issues can be treated with a nonoperative approach; other times, orthopedic surgery may be the best option.
At OrthoAlabama Spine & Sports, our hand doctors take a team approach to finding the treatment option that is right for you and your injury or condition. They will first exhaust all applicable conservative treatment options, such as injections and physical therapy. However, if these options fail to provide you with relief, they will explain all of your surgical options and work with you to determine which procedure is best for you.
The Wrist
The wrist is made up of eight smaller bones attached to two long bones in the forearm, all of which can be injured through different activities. Some of the more common injuries of the wrist include distal radius fractures, sprains, and de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Like the hand, many of these wrist injuries can be treated with nonsurgical options; however, sometimes surgery is required for severe injuries.
If a surgical procedure is recommended for a wrist injury, a minimally invasive technique called arthroscopy may be used. Arthroscopic surgery is performed by creating small incisions and using specialized tools as well as a tiny camera called an arthroscope. The smaller incisions reduce healing time and allow the patient to resume normal activities quicker.
Our orthopedic doctors at OrthoAlabama Spine & Sports who specialize in the wrist use a variety of advanced treatments to provide exceptional wrist care focused on you. This includes microvascular surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, and orthobiologics.
Request an Appointment
To schedule a consultation with one of our hand doctors and wrist specialists in Birmingham, Hoover, or Pell City, call (205) 228-7600 today or request an appointment online.