Consistenly named Austin's Monthly Top Doctor for Hand Surgery since 2016
Our hands help us perform nearly every daily task, from locking doors to opening jars and brushing our teeth. When injury or disease causes problems with our hands, our ability to function and quality of life suffer. Surgical and nonsurgical hand procedures can help you regain your hand function, as well as comfort and ease in your daily life.
Hand procedures include both surgical and nonsurgical treatments that restore hand and digit function. Injuries, infections, rheumatic disease and genetic conditions are common causes of pain, deformity and functional problems with the hands and wrist. Hand surgery and nonsurgical procedures can address all of the above by treating bones, tendons, muscles and other structures of the hands.
If you are experiencing uncomfortable symptoms in your hands or wrist or have been diagnosed with a hand condition, contact Plastic Surgery Austin to see if you could benefit from hand surgery.
Dr. Sharma is an expert in hand surgery in Austin, TX. He is a board-certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and has received specialized training in orthopedic hand surgery and microvascular surgery. He has also completed the Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery examination, effectively becoming double board-certified in both Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery. When you first meet with Dr. Sharma, he will carefully examine your condition, review your medical history and create a personalized treatment plan.
He has been recognized by peers as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, as well as an Austin Monthly Top Doctor for Hand Surgery for over 10 years.
Hand conditions regularly treated with nonsurgical and surgical options at our Austin, TX clinic by Dr. Sharma are:
Dupuytren’s disease is a condition that causes connective tissue called the palmar fascia to tighten and contract. As the disease slowly progresses over months to years, the palmar fascia can start to pull the fingers into a permanently bent position. While usually not painful, this can result in significant hand disfigurement and loss of functionality.
Although there is no cure for Dupuytren’s disease, treatment can help restore hand function and slow disease progression. Surgery aims to either loosen the tight palmar fascia or remove as much tissue as possible. This type of surgery is performed on an outpatient basis but may require weeks to months of physical therapy to be fully effective.
As an alternative to surgery, we offer Xiaflex® injections, which is a prescription medication containing collagenase, an enzyme that breaks down collagen in the palmar fascia. Most patients need only one to three treatments performed 30 days apart to see improvement. Recurrence is less common than with other treatments.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated surgically by releasing the median nerve. The carpal tunnel is a protective channel for the median nerve located on the palm side of your hand. When this channel becomes compressed, it can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, which is characterized by pain, numbness and tingling that make even simple tasks challenging.
Carpal tunnel release surgery is designed to create more space for the median nerve. This helps alleviate uncomfortable symptoms and restore hand function. Dr. Sharma regularly performs carpal tunnel release surgery with high success rates. This procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia and on an outpatient basis.
After carpal tunnel release surgery, physical therapy is recommended to regain strength and increase the range of motion in your hand and wrist. Physical therapy typically includes gentle exercises, functional training, massage and joint mobilization.
Arthritis is a complex condition with many different causes, and it often affects the hands. Hand arthritis can be particularly painful and debilitating. Having painful and stiff joints in the hands can prevent you from performing the simplest of tasks, like typing or opening a jar.
While there is no cure for hand arthritis, there are various treatments that help ease pain and restore hand mobility. Medication, physical therapy and surgery are all viable options. At Plastic Surgery Austin, we offer several surgical options for patients with advanced hand arthritis. Most of our patients report significant improvement in symptoms following treatment.
Surgical techniques to treat hand arthritis include joint reconstruction, joint fusion, joint realignment and partial or total joint replacement. The type of arthritis and its severity determine which surgical technique is suitable for your particular case.
Hand and wrist fractures are common injuries that can cause hand pain, disfigurement and loss of hand mobility if left untreated. Luckily, most hand fractures can be treated nonsurgically with the help of splints and casts. But when fractures lead to prominent shifting of bone fragments or when the broken bones penetrate the skin, surgery is necessary to prevent loss of hand mobility.
Surgery for hand fractures is usually done on an outpatient basis using local or general anesthesia. An incision is made to access the fractured bone, which is then realigned and secured with pins, plates and screws. Bandages and a protective splint need to be worn at all times for a period following surgery.
After a hand fracture has healed, patients meet with a physical therapist who will help them restore hand strength and range of motion.
Accidents and disease can both lead to injuries of hand tendons. Tendons are cords of fibrous tissue that connect muscles to bones and are essential for hand movements. Your hands have two groups of tendons: extensor tendons on the back of your hands, which allow you to straighten your fingers and flexor tendons on the palm side, which enable you to bend your fingers.
When a hand tendon gets cut or ruptures, it can lead to swelling, pain and loss of movement. Surgery is almost always necessary to regain hand mobility after these types of injuries. While not an emergency, it is advised to have surgery on an injured tendon within days of the injury to improve outcomes.
Tendon repair surgery involves either local or general anesthesia and is an outpatient treatment. The damaged tendons are stitched together or repaired with grafts or artificial tendons. Physical therapy is necessary to restore hand mobility and may take three or more months.
To learn more about hand conditions or the surgical and non-surgical treatment options available, contact Dr. Sharma’s office at 512-838-3658.
Contact our office to schedule a private consultation with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Sanjay K. Sharma, M.D., F.A.C.S.