Hand Injuries

Because your hands are responsible for performing a multitude of tasks every day, they can also be more prone to injury than other parts of the body. Sprains, fractures and other types of injuries can be more than painful; they can directly impact your ability to function on the job or at home. Prompt treatment of injuries is imperative to help you heal quickly and get back to your daily activities. Dr. Sanjay Sharma treats a wide range of hand injuries, helping you reduce discomfort and restore range of motion as quickly as possible.

Hand and Wrist Injuries

Here is a sampling of some of the more common hand injuries treated by Dr. Sharma:

Fractures

Fractures of the hand or wrist are often the result of trying to stop a fall with your hand. The injury can cause significant pain and loss of function in the arm and hand for a period of time. The injury can be quite limiting and may affect other parts of the hand and wrist than just the bone, such as ligaments and tendons. While many fractures can be successfully treated without surgery, surgery may be recommended for some breaks to ensure proper healing.

Dislocations

A dislocation occurs when the bones of the wrist or hand become misaligned. This painful condition requires moving the bones back into the proper position, sometimes through a surgical procedure. Once the bones are in proper alignment, they will heal on their own in most cases.

Tendon Injuries

Tendons connect muscles to bones, allowing the arm and hand to bend and straighten. Depending on the tendons that are injured, you may have difficulty bending or straightening your wrist or fingers. If the tendon is actually severed, surgery will likely be necessary to repair the damaged tendon and restore normal function to the hand.

Nerve Injuries

Nerves are responsible for transporting messages from the brain to various areas of the body. When they are injured, the injury can lead to loss of feeling or loss of function in those areas of the wrist or hand. In some cases, persistent pain can be the result. Nerve injuries that affect both the nerve and the protective sheath around the nerve often require surgical repair. In most cases, patients can regain normal function and sensation in the treated area after surgery.

Ligament Injuries

Ligaments are responsible for joining one bone to another. Because there are many small bones in the wrist and hand, there are many ligaments in this area as well. When those ligaments become damaged or injured, it can lead to persistent pain and lack of normal function of the wrist, hand or both. There are a number of surgical techniques Dr. Sharma can use to repair the ligament, realign the bones and ensure the hand or wrist heals properly.

Tennis Elbow

Also referred to as golfer’s elbow, this painful condition is characterized by a tendon injury, often caused by repetitive motion of the wrist and arm. The tendons that join the elbow to the forearm become inflamed, making movement of the joint painful. Surgery to repair tennis elbow may be recommended if conservative treatments are not effective, and involves removal of the damaged tissue.

Hand injuries can be painful and disfiguring, while making it nearly impossible for you to complete even the simplest daily tasks. Treatment for these injuries, which often includes surgery, can help restore the look and function of the hand while relieving the discomfort associated with those injuries.

To learn more about hand treatments, contact Dr. Sanjay Sharma’s office at 512-838-3658.