Common Surgeries For Treating Hand Pain

Medical procedures and surgery for treating and managing hand pain will be the last recourse depending on the severity of the condition and the intensity of its symptoms.

Here is a list of common medical procedures done to provide long-term relief from hand pain.

Carpal tunnel release
One of the common surgical procedures for treating hand pain caused due to carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition which forces the tunnel lining to close in and put pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve is responsible for transmitting various neural impulses sent back and forth by your brain to control hand movements. This includes all the movements of your wrists, fingers, and thumbs which are affected when pressure is exerted on the median nerve passing through the carpal tunnel. The surgical procedure involves the use of local anesthetic to split open the carpal tunnel to relieve the pressure. A very common and simple procedure which does not require a lot of recovery time after the surgery. The wrist is bandaged to provide additional support for the next few weeks until the stitches are removed. During the recovery period movement of your fingers is crucial since there is a chance of scar tissue formation after surgery.

Dupuytren’s contracture fasciectomy
One of the common symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture is the formation of scar tissue in the palm of your hand and fingers. Skin nodules are the result of the formation of this scar tissue, and this symptom is normally painless. However, Dupuytren’s causes your fingers to curl inward as a result of the formation of these nodules and scar tissue bands. Surgery is needed to remove the tissue to release the fingers. The recovery period will be up to 12 weeks to restore full movement and normal hand functions. Hand exercises suggested by physical therapists will form part of the treatment and recovery procedure. In some cases, a night splint is used to support the wrists so as to avoid spasms or muscle pull due to the improper sleeping position.

Trapeziectomy
In many cases, hand pain is the result of the trapezium bone being affected due to arthritis. Surgery is one of the options for complete removal of the trapezium bone to provide long-term relief from hand pain caused due to the varied symptoms of arthritis. During the recovery period post-surgery, scar tissue forms and fills in the gap. Alternative tendons are used after the surgery to support the space in between. A splint is often used to support the area surrounding this delicate structure for up to 6 weeks. Here again, hand exercises to ensure proper movement is suggested by hand therapists to restore full functionality.

Knuckle replacement
The metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint is mainly affected due to rheumatoid arthritis causing knuckle and hand pain. This progressive condition can also lead to severe deformities and cause damage to vital nerves, muscles, and joints in your hand. In this condition, your fingers are forced to drift to one side away from the thumb deforming your entire knuckle structure causing unbearable hand pain. The deformity also limits hand movements which in turn affects your daily routine as it will become very challenging to perform normal activities. Knuckle replacement surgery is the only option in case of MCP joint deformity. It will be challenging to manage your routine post surgery since a splint brace will be used to support the knuckle structure, along with several hand exercises recommended by therapists. Knuckle replacement is one of the common surgeries to manage hand pain caused due to the varied symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Trigger finger release
Trigger finger is a condition which forces your fingers to bend and get stuck in one fixed position, causing severe hand pain at times. Tendons control the movement of your fingers by responding to the neural impulses sent by the brain. In case of trigger finger, the tendons become stiff and cause the inward curling of fingers to a point after which it cannot move freely. Often, a simple splint can control the trigger finger condition and stop the fingers from bending. However, in some cases, minor surgery is done to release the tendon and restore free movement to the fingers with all functionalities returning to normal after a week’s rest.

Tendon repair
One of the major causes of hand pain due to developing medical conditions includes damage to the tendons that control several movements of your fingers. A combined movement of the flexor tendons and extensor tendons control movements like gripping, curling and opening up of the fingers. Tendons can snap or rupture under extreme pressure or due to an injury, for which a procedure known as tendon repair surgery is effective. Most common causes of tendon rupture include rheumatoid arthritis and several forms of inflammatory arthritis.

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