Different Kinds of Hand Surgery?

Many different surgeries can be performed on your hand, depending on the underlying reason for the issue. The following is a quick overview of some of the kinds of surgery that an orthopedic surgeon in Lake Mary may perform:

Closed reduction and fixation

This approach may be employed when there is a break in part of your hand, including your fingers. This style of surgery endeavors to realign your fractured bone and immobilize the site during your healing stage. Surgeons can complete immobilization with internal fixtures, such as wires, rods, splints, or casts.

Tendon repair

Tendons are the threads that attach your muscle to your bone. Restoration of tendons is a surgical challenge due to the structure of your tendon. Tendon damage can happen due to infections, trauma, or spontaneous ruptures. Repairing a tendon may be categorized as primary, delayed primary, or secondary. A primary repair of an acute injury is typically done within 24 hours of an injury. A delayed primary repair generally is conducted a few days after an injury occurs, but there is still an opening in your skin from your wound. Secondary repairs can happen two to five weeks or longer after your injury. Primary repairs often involve direct surgical modification of your injury. In contrast, secondary repairs can include tendon grafts (transferring tendons from other parts of your body in place of your damaged tendon) or other more complicated procedures.

Nerve repairs

Three main nerves innervate your hand, including your ulnar, median, and radial nerves. Damage to any of these nerves from injury can result in reduced ability to move your hand and experience sensation. Some nerve injuries can heal on their own, while others demand surgery. Approximately three to six weeks after your injury is the best time for nerve restorations associated with additional, more complex injuries. Surgery to examine a damaged nerve that is not problematized by other injuries is generally performed early following the trauma to improve the likelihood of a complete recovery. If severed, a surgeon may repair your nerve by reattaching it straight to the other side of your nerve or by employing a nerve graft (transferring nerves from different areas of your body in place of your damaged nerve) to fix the damaged section.

Surgical drainage and debridement

Your hands are always at risk for damage and infection. Therefore, infections of their hand is a common reason individuals seek treatment. The therapy for infections in your hand might include rest, heat application, elevation, antibiotics, or surgery. Surgical drainage might be utilized if there is an abscess in your hand to help release a collection of pus. Debridement, or purification of a wound to stop the further infection and to help facilitate healing, may be utilized if the infection or injury is severe.

Joint replacement

This kind of surgery, also called arthroplasty, might be used in individuals with severe arthritis in their hands. This involves substituting a joint that the disease process has obliterated with an artificial joint. The artificial joint might be made of metal, silicone rubber, plastic, or the patient's body tissue (like a tendon).

These are just some of the hand surgeries available today. Contact us right away if you need an orthopedic surgeon in Lake Mary. We are here to help you heal.