What is hand surgery?

Hand surgery consists of several surgical procedures to treat conditions that impair the function and mobility of the hand, wrist, and fingers.

How do you perform hand surgery?

Dr Grey performs the following hand-related surgeries:

• Carpal tunnel release
  is a commonly performed procedure to treat the condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome, which arises from compression on the median nerve at the wrist level. The carpal tunnel is a slim passageway located on the palm of the hand. However, carpal tunnel syndrome develops from compression of the median nerve, which leads to numbness and a tingling sensation in the hand and fingers. The procedure involves relieving the compression on the median nerve by splitting the transverse carpal ligament over the carpal tunnel.
• Trigger finger release
  is a surgery to address the trigger finger. This condition occurs when the tendon that regulates the bending movement of the finger can’t move swiftly within the sheath. Usually, a trigger finger develops when the tendon sheath begins to swell or a lump called a nodule forms. Fortunately, trigger finger release helps free the tendon by creating an incision within the tissue above the tendon that facilitates the movement (bending) of the finger.
• Cubital tunnel release
  is a widely executed surgery to treat cubital tunnel syndrome, a condition that arises from an entrapped ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve makes up one of the three main nerves in the arm. The ulnar nerve is likely to become compressed at the elbow level because it must pass through a slim passageway with minimal soft tissue to guard it.
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis
  develops from swollen tendons on the side of the wrist close to the thumb. De Quervain's tenosynovitis results in pain on the side of the wrist, which becomes increasingly worse when you move the thumb, make a fist or grasp for something. For De Quervain's tenosynovitis, Dr Grey performs surgical release to free the tendon sheath that surrounds the tendons of the thumb, and in doing so, he can relieve pressure and enable unrestricted movements of the thumb.
• The base of thumb arthritis
  affects the joint referred to as the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. This form of thumb arthritis can result in limited motion of the thumb, swelling and pain in the thumb. The surgery is performed when there is insufficient response to conservative measures, including bracing and injections. Surgical options are tailored to each patient specifically and include excision of the trapezium bone with ligament reconstruction, CMC arthrodesis (making the joint stiff and pain-free) or CMC prosthetic replacement.
• Ganglions
  are liquid-filled sacs that form beneath the skin over the wrist and hand joints. Usually, ganglion cysts do not cause pain, but they can also grow, leading to pressure effects and subsequent pain. Surgery for ganglions entails surgically resecting the cyst, including the stalk that allows it to attach to the tendon or joint.
• Tennis Elbow
  Is a clinical condition that presents with elbow pain on the outer aspect, made worse with hard gripping or resisted wrist extension. Lateral epicondylitis, the appropriate medical term for tennis elbow, is a result of overuse and repetitive movements of the forearm muscles that connect to the outer part of the elbow. The purpose of tennis elbow surgery is to prepare for the resection of the affected tissue surrounding the outer elbow to enhance blood supply and alleviate symptoms of the condition. Surgery will only be considered after an extended period of non-surgical modalities has been exhausted.

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