Our hands are responsible for performing the bulk of our everyday work. Here in the Chicago North-West Suburbs, whether you work at a desk job or you have a more physically demanding job that requires you to lift and move heavy things, you are at risk of developing hand injuries.

In case of a hand injury, your orthopedist will try various noninvasive and minimally invasive techniques to relieve your pain and help you regain function in your hand. However, if those methods do not work, hand surgery will be recommended.

Here, we provide a brief overview of some of the most common reasons why you may need hand surgery:

Hand Trauma

Trauma to your hands may involve broken fingers, a broken wrist, or nerve-compression injuries. Your hands and wrists contain many small bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. When your hand is injured, the damage can lead to pain, bruising, swelling, and other more complicated issues.

Common hand injuries can be from the following causes:

• Landing on one or both of your hands during a fall
• Jamming a finger
• Bending your fingers or wrists backward too far
• Repetitive strain

Finger fractures and dislocations can cause pain that is intense and sudden. These hand injuries can develop into painful throbbing and chronic soreness if left untreated. It is best to see a skilled orthopedic hand surgeon for the most minimally invasive treatment possible to resolve the issue.

Arthritis

Arthritis is the general term that is used to describe more than one hundred disorders which cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints. Most commonly, osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that protects the bones in a joint wears down over time. This condition causes the bones to rub against each other, which leads to pain and stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis, however, happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints’ tissues. Inflammation is the primary result of this arthritis and can cause permanent joint damage.

Surgery to repair severe arthritis usually involves replacing the damaged tissues with prosthetic materials. The prosthesis includes medical-grade plastics and metals, and it feels relatively the same as the original joint once the patient has healed from the surgery.

Trigger Finger

Medically called stenosing tenosynovitis, this is when a finger or the thumb remains in a bent position. It is difficult or impossible for the patient to straighten the finger.

When a tendon that connects a muscle to the bone in the finger “catches” or gets stuck, this is what causes trigger finger or trigger thumb; it is usually unclear what causes the tendon to have this response. Symptoms can include pain and swelling in the affected finger.

If wearing a splint and receiving cortisone shots do not relieve the problem, surgery may be necessary to repair the tendon.

Hand and Wrist Surgeon in the Chicago North-West Suburbs

Whether you have severe arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren’s contracture, or another condition that may require hand surgery, it is best to consult with an experienced orthopedist. Dr. Michele Y. Yoon is a board-certified hand surgeon who specializes in a wide variety of hand and upper extremity issues, and she will evaluate your condition and provide the most minimally invasive treatment possible.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Yoon, fill out our appointment request form now or call our friendly staff at (847) 957-4183. We look forward to helping you get back to enjoying a more pain-free, active life once again!