Carpal tunnel syndrome causes numbness, tingling, weakness and other problems in the hand and arm. It occurs due to the pressure on the median nerve that runs from the forearm through the carpal tunnel to the hand. This pressure can come from swelling or anything that makes the carpal tunnel smaller.

Early diagnosis and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is important to prevent long-term damage to the median nerve. Surgery may not be needed if the condition is diagnosed early and can be treated with just splints and medications. However, carpal tunnel surgery is needed if the symptoms persist or are severe even after nonsurgical treatment.

Trigger finger, or stenosing tenosynovitis, is a painful condition where the fingers get stuck or locked when bent. It occurs when the tendons in the finger become inflammed and swollen. Trigger finger can be treated with a hand splint to keep the joint from moving and medications for inflammation. Steriod injection into the tendon sheath may also be prescribed. Surgery will be the last resort if the nonsurgical treatment does not relieve the symptoms.

Ganglion cyst is a benign lump or swelling that commonly develops on the joints of the wrist or hand. It is filled with jelly-like fluid similar to those that lubricates joints and varies in sizes.

Ganglion cyst is harmless and requires no medical treatment. It will disappear by itself. However if your ganglion cyst is causing severe pain and other problems to you, please seek medical attention from The Orthopaedic Centre and our doctors will advise you on cyst removal or the most appropriate treatment.

Hand and wrist fractures most commonly occurs during a fall when people land hard on an outstretched hand while trying to catch themselves. More severe fractures may occur in more forceful impacts, such as a car accident or a falling off a ladder. Osteoporosis, a condition in which the bone becomes very weak and brittle, may increase the likelihood of hand and wrist fractures from a simple fall.

It is important to treat hand and wrist fractures as soon as possible. The bones in the hand are aligned precisely to allow you to perform many everyday functions like grasping a pen or buttoning a shirt. If the fracture is not properly treated, the bones may not heal in proper alignment and can affect your ability to perform the everyday functions.

The type of treatment used for hand and wrist fractures depend on various factors like your age, level of activity, severity of injury and presence of arthritis. Only a splint or cast may be needed for fractures that are not displaced or have been aligned. Surgery may be needed for fractures that need bone alignment and/or stabilization.