Hand and Upper Extremity

Many conditions can affect hands, wrists, and arms. Our hand and upper extremity surgeons most commonly treat:

• Arthritis in hands and thumbs.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cubital tunnel syndrome in elbows.
• De Quervain tendonitis
• Dupuytren contracture in hands.
• Fractures and sprains in fingers, hands, wrists, and elbows.
• Ganglion cysts in hands and wrists.
• Golfer’s elbow
• Olecranon bursitis in elbows.
• Shoulder injuries (Treated by hand and upper extremity surgeons as well as sports medicine specialists)
• Tennis elbow
• Trigger finger and mallet finger.
• Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries.

When we can, we start with conservative treatments, such as:

• Medication to reduce pain, inflammation, or swelling.
• Injections that relieve pain, such as steroid injections. We also use an injectable prescription medication (collagenase, or Xiaflex) to treat adults with Dupuytren contracture.
• Platelet-rich Plasma Therapy (PRP). PRP is an injectable, nonsurgical procedure and regenerative therapy that promotes faster healing of hand and wrist injuries and reduces symptoms.
• Physical/occupational therapy – Working with our therapists can help reduce pain and improve mobility. For many people, physical therapy alone can help them get back to activities they enjoy.

Some injuries and conditions need more intervention, including surgery. Common procedures include:

• Arthroscopy: Doctors make tiny incisions and use a camera to diagnose problems with hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Surgeons can also use arthroscopy to repair fractures, remove ganglion cysts, or treat other conditions.
• Carpal or cubital tunnel release: Carpal tunnel surgery helps release the pressure on the median nerve (the wrist). Cubital tunnel surgery helps release the pressure on the ulnar nerve (the elbow).
• Ligament surgery: Doctors make a tiny incision to either repair or replace the damaged ligament.
• Microvascular (microsurgery): Microsurgery is an advanced procedure that uses tiny, precise instruments and high-powered magnification to repair the nerves and arteries in hands and wrists.
• Tendon surgery: We can repair tendons in fingers, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. This includes surgeries for trigger finger, tennis elbow, and rotator cuff.
• Thumb joint replacement: For appropriate patients with thumb CMC arthritis, our hand surgeons offer thumb joint replacement using the TOUCH® CMC 1 prosthesis. The ball-and-socket implant replaces the damaged joint at the base of the thumb and is designed to reduce pain, restore function, and support natural thumb movement.
• Wide-awake hand and wrist surgery: Wide-awake surgery uses a local anesthesia, mixed with epinephrine. You can communicate with the surgeon and complete range of motion tests, which leads to better outcomes.
• Wrist and hand fracture care: Surgical treatments for more severe wrist and hand fractures usually consist of setting the bone and bone fragments in place with plates, screws, or pins.

Orthopaedic Associates of Manhasset offers an advanced thumb joint replacement procedure using the TOUCH® CMC 1 prosthesis for patients with arthritis.

Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis, also known as basal thumb arthritis, is a common form of hand osteoarthritis that affects the joint at the base of the thumb. As the joint becomes damaged, patients may experience pain, weakness, stiffness, and difficulty with everyday activities such as gripping, pinching, opening containers, or turning a key.

For appropriate patients with thumb CMC arthritis, our hand surgeons offer thumb joint replacement using the TOUCH® CMC 1 prosthesis. This ball-and-socket total joint replacement is designed to replace the damaged thumb joint with an implant intended to replicate natural thumb movement while reducing pain and supporting recovery.

This advanced approach expands the surgical options available to patients seeking treatment for persistent thumb arthritis when nonsurgical treatments no longer provide adequate relief.

Patients experiencing ongoing pain or loss of function from thumb arthritis can meet with one of our hand and upper extremity specialists to determine which treatment options may be appropriate for their condition.