Hand Treatment & Services
Arthritis of the Hand, Wrist, and Elbow: Osteoarthritis, or arthritis commonly associated with wear and tear on the joints, is the most common form of arthritis. The cartilage within the joint begins to break down and the bone beneath begins to change, causing pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion and swelling.
Sports-Related Hand, Wrist, and Elbow Injuries: Injuries to the hands, wrists and elbows are very common in high school and college sports. Even adults who enjoy intramural athletics on the nights and weekends can experience upper extremity injuries. With a full suite of onsite imaging, onsite casting and onsite hand, wrist and elbow physical therapy, we are Cedar Rapids’ one stop shop for sports injuries.
Finger Joint Replacement: When joints are painful, don’t function correctly or lack range of motion due to injury or arthritis, they can be removed and replaced. Joint replacements can be inserted into the middle finger joints, knuckle joints or the base of the finger, where it meets the hand.
Wrist Replacement: Wrist replacement surgeries are most commonly performed on those with crippling pain and disability due to rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Many patients report excellent pain relief and increased mobility after wrist replacement surgery.
Wrist Arthroscopy: Wrist arthroscopy allows a surgeon to look inside the joint and fix fractures, infections, or inflammation from a disease like rheumatoid arthritis. During the procedure, a small camera on the end of a narrow tube is placed through small incisions in the skin, directly into the back of the wrist joint. Several small cuts are used to allow the surgeon to place the camera in different positions to see the cartilage, bone, ligaments and joint lining.
Hand and Wrist Fracture Care: Depending on the nature of your fracture, we may pursue surgical or non-surgical treatment. Fractures in which the bone fragments are close together may be casted or placed in a splint to heal. Other, more complex fractures, may need plates or screws to keep the bone fragments together and in place.
Treatment of Traumatic Injuries to the Fingers and Hands, including Tendon and Nerve Repair Surgery: The hands, fingers and wrists are very complex structures, with many fine bones, tendons and nerves. Traumatic injuries need to be treated quickly to minimize long-term loss of function or infection.
Carpal Tunnel Release: The carpal tunnel is a narrow area in the wrist where the nerves and tendons that move your fingers pass through. When injured or otherwise inflamed (potentially by rheumatoid arthritis or other issue) swelling within the tunnel can compress the nerves. When performing carpal tunnel release surgery, the surgeon cuts a ligament in the wrist, allowing more room for the nerves and tendons, and relieving the pain.
Cubital Tunnel Release: The cubital tunnel is a narrow area of the elbow where the ulnar nerve passes through. Overuse, injuries, dislocations, fractures and arthritis all can cause cubital tunnel syndrome. A surgeon can release the ulnar nerve by cutting a ligament in the elbow, allowing the nerve to become decompressed.
Trigger Finger Release: Trigger finger, or trigger thumb, is a condition in which the finger or thumb are locked in a bent position. There are two options for procedures to release the affected finger, a percutaneous release or surgical release. During percutaneous release, a surgeon uses ultrasound imaging to guide a needle into the affected tendon sheath and break up constricting tissue. Surgical release involves a small incision in the hand in order to cut through the tendon sheath and release the finger.
Dupuytren’s Contracture: Dupuytren’s Contracture is the development of abnormal tissue on the palm of the hand at the base of the fingers. Over a period of time, the skin can develop a hard lump or thick band, that causes the fingers to curl inward toward the palm. There are several treatments, including needling, enzyme injections and surgery, to help break up the cords and release the fingers.