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Month: October 2015

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General Hands

Congenital Hand Problems in Children

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Congenital differences refer to problems that a baby is born with. In the hands, this can result in a couple of different fairly common problems, which can range from very minor to major, requiring surgical correction. When a baby is being formed in the mothers womb, thousands upon thousands of different things happen to form each part of its body. In the case of the arms, when the woman is about four to eight weeks pregnant, the fetus will develop an arm bud, or the beginnings of the arm itself. Over time, signals will be sent to the cells to form the arm. If any step is missed or confused, then a congenital hand problem could develop. Sometimes these are genetic, but often there is no diagnosable cause for the issue.

Types of Congenital Hand Problems

There are a few different types of congenital hand problems that could develop and appear in a newborn. These can include:

  • Webbed Fingers
  • Fused Fingers
  • Missing Parts of the Hand or Arm
  • Extra Fingers or Other Parts
  • Fetal Band Syndrome

We will go over most of those momentarily. Fetal band syndrome occurs when a band of tissue stretches from the placenta and wraps around a part of the baby. In some cases, this will mean wrapping around the hand, wrist or arm, cutting off circulation. This often results in amputation of all or part of the hand or arm.

Common Congenital Hand Problems

About one out of every 20 children will have a difference of some type. Some of them are so minor that very little has to be done. However, in many cases, correction will be needed to ensure the hand looks and functions normally. Common problems include:

  • Webbed or fused fingers (called syndactyly). The fingers can be separated through surgical procedures.
  • An extra pinky finger (called post axial polydactyly). Again, this can be corrected with surgery.
  • An extra thumb (called thumb polydactyly)

If the congenital problem is an issue, then it will likely need to be treated through surgical means.

Surgery to Correct Problems

When a congenital hand problem has been identified, then a surgeon will discuss options with you. In most cases, any problem can be corrected with surgery. Webbed or fused fingers can be separated. Extra fingers can be removed and the other finger, which may have been effected, can be surgically reconstructed.

The only time when surgery would not be considered is if it would severely compromise use of the childs hand. This is something that will be evaluated by a hand surgeon and discussed with you.

You can find out more about these surgeries by visiting the American Society for Surgery of the Hand at www.assh.org. Congenital hand problems do not have to be a lifelong issue. Instead, through corrective surgery, the hand can be restored to normal, often providing better functionality. If you have any reason to believe that your child has a congenital hand problem, then it is best to make an appointment with a hand specialist.

Resources:

www.assh.org

Categories
General Hands

Dealing with Animal Bites and the Hand

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Animal bites are very common in humans, and they often occur on the hands. Thats because people may be reaching toward the animal or holding out their hands in defense. These bites are painful and they often lead to infection because of bacteria found in the animals mouth. Complications from this type of infection can be very minor, resulting in just discomfort, but they can also be very serious, to the point that they are life threatening.

Every year, millions of people in the United States are bitten by dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits, monkeys, and ferrets. Of course, the vast majority of these are dog bites, specifically.

The Problem with Animal Bites

When animal bites occur in the hand or fingers, the wound itself is usually not that bad. However, there is a high risk of infection. In fact, the infection can be so bad that it could lead to hospitalization and does in about 1% of people who have been bitten by dogs and 6% of people who have been bitten by cats.

When it comes to animal bites, there could be a risk for rabies infection, but this is fairly rare. However, no matter what, if you have been bitten by an animal other than your own pet, you will need to report this bit to the health department. The animal will need to be tracked down.

The Problem of Human Bites

Human bites are, in essence, more dangerous than animal bites. Thats because humans have more bacteria in their mouth and this puts the bitten individual at high risk. Human bites can occur in different ways, including children biting people or broken skin that occurs during a fistfight.

Signs That a Bite Is Infected

Redness and swelling from a bite to the hand or fingers should only last about 24 hours. Symptoms of an infection include:

  • Swelling
  • Red Streaks Extending from the Bite
  • Swollen Lymph Nodes in the Arm
  • Pus in the Bite Wound
  • Loss of Sensation in the Hand or Fingers
  • Fever

Treatment of the Bite

If you have been bitten by an animal or human, it is a good idea to seek help from a physician. If it is showing signs of infection, then you definitely need to make an appointment. The hand will be examined and then cleansed carefully. The doctor may need to remove any dead skin from the wound. You will be given antibiotics, either in oral or intravenous form, to stop any infection. You will need to continue with follow up appointments to ensure the infection is being managed and is diminishing.

Animal and human bites can be very dangerous, leading to infection that can spread quickly. If not controlled, this could lead to permanent damage or even loss of part of the hand. If the infection spreads, then this could even lead to other medical problems throughout the body. So, if you have been bitten by an animal or a human, you will need to visit a physician as soon as possible.

Resources:

http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/tc/animal-and-human-bites-topic-overview

Categories
General Hands

Hand Fractures in Children

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Children have a different bone structure than adults. Their bones are softer and are growing. An adult will have harder bones that are completely grown. Because there is such a difference, when a child has a broken bone, it needs to be treated differently than it would be in an adult.

Fractures of the hand and fingers are common in children for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Curious children may put their hands in something dangerous
  • Hands and fingers can be crushed in closing doors
  • Sports injuries can break bones
  • Falling and twisting while playing can cause fractures as well

Essentially, you must remember that children are active and curious. They are more prone to injury simply because they dont know how to keep themselves out of harms way.

Types of Fractures in Children

Most people assume that they will see a deformity that indicates the hand, finger, or arm has been fractured. A vast majority of fractures in children will be non-displaced. This means the bones did not move out of place. Another name for this is hairline fracture. The bone may not even be fully broken into two pieces, but the fracture could still be present.

Fractures in children have to be handled in the proper manner. Thats because growing kids have something called growth plates at the ends of the bones. These cart ledge plates allow the bone to continue growing and lengthening, and the whole area is weaker, making it especially prone to breaking. If the bone doesnt heal properly at the growth plate area, then this could actually limit the growth of the bone in the future.

Treating a Hand Fracture in Children

As long as the break is clean, there is no need for surgery and the physician may be able to “set” the bone and then place a cast or splint on the hand or arm. In most of these cases, the break will be healed in a month. Thats because children heal quickly. However, if the fracture is severe, then surgery may be needed. Pins may be placed to keep the broken areas in the proper alignment until the bone is able to heal properly. It is important that fractures in the joints or those that are twisted are realigned exactly to ensure proper healing. That means the child will need surgery to ensure the fracture is aligned in the right manner.

While you may be able to prevent certain fractures in your children, many of them will not be preventable. Its important that you teach your child not to reach out and touch machines or other types of equipment. Additionally, you can have your child wear wrist guards whenever they are engaging in sports. While this will lower the risk of a fracture in the hand or fingers, it will not take away all of the risk. Children are naturally curious and full of energy. They will likely put themselves in more than a few dangerous situations no matter how careful you are as a parent.

Resources:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/b_bone.html

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Dr. Aroras office from my first call to schedule my appointment was friendly. Walking in the first day, I felt like I was in a nice atmosphere. Dr. Arora was EXCELLENT in taking great care of my hand injury. He was gentle and very understanding to the concerns I had about my hand. His expertise was admirable and I would recommend anyone with an injury to their hand to his office to be under his care. Because of him, I have healed faster than expected and will make an 100% recovery! Thank you Dr.

Jackie S.

I first thought I was going to have to have painful injections or surgery, but Dr. Arora suggested physical therapy may do the trick. I was doubtful, but I agreed to do it. Now, my pain is gone, and with the help of an ergonomic keyboard at work to keep my hands in the correct position, I am virtually pain free. The therapy strengthened my wrists and shoulders, and built more flexibility into my wrists.

Jerry T.

My experience with this doctor was positive from the outset. Dr. Arora was kind and spent a great deal of time with me. Staff was friendly. The office was nice and bright.

Ariel G.

Very friendly and helpful Great staff!!! Doctor Arora was very professional and did great work. I was very happy with everything!

L B.