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General Hands

Broken Hand Symptoms

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broken hand symptoms

There are 27 small bones in the hand. If there is a small break or fracture in one of these bones, then it can be extremely difficult and painful to use your hand. Since we rely on our hands to perform almost every task, you do not want to lose the use of a hand for too long because of a broken bone. The best way to ensure that you can quickly restore functionality to your hand is by seeking immediate treatment any time you believe that you may have a broken hand. There are some key broken hand symptoms that can indicate that you should visit our specialist as soon as possible.

There is absolutely no reason to avoid proper treatment for a broken hand because it should be very easy to notice that there is something seriously wrong with it. It usually takes an acute injury to break a bone in your hand. Some of the most common causes of broken hands are falls, sports injuries and accidentally crushing your hand. All these injuries will instantly cause pain, so they should be impossible to ignore.

In addition to the injury itself, the distinct broken hand symptoms also make it extremely easy to diagnose. A broken hand will cause you to experience swelling, bruising and intense pain. These symptoms will make it extremely difficult to move your fingers or grasp an object. In addition, the overall weakness in your broken hand will greatly limit your ability to perform normal tasks.

If you are struggling to use your hand after an accident or injury, then you need to get the hand checked out by our specialist as soon as possible. Permanent damage to your hand is the last thing you want to happen because you did not seek medical treatment. Once you arrive for your appointment, you will get an X-ray of your hand. This will allow our doctor to diagnose the problem and figure out the best treatment. Our specialist may also ask questions about the injury and feel your hand for a more accurate diagnosis.

Most broken hands will be treated with a splint to stabilize and immobilize the hand. The splint will remain on your hand until the broken bones are able to fully heal. Broken hands are known to throb at night, so you will be given pain medication to make it easier to sleep. You will also want to keep the broken hand elevated as much as possible while recovering. This will help reduce your pain and swelling.

Since every injury is different, it is hard to know exactly how long it will take to recover from your broken hand. If you follow all of our doctor’s instructions, then you should have a smooth recovery. Once the broken bones have fully healed, you will regain most, if not all, of the functionality in your hand.

If you are experiencing some of the more characteristic broken hand symptoms, you should seek medical care as soon as possible from our trusted specialist at Arora Hand Surgery in Warren, Howell, West Bloomfield, and Macomb. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment and discuss your broken hand symptoms with Dr. Arora.

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General Hands Treatments

Hand Injury? See a Hand Surgery Specialist in Southeast Michigan

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Hand Surgery Specialist

A hand surgery specialist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats disorders and injuries involving the hand, wrist and forearm. As such, hand specialists need to be able to treat the muscles, bones, skin, tendons and ligaments in the hand and neighboring area.

Most patients are referred to a hand specialist by their primary care physician.

What kind of training does a hand surgery specialist need?

A hand surgery specialist, also known as an orthopedic hand surgeon, is trained to perform surgery on the hand, wrist and forearm. They also learn how to treat injuries, diseases, deformities and congenital defects.

Like all medical doctors, hand specialists begin their education by going to medical school. After that, they serve a residency for five to seven years during which they study general surgery, orthopedic surgery or plastic surgery. After completing their residency, the hand specialist will undertake a fellowship devoted to hand surgery.

Hand surgeons often seek board certification, and they need to be certified twice. They will first need to be certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery. Only after earning the certification in general surgery can a hand specialist seek certification in hand surgery. To get that certification, the hand surgeon needs to take an exam administered by either the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery or the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

What does a hand specialist treat?

Common conditions treated by a hand specialist can include the following:

  • Fractures
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Arthritis
  • Sports injuries
  • Trigger finger
  • Tennis elbow

What is a ganglion cyst?

A ganglion cyst is a benign tumor and the most common growth that develops on the hand. While they can develop in different locations, they usually appear on the back of the wrist. The ganglion cyst grows out of tissues like a ligaments or joint linings, and it is filled with a slippery and viscous fluid.

While researchers have not found a definitive cause for ganglion cysts, they have observed that the cysts develop after repeated stresses to a joint. Ganglion cysts are most common in young people between 15 and 40 years old, and they are more common in women than in men.

Small ganglion cysts are generally harmless, but bigger ones can cause pain and muscle weakness by pressing on a nerve and affect appearance.

There are many ways to treat ganglion cysts ranging from simply watching to see if it goes away on its own through immobilizing the joint to surgically removing the cyst.

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow, more formally known as lateral epicondylitis, is a type of tendonitis that affects the outside of the forearm. It is caused by repetitive overuse that causes the tendons near the elbow to develop small tears. Those tears can cause inflammation and make it painful and difficult to grip or lift objects. Untreated tennis elbow can become chronic. Our hand surgery specialist can provide you with the proper course of treatment depending on your needs.

If you have suffered a hand injury, visit our trusted hand surgery specialist at Arora Hand Surgery, located in Howell, West Bloomfield, Macomb, and Warren. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn more!

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General Hands Treatments

Treating Infections of the Hand

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Infections of the Hand

Infections of the hand can range in seriousness from relatively minor to severe. They are most commonly suffered in the fingertips in the form of a pus-filled infection that keeps the finger from bending down all the way. If an infection of the finger is not taken care of in a timely manner, it can lead to a spread in the infection or even loss of the finger.

Common Types of Hand Infections

The most common kind of infections of the hand takes place in the fingertips, usually along the edges of the fingernail, and is called a paronychia infection. Paronychia infections often start slowly and build up to full-blown infections over the course of two to three days. Symptoms begin with redness and a slightly painful itchiness in the area as well as swelling. As the days go by, the swelling will become worse and there might be a greenish or yellowish bump in the skin on the side of the fingernail. This is the most common type of hand infection caused by bacteria.

Felon infections are somewhat similar to paronychia infections. The fingertips will hurt quite a bit and become swollen. As the swelling gets worse, the skin outside the infection will harden and become painful to the touch. Usually, there is a collection of pus on the bottom palm side of the finger. This pus is usually removed the same way as with paronychia infections. Whether the infection is caused by bacteria or a virus, the treatment for these kinds of infections are almost the same.

Treatment for Pus-Filled Infections of the Hand

In the case of a pus-filled infection like a paronychia infection, the most important part of treatment is to drain the pus in order to stifle the infection. The finger is irrigated with a special solution in order to remove the debris and keep the infection from progressing. The wound is wiped clean with alcohol pads and a topical antibiotic is applied to the wound and, most often, prescribed as well.

Complications Caused by Hand Infections

When the cause of the infection in a hand is not known, lab tests may be necessary to find the cause. Sometimes infections of the hand that tend to recur or move to different regions of the hand might be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

Some people with pre-existing conditions such as those with a weak immune system, diabetes and peripheral arterial disease should get medical attention as soon as possible at the first sign of an infection in the hand. These health conditions might make the infection very serious, causing it to spread to other areas of the body.

At Arora Hand Surgery, we are proud to diagnose and treat various infections of the hand. If you suspect that you have an infection, contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in Warren, Howell, Macomb Township, or West Bloomfield!

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Conditions General Hands

Addressing Vascular Disorders in the Hand with Compression

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Vascular Disorders

Most vascular disorders do not happen in the upper extremities. Most people have these disorders in their legs or in their feet. However, when vascular disorders do happen in your upper extremities, they are often serious and, if not quickly treated, can lead to lasting problems.

Your arteries are designed to bring oxygen-rich blood from your heart and send it to your hands and fingertips. The veins in your hands and fingertips then take that blood back to your heart so that it can be re-oxygenated and the process continues. In your wrist, there is a pair of arteries that have the job of providing oxygenated blood to your hands. If something causes these arteries to malfunction, you may need to address the vascular disorder using compression.

There are a number of vascular disorders that can affect your hand. The medical community has divided these into five primary groups. They include:

  • Traumatic
  • Occlusive
  • Tumors
  • Vasospastic
  • Compressive

When vascular problems affect your hands, you’re going to notice a number of symptoms. The primary symptom you will experience is pain. A less obvious symptom is a change in the color of your fingertips. When there’s a problem with the flow of blood to your hands, you may develop ulcers that do not heal on their own. Being in a cold environment may be unbearably painful, and you may have a constant sensation of numbness or tingling, especially in your fingertips. Some individuals will experience a localized swelling around the affected blood vessels. Compression treatment may be advised as a way of improving the blood flow in your hands.

Our doctor is going to be able to identify and evaluate the vascular problems that you have by doing a physical examination of you. He will also examine you to see if there are signs of swelling, if your veins are swollen and if there is any discoloration. He will likely check the temperature of your hands as well.

The most common cause for vascular disorders in the hand is trauma. For example, if you get stabbed in your hand with a knife, it may damage your blood vessel. Even a cut that appears to be minor or innocuous can lead to some serious damage.

The same applies to a blunt force injury. Depending on the location of the injury, your blood vessels may swell, which can lead to blood clots. The result of this is that blood will not be able to flow to your fingertips, making them turn white, making them cold and making them very painful. Other injuries that could lead to vascular problems in your hands may not be as serious, but can still prevent blood flow.

During a consultation at Arora Hand Surgery, Dr. Arora may talk to you about available compression therapies that are designed to encourage proper blood flow into your hand. The extent of the therapy you will need and the length of the treatment will vary depending on the injury you have experienced. Contact us today to book an appointment at our office in Warren, Macomb, Howell, or West Bloomfield.

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General Hands

Things to Consider When Treating Hand Injuries

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hand injuries

We use our hands for so many things. A lot of the actions that we do with our hands are automatic. We don’t even think about it. We will gesture or grab something before we even realized that we’ve done it. Just about every person on the planet will sustain some type of injury to their hand at some point in their life. As such, they start to consider their treatment options and want to know what to expect when treating hand injuries.

Some of the injuries that we can have in our hands are directly related to the frequency with which we use them or the motions that we perform with our hands. A lot of people have overuse injuries or wear and tear injuries. Most people will hurt their hands or hurt their fingers while they’re playing sports, engaging in recreation, while on the job, while doing repairs at home or if they fall.

When you play contact sports, your hands are usually the first part of your body to suffer an injury. This is because when you fall, you automatically put your hands out trying to protect yourself from the fall. Children hurt themselves either because of not being aware of their surroundings or because they stick their hands in places where they should not.

Since there are so many ways that you can hurt your hand, it is impossible to give an exhaustive list of treatments that are available, as well as what exactly to expect while treating hand injuries. In most cases, a hand or wrist injury is going to be treated by using first aid techniques. This includes using brace, a splint or, in some cases, a cast. Depending on the severity of your hand injury, our doctor may recommend that you visit a physical therapist. The goal of a physical therapist is to help you restore the mobility of your hand, the flexibility of your hand and its strength.

Depending on the location and the severity of the damage, treating hand injuries may include some form of surgery. Since we are prone to hurt our hands on a daily basis, some people ignore hand injuries, putting off going to the doctor for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, the longer you ignore a hand injury, the more severe the treatment needs to be. This underscores the importance of an individual visiting our office immediately after sustaining a serious hand injury.

During a consultation with Dr. Arora at Arora Hand Surgery, you can learn more information regarding what to expect when treating hand injuries. We have locations in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, and Macomb. Contact us today to book an appointment to learn about your treatment options!

Categories
Conditions General Hands

Common Causes of Hand Problems in Children

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Problems in Children's Hands

You cannot overestimate how important the human hand is when it comes to development and the ability to achieve and complete tasks. There are a lot of congenital defects that may affect a child’s hands. There are a few hand problems in children that are very common, and they range from minor issues to some that are major and may require the child to have some sort of surgical correction.

Congenital problems with the hands stem from something that went wrong as the child was developing in the mother’s womb. It is important to recognize that as a child is developing, there are thousands of different processes that are taking place at the same time for every part in the body.

Arm development begins somewhere between four to six weeks after pregnancy. Over time, signals are sent that lead to the development of the bones, muscles and tissues that eventually end up being the hand. If at any time during this process just one step is confused or just one step is thrown off, a congenital hand problem can develop.

Some of the more common hand problems in children include:

  • webbed fingers
  • fused fingers
  • missing hands or fingers
  • extra fingers
  • fetal band syndrome.

Many people are surprised to learn that just about one out of every 20 children is going to have some kind of hand problem. Many of these hand problems are so minor that doctors do not need to do anything to correct them. However, others are so severe that if doctors do not take immediate steps to correct them, they can lead to problems for the child down the road.

As an example, if a child has webbed or fused fingers, this can be easily fixed through surgery not too long after the child is born. Or if the child has an extra digit, in most cases, surgery can be used to correct this. Most congenital hand problems in children can be treated using some form of surgery.

When treating hand problems in children, the end goal is to help the child have as normal a life as possible. If your child has an issue with his or her hand(s), schedule a consultation at Arora Hand Surgery, with offices in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, and Macomb. Contact us today to book an appointment to learn about the available treatment options.

Categories
General Hands

Determining if Your Child Has Hand Problems

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Child Hand Problems

Hand problems can range from trivial to disabling. As it is not always easy to judge the severity of a hand injury, getting to a doctor after injuring your hand is prudent. When it comes to your child, it is even more important to diagnose the cause of his or her hand problems as quickly as possible.

Sprains and Dislocations of the Finger

Finger sprains and dislocations are among the most common injuries that cause hand problems. The most frequently injured joint is the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. The PIP joint sits between the first and second finger bones, with the first or proximal fingerbone being the nearest to the hand.

Accidents like jamming a finger while playing basketball can force the joint to bend backward, a condition known as hyperextension. Under normal conditions, the joint has ligaments and tissues that keep the fingers from bending sideways or backward. In a sprain, those tissues are stretched or partially torn, causing swelling and stiffness.

In a dislocation, the tissues are completely torn, and the joint’s bones become separated and misaligned. Like a sprain, a dislocation is accompanied by swelling and stiffness. Since it is not easy to determine the severity of a sprain or dislocation, a child suspected of having such an injury should be taken to a doctor. While splinting and icing a joint can take care of a sprain, a dislocation requires medical intervention to properly realign the joints.

Hand Problems from a Broken Wrist

A broken wrist is a common sports injury, especially in football, but it can occur anytime somebody tries to break a fall with an outstretched hand. The joint most commonly affected is the scaphoid. A child with a fractured scaphoid will have a swollen and painful wrist, but they will still be able to move it. Scaphoid fractures are among the more notoriously hard hand problems to detect, especially during the first week. Our doctor may therefore recommend taking a repeat X-ray after that week.

Hand Problems from Animal bites

As with practically every other part of the human body, some hand problems and injuries can result in infections. Animal bites are a common cause of infections; cat bites are especially infamous for causing an infection. Cats have small and narrow teeth that can penetrate deep into the skin. The resulting small punctures heal deceptively quickly and trap the bacteria from the cat’s mouth under the skin. In some cases, this can result in an abscess. An infected hand will be red, abnormally warm, and swollen. There may also be red streaks near the wound. The child may also have a fever, sweats, or chills.

When to Call for Help

A parent should take their child to visit Dr. Arora if any of the following are true:

  • The child’s hand looks “wrong” and is in a strange shape or position.
  • The child is in severe pain
  • There is a lot of swelling within 30 minutes after an injury
  • The child still has a lot of pain and swelling two days after getting hurt
  • There are signs of nerve damage like tingling, numbness, or weakness
  • There are signs of infection like redness, warmth, fever and increased pain
  • The skin is pale or blue and feels colder than the skin on the uninjured hand.

At Arora Hand Surgery, our skilled and experienced doctor will be able to diagnose the cause and severity of your child’s hand problems. You can rest assured you receive the comprehensive, personalized care you deserve when you choose Dr. Arora. Contact one of our offices in Macomb, Warren, Howell, or West Bloomfield to schedule your consultation.

Categories
Conditions General Hands

What is Kienbock’s Disease?

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What is Kienbock's disease, and how is it treated? A basic overview is provided in our hand surgery blog.

What is Kienbock’s disease, and how is it treated? Those are the first questions patients may ask upon hearing this phrase.

Following are some of the basic facts about this hand condition.

What is Kienbock’s Disease, and What Causes It?

Also known as avascular necrosis of the lunate, Kienbock’s disease is a condition in which the blood supply feeding the lunate is somehow blocked. The lunate, which is one of the eight bones in the wrist, eventually dies and collapses. The condition, which usually involves only one wrist, is most common in young men.

Kienbock’s disease has multiple causes. It can be caused by such congenital defects like an abnormally short ulna. The radius and ulna are both forearm bones, and they share the force transferred from the hand to the forearm when the person grips something. An abnormally short ulna puts all of the pressure on the radius. The lunate, which is between the radius and the capitate bone, ends up absorbing excess pressure.

The disease can also be caused by injuries to the wrist, be they a single acute injury or chronic repetitive injuries that damage the blood vessels. Diseases that affect the blood vessels like sickle cell anemia can also cause Kienbock’s disease.

What are the Symptoms?

The chief symptoms of Kienbock’s disease are wrist pain coupled with limited mobility. The patient may also have trouble gripping items. During the early stages, the patient may feel only pain during or after actually using their wrist. As the disease progresses, the pain becomes constant.

A patient with this disease may also develop swelling in the wrist. The area around the lunate, the lower palm below the little and ring fingers, may become tender. The patient may also develop arthritis, but that symptom is associated with late-stage Kienbock’s disease, which takes years to develop.

How is the Disease Diagnosed?

During the early stages, the disease can be difficult to diagnose. Dr. Arora will likely begin by taking a medical history and examining the wrist. He will also order X-rays and MRIs. The X-rays can be used to determine how badly the lunate has deteriorated, while the MRI can be used to determine the damage to the blood vessels feeding the lunate. If necessary, the doctor may also order a CT scan of the bones.

What are the Treatments for Kienbock’s Disease?

There are several treatments for Kienbock’s disease. As the disease has several stages, the treatments vary accordingly. If our team catches the condition early, the wrist can be immobilized. This treatment is intended to let the damaged blood vessels and lunate heal on their own.

If the immobilization proves unsuccessful, or the patient has late-stage Kienbock’s disease, our doctor will recommend surgery. He may also recommend surgery if the Kienbock’s is caused by a birth defect, like an abnormally short ulna. In that situation, Dr. Arora can lengthen the ulna, shorten the radius or fuse certain bones so that the two bones meet the wrist bones above them properly.

The types of surgical procedures used will depend on how advanced the disease is. Wrist fusion, for example, is a procedure typically used for very late-stage Kienbock’s characterized by a wholly arthritic wrist.

Schedule a consultation at Arora Hand Surgery in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb to have your condition evaluated and to learn more about what Kienbock’s disease is. Contact us today to book your appointment and get started with a treatment plan that can bring you relief.

Categories
General Hands

Need to Know Information About Hand Joint Replacement

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Patients who are suffering from debilitating cases of arthritis, and who are unable to find relief through other types of treatment, turn to surgery for help. One of the procedures that can help these sufferers is joint replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty. They actually replace the small joints in the hand, including the knuckles.

Why Do People Need Joint Replacement Surgery for the Hand?

The hands undergo a substantial amount of stress each day, and it can take a toll on the joints. For those who are typing all day, for example, the joints can start to swell and cause a lot of pain. The joints become stiff and achy, and it can limit the mobility of the hand and fingers. Ultimately, this becomes a quality of life issue. People are in near constant pain, and it is difficult for them to do normal daily tasks.

When resting and using medications no longer helps, the doctor will consider different types of surgery to find the procedure that will help the patient the best. They may consider fusing the joint as well as removing cartilage growth and bone spurs from the area. Those who are older and who have a lower level of activity will often be good candidates for the joint replacement surgery. It can relieve pain and improve mobility. However, older patients are not the only ones who can benefit. You can discuss with your surgeon which option could help you the most.

What Types of Joint Replacement Options Exist?

Your doctor will be able to replace nearly any of the joints in your hand. A DIP join, which is the joint that is the closest to the tip of your finger, can be a very difficult joint replacement, simply because the bones are so small. The most common joint replacement is a PIP replacement, which replaces the second joint from the tip of the finger. The most common fingers to receive these new joints are the little finger and the ring finger. The MCP joint is the third joint from the tip of the finger, and the thumb basal joint is where the thumb connects to the wrist.

When you have your consultation with the surgeon, you can discuss whether your hand condition makes you a good candidate for this type of surgery, or if you might benefit from a different procedure. All surgeries in the hand are complex, and they take a very skilled surgeon.

When you are choosing a hand surgeon, make sure that you vet them to ensure they are capable of providing you with the quality surgery and care that you need. You will also want to evaluate the team that works with them, so you can be sure you are getting the best overall treatment. Make sure that you discuss the pros and the cons, as well as what to expect during and after the procedure, including your recovery time. While joint replacement might not be the solution for all arthritis sufferers, it is something that you and the doctor can discuss.

If you have any questions about hand joint replacement surgery, please call or visit our hand surgeon’s office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb.

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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.