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General Hands Treatments

What is Dupuytren’s Contracture Surgery?

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Dupuytren’s contracture surgery

Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition in which small nodules develop in the connective tissue in the palm. The nodules can eventually form cords of tissue that extend from the palm up one or more fingers, and the resulting structure pulls (contracts) the affected finger towards the palm. It can affect one or both hands, and one or multiple fingers per hand. It is not a life-threatening or painful condition, but it can cause serious disability, especially if it affects the thumbs. This is where Dupuytren’s contracture surgery can help.

What Causes Dupuytren’s Contracture?

The cause appears to be primarily genetic. It mostly affects people of Northern European descent who are in their 50s and 60s, although some cases have been reported in children and the elderly. Men are more likely to be affected than women. It is possible that smoking, diabetes, and certain medications may trigger the condition in susceptible people, but this hasn’t been proven for sure.

What are the Treatment Options?

For mild cases, injections into the cords or insertion of a needle to slice through the cords can correct the condition. For severe cases, however, a minor surgical procedure known as Dupuytren’s contracture surgery is necessary to restore normal function to the hand.

Any individual experiencing difficulty in using a hand due to this condition should consider surgical treatment. Dupuytren’s contracture surgery isn’t typically recommended for individuals who are not experiencing impairment. Removal of the nodules and cords prior to impairment will not prevent the condition from progressing to impairment because new nodules and cords will simply recur. Even after surgical treatment, new nodules and cords can form and it may be necessary to perform additional procedures.

After the surgical site has healed, most patients require a regimen of physical therapy to restore full use of the hand, particularly if more than one finger or the thumb had been affected. Some patients with severe cases may require months of physical and occupational therapy before regaining full hand function.

You can get all the facts about your treatment options, including Dupuytren’s contracture surgery, during an initial consultation with Dr. Arora at Arora Hand Surgery. We have offices in Warren, Howell, Macomb, and West Bloomfield. Contact us today to book your appointment!

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General Treatments Wrists

Treatment Options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Carpal tunnel syndrome

Arora Hand Surgery has locations in Macomb Township, Warren, West Bloomfield, and Howell. It is led by Dr. Avery Arora, who specializes in hand, elbow and wrist surgery. Dr. Arora earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and served both his internship and residency in General Surgery at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. He then earned a Fellowship in Hand Surgery at the University of Colorado’s Department of Orthopedics. He has also earned board certification in both General Surgery and Hand Surgery. Dr. Arora is a member of the American Association of Hand Surgery and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. If you are dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome, Dr. Arora is your go-to doctor.

What Services Does Arora Hand Surgery Offer?

Arora Hand Surgery provides a range of treatments for conditions affecting the hand, fingers, forearm, wrist and elbow. Some of the conditions, like Dupuytren’s contracture, are peculiar to the hand, while others, like skin cancer, are not.

Other conditions that can be treated at Arora Hand Surgery include the following:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Sprains
  • Lateral epicondylitis
  • Arthritis
  • Trigger finger
  • Fractures

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and How is it Treated?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is basically a pinched nerve in the wrist. It is caused by increased pressure on the median nerve. Symptoms include tingling, pain and numbness in the fingers, hand and arm.

Treatment options vary and can depend on the cause. While it is often not possible to determine the exact cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, it is sometimes linked to diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and some thyroid conditions. In this case, treating the disease can at least improve the symptoms.

If there is no known cause, and the syndrome is relatively mild, our doctor may recommend splinting the wrist to keep it straight and relieve pressure on the nerve. The patient may wear the splint at night to relieve any symptoms that are interfering with their sleep. Our doctor may also suggest using the affected hand less. In certain cases, he may recommend a steroid injection to reduce the nerve’s swelling.

In severe or unresponsive cases, our doctor may recommend carpal tunnel release, a surgical procedure in which the ligament that runs across the wrist and the median nerve is cut to make more room for the latter.

Make an Appointment Today

Dr. Arora and his team at Arora Hand Surgery are committed to providing patients in the area with first-class care. If you are dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome or any other condition affecting the hand, fingers, wrist, elbow or thumb, set up an appointment at our office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb as soon as possible. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

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Fingers General Treatments

Finger Nerve Damage Treatment and Diagnosis

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Finger nerve damage treatment can help you regain normal function in your hands, like simply gripping a phone.

Your fingers are invaluable to your ability to function each day. They perform critical tasks like tying your shoes, grasping doorknobs, handling eating utensils, and dozens of other things that you might take for granted. When you suffer nerve damage in your fingers, you quickly realize how important they are to your everyday life. You can regain your function and continue your daily routine without issues by learning what finger nerve damage is and how you can treat yours at Arora Hand Surgery.

As its name implies, finger nerve damage is damage to the nerves in your fingers. This condition can be caused by any number of factors like:

  • Injuries
  • Repetitive stress
  • Diseases like diabetes
  • Poor circulation

Finger nerve damage can affect people of any age, but it especially targets adults who suffer from illnesses like diabetes or work jobs that require them to perform repetitive tasks. However, it is one of the easier nerve conditions to diagnose and treat as long as it is addressed early before it results in permanent damage to the fingers.

Diagnosis

We may use a series of tests to determine if patients suffer from nerve damage in the fingers. We may diagnose you with this condition if you suffer from symptoms like:

  • Pain anywhere in your fingers
  • Tingling
  • Numbness
  • Burning
  • Visible deformities like drooping
  • Limited motion
  • Inability to use fingers properly or at all
  • Underlying disease like diabetes or poor blood circulation

If you have any of these symptoms, you may be diagnosed and treated for finger nerve damage.

Finger Nerve Damage Treatment

Nerve damage in the fingers responds well to a variety of treatment options. Depending on the severity and cause of your nerve damage, you may be advised to undergo a number of treatments. It is recommended that you follow the advice of our doctor if you want long-lasting or permanent relief from your finger nerve damage.

You can learn more about your treatment options for finger nerve damage during a consultation with Dr. Arora and his team at Arora Hand Surgery. We have offices in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, and Macomb. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and get started.

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General Treatments

What Does Dupuytren’s Contracture Surgery Involve?

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Dupuytren’s contracture surgery

Dupuytren’s contracture is a hand deformity caused by abnormally thick tissue that develops in the palm and can spread to the fingers. Over years, the patient develops knots of tissue under the skin. Those knots gradually become thick cords that pull one or more fingers into a permanently bent state. The patient eventually has difficulty performing such activities as shaking hands or putting on gloves. Dupuytren’s contracture usually affects the fourth and fifth fingers. The condition is most common in older men of northern European descent. Fortunately, Dupuytren’s contracture surgery is usually not necessary, as the condition can typically be treated with non-surgical methods.

How is Dupuytren’s Contracture Treated Without Surgery?

Mild cases may not need to be treated at all, and our doctor may simply monitor the patient to see if the condition gets worse. However, in many cases, the condition needs to be professionally treated. Non-surgical options that do not involve Dupuytren’s contracture surgery include a special enzyme injection called XIAFLEX. This may be used to make the tissue weaker and softer. Our doctor may then try to straighten the affected finger.

Surgical Procedures

The two most common surgical procedures are the fasciotomy and the subtotal palmar fasciotomy. The first is a straightforward outpatient procedure in which the surgeon cuts the cord of tissue in half. In the subtotal palmar fasciotomy, the surgeon removes the corded tissue. The patient may then have to wear a splint. If the patient has a severe or neglected case, the surgeon may also need to release stiff ligaments or joint capsules to make the finger straighten properly. The patient will generally need to undergo physical therapy for a set amount of time. Treatments may include stretching, heat treatments and soft tissue massage. The therapy will help prevent the contracture from returning, and it will help prevent the accumulation of scar tissue. The patient may have to wear a splint as well to keep the contracture from redeveloping.

Schedule a Consultation Today

As we previously mentioned, Dupuytren’s contracture surgery is oftentimes not required, as Dr. Arora and his team of professionals at Arora Hand Surgery proudly offer various non-surgical treatment options for the condition. During a consultation at our office in Howell, Warren, West Bloomfield, or Macomb, Dr. Arora can evaluate your specific case and come up with a treatment plan for you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and get started.

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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 Treatments Wrists

Treating Fractures in the Wrist

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fractures in the wrist

The way fractures in the wrist are treated is going to vary a lot depending on where the fracture is and what fracture you have sustained. Many people think that treating a fractured wrist is simple, but it’s not. Fractured wrists can be divided into two categories. They can be displaced, or they can be categorized as non-displaced.

When you fracture your wrist, the pain is intense. The pain is usually felt immediately. There are usually some physical and visual symptoms that show. Many complain of having numbness in their hands, or they may notice that their hands and fingers change color. Your wrist bone might even stick out of your skin.

Understanding how to treat a fractured wrist is important because fractured wrists happen very frequently. It’s estimated that approximately 250,000 people fracture their wrist in the United States on an annual basis. The reason why a wrist fracture happens so frequently is because of the number of ways that we as humans fall. When you fall, be it forward or backward, the first thing you do is put out your hands in order to stabilize yourself. This can lead to injury.

The treatment that you will receive for your fractured wrist is going to vary depending on how severe it is. If it’s just a simple fracture, our doctor may set your wrist and then put a cast on it. He is going to monitor your wrist to make sure that the bone heals properly. A more severe fracture may require a surgical procedure. It’s going to change with each situation.

In the vast majority of circumstances, surgery is not necessary when treating fractures in the wrist. The cast is enough to keep the wrist in place while it heals. You may need to have some form of physical therapy to help you regain your flexibility and your strength in your wrist. It is essential that you follow the instructions provided by our doctor and your physical therapist for optimal results.

As you can see, there is no one-size-fits-all fix when it comes to treating fractures in the wrist. However, with therapy, immobilization and in some cases surgery, a fractured wrist can be treated. When your wrist has completely recovered, you should be able to return to your normal activities.

If you have sustained a wrist fracture, make an appointment at Arora Hand Surgery sooner rather than later. You can consult with our expert at our office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb to see which treatment is best in your case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

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Fingers General Treatments

Replantation of the Thumb

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replantation of the thumb

Replantation is the medical term for the surgical reattachment of a body part that has been completely separated from the body. It differs from transplants, which also involve attaching a body part to the patient, in that the part comes from the patient. In a transplant, the body part comes from another person. Replantation of the thumb is a common procedure that has helped many people in various situations.

What Does Replantation of the Thumb Involve?

The patient will need to be stabilized and their severed thumb cleaned before it can be replanted. The thumb should be rinsed to remove dirt, grass, etc. In the vast majority of cases, replantation surgery needs to be performed as quickly as possible. Replantation of the thumb can involve several different techniques, and the techniques used will depend on the situation.

The surgeon may need to use grafts or tissue spacers during certain steps of the procedure. Afterwards, the patient will spend some time recovering while the surgical team closely monitors their recovery.

What Does the Recovery Involve?

The amount of use the patient regains depends on how well the nerves grow and reattach themselves. It typically takes about a month for a nerve to grow an inch. The number of inches between the injury and the tip of the thumb can, thus, provide a rough estimate of how long it will be before the patient regains sensation in their thumb-tip.

During the recovery process, the patient should do what they can to encourage circulation to the reattached thumb. Since smoking impairs circulation, they should not smoke. They should also keep their thumb elevated above their heart to boost circulation. It is important to follow our team’s instructions regarding healing for optimal results. The patient may need to undergo physical therapy to restore their range of motion, prevent the joints from getting stiff and keep their muscles from getting atrophied.

Learn More About Replantation of the Thumb

Replantation of the thumb has the potential to significantly improve a person’s quality of life. This is because the thumb is a very important part of the hand, as well as the entire body. Thumbs help us to perform everyday tasks.

Dr. Arora at Arora Hand Surgery in Howell, Warren, Macomb, and West Bloomfield is proud to offer replantation of the thumb. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

Categories
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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Stories

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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.