Hand and Wrist Conditions We Treat

Hand and wrist conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger occur more frequently than you may think. In fact, hand conditions are the second-most common work-related injury in the United States, behind back ailments.

Most hand and wrist issues are caused by repetitive stress, not trauma. Using hands in the same motions over and over can cause lingering pain and injury. No matter what causes your pain, you’ll receive the very best hand and wrist care from the experts at Henry Ford Health.

Specialized care for wrist and hand conditions

Orthopedic hand surgeons at Henry Ford are experts at the full range of hand and wrist treatments for both adults and adolescents. Accurately diagnosing hand and wrist conditions is the first step to getting you the right care. Our experts use the most advanced diagnostic techniques to determine the cause of your hand and wrist problem and plan your treatment.

We treat simple and complex hand and wrist conditions, including:

• Brachial plexus injury (BPI): BPI is an injury of the nerves that control muscles and provide feeling in the shoulder, arms and hands.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: This occurs when the median nerve, which controls movement and feeling in your thumb and first three fingers, is pinched or pressed inside the carpal tunnel. Symptoms include clumsiness handling objects, numbness or tingling in the hand and fingers, or pain that goes up your arm to your shoulder. Learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome. 
• Cubital tunnel syndrome: This syndrome is caused when the ulnar nerve, which runs down the arm, is pinched at the elbow. You may experience numbness in the ring and little fingers.
• De Quervain’s tendinitis: Also called De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, this condition causes tenderness, swelling and pain that radiates from the wrist into the forearm and the thumb.
• Dupuytren's contracture: This is a hereditary thickening of the tough tissue just below the skin on the palm of the hand. Dupuytren's contracture varies in severity from small lumps to bands that eventually pull the fingers into the palm.
• Fractures: We treat simple and complex broken bones, including distal radius fractures in the thumb and scaphoid fractures of the wrist.
• Ganglion cysts: Ganglion cysts are round, swollen lumps that typically appear on the wrist or hand. They tend to grow along joints or tendons and look like small sacs of liquid protruding from the skin. Up to half of ganglion cysts go away on their own.
• Gouty hand deformity: Gout, or crystal-induced arthritis, occurs when uric acid crystals build up in joints. The joint becomes inflamed, resulting in sudden and severe attacks of pain, tenderness, redness and warmth. If gout progresses, joints may suffer permanent damage and deformity.
• Mallett finger (baseball finger): This injury to the thin tendon that straightens the end joint of a finger or thumb results in stiffness and deformity.
• Osteoarthritis: The most common form of arthritis occurs when the cartilage at the ends of bones wears down. This causes pain, stiffness and swelling. Arthritis in the hands usually occurs where the thumb meets the wrist (base thumb arthritis), or in the middle and top finger joints.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): RA is an autoimmune condition that affects joint lining. It causes swelling and can lead to bone degradation and deformity.
• Sprains/strains: A sprain is an injury of ligaments, which connect two bones together. A strain is an injury of muscle or tendons (which connect muscle to bone).
• Scapholunate ligament injuries: The scapholunate ligament in the middle of the wrist is important for normal wrist motion. This ligament can be stretched or torn, usually in a fall onto the hand.
• Tendonitis: This inflammation of a tendon is caused by overuse or injury. It often causes pain with use of the affected body part as well as swelling and redness. Learn more about identifying carpal tunnel vs. tendonitis.
• Tennis elbow / golfer’s elbow: Tennis elbow is an injury of the tendons that connect the forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow. Golfer’s elbow is an injury of the tendons that connect the forearm muscles to the inside of the elbow. Both are caused by any repetitive motion that overworks the tendons. To learn more about tennis elbow.
• Trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis): Trigger finger is caused by a thickening of the sheath around the tendon. This makes it hard for the tendon to move. Symptoms include snapping or popping when you move your finger.

Learn more on common wrist injuries and when to get help.

Hand and wrist treatments you can count on

Ready to learn more? See frequently asked questions from patients at Henry Ford.

Contact us to request an appointment with one of our top orthopedic doctors. Relief from hand and wrist pain is closer than you think.