Different Types of Hand Surgery
Thanks to modern advancements in surgical techniques and technologies, there is now a wide a variety of different types of surgeries can be performed on the hand. Of course, the best type of hand surgery for any patient will depends on the underlying problem, illness or injury being treated by the hand surgeon.
If you require any type of hand surgery it is important to find a skilled and experienced who is board certified in hand surgery, like Dr. Uzma Rehman in the Detroit area. Board certified hand surgeons have years of additional training in their specialized field. This enables them to practice at the top of their profession and deliver the high-quality of care and most advanced surgical techniques to their patients.
In this article, Detroit area board certified hand surgeon Dr. Uzma Rehman explains some of the many types of specialized hand surgeries available to patients.
Hand Surgery: Skin Grafts
Skin grafts for the hand involve taking a piece of healthy skin from one area of the body, called the donor site, and attaching it to the injured area. It is most often performed during fingertip reattachment or repair of finger injuries.
Hand Surgery: Skin Flaps
Skin flaps are similar to skin grafts, but the procedure uses skin that has its own blood supply (blood vessels), fat, and muscles. Skin flaps are used when an area that is missing skin does not have a good blood supply.
Hand Surgery: Closed Reduction & Fixation
This type of hand surgery is performed when there is a bone fracture in the hand or fingers. This surgery realigns the broken bone and then holds it in place while it heals. The immobilization is often done with internal wires, rods, splints, and/or a cast.
Hand Surgery Tendon Repair
Tendons are fibrous tissue that join the muscles to the bone. Tendon injuries are quite common and can occur due to infection, trauma, or sudden rupture. There are 3 types of tendon repair surgery:
- Primary repair of an acute or sudden tendon injury is often done within 24 hours of injury.
- Delayed primary repair is done up to a few days after injury, but while there is still an open wound in the skin.
- Secondary repair is performed 2 to 5 weeks (or longer) after injury. Often includes a tendon graft.
Hand Surgery: Nerve Repair
A hand injury can damage important nerves, causing a loss of hand function or sensation. Generally, nerve surgery is done 3 to 6 weeks after the hand injury. This is the best time for nerve repairs that are linked with other more complicated injuries. Although some nerve repair surgeries can be done right after injury to help increase the chance of a full recovery. If the nerve is cut or severed, it may be reattached to the other end of the nerve, or a nerve graft may be performed.
Fasciotomy Hand Surgery
Fasciotomy Hand Surgery is performed to treat ‘compartment syndrome’ where there is swelling and increased pressure in a small space, or compartment, in the body. In the hand, a compartment syndrome can cause severe pain and muscle weakness. Fasciotomy surgery decreases the pressure, lets the muscle tissue swell, and restores blood flow to helps prevent further damage or decrease in function of the hand.
Joint Replacement Hand Surgery
Joint replacement, also called arthroplasty, is typically performed in cases of severe hand arthritis. A joint that has been destroyed by arthritis is replaced with an artificial joint that may be made of metal, plastic, silicone rubber, or the body’s own tissue, such as a tendon.
Replantation Hand Surgery (Reattachment)
Replantation hand surgery reattaches a body part – such as a finger, hand, or toe – that has been completely cut or severed from the body. Replantation (reattachment) is performed using microsurgery that uses tiny tools and is done under magnification. This enables the hand surgeon to repair small blood vessels, arteries, veins, and nerves, to preserve the severed limb’s function and sensation.
Top Surgeon | Hand Surgery | Detroit Area
If you are suffering from a condition in your fingers, wrist, elbow, or arm, that requires complex surgery, contact Detroit area board certified hand surgeon Dr. Uzma Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation and consultation.
Choosing a skilled and experienced board-certified hand surgeon is the best way to ensure that you preserve or restore full use, mobility, function and sensation to your injured hand, wrist or arm.
