Monday, November 23, 2015

Painless Surgery Procedures for Hand, Wrist, Elbow and Shoulder


New methods are being employed to restore function and eliminate pain from hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. Patients are treated without surgery very successfully. These minimally invasive procedures are used for different joint injuries like:

Metacarpophalangeal (MP) Joint and Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) Joint

Arthroscopy procedure involves use of two small stab wounds to visualize and instrument the MP joint and PIP joint. Finger connects the hand at metacarpophalangeal joint and middle joint of the finger called as proximal interphalangeal joint. For joint pain and inflammation steroid injection is given. But in case of torn ligament or cartilage injury resulting in enormous pain, arthroscopy procedure will not only diagnose the pain but will provide significant relief too.

EPL Tendon Rupture

EPL (extensor pollicis longus) tendon rupture can occur in case of arthritis and bony spur. This tendon holds the thumb and prevents it from falling into the palm. Tendon rupture can be repaired by tendon transfer that uses the nearby tendon to replace with the damaged one. It is one of the quickest outpatient procedures.
   
Flexor Tendon Injuries

Another traumatic event, an injury in flexor tendon could be life-changing event. These flexor tendons are responsible for bending and flexing the thumb and fingers. It is very difficult to repair the cut flexor tendons as there is no space left for giving sutures. They need to be repaired quickly else they die or become irreparable. Surgery is not very painful and works best along with the hand therapy provided after procedure.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Mucous Cysts, Retinacular cysts and Dupytren’s contracture – An overview

Mucous Cysts
Mucous Cysts are a common cause of finger masses, especially over the tiny finger joint that is closest to the tip. These cysts are a kind of ganglion cyst which generally arises due to an underlying arthritis of that particular joint. 

Aspirating the cyst is the initial treatment recommended. This should not be done by the patients or by inexperienced people. The cyst connects itself to the underlying joint; if an infection is likely to occur, it can spread to that joint, eventually resulting in a serious problem. It is crucial to understand that to remove the cyst permanently, the underlying joint should be addressed.  Mucous cyst excision is a procedure which has proven to be very successful.

Retinacular cysts

Tender masses which appear in the palm near the base of a finger are probably the retinacular cysts. These cysts are simply ganglion cysts coming from the finger’s flexor tendon sheath. The cysts often result in pain when the patient grips objects. Luckily, the cysts are benign and treated easily.
Aspiration is generally successful in the treatment of retinacular cysts. But, as for ganglion cysts in another place, as soon as a cyst recurs, further aspirations may not be the effective form of treatment. If there is a recurrence of a retinacular cyst following a successful aspiration, options are to either live with it or get it removed surgically. Surgery is a very quick outpatient procedure.

Dupytren’s contracture

Dupytren’s contracture is a genetic disorder wherein the fascia of the hand tends to contract, making it difficult for the fingers to extend fully. This condition occurs in people of Scandinavian ancestry. Treatment options include Xiaflex and Needle Aponeurotomy. 

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

The Most Common Syndromes Involving the Hand, Arm and Wrist


There are several kinds of problems that cause pain in the hand, arm, wrist and fingers. Of the lot, carpal tunnel syndrome, pronator syndrome and ulnar tunnel syndrome are quite significant. 


Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that involves tingling, numbness etc. of the hand and arm. It is usually caused due to a pinched nerve in the wrist. Several factors contribute to this syndrome including a few underlying health issues, different patterns of hand use and the anatomy of the wrist. Luckily, proper treatment relieves the numbness and tingling, eventually restoring hand and wrist function. 

Pronator syndrome is a nervous system disorder that causes weakness, pain and numbness in the elbow, upper arm and hand. The syndrome is normally caused due to the compression of the median nerve by either muscles or ligament-like structures present in the forearm. Well, if treated appropriately, the symptoms of this particular syndrome generally resolve. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary. However, these days, there are several non-invasive surgeries performed by expert orthopedic specialists. 

Ulnar tunnel syndrome is another condition involving the hand. It occurs owing to the compression of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. Generally, the ring and small fingers become numb. Symptoms are quite similar to cubital tunnel syndrome symptoms because the same ulnar nerve is involved; however, ulnar tunnel syndrome seems to be less common. Ulnar tunnel syndrome is probably caused by a mass like a ganglion cyst or due to the fracture of an adjacent wrist bone. Nevertheless, by resorting to a reliable medical facility, the symptoms can be treated successfully.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex - Injury, Signs & Symptoms

The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is located in the wrist between the ulnar bone end and the carpals. It is a complex structure and is a major function is stabilising, cushioning and smooth movement at the radioulnar joint of the wrist. It has an extended triangular shape and consists of –

  • The triangular fibrocartilage disc.
  • Ulna meniscus.
  • Ulnar collateral ligament.
  • Several carpal ligaments.
  • Extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon sheath.


You can tear your triangular fibrocartilage complex TFCC from various activities like playing sports, fall with an extended arm etc. The TFCC tear can cause pain in the wrist. Other symptoms of this injury include pain on the side of the pinky finger, tenderness on the wrist back. You will experience extreme pain if you bend your wrist sideways. You will also suffer from swelling in the wrist and loss gripping strength. 

In most of TFCC injury, traditional treatment works wonders. This treatment involves adding a splint to your wrist for approximately 4 weeks. After this period a removable splint is added allowing you to move your wrist slowly. Other treatments include anti-inflammatory medication, electrotherapy, mobility and strengthening exercises. 

Another problem that your wrist may suffer is the Kienbock's disease. It is also known as avascular necrosis of the lunate, occurs when the lunate bone in the wrist is damaged due to loss of blood supply. It is a rare and incapacitating disease that can lead to chronic pain and dysfunction. An Australian radiologist Robert Kienböck first mentioned the disorder and thus it got its name after him. 

The National Institutes of Health stated that affected will at first have the feeling of sprain in their wrist. It is progressive disease and hence its symptoms do not fade ways easily. However, the progress of Kienbock's disease is different from patient-to-patient. Initially, the patient suffers from swelling and pain but later the entire mechanism of the wrist is affected.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome- A Painful Condition of Hand Caused By A Strained Nerve

Hand and arm suffer various conditions due to different reasons and one of such condition is Carpal tunnel syndrome. It is a condition that causes symptoms like numbness, tingling and pain in hand or arm. A strained nerve in the wrist mainly causes it. You may suffer from this condition due to various factors such as the structure of your wrist, a few basic health problems and probably patterns of hand use. Carpal tunnel is located on the palm side of the wrist and protects a primary nerve of our hand along with nine other tendons that facilitate fingers to bend. Firmness of the nerve leads to deadness, itchiness and, ultimately, we suffer from hand weakness; and this is what is characterised as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Another condition that our hands suffer is termed as Pronator syndrome. It is a disorder of the nervous system that creates pain, weakness, and insensitivity in the upper arm, elbow, and hand. The main nerve (median nerve) at times is compressed by the muscles and/or ligament-like structures in the forearm and thus causes this condition. The pressure on the median nerve lessens its function causing pain and other symptoms. The compression of the nerve may be cause by swollen or scarred tissue, or soreness of the nerve due to infection. The initial treatment to get rid of this condition engages keeping your arm or hand in rest from doing any activity that aggravates the symptoms. 

Ulnar tunnel syndrome is another painful condition that we suffer in our hand or wrist. It is caused by the compression of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. This nerve is found on the pinkie-finger side of the wrist. You may suffer from symptoms like weakness, deadness and tingling, and pain in the ring finger, pinkie finger, or both. You should avoid activities that cause these symptoms. Applying ice and wearing a splint may relieve you from the pain.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Dr. Jeffrey Budoff - Recommended As a Reputed Orthopedic Surgeon in Texas

Dr. Jeffrey Budoff is an orthopedic surgeon whose focus is to restore function and eradicating pain with the least invasive procedure possible. He has successfully treated his patients without surgery. However, he use the most latest and invasive surgical procedures if any patient requires a surgery and thus minimizes the pain and time of healing. With his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Budoff specializes in open and arthroscopic surgery of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. He is also a trained surgeon for endoscopic carpal and cubital tunnel release, sports injuries, fractures, and dislocations.

To understand Dr. Budoff’s role as an orthopedic surgeon better, it is important to know what Orthopedic surgery is. It is a surgical procedure used by the doctors for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. Arthritic pain, sports injuries, fractures, tumors and other degenerative diseases are some of the health issues which require this surgery. At present, surgeons often recommend this surgery, as people are increasingly suffering from diseases and conditions such as chronic arthritis or sports related injuries. It has become a major surgical procedure dealing with bones, joints, tendons, nerves, muscles and tissues.

If you are looking for an Orthopedic Surgeon in Texas, then you can consult Dr. Budoff for your all your musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. However, you can follow the below cited steps in order to find a reputed surgeon in your area. 

  • Ask for recommendation from your primary health provider as they are sure to know the best orthopedic surgeons in the area. You can also ask for recommendation from your friends or relatives who have undergone similar procedure. 
  • You can also check out the surgeons online since many web databases provide search features. These websites provide information on various surgeons who are reputed and expert in their field from among whom you can easily choose the best. 


Thursday, June 18, 2015

Mallet Finger- Finger Deformity That Bends the Finger

Our hands are important parts of our body as they act as tools with which we can control all our work as well as our environment. With the constant use of our hands we are bound to get variety of injuries like cuts, bumps, and bruises. Most of these injuries heal without any medical attention. But, there are a few injuries, if perceived as minor initially, can become severe afterwards if left untreated. One of these injuries can be named as Mallet Finger; it is a deformity of the finger in which the tendon that straightens it, is damaged. 

The tendon of a finger is damaged when a ball or any other object hits it and forcibly bends it. The force of the blow tears the tendon and sometimes it may even pull away a bone along with the tendon making it difficult to straighten the finger. If you suffer from this deformity, initially you will suffer from pain and swollen distal IP joint and you won't be able to straighten your finger. If you experience such finger problems than you can treat this with various procedures. Doctors offer various treatments like exercise, splints and surgery for correcting mallet finger. Keeping your finger in rest will also help it to heal quickly.       

If finger injures are not treated well, can sometimes lead to major injuries. Though our bones in the hand are small, we should not treat a broken or fractured finger as a minor injury. The bones in our finger let us perform specialized functions like holding, grasping, carrying things, throwing etc. If a finger fractures, it can make your whole hand out of alignment preventing it to do the day to day work. If you ignore the fracture, your finger may remain stiff and swollen causing pain. Some of the symptoms of the broken finger bone are swelling, tenderness, bruising, inability to move, pain etc.

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Suffering From a Swollen Thumb? Check for De Quervain's Tendinosis

Human body consists of tendons, tough tissues that connects muscle to bone and is responsible for withstanding tension. Sometimes, the tendon around the thumb gets irritated and swollen due to various reasons and this condition is known as De Quervain's tendinosis. The word tendinosis in itself means the swelling of the tendons. Swelling and compression of the tendon can cause pain and tenderness around the thumb and you experience the pain while forming a fist, trying to grip something and when trying to turn your wrist. 

However, the exact cause of this condition is not yet known, its cause is considered as any activity that depends on repetitive hand or wrist movement. These activities include doing household chores or working in the garden, playing, lifting things etc. All such activities can even worsen the pain in a person suffering De Quervain's tendinosis. This condition can further lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a person. It is a condition of hand and arm that causes numbness, tingling, weakness and other symptoms and is caused due to the pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. Various factors including structure of the wrist, certain health problems and possibly patterns of hand use contribute to this condition. 

Carpal tunnel is a thin passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments. It is located on the palm side of the wrist protecting the main nerve of hand and the nine tendons that help bend fingers. Compression of the nerve due to pressure causes numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand. Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome usually occur in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger. You can get relief by keeping your hand movement at rest. However, people suffering from this condition can get relieved with quick and proper treatment and can easily restore wrist and hand function actively. 

Friday, May 8, 2015

Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome - A Painful Condition Leading To Trigger Finger

Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome is a painful condition of your hand and is caused when the median nerve that extends down the arm, across the elbow, and into the hand gets compressed. Median nerve is one of the main nerves branching from the brachial plexus. Injury to the hand such as joint dislocation or fracture can tear or inflame the ulnar nerve making it swollen and thus gets trapped causing pain. Injuries to your hand can cause due to accidents, falling etc and further cause the condition called ulnar nerve entrapment. The symptoms of this condition include: 

  • softness along the inside of the elbow 
  • tingling and deadness in little and ring fingers 
  • difficulty hand movements. 
  • lack of griping power, muscle weakness 
  • pain within the border of the shoulder blade

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should immediately contact a physician. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential to control the pain and fast recovery. Though mostly the problem is in the elbow area, people experience pain in the hand and fingers because ulnar nerve controls movement and sensation there. Both sensory and motor skills are affected causing Trigger finger, a painful condition related with a clicking sensation during finger extension, or locking in a closed position during gripping activities.

The index, middle and ring fingers are common to this condition and the clicking is clearly heard upon while bending the fingers to make a firm grip. Suffering from this condition cannot make firm grips while holding something as he finds it difficult to stretch or bend his fingers properly. Trying to stretch or hold something will cause pain leading the patient to the doctor. The popping or the clicking of the finger is the characteristic of trigger thumb and it worsens in the morning upon waking up. With passive stretching of hand and fingers, we can avoid this condition. 

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Stiffness of the Elbow May Lead To Elbow Arthritis

Human body is a mechanism that functions with the help of different parts and organs. Nervous system is one of the main system upon which the proper functionality of the body is dependent. The condition of the nervous system in which the radial nerve is squeezed by surrounding structures in the elbow or forearm is called radial tunnel syndrome. This syndrome is mainly characterized by weakness or pain in the hand and wrist. It is mainly caused due to an increased pressure on the radial nerve. The compression in the nerve usually occurs in the elbow or forearm by the muscles and ligament-like tissues.

The compression in the elbow may lead to pain and weakness of the hand; it may further result into Elbow Arthritis. You may also suffer from this condition due to direct trauma to the elbow or forearm. Arthritis of the elbow in many people not only causes pain when they bend their elbow, but also when they straighten it preventing them to carry on their day to day work. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common cause of this condition while osteoarthritis and injuries damage the cartilage of the elbow joint making people suffer from arthritis in the elbow joint. 

An injury or damage to the elbow joint may further leads to stiffness of the elbow. Stiffness is relatively a common elbow problem. A trauma involving considerable bone and soft-tissue injury may lead to elbow stiffness. If you experience a stiff elbow after an injury or surgery, than you may find it difficult to move your hand freely and it may take more than a year to improve your hand movement. With physiotherapy and elbow splinting, you can improve the motion at a quicker speed. However, if you don’t see any improvement in your hand movement even after physiotherapy or elbow splinting than surgical treatment is recommended to release the elbow joint.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex- A Sprain in the Wrist

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) is a complicate structure and is a chief provider to the strength and stability of the wrist. It is also a common source of pain for the wrist by the side of the ulna (small finger). The entire TFCC is placed between the ulna and two carpal bones (lunate and triquetrum) and is a collection of many structures that hold up the Triangular Fibrocartilage Proper. The Triangular Fibrocartilage is the major tendon that soothes the Distal Radio-Ulnar Joint (DRUJ), the part of the wrist joint lying between the two bones of the forearm (radius and ulna), and allowing rotation of forearm.

Injuries to the Triangular Fibrocartilage ligament affect the ulnar (little finger) side of the wrist. It may be injured by a fall, sports injury, car crash, or other trauma. If you fracture your wrist than you are likely to suffer from TFCC tears and this can be the major cause of wrist pain even after the injury is healed. You may also get Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex even without any injury if the ulna bone is longer than the radius bone. TFCC can be referred as a sprain to the wrist and its injury may result as a very disable wrist condition.

Apart from the TFCC injuries, your wrist may also suffer from the Kienbock’s Disease. It is a disorder of the wrist and is a condition in which the blood supply to the lunate bone is reduced and this result in the death of the bone. Lunate bone is one of the central bones in the wrist providing proper movement and support to the joint.  It makes up the proximal carpal row in the wrist along with the scaphoid and triquetrum bones either side of it. The Kienbock’s Disease is most common in men between the age group of 20 and 40. Its symptoms include pain, stiffness, and arthritis of the wrist over the time.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Mucous Cysts - A Fluid-Filled Swelling on the Lips or Mouth

Our skin is prone to various conditions that cause lumps and bumps on the surface or just beneath the skin. A cyst is a formation of a sac-like pocket of tissue containing fluid, air, or other substances. It can develop almost in any part of your body on or beneath the skin. Cysts can be of different types including mucous, retinacular cysts etc and most of these are benign, or non-cancerous. Let us discuss the different types of cysts.

 Mucous cysts

Also known as a mucocoele, a mucous cyst is a fluid-filled bump that mainly occurs on the lip or in the mouth. The main reason of the development of cyst in the mouth is the mucus of the mouth’s salivary glands gets plugged. Most cysts grow on the lower lip but has all the possibility to occur anywhere within the oral cavity. Though most of the cysts are temporary and painless but can become permanent if they are not treated o time.

Pitiable dental health and hygiene, a habit of lip or cheek biting because of stress can increase the risk for developing mucous cysts.

Retinacular cysts

The occurrence of ganglion cyst in the flexor tendon sheath is known as a retinacular cyst. It is usually a tender mass that occurs in the palm by the base of a finger. The development of this cyst often causes pain when gripping objects.

Doctors determine whether you need treatment for the cyst development or not taking into account a number of factors. The factors include:

  • the kind of cyst
  • the spot of the cyst growth
  • if it is causing pain or not
  • whether the cyst is infectious 

Dupuytren's contracture is a skin condition that occurs due to the thickening of the fibrous tissue layer beneath the skin of the palm and fingers. Although it doesn’t cause pain, but the solidifying and tightening of this tough tissue can cause the fingers to bend (flex).

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome and Its Remedy

Have you ever faced pain in your wrist? Have you seen your doctor? You might be facing ulnar tunnel syndrome. This syndrome is caused by pressure on the ulnar nerve at the wrist. It is found on the outer side of the wrist.

This syndrome happens when one overuse or repetitive use their hands. Swelling or thickening of the tissue close to the ulnar nerve is caused from a ganglion. It is commonly seen is bicycle riders as they hold on to the handlebars for longer period. The symptoms include pain, numbness and tingling in the ring finger and pinkie finger.

Trigger finger and trigger thumb are also common. It happens due to space problem, which bends the finger, or thumb that gets compressed. Sometimes the tendons shrink due to various problems such as diabetes, thyroid, etc. It swells and thickens the lining of the tendon. People often face pain in the fingers and bending towards the palm. 

Fortunately, this syndrome is curable. It is a simple surgery, which is 100% successful and permanently cures the problem. You can visit an orthopedic surgeon and had a surgery. After surgery, one needs to keep the hand clean and away from water for 3 days. Showering is not recommended though one can bathe after wrapping the hand with plastic cover. 

After 3 days one can shower easily, however, one can avoid submerging their hand inside the water for atleast 10 days. One does not have to visit the doctor to remove the stitches, it will get merged. It is recommended to avoid heavy activities such as lifting heavy objects. 

So, if you are feeling the pain in your wrist or fingers, then you can contact an orthopedic surgeon and get surgery done as fast as possible. It will help in curing the pain and make sure that one does not feel the pain again and again.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Flexor Tendon Injuries May Lead to Rheumatoid Arthritis

The band of tissue, which connects a muscle to a bone, is known as tendons. Each finger has two tendons known as flexor tendons. They let you bend and straighten your fingers. The finger bone is joined to the muscles in the forearm making finger movement possible. The flexor tendons are smooth, flexible and they work as bicycle brake cable sliding in and out of your fingers letting them to bend. Flexor tendon injuries lead to stiffness in the fingers making them unable to either fully bend or straighten. Injuries to the flexor tendons are required to be treated immediately because even a small cut into the tendon can be a big problem.

In most of the cases, flexor tendons are injured from a cut or a tear. The special creases present in the fingers let the skin fold while making a fist. In such a situation, tendons are easily injured even by a small cut since they are located just beneath the skin. Sometimes, tendons may tear due to a sudden pull against a strong grip. Flexor tendon injuries will create problems like

  • Inability to bend the finger
  • You will experience pain while moving the finger
  • Stiffness and numbness in the finger 
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Due to the injuries in the tendons, you will suffer pain in the finger joints indicating that you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. It is a very painful disease in which, you experience inflammation in your joints. You experience pain, swelling, stiffness and discomfort when your finger joints are inflamed. This further makes it difficult for you to carry out the daily household works smoothly. It is an autoimmune disease and over the time, its symptoms can worsen. Hence, immediate treatment is required. You can opt either natural remedy or surgery to get the best possible result. 

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Wrist Arthritis - Diagnosis & Various Treatments

The bone fracture of the radius in the forearm is called distal radius fracture. It is often results due to a fall onto an outstretched hand. It is also known as wrist fracture because of its proximity to the wrist joint. Pain in your wrist may be a sign that your joints suffer from arthritis. This inflammatory condition includes symptoms like stiffness, swelling, and pain in the affected joints. There are specific types of distal radius fracture namely, Colles’ fracture, Smith’s fracture, Barton’s fracture, Chauffeur’s fracture. These names are applied to the specific patterns in which the radius suffers a fracture.

In order to diagnose your wrist arthritis, a doctor will examine if your wrist is swelling or not. Identifying the area of swelling the doctor can tell which wrist joint are most affected. From the movement of your fingers, doctors can easily diagnose the condition of the fracture and pain. Problems in the wrist can further affect the peripheral tendons. Initially, a doctor may advice you to wear a wrist splint for temporary or long-term arthritis relief. In order to get relief from pain, you need to avoid manual labour and playing any kind of sport and keep your hand at rest.

If you suffer from a moderate pain then steroid injections can bring you relief. However, if you suffer from disabling pain despite of medication and exercise, a doctor then recommends surgery as treatment for wrist arthritis. Wrist acts as a stabilizer for a hand and its efficient functioning and pain in wrist joints hinders proper functioning of the hand. In such a situation, doctors advice a patient to undergo a surgery. Surgery is recommended when all other treatments have failed to relieve you from pain. In a surgical treatment, a surgeon removes bones, fuse bones or replace them.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Flexor Tendon Injuries Cause Stiffness In Hands & Fingers

Hand is a very important part of our body with which we perform quite a number of activities. Any injury to the hand may make it difficult for us to carry out these activities like holding, carrying, throwing, gripping etc. Our hands and fingers are prone to different types of injuries and the most common types of injuries that require hand surgery is torn tendons. The flexor tendons of our finger or thumb to bend towards the palm. Damages to the tendons can cause stiffness in the hands or fingers, or a total inability to move. Minor Flexor Tendon Injuries will cause pain making it difficult to do any everyday task difficult. However, tendon damages cause a major pain.

Flexor tendons connect the muscles to the bone and are present all through our body. Our finger movements are controlled by these tendons and hence injuries of them hurt mobility. These tendons can be damaged due to various reasons like injuries, diseases or suddenly torn by everyday actions. Finger fractures can be one of the main reasons of tendon tearing. Many people suffer from some minor damage probably without even realizing it. Minor damages to the tendons are repaired by the body itself but if the pain persists, then you need a hand surgery.

With flexor Tendon Injuries, you will find that every daily activities creating a sharp pain in your arm. This will also make your finger movements difficult. If you injure your tendons then you should consult a doctor without wasting any time. Some doctors will directly recommend surgery to reattach the tendons to the bones. With the development of medical practices, a new procedure known as called "tendon transfer" involving taking it from other parts of the body and is used to repair the torn tendons. Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment procedure is determined by the surgeons.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Skier's Thumb Weakens the Gripping Strength of your Thumb

Our fingers are vital part of our hand which facilitates many works like holding, eating, griping, throwing etc. Any injury to the fingers may hamper our day to day work. An injury caused to the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) of thumb joint is known as skier's thumb. One suffers from this condition if there is any twisting and tearing of the UCL. If you injure your UCL, it will make your thumb's griping strength weak and will also cause loss of functioning. This injury makes the thumb joint unstable or loose.

Most of the time this injury occurs during skiing accidents and this is the reason why it is called as skier's thumb. However, this does not mean that it occurs only to the skiers. Anybody can suffer this injury who falls on an outstretched hand with a force on the thumb extending it away from the index finger. Some of the most common causes of this injury are direct injury to the thumb, when the thumb extends away from the palm, skiing accidents etc. If you are affected with this injury then you will suffer from pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising etc.

Apart from this injury, there are many other finger injuries. A fracture is a common injury. Some of the frequently reported injuries are ligament and tendon injuries. One of the most common tendon injury is known as a mallet finger. It is also described as dropped finger and one suffers from this when he either tear or cut his tendon from the bone. This injury is common with the people who are involved with sporting activities. Sometimes you happen to overstretch or torn your tendon leading to pain and swelling of your finger. You can reduce the pain and help your finger heel quickly by using a splint that supports and keep the finger still.