Metacarpophlangeal (MP) Joint Replacement

The metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint is the large joint where the finger attaches to the hand. Arthritis of the MP joint can lead to pain, swelling and stiffness. Nonoperative management includes a steroid injection or two, activity limitation and buddy taping the finger to its neighbor. In

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EPL Tendon Rupture

The EPL (extensor pollicis longus) tendon extends your thumb. Following a wrist fracture, or sometimes due to arthritis and bone spur formation, the EPL tendon can rupture. In cases of arthritis, the EPL tendon rubs can rub across a bone spur until it abrades and fails. In cases of fracture, the

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The Stiff Finger

There are many causes of finger stiffness. Usually finger stiffness is due to previous fracture, ligament injury or surgery. Finger stiffness can be debilitating and may severely impair hand function.
Initial treatment for finger stiffness is hand therapy. A certified hand therapist will be

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Flexor Tendon Lacerations

Flexor tendon injuries can be devastating, life-changing events. The flexor tendons are the 'ropes' that make your fingers move. If they get cut, it's a very big problem. It seems like it should be easy to repair the tendon and get a good result, but it's not. The problem is that the tendon runs

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

There are so many myths and so much misinformation regarding carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) that I thought it might be good for a hand surgeon to go through the facts. Here are some common questions that I often hear:
What is the carpal tunnel?
The carpal tunnel is a passage for the median nerve

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"Just a Sprain"

I am continually astonished by the number of patients that come to see me a month or later after they thought they 'sprained' their finger. Their finger is painful, swollen, and doesn't bend. It may even be deformed. These patients say things like, "I thought that if it was broken, it wouldn't

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