Swan-Neck Deformity of the Thumb

Swan-Neck deformity of the thumb occurs when the thumb's metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint (the joint where the thumb attaches to the hand) hyperextends too much. The ligament that usually prevents this is called the 'volar plate'. Some people are born with loose ('double') joints; these joints are

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Luno-Triquetral Ligament Injuries

Now that Kobe Bryant suffered a luno-triquetral ligament injury in his wrist, many people are interested in this problem. The luno-triquetral ligament keeps two of the wrist's small bones, the lunate and the triquetrum, aligned and connected to each other so that they move together in a normal,

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Retinacular Cysts

Tender masses that appear in the base of a finger near the palm are usually retinacular cysts. Retinacular cysts are simply ganglion cysts that come from the flexor tendon sheath of the finger. Retinacular cysts may appear rather quickly and can lead to pain when gripping objects. Fortunately,

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Snapping Elbow (Plica)

One of the most common causes of a snapping elbow is a plica. A plica is an inflamed part of the joint lining that catches in between the bones of the elbow with motion. A plica can be caused by anything that inflames the elbow, typically either an injury or overuse.

Although symptoms may

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Flexor Carpi Ulnaris (FCU) Tendinosis

The flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) tendon is on the palmar side of your wrist, above the small finger. It is one of the major tendons that flexes your wrist. Occasionally, overuse can cause damage to the FCU tendon. As opposed to the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) tendon, which runs in a sheath and can

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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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Finger Nail Injuries

Injuries to the finger nail are fairly common. While these often lead to some degree of nail deformity or change in the nail's appearance, good treatment can often minimize the degree of damage.

If the finger nail gets crushed, bleeding may occur underneath it. If this bleeding doesn't hurt,

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Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Injuries Subluxation Dislocation Instability

The Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint is the small joint on top of the shoulder where the clavicle attaches. If the AC joint is hit head-on, such as when falling off a bike or tackling somebody without shoulder pads, the clavicle may detach, raise up and become noticeably 'out of joint'. A

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Extensor Tendon Subluxation / Boxer's Knuckle

Subluxation or snapping of the tendons on the back of the hand can occur for different reasons. It's often due to a trauma, such as punching a hard object. That's why some refer to this injury as 'Boxer's Knuckle'. It can also happen when a ball or other object strikes the finger, or from a

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Forearm Fractures

The forearm consists of two bones, the radius and the ulna. Forearm fractures are usually signicant injuries that lead to pain, stiffness and deformity. If the forearm bones are broken in an adult, surgical fixation is usually required. The best way to fix forearm fractures in an adult is with

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Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

The rotator cuff is made up of the muscles and tendons that help you elevate your shoulder (for details, please see the rotator cuff section in my main website). If the rotator cuff becomes damaged enough, a tear may occur. However, not all rotator cuff tears require surgery.
Rotator cuff tears

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Scapho-Lunate (SL) Ligament Injuries

Scapho-lunate (SL) ligament injuries are serious injuries to the wrist. The scapho-lunate ligament connects two of the most important bones of the wrist together: the scaphoid and the lunate. The scapho-lunate ligament keeps those small bones of the wrist moving together in a normal, synchronous

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Metacarpophalangeal Joint (MPJ) and Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) Joint Arthroscopy

The metacarpophalangeal joint (MPJ) is the large joint where the finger connects to the hand. The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint is the middle joint of the finger. If pain occurs at these joints, initial treatment consists of buddy-taping the finger to its neighbor and an injection. If the

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Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) Joint Replacement

The proximal interphalangeal joint is the middle joint of the finger. Injuries to the proximal interphalangeal joint often lead to arthritis. The treatment of proximal interphalangeal joint arthritis starts with buddy taping of the finger to its neighboring digit and a steroid injection into the

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Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) Joint Injuries

The proximal interphalangeal joint is the middle joint of your finger. It is an unforgiving joint when injured, and often becomes extremely stiff. What most people don't realize is that the bones of the fingers heal extremely quickly, and if this joint suffers a severe injury it can become

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Hamate Hook (Hamulus) Fractures

Fractures of the Hook of the Hamate (also called the "Hamulus") occur mainly in people who play racket or batting sports, such as tennis, golf or baseball. Hamate hook fractures lead to pain in the base of the palm on the small finger's side.
If seen soon after injury, Hamate Hook fractures are

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Stiff Fingers

Stiff fingers may occur following injuries to the hand or wrist. The first-line treatment for this is hand therapy, often using splints with springs or rubber bands on them to stretch out the digits. If therapy fails and the finger stiffness is decreasing hand function, a surgical solution can

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Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Arthritis

Arthritis of the AC joint leads to pain at the top of the shoulder. This happens more frequently in laborers and weight-lifters, but is very common in the general population as well. The diagnosis of AC joint arthritis is best made on physical examination. This is because arthritic changes of

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Distal Radius Osteotomy

Many wrist fractures heal in 'suboptimal' position, either because they were not surgically fixed or because the surgical fixation did not turn out well. When a wrist fracture heals in poor position (called a 'malunion') it can lead to deformity, pain, stiffness, weakness, and dysfunction,

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Flexor Carpi Radialis (FCR) Tendinitis

The flexor carpi radialis (FCR) is one of the tendons that helps flex the wrist. It is located on the palmar surface of the wrist, near the base of the thumb. Overuse, such as occurs with repetitive lifting with the palm up, may lead to FCR tendinitis. This is similar to DeQuervain's tendinitis

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