Hand surgery
SECONDARY CONSEQUENCES OF ACCIDENTS TO THE HAND – NEW STRENGTH AND MOBILITY
An accident is the moment that changes everything. Some consequences of an accident cannot be treated with a plaster cast. Secondary consequences of accidents to the hand continue to affect those affected long after the accident. Pain or lasting movement restrictions make using the hand a burden. There are numerous late effects that can be treated very well thanks to state-of-the-art medicine. If secondary consequences of an accident render the hand immobile, this is a case for wrist surgery at the ETHIANUM. Find out here which secondary consequences of accidents we can successfully treat at the ETHIANUM.
Osteoarthritis of joints
Osteoarthritis of the joints is the wear and tear of the finger joints or the entire wrist. The treatment consists of a salvage operation on the wrist through partial stiffening, denervation or full stiffening. Alternatively, a complete joint replacement can also be performed.
Tendon adhesions
Tendon adhesions often occur after tendon injuries. In tendon surgery, this adhesion is surgically removed. Alternatively, the tendon is surgically reconstructed.
Incorrectly healed bone fractures
After fractures in the wrist, bones are sometimes unable to grow back together properly. This is particularly the case if a fracture in the hand was not recognised in time. The treatment for fractures that have not healed properly consists of repairing the unhealed bone fragments. A piece of bone made from the body’s own tissue from the radius or pelvis may be inserted. Screws, plates or wires are used for stabilisation. During a position correction (corrective osteotomy), the bone is broken again and brought together correctly. The resulting gaps are then filled with the patient’s own bone tissue from the pelvis or radius.
Soft tissue defects
Soft tissue defects are caused by shearing of skin and subcutaneous tissue, punch injuries or after severe lacerations or cuts. In addition to the skin, the subcutaneous fatty tissue can also be affected. The body’s own tissue such as skin or skin with the underlying fatty tissue that is supplied with blood (flapplasty) is removed for reconstruction. The tissue is transplanted onto the defective areas. If the defects are large and particularly deep, the reconstruction of skin and functional tissue is a complex procedure.
Scar contractures
Scar contractures are scar tissue that contracts during the healing process. In the area of the joints, this leads to restricted movement and even loss of hand function. This consequence of an accident mainly occurs if there were soft tissue defects or if injuries run lengthways across the joints. Burns can also be the cause of such pronounced scarring. In this case, the already transplanted split skin can contract and lead to a loss of function. The treatment consists of dissolving the scar strands using flap plasty. Alternatively, the scar can be corrected by transplanting the patient’s own tissue.
Contact
If you have mobility problems in your hand following an accident, you should consult the hand surgery specialists at the ETHIANUM. We will discuss in detail the options for alleviating your pain or restoring your mobility. To make an appointment for treatment of the consequences of an accident to your hand, simply click through our contact form or give us a call.
