Hand Surgery
Hand surgery deals with both surgical and non-surgical treatment of conditions and problems that may take place in the hand or upper extremity including injury and infection. Hand surgery may be practiced by graduates of general surgery, orthopedic surgery and plastic surgery.
Hand surgery is a broad term that covers many different types of procedures. Plastic surgeons who perform hand surgery seek to restore hand and finger function. But hand surgeons also try to make the hand look as normal as possible, as well. Hand reconstructive surgery may be done for many reasons, including:
Hand injuries
Rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, that change and damage the structures in the hand
Degenerative changes to the structures in the hand
Problems or defects of the hand that are present at birth, or congenital
Infections of the hand
Risks
Most surgery carries the risks of anesthesia and bleeding. Additional risks associated with surgery depend greatly on the type of surgery being performed and may include:
- Infection
- Incomplete healing
- Loss of feeling or movement of the hand or fingers
- Blood clots may form