Many common hand problems that interfere with daily activities can be diagnosed and treated by an orthopaedic surgeon.  Your orthopaedist has extensive training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical and surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.

The following are common hand problems that can be treated by an orthopaedic surgeon:

Ganglion Cysts - most common mass or lump in the hand.  Treatment - An orthopaedic Surgeon  can remove the fluid, inject steroids or remove it surgically.

Carpal Tunnel - numbness and tingling in the hand, especially at night; pain with   prolonged gripping; or clumsiness in handling objects.  Sometimes pain can go up the shoulder.  Treatment - mild cases with a splint or brace to rest the wrist. Steroid injections into the carpal canal and those cases that do not respond to nonsurgical treatment, may require surgery.

Tendonitis of the Wrist - most common in adult women between ages 30 to 50. It is an area of irritation or swelling in the tendon sheath.  Causes pain when grasping or pinching and tenderness.  Caused by overuse and association with with pregnancy or inflammatory arthritis.  Treatment - Rest in a splint, injection with steroids and/or taking anti-inflammatory medications.  More severe cases may require surgery.

Arthritis - "wear and tear" of the hand - very common at the base of the thumb. Treatment- anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections into the joint or splinting.  Surgery is frequently required.  

Dupuytren's Contracture - hereditary thickening of the connective tissue that lies just below the skin of your palm.  This may vary from small lumps or bands to very thick bands which may eventually pull the fingers into the palm. Treatment - surgery is the only treatment. 

Trigger Finger -  an irritation of the digital sheath which surrounds the flexor tendons causing the sheath to become thickened or swollen.  It pinches the tendon and prevents it from gliding smoothly. The tendon sometimes may catch and then suddenly releases as though a "trigger" were released. Treatment- rest,activity modification, oral anti-inflammatories,or steroid injections.   More severe cases may require surgery.