A hand surgeon specializes in treatment of injuries to the hand.
Hand Surgery is a subspecialty in the field of orthopedic surgery. This includes the study of diseases and structural injuries to the hand and the supporting structures that control the function of the hand.
performed on patients who have a congenital malformation, an injury, or degenerative disease that somehow affects the use of the hand. Common procedures are: Carpal tunnel syndrome - a numbness in the fingers caused by compression of a major nerve in the wrist. In surgery, the tissue compressing the nerve is removed, restoring normal function in the area. Dupuytren's contracture - an abnormal finger position caused by scar formation in the palm or finger; unwanted tissue is removed, allowing the finger to move with more freedom. Rheumatoid arthritis - a severe joint deformity that restricts motion; tissue is removed and the joints are repositioned. Syndactyly - a congenital condition where two or more fingers are fused together; a zigzag incision separates the two fingers. Skin grafting may be necessary.
Surgery of the bones and joints related specifically to the wrist and hand.
The field of hand surgery deals with both surgical and non-surgical treatment of conditions and problems that may take place in the hand or upper extremity (commonly from the tip of the hand to the shoulder). Hand surgery may be practiced by graduates of general surgery, orthopaedic surgery and plastic surgery. Plastic surgeons receive significant training in hand surgery, with some graduates continuing on to do an additional one year hand fellowship.