The human hand and wrist consist of 29 bones called phalanges, metacarpal, carpals, radius, and ulna. It is one of the most complex parts of the body and about 25% of the motor cortex in the human brain is dedicated to control of the muscles of the hand and wrist.

Our board-certified/eligible physicians specialize in the complicated arrangement of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons that make up the structures of the hand. Our doctors’ hand and upper extremity expertise is in nerve compression, overuse, repetitive injuries, sports injuries and arthritis of the upper extremity.

Common Conditions that Affect the Hand and Wrist

• Tendinitis 
  • Flexor  tendonitis
  • Extensor tendonitis
• Compressive peripheral nerve neuropathy
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Ulnar tunnel syndrome
• Trauma
  • Finger and wrist dislocations
  • Fractures of carpal bones (Scaphoid)
  • Distal radius fractures
  • Digital nerve injuries
  • Finger flexor and extensor tendon injuries
• Trigger finger
• Ganglion cyst
• Dupuytren’s contracture
• Kienbock’s disease
• Arthritis of the Hand
• Arthritis of the Wrist
• TFCC tear

Conservative Treatment Options for Hand and Wrist Pain

Your doctor will start with obtaining a detailed history of your condition with special attention to the severity and duration of your symptoms. Our experts will conduct a thorough examination of your hand and wrist, and recommend the best treatment options. In many cases, conservative treatment is the first treatment we offer and in others (such as fractures and dislocations) surgical treatment may be the only option to consider.

Here are some modalities of conservative non-operative treatment to the hand and wrist conditions:

• X-rays, EMG, MRI examination
• Local injections of:
  • Tendon sheath, carpal tunnel with steroid and local anesthetic
  • Intra-articular injections of the small joints in the hand and wrist 
• Immobilization with removable brace or a cast
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation

Surgical Treatment Options for the Painful Hand and Wrist Pain

Here at the Long Beach-Lakewood Orthopedic Institute, the welfare of our patients is our #1 priority. When conservative treatment fails or if surgery is the treatment of choice, our surgeons will discuss with you in detail the available surgical options and recommend to you the most appropriate procedure.

Here are some of the examples of these procedures:

• Arthroscopic wrist surgery
• Wrist ligament repair – intercarpal ligament, TFCC
• Carpal tunnel release
• Ulnar tunnel release
• Open reduction and internal fixation for hand and wrist fractures
• Arthrodesis of wrist and small joints in the hand
• Proximal row carpectomy
• Metacarpophalgeal joint arthroplasty
• Thumb CMC arthroplasty
• Excision of hand and wrist ganglion cyst