Who is a hand surgeon?
Hand surgeons are healthcare specialists who diagnose and treat injuries or conditions affecting the hands. Hands consist of 27 bones, including carpals (wrist), metacarpals (palm), and phalanges (thumb and fingers). They also have flexors and ligaments holding these bones together. Hand or upper extremity surgeons can treat injuries to the nails, ligaments, muscles, tendons, joint bones, or nerves of the hand, elbows, or forearms.
Hand surgeons handle conditions that hinder the functioning of hands and wrists and can reduce pain during disorders like arthritis. They can be general, plastic, or orthopedic surgeons and treat children and adults. They can reattach severed hands or fingers and fix trigger fingers and fractured hands.
Education and training of hand surgeons
Aspiring hand surgeons must complete their science graduation before enrolling in a four-year medical school. They then receive clinical training in a residency program where they may choose one of three specialties - plastic surgery, general surgery, or orthopedic surgery. They can further pursue a one-year accredited fellowship program. To gain certification, they must pass a rigorous examination in the subspecialty of hand surgery.
Different kinds of hand surgery
Hand surgeries differ based on the problem and its cause. A few types of procedures that hand surgeons perform are:
Replantation involves tiny tools and a microscope to reattach a separated finger, toe, or hand. The aim is to restore as much function as possible in the severed body part with the help of microsurgery.
Surgical drainage or debridement involves removing pus from an infection or wound. Severe cases may require debridement to clean contaminated or dead tissue.
Joint replacement: Arthroplasty can help replace joints destroyed by arthritis or severe injuries. Surgeons can use your tendon or tissue to replace damaged joints or substitute artificial ones made from rubber, silicone, metal, or plastic.
Fasciotomy: Fasciotomy involves making an incision or cut on your arm or hand to reduce swelling that may obstruct blood flow.
Nerve repairs: Nerve repairs help reattach severed nerves or use nerves from other body parts to replace damaged ones.
Tendon repairs: These surgeries repair severe damage to tendons that attach muscle to the bones.
Closed reduction and fixation: They help realign a bone fracture in the finger or hand with casts, splints, wires, or rods.
Skin flaps and grafts involve replacing damaged or disfigured skin with skin from another part of the body. In the case of flaps, the skin taken includes its blood vessels and fat.
Why should you visit a hand surgeon near you?
It would be helpful to visit a hand surgeon for conditions such as trigger fingers, nerve or tendon injuries, ganglion cysts, carpal or cubital tunnel syndrome, fractures, infections, and arthritis. You can consult them if you experience a limited range of motion, swelling, or bruising around the wrists and hands or have trouble using them for daily activities. Hand surgeons also tend to conditions affecting the elbows, such as dislocations, fractures, arthritis, and tennis and golfer's elbow.
What to expect at a hand surgeon's appointment?
If required, your primary care provider or family doctor may refer you to a hand surgeon. During your visit, you should carry your medical records, X-rays, family medical history, and a list of medications, allergies, and current symptoms, along with their frequency.
The surgeon will analyze these details and enquire about previous surgeries or injuries. They will examine your forearms, wrists, and hands and take X-rays to detect the cause of your problem. They will then make a treatment plan to restore mobility and reduce or eliminate any pain.
Hand surgeons don't always recommend surgery because sometimes they can solve the problem through non-surgical methods. Most hand surgeons begin by offering non-surgical options such as physical therapy.
Tips to ensure that your wrist and hand stays healthy
As our lifestyle continues to become more sedentary, we become prone to injuries due to a lack of exercise and stretching. It also applies to our wrists and hands, primarily because most people work typing at their computers all day.
Did you know that your hands and wrists are the least likely body parts to get exercise and massage? Ignoring them can lead to discomfort or injury. Here are some ways to relax your wrists and hands:
Taking breaks: If you spend all day at your desk, your wrists will be overworked, especially if you don't use an ergonomic keyboard that allows them to sit in a more natural position. Take a break from typing every hour. You can use the stretching sequence mentioned below.
Stretching: There are several methods for stretching your wrists and hands, but this precise sequence will help you relax whenever and wherever you choose.
- Start by stretching your fingers and spread open your palms, facing down. Continue to stretch your fingers as far apart as you can.
- Then, flip your hands over while keeping your fingers stretched and flex your wrists toward the floor.
- Use your dominant hand to deepen the other's extension by pulling your fingers down. Repeat this step on the other side.
- Now, relax your fingers by flipping your hands back to the starting position and stretching them again.
- This time around, flex your wrists toward your body.
- Again, use your dominant hand to deepen the other's stretch by pulling it toward yourself. Repeat this step on the other side.
- To finish off the stretch, rotate your thumbs. Remember to move them both forward and then backward.
Self-massage: Your wrists and hands are some body parts that are easy to massage alone. If you suffer from a wrist or hand ache, consult a physical therapist on how often to massage. Otherwise, you can aim to do this activity at least twice a week or as and when they feel sore. Try to get every region of your wrists and hands, including your palms, the spaces between the fingers, and the sides of your wrists.
Remember to check your wrists and hands for potential aches and pains. If untreated, they can cause severe injuries over time.
Tips to improve bone health
Some of the various steps you can take to slow or prevent bone loss and keep them healthy include the following:
Adult men and women need about 1000 milligrams (mg) and about 1200 milligrams (mg) of calcium daily to maintain healthy bones. Low calcium levels can lead to early bone loss, reduced bone density, and increased fracture chances.
Milk and dairy products, broccoli, almonds, kale, salmon, sardines, and tofu are calcium-rich foods. Include these in your daily meals to improve your body's calcium levels and keep your bones healthy. If your diet lacks calcium-rich foods, you can take calcium supplements after consulting your doctor.
An inactive or sedentary lifestyle is detrimental to bones and increases the chances of osteoporosis. Daily physical activity or exercise helps maintain healthy bones and reduces bone loss. Climbing stairs, walking, cycling, or jogging for about 30 minutes to 1 hour is a great way to stay physically active. Gradually, you can move to weight-bearing exercises to increase bone strength.
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Adults need about 650 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily. Its deficiency can lead to various health ailments. Milk, cereals, eggs, mushrooms, tuna, whitefish, trout, and salmon are rich sources of vitamin D. Include these foods in your meals to keep your bones healthy. You can also seek supplements after consulting your doctor to fulfill the body's vitamin D requirements.
Various studies have proved that tobacco use in any form and alcohol consumption can lead to weaker bones. It even increases the chances of osteoporosis. Therefore, avoid alcohol and tobacco use to keep your bones healthy.
How can you find the best hand surgeons near you in Miami, FL?
Finding a hand surgeon who meets your unique requirements can be challenging. Zocdoc can help make this process easier by locating the best hand surgeon in your region.
You can conduct a symptom or location-based search, and Zocdoc's extensive healthcare directory will provide you with a list of the top-rated hand surgeons in Miami, Florida. Each listed specialist has a unique profile containing information about their training, affiliations, clinical interests, practice history, board certifications, specializations, and awards. You can filter these profiles according to your specific case requirements and access verified reviews from previous patients.
Zocdoc can also help you find in-network providers by entering your insurance details in the search box. If you are unable to locate your insurance plan, upload an image of your insurance card to your Zocdoc account, and we will find and display information regarding your plan (this facility is not available for vision or dental plans). You can even contact the Zocdoc service team if you need help uploading a photo of your card. You can also check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.
Once you have decided, you can instantly book an in-person or online consultation based on your chosen hand surgeon's availability.
With Zocdoc, all bookings with the top-rated hand surgeon near you become easy, safe, and free!
Statistics on Arthritis in Florida
A 2015 report by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand ranked Florida as one of the states with the highest number of active hand surgeons in the country.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.2 million people in Florida (21.5%) experienced arthritis in 2018. In Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties in Central Florida, the proportion of people with arthritis ranged from 11% to 25%. The rates in Lake County were higher, ranging from 29% to 31%. Additionally, around 43% of people in ten Florida counties, including Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, and Marion, developed arthritis that year.
Sources
Mayo Clinic Health System
WebMD
Cleveland Clinic
PubMed
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Johns Hopkins Medicine
OrthoInfo
Donjoy Store
Mayo Clinic
