Nerves carry messages between the brain and the rest of your body. Sometimes they are carrying signals to make a certain body part move, while at other times they relay information about pain or pressure to the brain. When nerves are damaged, compressed or cut due to a trauma, these functions are endangered, which may lead to loss of limb or digit functioning.
A cut to the nerve can cause it to no longer transmit signals, because the signal cannot jump through a gap in the nerve. Stretch injuries to the nerve can range from mild and temporary to a more severe, permanent injury.
Symptoms of Nerve Injuries
The signs and symptoms of nerve injuries may include:
- Numbness: Some nerves transmit sensation, so a nerve injury would cause some amount of numbness.
- Weakness: Some nerves give you the ability to move, so an injury to nerves that carry motor signals can causes a certain amount of weakness.
- Pain: This is frequently a symptom of nerve injury. The pain may occur anywhere along the course of the nerve, but it is most often experienced at the injury site.
Treatment of Nerve Injuries
If you have suffered a trauma which has resulted in a nerve injury in your wrist or hand, contact our office as soon as possible. Dr. Sammer will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the extent of the damage, and recommend the appropriate course of action. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, decreased range of motion and decreased grip strength. Although some nerve injuries can get better without help, other injuries will need to be repaired:
- Mild injuries: The nerve can usually repair itself, either within minutes or after a number of weeks.
- Broken nerve fibers or more severe injuries: The nerves can grow back to their muscle or skin areas, but this process may take several months. Surgery may be indicated depending on the type of injury and extent of damage.
- Cut nerve: When both the outer wrap and inner fibers of the nerve are cut, Dr. Sammer will typically perform a surgery to allow the nerve to heal correctly.
Dr. Sammer combines his comprehensive understanding of hand and wrist anatomy and physiology with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and surgical strategies to restore your sense of feeling, improve function and relieve pain.
Dr. Sammer’s Approach to Nerve Injuries
Dr. Douglas Sammer is board-certified and fellowship-trained, which distinguishes his training and credentials from many other doctors. He has advanced knowledge of hand, finger, wrist, and elbow plastic surgery, and utilizes the most advanced treatment techniques available today. A consultation and physical examination can help point a way to the best approach to dealing with your specific Nerve Injuries.Tendon injuries may come about as the result of an injury or accident. Common causes of tendon injuries can include deep cuts or gashes, sports injuries, bites, crushing injuries, bone fractures, or automobile and workplace accidents.
Symptoms of Tendon Injuries
A torn or cut tendon in the hand, wrist or fingers will make it impossible to bend one or more joints in the hand. In addition to pain and tenderness, common symptoms of tendon injury may include:
- An open injury, such as a cut
- Pain when a finger is bent
- Tenderness along the finger on the palm side of the hand
- Numbness in the fingertip
- Decreased strength and movement in the affected area.
Treatment for Tendon Injuries
If you have suffered a trauma which has resulted in a tendon injury in your wrist or hand, contact our office as soon as possible. Dr. Sammer will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the extent of the damage, and recommend the appropriate course of action. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, decreased range of motion and decreased grip strength.
Dr. Sammer may place your hand in a splint to protect the tendons, but they cannot heal if the ends are not touching. If the doctor determines that you have a cut or torn tendon due to the trauma, he may recommend a surgery to repair the damage. Because tendons tear in different ways there are different methods Dr. Sammer may use to repair them.
Dr. Sammer’s Approach to Tendon Injuries
Dr. Douglas Sammer is board-certified and fellowship-trained, which distinguishes his training and credentials from many other doctors. He has advanced knowledge of hand, finger, wrist, and elbow plastic surgery, and utilizes the most advanced treatment techniques available today. A consultation and physical examination can help point a way to the best approach to dealing with your specific Tendon Injuries.Common hand and wrist fractures include metacarpal or boxer’s fractures and scaphoid fractures. Fractures of the distal radius, or wrist fractures, are the most common injuries, and frequently result from a high-impact incident, sports injury or a fall.
Symptoms of Hand and Wrist Fractures
A broken wrist or broken hand might be indicated by the following signs and symptoms:
- Severe pain that might worsen when gripping, squeezing or moving the hand or wrist
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Bent wrist or crooked finger
- Stiffness or inability to move the fingers or thumb
- Numbness in the hand or fingers
If you think you might have a broken wrist or hand, contact our office immediately. Dr. Sammer will perform a thorough examination to determine the extent of the damage, and will recommend the appropriate course of action. Broken bones in the hands and wrist need to be evaluated quickly and set properly in order to restore full range of motion upon healing. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, decreased range of motion and decreased grip strength.
Many hand and wrist fractures are treated non-operatively with a cast or splint, but some do require surgery. Dr. Sammer treats fractures from the fingertips to the distal forearm, including finger fractures, hand and wrist fractures, and distal radius or ulna fractures. When surgery is required, treatment may involve the use of pins, plates or screws to stabilize the fracture and allow it to heal in the correct position, to maximize post-fracture functioning.
Dr. Sammer’s Approach to Hand and Wrist Fractures
Dr. Douglas Sammer is board-certified and fellowship-trained, which distinguishes his training and credentials from many other doctors. He has advanced knowledge of hand, finger, wrist, and elbow plastic surgery, and utilizes the most advanced treatment techniques available today. A consultation and physical examination can help point a way to the best approach to dealing with your specific Hand and Wrist Fractures.
