Hand is a delicate structure consisting of bones, joints, tendons, nerve vessels and connective tissue. Injury or inflammation in any of these structures can lead to pain. The most common ones include:

• Arthritis 
• Nerve compression
• De Quatrain’s tenosynovitis
• Ganglion cyst
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Trigger finger
• Tendinitis

 

ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS

These vary according to the structure involved and may include:

• Swelling
• Restricted movements
• Numbness
• Redness 
• Obvious deformity

TREATMENT

For any kind of hand pain, seek advice from a hand surgeon. The treatment will depend upon the diagnosis and can be conservative or surgical. 

Conservative management usually revolves around painkillers, resting and elevation. 

Minimally invasive procedures like steroid injections. 

Surgical management is the removal of the causative agent. 

Most of the patients who need conservative management are treated in outpatient departments while those requiring surgery usually can be treated in day care. 

COMPLICATIONS

• Pain
• Stiffness 
• Restricted movements 
• Infection
• Need for multiple procedures

OUTCOMES

With the help of good hand therapy and proper timely management the pain subsides in a few weeks’ time along with good hand function.

LONG TERM EFFECTS

Some of the conditions like arthritis might lead to obvious deformities of hand and restriction of movements. 

 

Written by :  Dr. Batool Urooj

Copyrights: Pakistan association of Plastic Surgeons