Hand and Wrist Problems

Fractures

The most common wrist fracture is a break at the lower end of the radius, the forearm bone on the thumb side (distal radius fracture). Fractures of the hand bones (metacarpals) and fingers are also common. Most fractures that have not shifted heal in a cast or splint; displaced fractures or those that extend into a joint may need surgery.

Tendon and nerve injuries

If a finger will not bend or its tip feels numb after a cut from glass, a knife or metal, a tendon or nerve may have been divided. These injuries do not heal on their own: for the best result they need prompt assessment and repair, followed by hand therapy.

Nerve compression and tendon-sheath problems

Common causes of pain, numbness, locking or a lump that appear without an injury include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome: a trapped nerve at the wrist, causing numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers, often at night
• Trigger finger: a finger that catches, locks or clicks straight when it bends
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis: pain on the thumb side of the wrist, worse with thumb movement
• Ganglion cyst: a fluid-filled lump on the wrist or finger, usually painless

What are microsurgery and replantation?

Microsurgery means repairing blood vessels and nerves that are only a millimetre or two wide, under an operating microscope, using stitches finer than a hair. Replantation is the reattachment of a completely severed finger or hand by repairing its bone, tendons, vessels and nerves.

If a finger is severed, wrap the part in moist gauze, place it in a sealed bag, put the bag in iced water (ice should not touch the tissue directly) and go straight to the emergency department.

Patient guides on hand and wrist problems

The guides below are based on current guidelines and peer-reviewed research, with sources listed at the end of each article. They are for general information and do not replace an examination.