Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Overview More common among women than men, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which your body attacks the joints, starting as painful swelling in the hands and feet. Though it primarily affects people older than 40, it can strike at any age. And while there is no cure, treatment for […]
So, you’ve injured your wrist and it might be a distal radius fracture—a common issue when you take a tumble and land on your outstretched hand. What Is A Distal Radius Fracture? A distal radius fracture, occurring near the wrist in the largest forearm bone, is a common injury typically caused by falls onto an […]
If you have taken a fall on an outstretched hand with the palm facing down, you might have injured the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC). The TFCC provides stability to the wrist bones, acts as a shock absorber and helps the wrist to move. Gymnasts, athletes and those with repetitive strong forces on the wrist are […]
A scaphoid fracture refers to a fracture of the wrist—specifically the bone shaped like a boat, which is why it is often called a “ship” fracture. A fracture of this bone can result from falling on an outstretched arm, sustaining a direct blow to the wrist or receiving a severe twist of the wrist. A […]
Understanding Thumb Injuries in Skiers What is Skier’s Thumb? Thumb injuries are quite common, especially among skiers. Skiers’ thumb is an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb, often occurring when a skier falls and the thumb catches on the ski pole. This ligament normally keeps the thumb from pointing too far […]
Getting a Grip on Extensor Tendon Repair When you think about your hands and all the things they allow you to do every day — from picking up a coffee cup to typing on a keyboard — you might not realize how much you depend on tiny, powerful structures called extensor tendons. Extensor tendons allow […]
Skiing falls can often cause injury to the inner ligament of your thumb, caused by the force of the pole against this area of the hand during a fall. This area, a band of fibrous tissue connecting the bones at the bottom of the thumb, is known as the ulnar collateral ligament. This injury is […]
Flexor tendon surgery involves the tendons in charge of bending the fingers or thumbs into the palm of your hand. These tendons let you grip a pencil and hold a fork and knife. That is why your hand must be allowed to heal properly after flexor tendon surgery. The awkward-looking splint you have to wear […]
You hear the crack of the bat and see the ball coming your way, but when you reach for the catch, the ball jams your outstretched middle finger. You’ve just caught baseball finger, also known as mallet finger. Mallet finger can result from any situation in which the tip of the finger is jammed by […]
The Light at the End of the Carpal Tunnel What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) affects as many as one in 20 Americans. It occurs when the median nerve—the nerve that controls movement and sensation in the palm of the hand, thumb, and fingers—is compressed as it travels through the carpal tunnel. […]