Hand Conditions

Hand Conditions

Muskegon Surgical Associates’ board-certified physicians and experienced staff are dedicated to treating your hands, one of the most complex parts of the human body. Once we diagnose your condition, we’ll recommend the best course of action, from implementing simple measures like rest and splinting, to occupational therapy, corticosteroid injections, or surgery and post-op therapy. We’re pleased to be able to provide the full gamut of treatment options, close to home.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Definition Compressive neuropathy (damage/dysfunction) of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. Symptoms Numbness, tingling, pruritus (itching) and paresthesia (pins-and-needles) mostly at night but can progress to daytime symptoms. Typically gradual in onset and includes the thumb, index, long and thumb side of ring finger. Severe and untreated can result in loss of temperature sensation…

Dupuytren’s Contracture

Definition Dupuytren’s contracture, also known as Dupuytren’s disease, is a hand deformity that usually develops gradually. The condition causes the fascia, or layer of tissue beneath the skin, to become thicker and tighten, drawing the fingers into the palm. Symptoms Initially, a feeling of a lump or nodule of tissue in the palm Thick cords…

Basilar Thumb Joint Arthritis

Definition The joint at the base of the thumb, called the trapeziometacarpal joint, is a common point of arthritis and can become very painful when the cartilage surfaces get worn down. Thumb arthritis, or basilar arthritis, involves degenerative changes of the CMC (carpal metacarpal) joint and affects the trapezium bone at the base of the…

Trigger Fingers

Definition Stenosing tenosynovitis (inflammation) on the volar (palm) aspect of the hand that results in entrapment (stenosis) of the tendon within the tendon sheath/A1 pulley. Any finger, or multiple fingers, may be affected at the same time. Symptoms Pain, locking, catching or popping of one or more fingers across the metacarpophalangeal joint (joint at the…

Ganglion Cysts

Definition A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled cyst that usually develops in the wrist or hand, though some can occur in the ankles or feet. Ganglion cysts are noncancerous. Symptoms Some ganglion cysts do not cause any symptoms Some cysts cause pain if they press on a nerve, and some can restrict movement, depending on…

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Definition Insertional tendinopathies (tendon degradation/collagen breakdown) of the extensor tendon muscle groups of the backside of the forearm. This form of tendonitis is commonly known as tennis elbow (although most people with lateral epicondylitis have never played tennis). Symptoms Pain on the lateral (outside) aspect of the elbow with wrist extension. Pain that increases with…

Sports Injuries

Pronator Syndrome Definition Compressive neuropathy (dysfunction) of the median nerve at the level of the elbow that creates paresthesia (pins-and-needles) in the thumb, index, middle finger, and radial half (thumb side) of the ring finger. Symptoms Aching pain over the proximal volar aspect (inside or palm side) of the forearm. Includes sensory symptoms into the…

Tendon and Nerve Injuries

Wartenberg Syndrome Definition Compressive neuropathy of the superficial sensory radial nerve within the muscles of the forearm (brachioradialis and the extensor carpi radialis longus) that creates pain and paresthesia (burning or prickling sensation) over the thumb side (dorsal-radial aspect) of the wrist and/or hand. Symptoms Ill-defined pain over the back-side (dorsoradial) of hand Numbness, burning…

Hand Fractures

Definition A fracture is a break in a bone that can range from a hairline crack to an open fracture (a bone that has broken through the skin. A fracture in any one of the 19 bones in the finger, thumb and palm of the hand is called a hand fracture. Symptoms Pain, throbbing, swelling,…

Scapho-lunate Advanced Collapse (SLAC)

Definition Advanced arthritis of the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints due to progressive instability/dissociation between the scaphoid and lunate (carpal) bones. Symptoms Dorsal (top side) wrist joint pain localized over the region of the scapholunate interval. Progressive wrist stiffness and weakness. Increased pain with weight bearing across the wrist (push-up activity). Pathology Chronic ligament instability between…

de Quervain Syndrome

Definition Inflammation of two tendons (abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis) and associated synovial membranes on the thumb side of the wrist (tenosynovitis). Symptoms Radial (thumb side) wrist pain that increases with extended activity. Increased pain with grasping and lifting. Pathology Shearing (friction) forces create inflammation and thickening of the extensor retinaculum (band shaped…

Intersection Syndrome

Definition Tenosynovitis (inflammation) of tendons (extensor carpi radialis brevis and extensor carpi radialis longus) and synovial membranes located on the thumb side in the second dorsal compartment of the wrist. Symptoms Pain and swelling on the thumb side about 4-6 cm up from the wrist joint on the dorsal (back) aspect of the wrist. Often…

TFCC Injury

Definition The TFCC (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex) is soft tissue that surrounds and stabilizes the DRUJ (distal radioulnar joint). It consists of a wedged shaped central disk and superficial and deep radioulnar ligaments. Symptoms Ulnar-sided (little finger side) wrist pain Increases with forearm rotation and gripping Pain can be deep and aching in quality Pain may…

Ulnocarpal Impaction/Abutment

Definition Pain with ulnar deviation or loading activities associated with degenerative radiographic changes of the ulnar head and/or lunate/triquetrum and ulnar positive variance (increased ulnar length). Symptoms Ulnar sided wrist pain at the DRUJ (distal radioulnar joint). Increases with ulnar deviation, loading, gripping and/or pronation activities. Pathology Pathological changes due to impaction of the distal…

Boutonniere Deformity

Definition Disruption of the central slip/band that creates a flexion posture of the proximal interphalangeal joint (middle joint) with concurrent hyperextension posture of the distal interphalangeal joint (furthest joint) due to pathology at the central slip and triangular ligaments. Symptoms Pain and deformity of the finger Inability to flex the DIP (tip) of finger and…

Amputations and Prosthetics

Definition Amputation is the removal, by accident or injury, of a body part. A prosthetic is an artificial body part that replaces some of the function and appearance of the missing part. Pathology Traumatic injury is the most common reason for amputation Other times a finger or hand must be amputated due to infection, tumor,…