Upper extremities part: shoulder, elbows, hand, wrist, and arm are crucial in sustaining tone, facilitating fluid movement, and providing stability. Unfortunately, they are also susceptible to injuries that can lead to pain, numbness, and decreased strength and flexibility. Sometimes nonsurgical options cannot address these injuries meaning surgery might be necessary. Patients struggling to get their upper extremity injuries repaired can consider Upper Extremity Specialists. Before the surgery, your surgeon will evaluate your injury and determine the most effective surgery. The following are the most common surgical treatments for upper extremities injuries offered by upper extremity centers.
Elbow Arthroscopy
Elbow arthroscopy is a treatment procedure orthopedic specialists utilize to diagnose and treat complications inside your elbow joint. The procedure can also eliminate symptoms and restore the functionality of your elbow in a few incisions, with little pain and less recovery period. You should consider this surgical option if you are experiencing sports injuries, age-related wear and tear, infection, and arthritis. This procedure can diagnose the root of symptoms like stiffness, pain, declined motion, and swelling in your elbow joint.
Wrist Fusion Surgery
This surgery is responsible for fusing the bones in your wrist. In most cases, healthcare providers perform this surgery to address wrist fractures and wrist arthritis. The procedure is only ideal when other nonsurgical treatments cannot handle the condition. It may comprise a portion of the wrist or the entire wrist. Wrist fusion surgery facilitates reducing pain and surging the strength of your grip.
Shoulder Replacement
Shoulder replacement eliminates damaged sites of bone and replaces them with metal implants. The surgery is ideal for you if you are experiencing pain due to damaged shoulder joints. You should consider this treatment if you have complications such as osteoarthritis, rotator cuff injuries, fractures, and osteonecrosis. However, shoulder replacement can lead to complications, like nerve damage, implant loosening, dislocation, and rotator cuff failure.
Ganglion Cyst Removal
You will likely experience pain or declined movement whenever the lump presses on your nerve. The Ganglion cyst removal is done under general or local anesthesia. Before the surgery, your specialist will draw a line above the ganglion cyst to mark the region for incision. The provider numbs the treatment region during the procedure and cuts using a scalpel. Afterward, the specialist detects the cyst, cuts it, and stitches the part under the cut to allow the skin to heal.
Trigger Finger Surgery
This procedure is ideal for enabling your tendon to move easily. It is outpatient, meaning it does not need local or general anesthesia. Your doctor can only give a local anesthetic to numb the site. The provider then makes a small incision in the palm to eliminate the tendon sheath. After the surgery, your surgeon applies stitches to close the incision. Unfortunately, the surgery comes with some risks, including nerve damage, infection, swelling, pain, damage to your blood vessels, and numbness.
Although surgeries pose fear and anxiety, they are vital in addressing upper extremities injuries if other nonsurgical options like medications and injections are ineffective. It is important to consult your healthcare provider if your injury is causing pain and affecting your daily routines, like movement and stability. An orthopedic surgeon will perform an effective and keen surgical procedure to ensure you return to your pain-free activities.