Hand surgery might be just about the last thing that comes to mind when medical procedures are mentioned. Your hands, however, play a vital role in your life. Just think about it. Fortunately, most hand issues can be dealt with surgically.
There are a number of reasons why you may need hand surgery. Some of the most common reasons include arthritis, hand trauma, infections, or severe pain. Each of these ailments requires a different type of procedure. The most common types are listed below.
Although your hands can do amazing things, trauma can occur when you overdue it. The pain and agony you feel is tendon damage. Like a rubber band, tendons stretch, but only so far. Tendon surgery is well understood, but it can take three to five weeks to recover.
Joint replacement surgery is another type that many patients suffering from arthritis undergo. This surgery consists of replacing a natural, non-functioning, joint with an artificial one. Various materials including metal, silicone rubber, and plastic are used in this type of procedure.
Ever spilled something hot on your hands? If it is hot enough, it will burn your skin. Surgeons use skin grafts to help you heal. The burnt skin is removed and the grafts placed on the area. Your blood circulation then helps them heal as part of your hand.
Everybody knows someone who has lopped of a finger accidently. Replantation surgery is the medical term for putting those fingers back on. If the finger is lost or cannot be used, artificial ones are often used that will look a bit off, but work like a normal finger.
Plastic surgery even has procedures tailored to hands. Ugly veins, skin issue and the like can all be addressed. This is a relatively new and specialized field, so make sure the surgeon you are using has plenty of experience so nothing goes wrong.
If you are a candidate for reconstructive hand surgery, you should know that complications from this type of surgery are minimal. Almost all patients recuperate from these procedures without any trouble at all. The good news is that you will have the use of your hands once this surgery has been completed.