Hand Injuries
Hand injuries are common and can involve a variety of structures such as the skin, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, bones and joints. Many injuries resolve in time but there are certain types that require interventional treatment.
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All Hand Injuries
Tendon injuries
Tendon injuries are the second most common injury seen in the hand. They are usually caused by a penetrating injury and if not repaired can result in severe functional loss. The tendons on the back of the hand are know as the extensors and those that bend the fingers are called the flexor tendons.
What are the flexor tendons?
The flexor tendons are strong smooth cords that connect the muscles of the forearm to the bones in the fingers and thumb. There are two to each finger and one for the... Read more
What are the extensor tendons?
The extensor tendons are strong smooth cords that straighten the fingers by connecting the muscles of the forearm and hand to the bones in the fingers and... Read more
What is it?
A mallet finger injury is a tear of tendon that straightens the end joint of the finger. It is often caused by catching the finger “end-on” during sport, but it... Read more
What is it?
Boutonnière deformity describes a posture of the finger in which the middle joint is bent down and the end joint is bent back. The usual cause is a stubbing injury of the... Read more
What is the EPL tendon?
The long extensor tendon to the thumb is called the Extensor Pollicis Longus (EPL). This tendon straightens the end joint of the thumb and also helps pull the thumb in... Read more
Hand fractures
Hand fractures are a common injury. The treatment is generally non-operative but there are certain types of fracture pattern that can only be managed by surgery.
What is a fracture ?
A fracture (break) can occur in any of the bones in the hand. Each bone is named (See diagram). The fracture can be simple (two fragments) or comminuted (many fragments). The... Read more
Hand joint injuries
Dislocations and sprains of finger or thumb joints can occur after a fall or whilst playing sport. Acute dislocations need to be reduced as soon as reasonably possilbe. Both injuries often result in stiffness which can take a long time to resolve.
Skier's thumb (Gamekeeper's thumb)
What is it?
This is an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpo-phalangeal joint. This is a strong ligament that supports the thumb when... Read more
What is a finger sprain ?
A sprain refers to an injury to the tissues surrounding and supporting a joint. This includes the ligaments and joint capsule. The ligaments are strong structures that... Read more
What is a dislocation ?
Dislocation of a joint means that the two surfaces are no longer in contact with each other. This can happen at any joint in the finger or thumb. The most common joint to... Read more
Volar plate injury
Other names: finger sprain, volar plate avulsion, bony volar plate injury ... Read more
Nerve injuries
Nerve injuries in the hand or wrist can result in loss of function and take a long time to recover. Early repair gives the best chance of recovery but depends upon the site of injury and its nature.
What is a nerve?
A nerve is like a telephone cable that provides services to a number of houses. There is an outer layer that protects the multiple thin inner cables (nerve fibres) that go to each... Read more
Other soft tissues
Wounds in the hand
Wounds in the hand range from simple grazes and lacerations of the skin to complex crush or cutting injuries, that involve nerves, muscles, tendons, and bones. Injuries to some... Read more
What is a nailbed injury?
The nail bed is the tissue underneath the fingernail which includes the underlying bone and the surrounding skin. Nailbed injuries range from bleeding under the... Read more
Wrist injuries
Wrist injuries are common either after direct trauma or over-use. Scaphoid and wrist fractures are typical after a fall onto an outstretched hand, but can be difficult to diagnose without complex imaging (e.g. CT or MRI scans). Equally, some wrist injuries involve ligaments, that can take some time to heal.
What is a wrist sprain?
The wrist is the most complex joint in the body. It is comprised of multiple bones and ligaments (fibrous tissues that hold the bones together). Several muscles are... Read more
The staff of the BSSH Offices are not medically trained and cannot give advice about medical conditions.
You should contact your consultant, GP or Specialist Nurse for medical advice in the first instance.