Orthopedics

Hand & Wrist Care

Your hands have many moving parts that make them useful for almost any task. Their complexity also makes them vulnerable to a wide range of injuries. If you have pain or other symptoms, the experts at OSF HealthCare can help your wrist and fingers work and feel better.

Hand, Finger & Wrist Pain & Injuries

Your doctor will diagnose and prescribe treatment for hand conditions such as:

Arthritis – Joint pain due to cartilage breakdown (osteoarthritis) or an autoimmune illness (rheumatoid arthritis)
Broken wrist bone – Includes Colles fracture (distal radius fracture) and scaphoid fracture
Carpal tunnel syndrome – Numbness, weakness, pain or tingling due to a pinched wrist nerve
De Quervain's tenosynovitis – Pain and swelling at the wrist or base of the thumb due to tendon inflammation
Dupuytren's contracture – Thick knots of tissue in your palm that make your fingers stay bent toward the hand
Finger injuries and conditions – Includes gamekeeper’s thumb, mallet finger, jersey finger and trigger finger
Ganglion cyst (Bible cyst) – Fluid-filled, noncancerous lump
Tendonitis in the wrist – Swollen tissue that connects muscle to bone

Nonsurgical Care

Your treatment will likely start with conservative measures. They have a lower risk of side effects than surgery and usually don’t require a recovery period. You may benefit from:

Cortisone (steroid) injections for long-term treatment of painful inflammation
Cyst aspiration using a needle to drain fluid from a lump
Heat therapy to relax muscles and improve range of motion
Ice to ease pain and swelling
Skin creams that can numb pain
Splint or brace that supports an injured wrist or finger as it heals

Hand Therapy

Hand therapy at OSF HealthCare helps you gradually and safely recover the use of your wrist or fingers. With one-on-one guidance from a certified hand therapist, you’ll learn how to:

Do daily activities more easily and comfortably
Regain sensation in a numb hand or fingers
Restore strength, coordination and range of motion

Rehabilitation also helps your hand heal after a surgical procedure.

Hand Surgery

Sometimes, surgery is the best treatment for a hand injury. Your orthopedic surgeon will explain what to expect and take time to answer your questions, so you fully understand your care plan. Surgical procedures available at OSF HealthCare include:

Carpal tunnel release – Relieves painful pressure on your wrist’s median nerve
Cyst removal – Treats painful fluid-filled lumps on the skin
De Quervain's release – Eases pressure on tendons at the base of your thumb so they glide smoothly
Dupuytren’s contracture surgery (fasciotomy) – Divides thick cords of tissue to restore motion in your fingers
Fracture repair – Holds a broken bone in place so it can heal
Fusion surgery – Joins two bones to stop them from rubbing painfully against each other
Trigger finger release – Lets you flex or straighten your finger normally again

Least Invasive Approach for a Faster Recovery

Your hand surgeon will use the smallest possible incision so that you recover sooner, with less pain and scarring. Your procedure will likely take place on an outpatient basis, either in the surgeon’s office or one of OSF HealthCare’s surgery locations. That means you can return home the same day, without an overnight stay in the hospital.

Ask for a Referral

Ask your primary care doctor for a referral to an orthopedic doctor at OSF HealthCare. Need a primary care provider? Browse our directory.

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