Unlike most surgical specialties, hand surgery is a regional specialty. Rather than dealing with a particular type of tissue, physicians in our Hand Surgery section deal with all tissues in the region of the body referred to as the upper extremity. The proper function of the hand depends on the interrelationship of many types of tissue; nerve, tendon, muscle, bone, ligament, vascular and skin. All of these components must work properly for the hand to meet the high demands of the individual. The physician must have the technical skill to work with each of these tissues and an understanding of their interrelationships. The treatment of injuries–arthritis, tumors, nerve compression, congenital deficiencies and acquired problems–can only be safely undertaken when there is knowledge of these interrelationships, the problem and the biomechanics of the hand. The hand surgeon has advanced training in all these complex aspects of the upper extremity.
Physician Services
At Lahey, our hand surgeons have advanced training and expertise that enables them to treat complex problems of the upper extremity. Areas of particular interest include:
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Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
Carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve compression syndromes
Dupuytren's disease
Acute and post-traumatic reconstruction
Nerve and tendon repair
Fractures of the hand and wrist
Ligament injuries of the hand, elbow and wrist
Tumors: skin, other soft tissues, bone
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- Wrist and elbow arthroscopy
- Total elbow replacement and contractures
- Microvascular surgery with free tissue transfer
Hand Therapy Services
Our occupational therapy team includes fully certified hand therapists who have had extensive training and experience in the care of upper extremity problems. They work closely with members of the Hand Surgery section to maximize the function of each patient. Specific services available from our hand therapists include:
- Custom splinting: dynamic, static
- Edema control
- Therapeutic exercises and strengthening
- Thermal/electrical modalities
- Range of motion and joint mobilization
- Computerized work simulator
- Wound care and scar management
- Ergonomic evaluation and education
- Evaluation of activities of daily living and adaptive equipment
