Elective Emergency Hand Surgery in Houston, TX

Q: What conditions are treated with elective hand surgery?

Elective hand surgery may be recommended for burn reconstruction, congenital hand deformities such as fused, extra, or missing digits, tendinitis including De Quervain's tenosynovitis, skin and soft tissue tumors, Dupuytren's contracture, ganglion cysts, trigger finger, and compression syndromes such as carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome.

Q: What situations require emergency hand surgery?

Emergency hand surgery may be necessary for fractures, tendon injuries, nerve injuries, artery injuries, fingertip injuries, and other traumatic hand injuries. Prompt treatment is important to preserve hand function and reduce the risk of permanent damage.

Q: What procedures are commonly used in hand surgery?

Common hand surgery procedures include skin grafts for burns or amputations, tendon repair, nerve repair, closed reduction with fixation for displaced fractures, and joint replacement surgery for arthritis. The appropriate procedure depends on the specific injury or condition and its severity.

Q: Why is timing important for tendon and nerve injuries?

Early treatment is critical for tendon and nerve injuries. Tendon repair is ideally performed within 24 hours of injury to improve outcomes, while nerve repair is often performed as soon as possible because damage to the major nerves of the hand can result in reduced function, limited range of motion, or permanent disability if left untreated.

What is Elective Emergency Hand Surgery?

Hand surgery is performed to restore the structure and functionality of the fingers, wrist and hand secondary to a traumatic injury, medical condition, severe infection, or birth defect causing pain and/or deformity of the hand. It is performed by trained and certified plastic surgeons. The surgery is done either as an emergency procedure or as an elective procedure depending on the condition and its severity.

(713) 794-3307

Request An Appointment

Indications for Elective Emergency Hand Surgery

Conditions for which elective hand surgery is performed include:

Burn reconstruction
Congenital deformities such as fused digits, extra digits and missing digits
Tendinitis, an inflammation of the tendons, including De Quervain’s tendinitis of the thumb, flexor and extensor tendonitis of the wrist
Tumors of the skin, soft tissue or bone
Dupuytren’s contractures
Ganglion cysts
Trigger finger
Compression syndromes e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, distal ulnar tunnel syndrome and pronator syndrome

Conditions that may require emergency hand surgery include:

Fractures
Tendon injuries
Nerve or artery injuries
Fingertip injuries
Other accidental injuries

Discover Your Ortho Options

Book An Appointment

(713) 794-3307

Elective Emergency Hand Surgery Procedures

Some of the most common procedures used for the treatment of these conditions and injuries include:

Skin grafts: This involves the use of healthy skin from an area of your body to cover or resurface the injured area. This is most commonly used for burn reconstruction and amputation of fingers.
Tendon repair: This is used for the management of ruptured tendons caused by trauma or sports injury. Preferably, the surgery is performed within 24 hours of the injury, as early surgery is associated with better outcomes.
Nerve repair: This is a complex surgery performed immediately after a nerve injury, as damage to any of the three main nerves of the hand may lead to limited use or hampered range of motion of the hand including the fingers and the wrist. It may also result in permanent disability.
Closed reduction and fixation: It involves the realignment of the bones of the hand with the help of rods, wires, splints and casts. It is used for fractures with completely displaced and/or crushed bones.
Joint replacement: This involves the replacement of the joints in the fingers and the wrist with a new joint made of silicone rubber, a portion of your tendon or a plastic or metal implant. This is usually indicated for osteoarthritis or traumatic arthritis of the hand to relieve pain and restore function in the affected hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between elective and emergency hand surgery?

Hand surgery restores the structure and function of the fingers, wrist, and hand after a traumatic injury, medical condition, infection, or birth defect. Whether it is done as an emergency or as a planned elective procedure depends on the specific condition and its severity.

What conditions are treated with elective hand surgery?

Elective procedures address conditions such as burn reconstruction, congenital deformities (fused, extra, or missing digits), tendinitis including De Quervain’s, skin or soft tissue tumors, Dupuytren’s contractures, ganglion cysts, trigger finger, and compression syndromes like carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome.

What situations require emergency hand surgery?

Emergency hand surgery may be needed for fractures, tendon injuries, nerve or artery injuries, fingertip injuries, and other accidental injuries. Prompt treatment helps preserve hand function and prevent lasting damage.

What procedures are commonly used in hand surgery?

Common procedures include skin grafts (often for burns and amputations), tendon repair, nerve repair, closed reduction and fixation for displaced fractures, and joint replacement for arthritis. The right procedure depends on the type and severity of the condition or injury.

Why is timing important for tendon and nerve injuries?

Tendon repair is preferably performed within 24 hours of injury, as early surgery is linked to better outcomes. Nerve repair is done immediately after injury because damage to the hand’s main nerves can lead to limited use, reduced range of motion, or even permanent disability.

Randy Y. Luo, MD, MBA

Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Hand & Upper Extremity Specialist

View Profile