Hand surgery, as offered by our team of plastic surgeons and hand surgeons in Düsseldorf, is a complex field, not only from the patient’s point of view, but also from that of the treating surgeon.
Diseases of the hand are often highly complex due to the variable symptoms.
In addition, there is often a simultaneous occurrence of several hand diseases on the same hand.
The close proximity of tendons, nerves, muscles and ligaments also places high demands on the surgeon in terms of hand anatomy. Even a minor puncture wound can quickly sever a tendon and nerve.
On the following pages, our Yuveo team from Düsseldorf explains some of the more common hand disorders in hand surgery in layman’s terms. The information is intended to facilitate your understanding as a supplement to a medical consultation with our plastic surgeons.
We hope you enjoy browsing through our pages.
We would be grateful for any suggestions.
Greetings from Düsseldorf!
Dr. Schumann-Averkiou and Dr. Schumann, your hand surgeons at the Yuveo Clinic in Düsseldorf
Contents
Yuveo Clinic
Special features of hand surgery
The close proximity of tendons, nerves, muscles, ligaments and bones in the hand is one of the things that makes hand surgery so demanding.
Overview of the best-known hand surgery topics and hand diseases that we treat in Düsseldorf.
The ganglion is also called a ganglion:
… and is a common clinical picture in hand surgery. Initially, a swelling, a small “lump” is visible, the size of which can change. Movement pain, which is occasionally accompanied by restricted movement, is not always present. If the leg is localized near a nerve, sensory disturbances can occur.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
… is one of the most common diseases in hand surgery. The operation for carpal tunnel syndrome is called carpal ligament splitting. This is not only one of the most common operations in hand surgery – including here in Düsseldorf – but also one of the most common operations in surgery.
The treatment of painful bursitis
… is performed by puncture or cortisone injection at the Yuveo Clinic if no pus is detected. So-called anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic drugs (NSAIDs) relieve pain and reduce swelling and irritation. Cooling, elevation and immobilization (plaster cast) are further important measures.
Snap fingers:
Patients who present to our clinic in the early stages of snapping finger often show pressure and/or movement pain in the area of the first ring ligament.
Later, movement and weight-bearing of the affected fingers becomes difficult and, in the final stage, no longer possible. At the beginning of the disease, the finger usually does not jump. In some cases, however, it can also be present without pain.
Tendonitis
… is certainly the most common hand condition that leads to a visit to a hand surgeon.
Tendon sheath inflammation is the occurrence of inflammation of the tendon sheath (tendon gliding tissue), usually as a result of overuse due to certain occupational or sporting activities.
Our Düsseldorf hand surgery team also observes tendonitis, which can occur as part of an injury (strain, contusion, etc.).
Tendovaginitis de Quervain = housewife’s thumb
… can be caused by overloading, tendon sheath irritation, tendon sheath inflammation and a certain individual tendency.
We will explain the clinical picture and the treatment options at our clinic in Düsseldorf.
Tennis elbow, tennis elbow
… Epicondylitis lateralis humeri, is an inflammation of the tendon origin of the forearm extensor muscles on the outer epicondyle (humeral cartilage) of the humerus, on the thumb side of the elbow joint. It is usually caused by occupational or sporting (e.g. tennis) overuse.
Frequently asked questions about hand surgery in Düsseldorf
What are typical diseases of the hand?
Hand surgery can be divided into different areas and diseases. You can see the most important ones here:
- Nerve compression syndrome – The most common nerve compression syndrome treated and operated on in hand surgery is carpal tunnel syndrome. Others: sulcus ulnaris syndrome, pronator teres syndrome,…
- Dupuytren’s disease
- Signs of wear and tear and overloading of joints (osteoarthritis) and tendons(tennis elbow, jumping finger)
- Hand tumor(ganglion, lipoma, …)
- Surgery of the rheumatic hand
- Congenital malformations (e.g. fused fingers = syndactyly)
- Infections (nail fold infection to inflammation of the palm)
- Injuries:
- Soft tissue
- Tendons
- Fractions
- Tapes
- Nerves
- Complex injuries with a combination of the above injuries
- Burns
What is Dupuytren's disease?
Dupuytren’s disease can lead to a curvature of the fingers due to a scar-like change in the palm.
Our Düsseldorf plastic surgeon Dr. Schumann-Averkiou will tell you what the causes are and how the treatment works.
Dupuytren’s contracture is a symptom of this disease, because the contracture means a flexion deformity of the affected fingers.
Which tumors of the hand are frequently operated on in Düsseldorf?
The enchondroma
… is a benign tumor of the bone and consists of cartilage.
In principle, it can occur on any bone. The exact cause of its occurrence is unclear. This cystic bone tumor can occur individually or in large numbers.
What distinguishes golfer's elbow from tennis elbow?
Golfer’s elbow is much rarer than tennis elbow. However, due to the proximity of the ulnar nerve, diagnosis and treatment is somewhat more complex.
If, after around six months of conservative treatment, the golfer’s elbow still shows no improvement or even worsens, our hand surgeons in Düsseldorf recommend surgery, depending on the symptoms.
What should you know about the thumb and its diseases?
Rhizarthrosis
… is also known as thumb saddle joint arthrosis, saddle joint arthrosis or simply thumb arthrosis in layman’s terms. (Medical term = carpometacarpal joint arthrosis)
As our Düsseldorf team will explain to you, there is often a hereditary predisposition to rhizarthrosis. Basic fractures of the 1st metacarpal with joint involvement can also lead to wear of the thumb saddle joint.
With the snap thumb
… This is a constriction of the thumb flexor tendon at the first ring ligament. In most cases, overuse causes tendinitis, which can be quite discrete but causes the tendon sheath of the thumb to swell. This rubs against the annular ligament that surrounds the tendon and leads to renewed swelling.
What happens when fingers grow together?
With syndactyly (syndactyly)
… are not fingers that have grown together, but fingers that have remained together during embryonic development.
The disease is caused by a lack of finger separation at the hand bud of the embryo.
Two or more fingers can be affected.
In which hand diseases are nerves constricted?
Sulcus ulnaris syndrome
… also known as cubital tunnel syndrome, is a nerve compression syndrome similar to carpal tunnel syndrome and Loge de Guyon syndrome.
Various factors can be involved in damage to the ulnar nerve.
Loge de Guyon syndrome
… is sometimes confused with sulcus ulnaris syndrome. How can the two syndromes be distinguished from each other and how is the syndrome treated?
Our hand surgeon will enlighten you. Similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, Loge de Guyon syndrome is caused by a constriction in a nerve lodge.
Here too, the actual cause often remains hidden. Occasionally, however, tendon sheath inflammation or a ganglion can be found.
How is follow-up treatment carried out in hand surgery?
The type and duration of aftercare in hand surgery in Düsseldorf depends on the extent of the disease and the procedure.
It also depends on individual wound healing, which is often associated with secondary conditions such as eating disorders, nicotine and alcohol consumption.
We will be happy to explain the details to you during your consultation at our Yuveo Clinic.
Leading symptoms in hand surgery
Thumb pain and joint pain
… are frequently complained about by patients in hand surgery. There are many possible causes and diagnoses. Here we present the most important reasons for thumb pain.
Wrist pain
… are frequently reported complaints, not only in hand surgery. The possible causes / diagnoses are also varied. In this article, we will present the most important reasons for joint pain.
The tingling sensation on the hand
… and also in other parts of the body is the result of nerve damage.
Nerve damage can be caused by pressure on the nerve, a bruise or damaging substances. Patients who are affected by this often complain of numb fingers or hands, or of numbness, formication and burning sensations. The discomfort is referred to in medicine as paraesthesia.
Anatomy of the hand
Hand anatomy:
Here you will find an overview of the anatomy of the hand, which is important in hand surgery. The muscles, tendons, bones and other structures are presented.
Wrist anatomy:
The structure of the joint is complex. Here we give you a brief overview of the structures, such as muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons and nerves.
Carpal tunnel:
How is the carpal tunnel, also known as the carpal canal, structured? Here you will find information on the anatomy that is important for carpal tunnel syndrome.
