Wrist

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in your wrist that is due to inflammation in the canal where the median nerve rests. This inflammation creates pressure. When the pressure on the nerve becomes great enough to disturb the way the nerve works, then numbness, tingling, and pain may be felt in the hand. The goals of treatment are to decrease the inflammation and pressure in the canal.

WRIST FRACTURE (DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURE)

The radius is one of two bones in your forearm. When holding your hands out in front of you with palms up, the radius is the bone on the outside or on the side your thumb is pointing to. . The distal radius is the end of this bone that connects with the wrist. This bone may break from falling on an outstretched hand. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and/or weakness with wrist movement. The goal of treatment is to realign the bone to allow for proper bone healing and wrist function.

GANGLION CYSTS

Ganglion cysts are very common lumps within the hand and wrist that occur adjacent to joints or tendons (cords that connect muscle to bone). The most common locations are the top of the wrist, palm side of the wrist, base of the finger on the palm side, and top of the end joint of the finger. It often resembles a water balloon on a stalk, and is filled with clear fluid or gel. These cysts can often be observed or removed if causing pain.

KIENBOCK’S DISEASE

Kienbock’s disease is a condition where the blood supply to the lunate (one of the small bones of the wrist), is interrupted. Bone requires a regular blood supply for nourishment in order to survive. If the blood supply is halted, the bone can die. This bone death is called osteonecrosis. Damage to the lunate can cause a stiff painful wrist and, over time, can lead to arthritis. The goals for treating Kienbock’s disease are to relieve the pressure on the lunate and to attempt to restore blood flow within the bone.

TFCC TEARS – TRIANGULAR FIBROCARTILAGE COMPLEX TEAR

The triangular fibrocartilage complex is a cartilage structure that cushions the small wrist bones and is located on the small finger side of the wrist. It also keeps the ends of the two bones in the forearm (the radius and the ulna) stable when the forearm rotates or when the hand grasps an object. Symptoms of a TFCC tear include pain on wrist movement from side to side, pain at the base of the small finger side of the wrist, swelling, and/or loss of grip strength.