Hand, Wrist & Arm Care

Each hand contains 27 distinct bones and, like the foot, makes up one-fourth of all the bones in your body. This large number of bones and connecting joints is the reason we can move our hands so precisely. Most of us use our hands at nearly every waking moment, which can put a lot of stress on our hand bones and joints.

Diagnosing and treating hand, wrist and arm pain

A number of conditions or injuries can cause pain in the hand, wrist or arm. The first step in diagnosing your pain is to see one of our specialists. Your initial appointment will usually be with one of our orthopedic surgeons or sports medicine doctors. The doctor will complete a full evaluation of your symptoms and recent activities. Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI or CT scans may be necessary.

Finding the reason for your pain will help determine your treatment, as well as which providers will be part of your care team. Common hand, wrist and arm problems include:

Finger or wrist joint replacement

Similar to other forms of joint replacement surgery, finger or wrist joint replacement takes out a joint that has been damaged or deformed by injury or illness and replaces it with artificial components. These specially designed medical devices are typically made of ceramic, plastic or metal, and function exactly as your normal joints.

Finger joints

Finger joints are essential for many activities, and arthritis in this area can cause significant joint damage and deformity. Finger joint replacement can relieve pain from arthritis and improve motion at the joint. Joint replacement for fingers may be an option for older adults when other treatments have not been effective in relieving pain.

Wrist joints

Joint replacement surgery in the wrist is less common than knee or hip replacement, but can be an option if you have painful arthritis that does not respond to other treatments. In wrist joint replacement surgery, the damaged parts of the wrist bones are removed and replaced with artificial components called a prosthesis. The typical candidate for this surgery has severe arthritis but does not need to use the wrist to meet heavy demands in daily use.