Tendinitis is a condition in which the tendons become inflamed. Tendons are the structures that connect muscle to bone. Tendinitis can cause swelling, pain, and loss of function. Rarely it can lead to a rupture (or break) in the tendon.
Soft tissue masses, or tumors, are “lumps and bumps” that can occur in the skin, fat, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, or joints. A tumor is just an abnormal collection of cells that have grown too much. They can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). In most cases we do not know why they occur. It can be the result of trauma, radiation or chemical exposure, or even from viral infections. Some tumors are even genetic, meaning they have been passed down to you from your parents.
Osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by joint degeneration or “wear-and-tear” of a particular joint. This condition can cause deformity and pain. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, so my job is to help you minimize your symptoms and offer surgery only when conservative treatment has failed.
Numbness in the hand or arm is often caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, however there are other conditions that can result in numbness, tingling, and even pain. Any process that presses or “pinches” a nerve (compression neuropathy) can result in these similar findings and a surgical evaluation is warranted.
Nerves are like bundles of electric wires that conduct signals from a part of your body to your brain. These signals (or information) relate to pain, pressure, and temperature (hot / cold) sensations. Nerve injuries can result from being smashed, stretched, torn, or cut. Depending on the severity and type of injury, nerve injury can be complete and irreversible, or they can heal completely. Generally, nerves are very slow to heal and may take up to a year to finally declare their final long-term function.
Mucous cysts are benign cysts related to ganglions. They occur around the last joint or “knuckle” of the finger. They are usually associated with osteoarthritis or “wear-and-tear” arthritis and are not cancerous. They can be painful and result in changes to the fingernail. Rarely do they become infected, but if infected, it is theoretically an “infected joint” which is an urgent, if not emergent situation.
Mallet finger is a condition that results when the tendon responsible for extending or straightening the finger (extensor tendon) becomes damaged. This can occur when an object, often a ball, strikes the finger and injures the tendon. The tendon can rupture (break) or it can pull off a piece of bone from the last bone in the finger (distal phalanx) causing the end of the finger to droop. If this happens, the finger cannot be extended.
Ganglion cysts are a very common cause of “lumps and bumps” found in the hand and wrist. They can be found on either side of the wrist or hand and result from a collection of “joint fluid” escaping from a hole in the joint capsule. They can occur spontaneously or after trauma. Ganglions are not dangerous as they are benign (not cancer), and can be treated when painful or unsightly.
Fractures or a “broken bone” can affect the bones of the arm, wrist, or the small bones of the hand. A fracture can result following trauma, including a fall, a twist or torque, a crush injury, or from a direct blow as often seen in sports injury. Fractures may be closed, meaning the skin is not cut or broken. Fractures may also be open or “compound”, meaning the skin is broken. In this type of fracture bleeding is common and bone may or may not be visible. Diagnosing a fracture relies on visual inspection or looking at the injury, palpating or feeling the injury, and with X-rays.
Tendinitis is a condition in which the tendons become inflamed. Tendons are the structures that connect muscle to bone. Tendinitis can cause swelling, pain, and loss of function. Rarely it can lead to a rupture (or break) in the tendon.
Soft tissue masses, or tumors, are “lumps and bumps” that can occur in the skin, fat, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, or joints. A tumor is just an abnormal collection of cells that have grown too much. They can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). In most cases we do not know why they occur. It can be the result of trauma, radiation or chemical exposure, or even from viral infections. Some tumors are even genetic, meaning they have been passed down to you from your parents.
Osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by joint degeneration or “wear-and-tear” of a particular joint. This condition can cause deformity and pain. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, so my job is to help you minimize your symptoms and offer surgery only when conservative treatment has failed.
Numbness in the hand or arm is often caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, however there are other conditions that can result in numbness, tingling, and even pain. Any process that presses or “pinches” a nerve (compression neuropathy) can result in these similar findings and a surgical evaluation is warranted.
Nerves are like bundles of electric wires that conduct signals from a part of your body to your brain. These signals (or information) relate to pain, pressure, and temperature (hot / cold) sensations. Nerve injuries can result from being smashed, stretched, torn, or cut. Depending on the severity and type of injury, nerve injury can be complete and irreversible, or they can heal completely. Generally, nerves are very slow to heal and may take up to a year to finally declare their final long-term function.
Mucous cysts are benign cysts related to ganglions. They occur around the last joint or “knuckle” of the finger. They are usually associated with osteoarthritis or “wear-and-tear” arthritis and are not cancerous. They can be painful and result in changes to the fingernail. Rarely do they become infected, but if infected, it is theoretically an “infected joint” which is an urgent, if not emergent situation.
Mallet finger is a condition that results when the tendon responsible for extending or straightening the finger (extensor tendon) becomes damaged. This can occur when an object, often a ball, strikes the finger and injures the tendon. The tendon can rupture (break) or it can pull off a piece of bone from the last bone in the finger (distal phalanx) causing the end of the finger to droop. If this happens, the finger cannot be extended.
Ganglion cysts are a very common cause of “lumps and bumps” found in the hand and wrist. They can be found on either side of the wrist or hand and result from a collection of “joint fluid” escaping from a hole in the joint capsule. They can occur spontaneously or after trauma. Ganglions are not dangerous as they are benign (not cancer), and can be treated when painful or unsightly.
Fractures or a “broken bone” can affect the bones of the arm, wrist, or the small bones of the hand. A fracture can result following trauma, including a fall, a twist or torque, a crush injury, or from a direct blow as often seen in sports injury. Fractures may be closed, meaning the skin is not cut or broken. Fractures may also be open or “compound”, meaning the skin is broken. In this type of fracture bleeding is common and bone may or may not be visible. Diagnosing a fracture relies on visual inspection or looking at the injury, palpating or feeling the injury, and with X-rays.