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Should I seek treatment for my finger that will not straighten?

I jammed my finger playing basketball a few weeks ago. I’ve rested my finger since then but still am unable to straighten my fingertip all the way. Should I seek medical treatment or is it just going to stay this way? Recent review of the literature suggests that you should go ahead and seek medical treatment. Even though it has been awhile since your injury you are still within the successful treatment time-frame. Your physician will more than likely refer you to a physical therapist ...

Soft Tissue Mallet Finger Injuries With Delayed Treatment

Delayed Treatment of Mallet Finger InjuriesMallet finger typically occurs with jamming your finger, like hitting a basketball with a straight finger, forcing it to bend when not expected. If the tendon that attaches near the base of your fingernail is unable to withstand this sudden force, it avulses or rips off of the bone creating a droopy fingertip. Unless this tendon is reattached somehow, you will never be able to straighten the tip of your finger again. Typically, this does not interfere...

Avoiding complications after finger dislocations

Three hand surgeons from well-known centers for reconstructive hand surgery presented a lecture on complications following dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. The lecture was given at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. This article is a written record of that instructional lecture.The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint is the middle joint of the finger. Dislocations of this joint can be very problematic. Every effort is made to preven...

Alternative Treatment for Hand Arthritis

If you are one of the many people who suffer from painful, degenerative arthritis of the hands, you may find the information in this article helpful. Two physicians from the Raleigh Hand Center (North Carolina) bring us up-to-date information on alternative treatment for this condition. Their focus is on recent evidence concerning the use of osteoarthritis-knee" class="alinks-link" title="Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate">glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in the treatment of hand osteoar...

Results From Around the World Treating Dupuytren's Contracture

Thirty-seven hand surgeons from around the world worked together over a period of years to gather data on the long-term results of using collagenase (Xiaflex) injection for Dupuytren's contracture. This report is a summary of their findings using recurrence rate as the main measuring stick for success/failure.Dupuytren's contracture is a fairly common disorder of the fingers. The condition usually shows up as a thick nodule (knob) or a short cord in the palm of the hand, just below the ring fing...

Getting Back to Work After Carpal Tunnel Surgery

The results of this study from the Hand and Upper Extremity Department at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston may be of interest to anyone with carpal tunnel syndrome. They took a look at type of work (desk versus manual labor) and its relation to return-to-work.The patients in the study had a small open incision surgery under local anesthesia to release pressure on the median nerve (the usual cause of carpal tunnel syndrome). Desk workers were able to return-to-work sooner than manual labo...

Successful Treatment of Thumb Arthritis

When you stop to think about how much you use your thumbs, it's easy to see why the joint where the thumb attaches to the hand can suffer from wear and tear. This joint is called the carpometacarpal or CMC joint. The CMC is the joint that allows you to move your thumb into your palm, a motion called opposition. The CMC joint is sometimes referred to as a "universal joint" because of the wide range of movements possible.The place where the CMC joint of the thumb attaches to the wrist is at the tr...

Acupuncture Works for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common problem affecting the thumb, hand, and wrist. Symptoms begin when the median nerve gets squeezed inside the carpal tunnel of the wrist. The result is a medical condition known as nerve entrapment or compressive neuropathy. Any condition that decreases the size of the carpal tunnel or enlarges the tissues inside the tunnel can produce the symptoms of CTS. This includes diabetes, kidney failure, rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, thyroid disease, and many oth...
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