About Hand Surgery
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Q) What is the difference between an orthopedic surgeon and a hand surgeon?
A) An orthopedic surgeon is a physician who specializes in treating the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons of the musculoskeletal system. A hand fellowship trained surgeon has additional training in the treatment of the hand, elbow and shoulder. At Round Rock Orthopaedics and Rehab all the surgeons are orthopaedic surgeons, and some have additional fellowship training or course training in the treatment specific to the hand.
Q) Can I have surgery on both hands at the same time?
A) There are few cases, endoscopic carpal tunnel releases and traumatic injuries to both hands that require urgent treatment, where bilateral surgery is recommended. However, in the situation where there is a choice and time is not critical, it is best to stage the procedures weeks apart to allow the patient to have one hand free without a dressing and with good strength as the operated hand recovers. This decision is a conversation between the physician and patient with all the benefits, risks and factors covered.
A) Once your insurance is approved and medical clearance is granted, the surgery can then be scheduled.
Q) What type of anesthesia is used for these hand procedures?
A) The patient is sedated and comfortable throughout all procedures. In some cases a local or regional nerve block with a mild sedation is given for the procedure and other times intravenous medications for general anesthetic is used to make the patient comfortable. Your surgical anesthesia will be discussed in detail with the physicians at Round Rock Orthopaedics and Rehab.
Q) What are the possible complications?
A) Although uncommon, complications do occur occasionally during or following hand surgery. Infections are the most common complication and these can be prevented with pre-operative and post-operative antibiotics and gentle exercises. Other complications can include: phlebitis (blood clots of a vein), excessive swelling or bleeding, damage to blood vessels or nerves, and instrument breakage are the most common complications, but occur in far less than 1 percent of all arthroscopic procedures.
Q) Is bleeding around the incisions after surgery normal?
A) It is not unusual to have some mild bleeding through the small incision areas, and the area should be kept dry and covered. Should this happen and you are at home, you should reinforce the dressing with more sterile gauze. However, if bleeding persists, contact the office.
Q) Can I go home immediately after surgery?
A) Generally speaking, many patients can go home the same day as their procedure. It is important to have a healthy spouse or close family member for driving and at home to help them during the initial days after surgery. For those unable to depend on family or close friends, staying at the hospital for one to two days is occasionally an alternative.
Q) What is the recovery time for most procedures?
A) Hand surgery can entail as simple a procedure as a carpal tunnel release or foreign body removal which would allow immediate near full use of the hand, or as complicated as a wrist laceration involving all tendons and nerves which can take up to a year for an adequate functional recovery. The wounds can take several days to week to heal. Although the wounds are small and pain in the joint may be minimal, it takes several weeks or longer for the joint to maximally recover. You should follow the specific activity and rehabilitation program suggested by your physician to speed your recover and protect future joint function.
