Hand Surgery in Westchester County, NY

Hand surgery encompasses many surgical approaches to treat the hand for injuries, disease onset, or congenital defects like Dupuytren's contracture (thick, scar-like tissue pulling fingers toward palm, restricting motion). The common goal of these surgeries is to regain maximum use of the hand. Procedures aimed at meeting this goal correspond to the specific condition plaguing the patient and may involve grafting, flap surgery, replantation or transplantation.

Among the most common hand injuries requiring hand surgery are the following:

• Injuries to tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and joints
• Fractured bones
• Burns, cuts, and other injuries to skin
• Congenital defects

Candidates for Hand Surgery

Any individual who suffers from injuries, disease onset, or congenital defects to the hand may be a candidate for hand surgery. Most often such individuals experience pain and functional loss of the hand. More specific indications may include:

• Repetitive stress injuries
• Congenital malformations
• Injections
• Tumors
• Carpal Tunnel

What Happens During Hand Surgery?

If the plastic surgeon is conducting surgery to reconstruct an injured hand, he will focus on restoring function and appearance, a task that can be quite challenging depending on the extent of the injury. Once X rays and other medical testing are completed, the surgeon will proceed with one or more of the following surgical techniques: grafting, flap surgery, replantation or transplantation.

Grafting is used to transfer tissue from a donor site on the body to the wound site, including skin, bone, nerves, or other tissue. If the surgeon decides that the tissue to be transferred should have its own blood supply, flap surgery is conducted. Microsurgery may be used to anastomose, or connect, the blood vessels from the flap and the donor site, a technique that is conducted with magnification. Replantation or translantation are procedures administered for patients with amputated fingers, usually using microsurgery.

What Happens After Hand Surgery?

Most patients will experience some discomfort following hand surgery. To treat these symptoms, your plastic surgeon may prescribe pain medication and antibiotics to prevent infection. Special dressings may be applied to reduce swelling.

If you are interested in receiving more information about the risks and benefits of hand surgery, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Goldberg, please give us a call at 914-722-1600. You can find as at two convenient locations: Dobbs Ferry & Scarsdale in Westchester, New York.