Hand, Wrist and Elbow Care

At Roper St. Francis Healthcare Orthopaedics, you can see a hand, wrist, or elbow specialist without the need for a referral, usually within 24 to 48 hours. When you’re in pain you’ll be seen quickly, and your care team will use the latest technology to assess and treat your condition. When you visit one of our orthopedic specialists, you have access to the entire Roper St. Francis network of doctors and the region’s safest hospitals.

If you’re experiencing limited movement, pain or other physical symptoms in your hand, wrist or lower arm, our elbow and hand specialists can help. Injuries and other conditions we treat include:

Thumb and finger

• Dupuytren’s contracture, a condition where thickened tissue forms under the skin of the palm, causing the fingers to curl inward and making it hard to straighten them.
• Flexor tendon injuries, when the tendons that help bend your fingers are torn, often from a deep cut, making it impossible to bend one or more fingers.
• Mallet finger, tendon damage in the tip of your finger that leaves you unable to fully extend or straighten it, often after a “direct blow” injury.
• Thumb arthritis (carpometacarpal arthritis), a breakdown of cartilage at the base of your thumb that causes friction in the joint and possible bone spurs.
• Trigger finger, an inflammation of the tendons in your finger that makes it hard to fully extend and straighten the finger, which can feel like it's catching or locking in place.
  
  

Hand and wrist

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), caused by pressure on the median nerve in your wrist and can result in numbness, tingling, or pain in your hand and fingers.
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis caused by swelling of the tendons in the wrist that creates pain near the base of the thumb, especially when gripping or turning the wrist.
• Ganglion of the wrist, a fluid-filled lump called a cyst that forms on the wrist or hand. These cysts are usually painless but may cause discomfort or restricted movement.
• Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury, a tear in the stabilizing cartilage, soft tissue or ligaments in the wrist. This is often from damage caused by a fall or overuse and leads to pain, clicking sounds, weakness or instability in the wrist when gripping or twisting.
  
  

Elbow

• Bursitis, when the cushioning bursa sacs surrounding your joints become inflamed. This results in stiffness and swelling in your elbow or other affected joints such as the shoulder or hip.
• Cubital tunnel syndrome, also known as ulnar nerve entrapment, which occurs when the nerve along the inside of your elbow is compressed, resulting in numbness, tingling, or weakness in your ring and pinky fingers.
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) caused by the tendons on the outside of your elbow becoming damaged, usually from overuse and common in sports like tennis. This leads to pain and weakness in the elbow and forearm.
• Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), like tennis elbow but affecting the tendons on the inside of the elbow, causing pain in the wrist and forearm, often from repetitive gripping such as with a golf club.
  
  

Injuries

• Tendonitis or inflammatory irritation and swelling of the tendons around a joint, typically from overuse or sudden injury.
• Hand, wrist and elbow sprains caused by ligaments being stretched or torn, usually from unnatural stress on the joint such as twisting, overextension, or repetitive movements.
• Traumatic injuries or other fractures when bones in the hand, wrist, forearm, or elbow break or crack due to accidents that the bone such as car accidents, falls or sports injuries, or other underlying conditions affecting bone health such as osteoporosis.
  
  

We believe that surgery is sometimes the best option for a patient, but it is rarely the first option. Your orthopedic care team is committed to personalizing your treatment and focusing on the least disruptive path to restoring your pain-free range of motion.

Therapy and functional support

• Physical therapy and occupational therapy focus on improving range of motion, strength, functionality, and pain management. This includes tailored exercises and techniques advised by your therapist who will evaluate your progress throughout your care plan.
• Bracing and splinting immobilizes the affected area to reduce strain, support healing, or correct positioning. A cast will provide rigid immobilization for fractures or severe sprains and cannot be removed until treatment is complete. Slings and other support devices can be used for less strict stabilization during the healing phase of your injury.
• Ergonomic support can help with many conditions. Activity modification – avoiding certain activities to reduce stress on the affected area – and other lifestyle adjustments such as posture, lifting techniques, and ergonomic devices may offer relief for joint pain in your hand, wrist or elbow.
  
  

Medical treatments

• Injection therapy may be appropriate for your condition. Corticosteroid injections help reduce inflammation. Hyaluronic acid injections provide lubrication and cushioning for joints affected by arthritis. Biologic injections include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or stem cell therapies that promote healing in tendon or ligament injuries.
• Medication is a first treatment for many pain-related conditions, This can include oral anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other pain relievers, as well as topical gels or creams that can reduce discomfort.
  
  

Surgical interventions

If your condition is severe or is not responsive to alternative treatments, surgery may be appropriate. Surgical procedures can provide relief and restore function from injuries and chronic conditions such as a fracture, advanced arthritis, compressed nerve, or tendon rupture. Surgery will often be paired with rehabilitative therapy and other treatment methods to ensure a full recovery.