Common Questions About Hand Surgery

October 25, 2022 | By: Raleigh Orthopaedic Team

Hand surgery is an effective approach to treat injuries and diseases that cause pain and impair function, strength, and flexibility of your fingers, hand, and wrist. Your orthopedic Hand Wrist specialist may recommend surgery if you have one or more of the following conditions:

  • Your Hand Wrist pain continue despite nonsurgical treatments
  • You have lost normal function of your hand
  • You can no longer perform daily tasks or activities
  • If your condition or injury limits your athletic performance
  • Severe carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Advanced Hand Wrist arthritis

During your pre-operative consultation with an orthopedic specialist, you will receive information about your specific procedure and have the opportunity to ask questions in order to obtain a more thorough understanding of the process. We have shared a list of frequently asked patient questions that you may wish to ask during your appointment.

 

Am I a good candidate for this procedure?

Depending on your condition or injury, and the physician will determine which approach best fits your particular needs. However, you may ask the doctor to clarify why you are a good candidate for the selected procedure.

 

What happens during the procedure?

Some patients appreciate knowing the details of their upcoming procedure. If you fall into this category you may want to know the steps involved in the procedure, the tools used, anesthesia protocols, what kind of incisions are made and the size of any incisions. You will also want to inform your doctor of your medication use, allergies, and past surgeries, so there is a complete understanding of your health history.

 

What is the expected recovery period timeframe?

People heal at different rates. Therefore, healing timeframes may vary, even for patients who have undergone the same procedure. Your doctor will provide insight into your anticipated recovery period based on your condition or injury, age, activity level, health history, and ability to care for the wound site.

 

What are the risks and/or complications associated with this procedure?

Even safe and routine surgeries come with a set of possible complications. While these are often rare occurrences, it is important to understand the possible risks to avoid or address issues during and after surgery.

 

Will physical therapy be necessary after the procedure?

Physical therapy is an essential part of total patient care, especially when recovering from injury or surgery. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy sessions post-operation to alleviate pain by using therapeutic exercises which restore orthopedic functions and improve mobility after surgery.

 

Learn more about Raleigh Orthopedic Clinic

The Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic board-certified fellowship trained hand and upper extremity surgeons bring together many years of experience in diagnosing, managing and correcting various conditions, which can literally run from the fingertips to the elbow.

Treatment of the hand, wrist, and elbow is a highly specialized field that deals with a plethora of conditions and symptoms. Many of these hand, wrist and elbow conditions are treated with non-surgical approaches, such as medications, injections, and our on-site hand therapy department. However, when hand surgery is indicated, advanced procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and without a hospital stay.

Make an appointment with one of our orthopedic Hand Wrist doctors to get specialized treatment with a personal approach.

 

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The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.