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Hand

Hand and finger problems grouped by theme — tendons, nerves, arthritis, lumps and cysts, infections and injuries — with each condition beside the operation that treats it.

Understanding your hand

¿Cómo funciona su mano? Hand anatomy – bones of the wrist, palm, and fingers – understanding the structure supports diagnosis. Open →

Tendon problems

Dedos en gatillo Trigger finger causes painful catching or locking of a finger, often treated with splinting or steroid injection. Open → Liberación de dedo en gatillo Trigger finger release — understanding the condition, conservative treatments, and surgical options for a stuck or clicking finger. Open → Dedo en martillo Mallet finger causes fingertip drooping after extensor tendon injury; splinting is key, surgery occasionally needed. Open → Dedo de Jersey (avulsión del tendón flexor) The deep flexor tendon avulses off the fingertip — why it is time-critical, and the surgery to reattach it. Open → Ruptura de la banda sagital (nudillo del boxeador) A knuckle injury where the tendon slips off the top of the joint — the "boxer's knuckle" — and how early splinting or surgery treats it. Open → Deformidad en forma de botón Extensor central-slip injury at the middle finger joint; early splinting prevents the zigzag deformity, established cases need surgery. Open → Deformidad en forma de cuello de cisne del dedo A finger that hyperextends at the middle joint and bends at the tip — why it happens and how splints or surgery can correct it. Open → Reparación del tendón extensor Open → Reparación de tendones flexores Open →

Nerve problems & repairs

Neuropatías por compresión Hand numbness, tingling, or weakness – understanding carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, and other compression neuropathies. Open → Lesiones de tendones y nervios de la mano Hand tendon and nerve injuries – understanding symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. Open → Rellenar el enrollado nervioso Open →

Arthritis & joint replacement

Artritis basal del pulgar Basal thumb arthritis — causes, symptoms, non-surgical options, and when surgery might help. Open → Trapeziectomía Open → Artroplastia del pulgar por contacto Open → Artroplastia con interposición de pirocarbono Open → Artritis de la articulación interfalángica distal Open → Fusión de la articulación interfalángica distal DIP joint fusion stabilizes and reduces pain in the fingertip joint, often for arthritis or mallet finger. Open → Artritis de la articulación interfalángica proximal Osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis of the PIP joint — non-operative and surgical options. Open → Fusión de la articulación PIP PIP joint fusion stabilizes a severely damaged middle finger joint, relieving pain when other treatments fail. Open → Reemplazo de la articulación PIP PIP joint replacement addresses painful arthritis in the middle finger joint when non-surgical options fail. Open → Reemplazo de la articulación interfalángica (MCPJ) Open →

Lumps, cysts & Dupuytren's

Enfermedad de Dupuytren Dupuytren’s disease causes palm thickening and finger contracture—options range from observation to needle aponeurotomy or surgical excision. Open → Fasciectomía de Dupuytren Dupuytren’s fasciectomy — correcting hand contractures to improve function and daily activities. Open → Quiste mucoso Mucous cysts – common bumps near finger joints, often linked to arthritis, and treatment options. Open → Excisión de quiste mucoso (con colgajo local) Open → Ganglio en la vaina del tendón flexor A benign, fluid-filled cyst arising from the flexor tendon sheath – often painless, but can cause clicking or limited finger movement. Open → Excisión de ganglio en la vaina del tendón flexor Excision of a flexor tendon sheath ganglion — when surgery is considered for painful or limiting cysts. Open → Tumor de células gigantes del vaina tendinosa (nódulo en un dedo o pulgar) A giant cell tumour of tendon sheath is a common, benign (non-cancerous) lump on a finger or thumb. What causes it, how it is diagnosed and removed, and how often it comes back. Open → Excisión del tumor de células gigantes del vaina tendinosa Open →

Infections

Infecciones de la mano Paronychia, deep-space and flexor sheath infections — recognition, antibiotics, drainage. Open → Felon (infección de la pulpa de la yema del dedo) Open → Drenaje de un felón Open → Paroniquia (infección junto a la uña) Open → Drenaje de una paroniquia aguda Open → Marsupialización de la eponiquia para la paroniquia crónica Open → Esguince infectado de la vaina flexora (tenosinovitis piogénica flexora) Open → Drenaje de una vaina flexora infectada Open →

Fractures & ligament injuries

Fracturas de dedos Phalangeal and metacarpal fractures of the hand — non-operative care and indications for fixation. Open → Fracturas de los metacarpianos (incluida la fractura del boxeador) A broken hand bone in the palm — including the common boxer's fracture — how it is treated, the rotation check that matters most, and recovery. Open → Lesión del ligamento colateral ulnar del pulgar Open → Reparación del ligamento colateral ulnar del pulgar Open → Lesiones en la punta de los dedos Crush, laceration, nail-bed and amputation injuries of the fingertip and their management. Open → Reparación y reconstrucción de la punta del dedo Open →

Hand health & medical conditions

Enfermedades que afectan la mano How whole-body conditions — diabetes, thyroid, inflammatory arthritis, kidney disease and more — show up in the hand. Open → Embarazo y afecciones de la mano Carpal tunnel in pregnancy and de Quervains "mummy thumb" — why they happen, what is safe, and when they settle. Open → Fenómeno de Raynaud Fingers that go white, blue then red in the cold — primary vs secondary Raynaud's, keeping warm, and when it needs assessment. Open →

Recovery and rehabilitation

Anticoagulantes antes y después de la cirugía How anticoagulants and antiplatelets work, and why the timing of stopping each before surgery differs — platelet turnover, half-lives and clot risk. Open → Ayuno antes de la cirugía: qué puede comer y beber, y por qué Why you must stop eating before an anaesthetic, when you can still sip water, and what can happen if you do not fast. The clear fasting rules that keep your stomach empty and your lungs safe during surgery. Open → Calor vs. frío When ice helps, when heat helps, and how to use either safely on the upper limb. Open → Conducción después de cirugía de hombro y brazo: ¿cuándo es segura y legal? After most shoulder surgery, including rotator cuff repair, you usually cannot drive for about six weeks, and not while your arm is in a sling. When it is safe and legal to get back to the wheel after hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder surgery. Open → Cuidado de su cicatriz Massage, silicone, sun protection and the 12-month timeline for surgical scars to soften and fade. Open → Cuidado de su herida Dressings, showering, and signs of infection after upper-limb surgery. Open → Cuidado del yeso y las férulas en el hogar Looking after a plaster or splint at home — keeping it dry, elevation, keeping joints moving, and the urgent signs of a too-tight cast. Open → El día de su cirugía What to expect on the day of day-case upper-limb surgery, from arrival and meeting the team to waking up and going home. Open → Estreñimiento y cuidado intestinal después de la cirugía Why constipation is common after surgery (especially with strong painkillers) and how to prevent and manage it. Open → Fundamentos de la terapia de la mano What to expect from hand therapy, how often you'll go, and what good rehab looks like. Open → Hinchazón y elevación después de la cirugía Why a hand or arm swells after surgery, how elevation and gentle movement control it, and when swelling is a warning sign. Open → La vida cotidiana después de una cirugía de hombro Washing, dressing, sleeping and managing day-to-day with the operated arm in a sling after shoulder surgery. Open → La vida cotidiana después de una cirugía de mano, muñeca o codo Keeping a hand or wrist dressing dry, elevation to control swelling, and one-handed living after hand, wrist or elbow surgery. Open → Manejo del dolor postoperatorio What pain to expect, how to use pain relief well, and when to call. Open → Melatonina después de la cirugía de hombro Why we prescribe melatonin after shoulder surgery, what the trial evidence shows, the dose we use, and what to expect from it. Open → Mente, estrés y recuperación How stress, low mood, anxiety and worry about pain affect recovery and surgical outcomes — and what helps. Open → Preparación para la cirugía General checklist for the days before upper-limb surgery — fasting, what to bring, medications. Open → Prevención de coágulos sanguíneos en casa Reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis after upper-limb surgery — mobilisation, hydration, medication. Open → Regreso al deporte Phased return to sport after upper-limb surgery, and when contact sport is safe again. Open → Su bloqueo nervioso del hombro The nerve block we use for shoulder surgery — how it numbs your arm, why it controls pain so well, and what to expect as it wears off. Open → Su control de la herida y retiro de puntos What happens at the post-op wound check, dissolvable vs removable stitches, what removal feels like, and when to seek help sooner. Open → Sueño, dolor y recuperación How sleep and pain affect each other, why surgery and shoulder problems disturb sleep, and what helps you rest and recover. Open → Una buena alimentación para la recuperación Everyday food to support recovery after surgery — protein, energy, healing vitamins, and preventing constipation. Open → Uso y dormir con un cabestrillo para el brazo How to sleep in an arm sling, get the sling position right, and look after it after shoulder, elbow or wrist surgery, including whether to keep the sling on overnight. Open → Volar y viajar después de la cirugía Clot risk, cast tightness at altitude, fitness to fly and the practicalities of travelling after upper-limb surgery. Open → Volver al trabajo When you can return to desk, light, and heavy work after upper-limb surgery. Open → ¿Está infectada mi herida? How to tell normal healing from a wound infection after surgery — the warning signs and when to seek help. Open →

Explore Hand in the evidence explorer →