Conditions
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
In carpal tunnel syndrome the median nerve – one of the main nerves supplying the hand – is compressed. This causes pain, tingling and numbness in the fingers and occasionally weakness of the muscles at the base of the thumb. While there is usually no specific cause identified, there are a few conditions, such as pregnancy, which can bring on the problem.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition where the ulnar nerve – one of the main nerves supplying the hand – is compressed at the level of the elbow joint. There is usually no obvious cause but the point of compression is a ligament passing over the nerve. The symptoms are pain, tingling and numbness of the ring and little fingers, and occasionally weakness and clumsiness in the hand.
Trigger Finger
Trigger Finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis or flexor tendonitis, is a condition where one of the fingers or thumb of the hand is caught in a bent position. The affected digit may straighten with a quick snap, similar to pulling and releasing the trigger on a gun, hence the name trigger finger.
Dequervain’s Tenosynovitis
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis is a hand condition affecting a patients’ ability to move their thumb. It used to be referred to as washerwoman’s sprain or mother’s wrist but with the advent of technology, is now commonly referred to as “Blackberry thumb” from typing and texting on small handheld devices.
Dupuytrens Contracture
Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition affecting the connective tissue (fascia) in the hand. Over many years the affected tissue in the palm of the hand and fingers contracts, causing flexion of the fingers – usually the ring and little.
Ganglion Cysts
Ganglion cysts are swellings that most commonly develop along the tendons or joints of wrists or hands. They can be found either at the top of the wrist, palm side of the wrist, end joint of a finger, or at the base of a finger. Ganglion cyst is not cancerous and will not spread to the other parts of the body. It looks like a water balloon on a stalk and contains a clear fluid or jelly material. Ganglion cysts can be found in people of all ages.
Hand & Wrist Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of the gliding surfaces of a joint, resulting in pain and stiffness. It can affect any joint and in the hand is most common at the base of the thumb and the joints of the fingers
Hand & Wrist Fracturess
The wrist is comprised of two bones in the forearm, the radius and ulna, and eight tiny carpal bones in the palm. The bones meet to form multiple large and small joints. A wrist fracture refers to a break in one or more of these bones.
Congenital Hand Differences
Congenital hand deformities are abnormalities of the hand which develop at birth. About one in twenty children is born with some form of deformity, which can become a challenge as the child grows and begins to use his/her hands. The deformity may vary from a minor disproportion in the digits to a severe case of the absence of a bone.
Skin Cancer
Skin malignancies are the commonest cancers in Australia, and there are two broad types. The vast majority are tumours arising from the non-pigmented cells of the skin, the keratinocytes. These are basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs).
Facial Trauma
Any injury to the face and upper jaw bone may be referred to as facial trauma. Facial trauma occurs as a result of blunt or penetrating injuries to any part of the face, including the upper and lower jaws, cheeks, nose, and forehead areas. Facial injuries can cause fractures to any of the facial bones and damage the skin and soft tissues leading to disfigurement and long-term psychological problems.
