Hand and wrist pain

Hand pain and wrist pain can have a lot of possible causes: sprains or strains, fractures, inflammation in the wrist joint or finger joints from arthritis, nerve damage, and many other conditions. Daily movements such as writing, buttoning a shirt, driving a car, or lifting a child may become difficult or even impossible when pain goes unaddressed.

Your hands are among the most complex parts of your body, so when pain affects the intricate bones, nerves, and tissues of the hand and wrist, Penn Orthopaedics connects you to a vast network of expert care providers and treatment options.

Our specialists build a personalized care plan for each patient after carefully considering the nature of your injury or condition along with your age, activity level, and overall health. They work with you to determine whether surgical and nonsurgical hand and wrist pain treatments are right for you.

Depending on the severity of your condition, nonsurgical treatment methods may be recommended first. These may include some combination of activity modification or immobilization such as bracing or splinting, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, or physical therapy. Some cysts can also be treated using aspiration, a process where the fluid is drained to shrink the cyst.

If surgery is right for you, then you may be seen by an orthopaedic or plastic surgeon specializing in hand and wrist care, or an integrated team of both orthopaedic and plastic surgeons, depending on your specific needs. They are highly experienced in restoring hand and wrist function and appearance, and are known for their expertise in everything from surgery for common conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome to the most innovative procedures available such as reattaching fingers, microvascular surgery (repairing and reconnecting blood vessels), free flap or tissue transfer, and hand transplants.

Access to our compassionate, expert care is convenient, with multiple specialists and treatment technologies often available under one roof, reducing appointments and travel time. We also offer some minimally invasive procedures at certain practice locations and other outpatient facilities. In addition, hand rehabilitation services are provided by certified hand therapists at many of our locations.

A hand transplant is a complex surgical procedure where a donor hand is attached to a recipient who has lost their hand or part of their upper limb. This lengthy, intricate surgery connects bones, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves to greatly improve mobility and independence for the recipient.

Penn Medicine’s hand transplant program is one of the few programs in the world that performs this life-changing surgery, bringing hope and a world of new possibilities to hand amputees.

Innovative care for peripheral nerve disorders and neuropathy

Peripheral nerves relay signals between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body. Damage to these nerves can disrupt signal transmission, causing weakness, numbness, and pain in the arms, hands, legs, and feet, which can limit daily activities.

Penn Medicine’s collaborative peripheral nerve care team of neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, neurologists, and therapists bring you the latest research and treatment options for persistent hand and wrist pain, numbness, or weakness stemming from peripheral nerve damage. We excel in the diagnosis and treatment of over 100 peripheral nerve disorders and work together with you to create personalized care plans.