Hand Surgery | Arthritis Information

I am curious to know if anyone has had surgery on their hands to repair deformities? My hands are severely damaged and deformed. The surgeon I was sent to said there was no surgery that could help me. That I need something to work with and since I can't fully open or close my hand or come even close to doing that surgery wasn't an option. He did some research and said he could find nothing on a surgery that could be done to help me. So I guess I'm curious to know what kinds of surgeries were done and how bad were the hands before the surgery?

I don't know anything about this, but I would check with more than one hand surgeon. I've found that surgeon's can give your very different answers that are often based upon their own skill. You might want to do a web search on hand surgery.

I know the hands are not considered highly successful. But there are doctors out there that like a good challenge and yours is a common problem. I'd keep searching for answer.

Also, I was referred to a surgeon for my knees and he gave me a full sob story about how big a surgical risk I was and that I needed a walker. My RD practically laughed about that. He said when I really need surgery, he'd find someone willing to do that. Plus, not only do I not use a walker, I don't have to use a cane any more. That's because the RD sent me to a good physical therapist.

That might be what you want to do is go back to your RD and let them know what you were told. These doctors do ask around and get to know each other's work.

I definitely would not give up hope on finding a solution to this. Maybe physical therapy first would help bring mobility back to where the surgeon and do the repairs. Each of these specialist take a different approach. Gather up all your options.

I feel for what you're going through.

Hello, I read you message and wanted to join in :)

I've had surgery done on my left hand to correct an ulnar drift. (where my fingers bent out to the sides) So the joints on my hand were replaced, I think they were called Swanson implants? My fingers go out straight from my hand which i think is an improvement but there were other things wrong with my fingers. My fingers are permanently bent, but even so the surgeon said that my knuckle joints could be fused so my fingers lie straight (I haven't had it done yet).

I hope that helps. Oh, also the surgery was done as an outpatient.

I will have to check into it further. It sure would be nice if there was something I could have done. Basically the surgeon said my tendons had fallen to the side and shrunk and I didn't have anything left to work with and he claimed he could find no surgery that had been performed that would be of any benefit to me. He consulted with Mayo Clinic and they basically said the same thing other then they could give me splints to use at night to try and prevent further damage. But in this day and age you would think there would be something that could be done, the trick would be finding the doc that will or can do it.

I'm sorry for the answer you got. I'd keep trying.

I found this link that can help you locate hand surgeons in your area:

http://www.assh.org/scriptcontent//FAHSSplash.cfm?Section=Fi nd_a_Hand_Surgeon

Also, I found sites that pulled up plastic surgeons that treat RA of the hand which I thought was interesting. I wouldn't have thought of that won.

Have they tried any kind of physical therapy with you? My friend's girl has cerebral palsy and they use botox injections to get her hands to relax. It helps her. I wonder if they could do that with the tendons. That along with physical therapy in preparation for surgery -- just a thought. I don't really know anything about this. But don't give up.

I would do as much research as you can. You might try writing some of the other surgeons in your area, specifying what you have been told already (I know you may have to get some help with this) and asking if they think that they might could help you. The other possibility is hospital research centers. That's where more progressive procedures might be developed.

I really hope someone has the answer for you. My hands are inflamed, but no deformity as of yet.