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Dr. Steven Rueda is one of the most sought after surgeons for hand and finger arthritis in Palm Beach. Osteoarthritis, commonly known as arthritis, can occur in any of the joints of the hand. Most commonly it is present in the joints of the fingers and thumb. The word “arthritis” means inflammation in the joint. The symptoms can be very debilitating and limits people from doing basic every day activities.

Hand and Finger Arthritis Symptoms and Diagnosis

Finger Normal Joint, Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

WHAT CAUSES HAND AND FINGER ARTHRITIS?

The cause of arthritis is poorly understood. It is however more common with age and after trauma. The normal joint anatomy consist of the two ends of a bone covered by a cartilage cap or cartilage surface; the space between the two surfaces is covered with joint fluid that assist in lubrication. In arthritis, the cartilage in the surface wears out leading the bone to be in contact with bone (See Image). This rubbing of bone-on-bone leads to the pain and inflammation seen in arthritis. The joints affected by hand and finger arthritis are called distal interphalangeal joint (DIP joint), the proximal interphalagngeal joint (PIP joint), and the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP joints).

HAND AND FINGER ARTHRITIS TREATMENT OPTIONS

There are three main ways to treat finger arthritis: braces and splints, steroid injections, and surgery. Modern medicine has not found a cure for arthritis, however, there are excellent ways to manage it. The main goal of arthritis treatment is to control pain, and remains the focus of all interventions. A secondary goal is to increase the range of motion of the joint.

Braces and splints do not cure arthritis but help control pain and inflammation with immobilization of the joint. This minimizes the rubbing and grinding of the bone-to-bone interface. Splints are typically not very well tolerated by patients like are wrist splints because of the increasing need to move the fingers in daily tasks and activities like writing, texting, etc.

Steroid injection is an alternative that reduces the inflammation and improves pain in the joint. It is done in the office setting and is very well tolerated. In most cases it provides symptoms relief from days to months, and in some rare situations even years. The injections can be repeated when symptoms resume, but this is not recommended sooner than every 6-8 weeks.

Surgery is indicated for patients who have failed treatment with steroid injections.

HAND AND FINGER ARTHRITIS PROCEDURE

There are three main types of hand and wrist arthritis surgery: wrist denervation, wrist fusion, wrist replacement (arthroplasty). Dr. Rueda is an expert in all of these procedures, and has presented on the subject in national meetings. Some of the differences across the types of surgery are listed below:

Goals of Surgery

Joint denervation:
Removes the nerves of the affected finger joints to reduce symptoms of pain
Joint Fusion:
Fuses or joins the two raw bones that are rubbing together in the joint using wires, plates, or screws; it avoids pain by eliminating movement at site of the joint
Joint Replacement:
Replaces the ends of the bones with implants; it avoids pain by now having implant-to-implant contact and no longer bone-on-bone while preserving motion.

Recovery and Downtime

Why Choose Precision hand Center for your Hand and Finger Arthritis Procedure?

Dr. Rueda, a Hand Fellowship trained surgeon who has 7 years and 2,000 procedures of experience will be your safe and best choice for hand and finger arthritis. Successful results in this procedure requires a surgeon that is experienced and knowledgeable in hand surgery and hand anatomy. Dr. Rueda has published articles in expert peer reviewed journals and his work has been presented in several national conferences. Dr. Rueda’s passion for patient education and custom centered approach will guarantee you feel comfortable every step of the way. Dr. Rueda also believes in treating his patients as if he was treating his own family; you can trust you will enter a trusting and long-term relationship and have some of the best hand and finger arthritis treatment Palm Beach can offer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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