Dr. Steven Rueda is one of the most sought after doctors for treatment of hand stiffness and finger stiffness in Palm Beach. Stiffness is a common consequence of injury in the hands and fingers. Our daily tasks demand our hands and fingers to be very mobile, therefore stiffness is poorly tolerated by most patients.
WHAT CAUSES HAND STIFFNESS AND FINGER STIFFNESS?
Stiffness can arise from several areas of the hands and fingers including joints, ligaments, and tendons. The joint tissue and ligaments shorten leading to a contracted posture. Tendon scarring inhibits gliding and therefore limits the ability of the joints to move. In some cases stiffness arises from a combination of all of the previous structures. Treatment usually begins with aggressive therapy to restore mobility and gradually progresses to surgery if needed.
HAND STIFFNESS AND FINGER STIFFNESS PROCEDURE
Surgery focuses on freeing up the tight and shortened ligaments and joint soft tissues. This allows the finger and hands to stretch as they are no longer held by tight tissues. If necessary, surgery also releases the scar tissue around the tendons that may be impeding joint movement.
The most common areas to undergo treatment are the finger joints as they are the most mobile; the PIP and the MCP joints are most frequently treated.
There is no standard incision to treat contracture of the fingers and hand. The incision location depends on which structure needs to be addressed. They are typically done in the back of the hand and fingers over the affected knuckles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The goal of the surgery is to return function back to normal and this can be achieved in some patients. However, it is common to have some residual stiffness after the procedure is healed and therapy is completed. In any case, this is better than if no surgery would have been ever performed.
Ideally therapy is continued until the desired goal is achieved. Most patients with stiffness have weekly or twice weekly visits to work on their movement. Some patients prefer to continue therapy at home after an expert teaches them the required exercises.