Hand & Wrist

Our hands and wrists play an important function in our everyday lives. They allow us to do simple things such as turning on a faucet to more complex activities like sports or playing an instrument. For some, it’s hard to imagine getting through a single day without the use of our hands. They’re the appendages that allow us to drive, to brush our teeth, and basically everything else that involves the handling of an object. When a problem arises, it becomes even easier to see how significant our hands are in our lives. A hand or wrist injury can potentially turn your life upside-down, but at Mid-America Orthopedics, we can help you get back on track.

The hand and wrist comprise some of the smallest joints in the body. In addition to these small joints, many other small bones work in conjunction with ligaments and tendons to provide us with the mobility, strength, and dexterity required to handle common objects. Delicate nerves provide the vital sensation we need to accomplish tasks such as the handling of silverware or touch typing.

Each finger is made of three phalanges (finger bones), except the thumb which only has two. Each digit also has an associated metacarpal which is found in the hand. These meet the eight irregularly shaped carpal bones of the wrist. These carpal bones are arranged in two distinct rows of four each, one that facilitates movement between the wrist and hand, and another that facilitates movement between the forearm and wrist.

As with any complicated system, there are many reasons a person may develop pain or a restriction in mobility. Hand and wrist problems can occur if there is any breakdown in the complex link between the bones and soft tissue structures. Overuse, muscular imbalance, inflammation, tendonitis, tendon injury, ligament injury, instability, nerve compression, and arthritis are all potential reasons for symptoms. Pain and/or wrist dysfunction symptoms can resonate in sensations of pain, stiffness, numbness, locking, and instability.

In the event that you experience hand or wrist discomfort/pain, your first order of business should be to set up an appointment with Mid-America Orthopedics so that one of our experienced orthopedic doctors can examine you. An evaluation for hand or wrist pain will commonly consist of a detailed history, physical examination, X-rays, and possibly an MRI or nerve test. Once we’ve identified the root cause of the issue, we can put you on a treatment plan that will relieve your pain.

Many hand and wrist conditions can be treated with rest, medication, injections, and physical therapy. However, sometimes surgery may be necessary to fully relieve symptoms of pain or discomfort. In the event that you require surgery, you can rest easy knowing that Mid-America Orthopedics has a team of the best hand and wrist doctors in the Kansas City area. Our orthopedic surgeons have decades of combined experience helping patients regain full mobility of their hands and wrists and reclaim a pain-free life.