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The field of hand surgery deals with both
surgical and non-surgical treatment of conditions and problems that
may take place in the hand or upper extremity
(commonly from the tip of the hand to the shoulder). Hand surgery
may be practiced by graduates of general surgery, orthopedic
surgery and plastic surgery. Plastic surgeons and orthopedic surgeons
receive significant training in hand surgery during their residency
training, with some graduates continuing on to do an additional one
year hand fellowship. These fellowships are sometimes also pursued
by general surgeons. Plastic surgeons are particularly well suited
to handle traumatic hand and digit amputations that require a
"replant" operation. Orthopedic surgeons are trained to reconstruct
all aspects to salvage the appendage: tendons, muscle, bone.
Orthopedic surgeons are particularly well suited to handle complex
fractures of the hand and injuries to the carpal bones that alter
the mechanics of the wrist.
In a few countries such as Sweden, Finland and Singapore, Hand
Surgery is recognized as a clinical specialty in its own right with
a formal four to six years hand surgery resident training program.
Hand surgeons going through these programs are trained in all
aspects of hand surgery, combining and mastering all the skills
traditionally associated with "Orthopedic hand surgeons" and
"Plastic hand surgeons" to become equally adept at handling tendon,
ligament and bone injuries as well as microsurgical reconstruction
such as reattachment of severed parts or free tissue transfers and
transplants.
Hand surgeons
perform a wide variety of operations such as fracture repairs,
releases, transfer and repairs of tendons and reconstruction of
injuries, rheumatoid deformities and congenital defects. They also
perform microsurgical reattachment of amputated digits and limbs,
microsurgical reconstruction of soft tissues and bone, nerve
reconstruction, and surgery to improve function in paralysed upper
limbs.
Indications
The following conditions can be indications for hand
surgery:
See also
External
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