Hand Surgery

Bangor Plastic and Hand Surgery provides a full range of plastic, reconstructive and microsurgery procedures to restore or enhance the appearance, feeling, and function in the hands.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for Hand Injuries

The most common procedures in hand surgery are done to repair injured hands, including fractured bones, damaged tendons, nerves, blood vessels, or joints, and skin injuries such as burns or cuts. Bangor Plastic and Hand Surgery performs skilled and precise reconstructive and microsurgery to restore function and appearance even in cases of severe hand injuries.

Grafting

We repair the injured parts of the hand by transferring skin, bone, nerves, or other tissue from a healthy part of the body.

Hand Replantation or Transplantation

Using microsurgery an extremely precise and delicate process performed under magnification we can restore accidentally amputated fingers or hands. Some injuries may require several operations over an extended period of time.

In many cases, skilled reconstructive surgery can restore a significant degree of feeling and function to injured hands. It's important to understand, however, that recovery may take months, and may require a period of physical hand therapy.

    Carpal Tunnel Surgery

    Certain circumstances such as injury, overuse, repetitive motion, diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, or fluid retention during pregnancy can cause pressure to build up in the carpal tunnel, the passageway that carries tendons and a major nerve through the wrist into the hand. This pressure in turn can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, a tingling sensation in the hand that's often accompanied by numbness, aching, and impaired hand function. In some instances, splinting of the hand, combined with anti-inflammatory medications, can help relieve the symptoms. In more severe cases however, carpal tunnel surgery may be required to completely resolve the problem.

    Procedure

    Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome begins with an incision from the middle of the palm to the wrist. Our skilled plastic surgeon will then cut the tissue that’s pressing on the nerve, in order to relieve the pressure. A large dressing and splint applied after the surgery will restrict motion and promote healing. The scar will gradually fade, until it is barely visible.

    Results

    The individual results of carpal tunnel surgery will vary, depending on how long the condition has existed and how much damage has been done to the nerve. If you think you may have carpal tunnel syndrome, it's a good idea to see a doctor as early as possible so that appropriate treatment can be applied.

    Surgery for Rheumatoid Arthritis

    Surgery for Rheumatoid Arthritis removes tissue from inflamed joints, repositions tendons, or even implants artificial joints to repair or reconstruct almost any area of the hand or wrist.

    Results

    Though you may not regain full use of the hand, you can generally expect a significant improvement in function and appearance. It's important to remember, however, that surgical repair does not eliminate the underlying disease. Rheumatoid arthritis can continue to cause damage to your hand, and may require further surgery. Individuals who have had surgery for rheumatoid arthritis will also need to see a rheumatologist for continuing care.

    Surgery for Dupuytren's Contracture

    Dupuytren's Contracture causes thick, scar-like tissue to form under the skin of the palms and fingers, pulling the fingers toward the palm and restricting motion. The condition usually develops in mid-life and has no known cause (though it has a tendency to run in families). Plastic surgery is the only treatment for Dupuytren's Contracture.

    Procedure

    Surgery for Dupuytren's Contracture involves cutting and separating the bands of thickened tissue, freeing the tendons and allowing better finger movement. The operation demands great precision and skill, since the nerves that supply the hand and fingers are often tightly bound up in the abnormal tissue. In some cases, skin grafts are also needed to replace tightened, puckered skin.

    Results

    The results of plastic surgery for Dupuytren's Contracture will depend on the severity of the condition, but surgery usually brings significant improvement in function, particularly after physical therapy. The procedure will leave a thin, fairly inconspicuous scar.

    Surgery for Congenital Defects

    Deformities present from birth can interfere with proper hand growth and cause significant problems with usage. Most defects, however, can be surgically corrected at a very early age to allow normal development and functioning of the hand. Common congenital defects include short, missing, or deformed fingers, immobile tendons, and abnormal nerves or blood vessels all of which can be treated surgically, with significant improvement.

    Surgery for Syndactyly

    Surgical correction for syndactyly - two or more fingers fused together involves cutting the tissue, connecting the fingers, then grafting skin from another part of the body. Plastic surgery can restore a full range of motion and a fairly normal appearance, although color of the grafted skin may differ slightly from the rest of the hand.