Hand and wrist surgery in Canterbury

Some of the more common reasons for people to come to us for help are:

• Pain in the hands and/or wrists - may be due to an injury or from natural wear and tear in the joints as we age
• Numbness/pins & needles in the fingers
• Nerve-type pain
• A deformity in a finger
• Pain in the base of thumb
• An unexplained lump or bump on a hand or wrist

These symptoms can be caused by a number of conditions, including:

• Osteoarthritis – more common in the wrist, fingers and base of thumb. Causes pain and stiffness which tends to become worse over time as the disease progresses
• Carpal tunnel syndrome – caused by pinching or compression of the median nerve (one of three main nerves in your hands and arms). This results in weakness, a tingling sensation and sometimes pain in the wrist and hand.
• Ganglion – A swelling in the hand or wrist, caused by a build-up of fluid.
• Trigger Finger – inflammation of a tendon causes one of the fingers to become curled and fixed into a ‘trigger finger’ position over time.
• Dupuytren’s disease/contracture - a thickening of the layer that sits just under the skin causes small nodules to form, which may be painful. Over time, the fingers begin to curl and eventually lock in a bent position.
• Ulnar nerve compression
• A fracture in the wrist or hand
• Failed surgery – where a previous operation has not provided the benefits and symptom relief expected

Many hand and wrist problems will resolve naturally over time, while others will benefit from early medical intervention. If your symptoms are particularly severe, debilitating or causing you concern, you may like to meet with a Consultant Hand and Wrist Surgeon for expert assessment, diagnosis and treatment.

• What symptoms do you have?
• When did these symptoms first start? Was there an obvious cause (e.g. a fall on your hand)?
• Have your symptoms been getting worse?
• Do you have pain? If so, can you describe it?
• What things are you not able to do as a result of your symptoms?

They will perform a physical examination of your hand, wrist and arm in order to determine your current mobility, strength and flexibility and to see how your symptoms are limiting you.

Depending on your symptoms and clinical assessment, further tests may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. This will often be an X-ray of your hand and wrist, which can help show involvement of the bony structures. If no abnormalities are seen on the X-ray, other diagnostic scans like ultrasound or MRI may be carried out to investigate the tendons, ligaments, muscles and nerves. All of these can be carried out for you here on-site at Chaucer Hospital where required.

Once a diagnosis has been made, your consultant will be able to discuss suitable treatment options with you. These may include physiotherapy, steroid injections or surgery.

Sometimes, to confirm a diagnosis you may need a form of keyhole surgery known as arthroscopy. This involves passing a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera and light attached to it through a small cut in your wrist. This transmits a live feed to a screen, giving your consultant a clear view inside the wrist. This is carried out as a day case procedure.

Many hand and wrist condition will resolve naturally over time or can be managed with non-surgical (conservative) treatments. If you do require surgery, your consultant will explain how it will be done, the benefits you should expect to see as a result and any risks or possible complications you need to be aware of.

Many of our patients are from Canterbury but some travel to us from other areas of Kent.

Regardless of how you’ve been referred to us or the distance you’ll be travelling to visit with us, at Chaucer Hospital you will always benefit from:

• Access to a consultant, ASAP – Hand and wrist conditions can have a significant impact on your quality of life and you’ll want to get any problem treated as soon as possible. With a number of leading hand and wrist surgeons working on-site, you’ll be able to book an appointment without delay.
• Patient Satisfaction – In an independent survey, 97.9% of the people we treated said they were likely or highly likely to recommend Chaucer Hospital to their friends and family. We continue to focus on delivering the highest level of care for everyone who visits us for foot or ankle treatment.
• Bespoke treatment – Your consultant will ensure you receive the optimal treatment for your particular condition. You will see the same consultant each time you visit, ensuring excellent continuity of care. We also have two hand therapists on-site to support you as you recover from surgery.
• Remote consultations available – The majority of our consultations are carried out in person at Chaucer Hospital, but we are able to offer remote consultations via telephone or online video call if required and where clinically appropriate.
• Multidisciplinary team: Your consultant is supported by a number of other healthcare professionals including physiotherapists, hand therapists, nurses, occupational therapists and radiologists to ensure you receive the support and care needed at every stage of your treatment.
• Location – We’re easy to get to, located on the southern outskirts of Canterbury and around two miles from the centre. Our (paid) car park, with 124 spaces, makes parking simple.

Good, effective treatments are available for many hand and wrist conditions. Book your appointment online today.