What is upper-extremity trauma?
Upper-extremity trauma means injuring your:
- Hand
- Wrist
- Forearm
- Elbow
- Upper arm
- Shoulder
You might damage one of these structures or several at the same time. Common causes of upper-extremity trauma are accidents at work or home, sports injuries, and auto accidents.
Upper-extremity trauma typically causes sudden, severe pain, accompanied by:
- Numbness
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Limited range of motion
You might see a lump or other deformity in your arm if you have a fracture. If you have an open or compound fracture, you can see down to the bone or the broken end of a bone might be sticking out through your skin.
What damage might upper-extremity trauma cause?
Upper-extremity trauma often causes soft-tissue damage, such as torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons. It can also cause dislocated joints and fractured bones. Severe traumas can involve the amputation of a finger or part of the upper extremity.
Very often, upper-extremity trauma consists of a combination of these injuries. A rotator cuff tear, for example, is a common type of upper-extremity trauma involving damage to the network of muscles and tendons that hold your shoulder joint in place.
Rotator cuff tears often happen when you dislocate your shoulder, pulling the upper arm bone out of its socket in the shoulder blade. The result is a combination of joint dislocation and torn soft tissues.
The Hand and Microsurgery Associates team can assess the extent of any upper-extremity trauma using X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI diagnostic testing.
How are upper-extremity trauma injuries treated?
The surgical team at Hand and Microsurgery Associates excels in treating traumatic hand and other upper-extremity injuries. They use the most up-to-date techniques and advanced technologies to restore function and reduce pain following upper-extremity trauma.
Some of the surgeries they carry out include:
- Hand, finger, and thumb reattachment
- Reconstructive hand surgery
- Toe-to-thumb transplant
- Minimally invasive arthroscopy
- Microvascular repair
- Microsurgical repair
- Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstructive surgery
- Arm reattachment
- Arm preparation for prosthetics
- Arthroscopic shoulder surgery
- Rotator cuff repair
- Cartilage repair and replacement
- Tendon transfers
- Shoulder fracture surgery
- Nerve repair
The Hand and Microsurgery Associates surgical team is uniquely qualified to handle trauma injuries. Combining over 25 years of experience with exceptional education gives them the right tools to treat and repair any upper extremity injury with the utmost care.
Call Hand and Microsurgery Associates to find out more or book an appointment today.
