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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Thumb Arthritis

Arthritis at the base of the thumb, the carpometacarpal joint, causing pain with pinching, gripping and twisting that makes jars, keys and doorknobs a daily obstacle.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Hand and Finger Fractures

Breaks of the finger bones and the long bones of the hand, from falls, punches, ball sports and crush injuries. Most heal with splinting; some need pins or plates to keep the fingers straight.

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Elbow · Hand and Upper Extremity

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Compression or irritation of the ulnar nerve behind the elbow, the funny bone, causing numbness in the ring and small fingers and, over time, hand weakness.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

De Quervain Tenosynovitis

Inflammation of the two tendons that run along the thumb side of the wrist, causing sharp pain with lifting, gripping and turning the wrist.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Dupuytren Contracture

A thickening of the tissue under the skin of the palm into nodules and cords that slowly pull the fingers toward the palm until the hand will not lie flat.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Ganglion Cysts

A benign fluid-filled lump that balloons from a joint or tendon sheath, most often on the back of the wrist, that can ache, change size or press on a nerve.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Hand and Wrist Osteoarthritis

Wear of the cartilage in the small joints of the fingers and wrist, causing stiffness, swelling, bony knuckle enlargement and pain with gripping.

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Elbow · Hand and Upper Extremity

Distal Biceps Rupture

A tear of the biceps tendon from the bone at the elbow, with a pop, bruising, a bunched-up muscle and lost strength turning the palm up. Time-sensitive.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Scaphoid Fracture

A break in the small wrist bone below the thumb, often mistaken for a sprain, that heals poorly because of its blood supply and leads to arthritis if missed.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Wrist Instability

A torn ligament between the small bones of the wrist, most often the scapholunate ligament, that lets the bones shift out of alignment and wear the joint.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Hand and Wrist Tendon Injuries

Cuts, ruptures and overuse injuries of the tendons that bend and straighten the fingers and wrist, including mallet finger, jersey finger and tendinitis.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Hand and Wrist Ligament Sprains

Stretched or torn ligaments in the wrist, thumb and fingers, including skier thumb and jammed fingers. Most heal with splinting; complete tears may need repair.

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What it is

Hand and Finger Fractures

The hand has nineteen bones below the wrist.

They break in falls, punches, crush injuries and ball sports. A fracture that heals rotated or shortened leaves a finger that crosses its neighbor when you make a fist.Hand fractures are common and often undertreated.

Treated by

M. Shane Frazier, DO, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. FrazierHand and Upper Extremity

Toby Johnson, MD, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. JohnsonHand and Upper Extremity

Travis Peterson, DO, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. PetersonHand and Upper Extremity

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or call801-640-0000

Hand and Finger Fractures

Symptoms

Pain, swelling and bruising after an injury.A finger that looks bent, shortened or rotated. Difficulty making a fist. A knuckle that has dropped, the classic boxer fracture.

Numbness or an open wound over a fracture needs same-day care.

Common signs

Swollen, bruised finger

Bent or rotated finger

Cannot make a fist

Dropped knuckle

See us sooner if

Open wound over the fracture

Numb fingertip

Hand and Finger Fractures

Causes

Falls onto the hand, punching a hard object, crush injuries in doors and machinery, and ball strikes to the fingertip in basketball, football and volleyball.Most hand fractures happen at work, at play, or in a fall.

Hand and Finger Fractures

How We Diagnose It

X-rays in three views show nearly all hand fractures.The exam checks rotation by looking at the fingers in a fist, and tests tendons and nerves. CT is used for complex joint fractures.Rotation cannot be judged on an X-ray alone.Ball strikes in basketball and volleyball, and workshop injuries, are our most common hand fractures. Dr. Frazier, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Peterson operate at Utah Valley Hospital and Orem Community Hospital.

Hand and Finger Fractures

Treatment Options

Stable, well-aligned fractures heal in a splint or buddy taping for three to four weeks with early motion of the uninvolved joints.

Displaced, rotated or joint fractures are set and held with pins, screws or a small plate.Hand therapy afterward prevents the stiffness that is the main long-term problem.

Your options

Non-surgical

Splint 3 to 4 weeks

Buddy taping

Hand therapy

Surgical

Pins

Screws or plate

Wrist Fracture Repair

Scaphoid Fracture Repair

Hand and Finger Fractures

Procedures That Address It

Wrist Fracture Repair

Scaphoid Fracture Repair

Hand and Finger Fractures

Surgeons Who Treat It

Dr. Frazier, DO

Fellowship trained in hand and upper extremity surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Seventeen years in practice. Fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Johnson, MD

Weill Cornell graduate, hand fellowship at Allegheny General. Twenty-one years in practice and seventeen as a collegiate team physician.

Dr. Peterson, DO

Hand surgery fellowship at UMass Chan. Office-based, wide-awake carpal tunnel release. Fifteen years in practice. Speaks German.

Request an appointment

or call801-640-0000

ContactTalk toa real person.

Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.

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Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104

Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330

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