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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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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Nerve Injuries of the Hand and Arm

Cuts, crush injuries and stretch injuries to the nerves of the hand and arm, causing numbness and weakness. Timing matters because nerves recover slowly and only when repaired early.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Finger and Thumb Dislocations

A finger or thumb joint knocked out of place, usually by a ball or a fall. Reduced promptly, then protected so the ligaments heal and the joint stays stable.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

TFCC Tear

A tear of the cartilage and ligament complex on the small-finger side of the wrist, causing pain with twisting and weight bearing. From a fall or from years of load.

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Hand and Wrist · Hand and Upper Extremity

Congenital Hand Conditions

Hand differences present from birth, from trigger thumb and extra or joined fingers to underdeveloped thumbs. Evaluated early, treated when it improves function.

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Elbow · Hand and Upper Extremity

Complex Upper Extremity Trauma

Severe injuries of the hand, wrist, forearm and elbow: open fractures, crush and saw injuries, combined bone, tendon and nerve damage, and injuries that need reconstruction.

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What it is

Hand and Wrist Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis wears the cartilage in the small joints of the fingers and the wrist.

The joints enlarge with bony spurs, stiffen, and ache with use.Finger joint arthritis is extremely common with age and often more of a nuisance than a disability. Wrist arthritis is less common and usually follows an old injury.

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 Wrist Osteoarthritis

Symptoms

Stiffness and aching in the fingers, worst in the morning.Bony bumps at the end and middle knuckles. Swelling, loss of grip strength, and pain with twisting or gripping.

Wrist arthritis causes deep aching with weight bearing through the hand and loss of motion.

Common signs

Morning stiffness in the fingers

Bony bumps at the knuckles

Weak grip, pain twisting

Deep wrist ache bearing weight

See us sooner if

Hot, swollen joints

Several joints at once

Hand and Wrist Osteoarthritis

Causes

Age, genetics and use in the fingers.In the wrist, most arthritis follows an unhealed scaphoid fracture, a torn wrist ligament, or a prior fracture into the joint, sometimes decades earlier.Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis affect the hand differently and are managed with rheumatology.

Hand and Wrist Osteoarthritis

How We Diagnose It

Exam and X-rays make the diagnosis.In the wrist, the pattern of arthritis on X-ray tells the surgeon which old injury caused it and which joints are spared.Blood tests screen for inflammatory arthritis when the pattern suggests it.Hand therapy and splints are arranged with certified hand therapists in Utah Valley. Dr. Frazier, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Peterson operate at Utah Valley Hospital and Orem Community Hospital.

Hand and Wrist Osteoarthritis

Treatment Options

Hand therapy, splints, heat, anti-inflammatories and injections manage most finger and wrist arthritis. Activity adaptations protect the joints.

When a specific joint fails, surgical options include fusion for stability, joint replacement for motion in selected finger joints, and partial wrist fusion or removal of worn bones in the wrist.

Your options

Non-surgical

Hand therapy

Splints

Anti-inflammatories

Injections

Surgical

Joint fusion

Joint replacement

Partial wrist fusion

Thumb CMC Arthroplasty

Scaphoid Fracture Repair

Hand and Wrist Osteoarthritis

Procedures That Address It

Thumb CMC Arthroplasty

Scaphoid Fracture Repair

Hand and Wrist Osteoarthritis

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

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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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