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Hand Injuries Specialist

Gregg K. Satow, M.D.

Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist located in Monterey, CA

Given the active role your hands play in your everyday life, it’s little wonder that these delicate and small appendages are susceptible to injury. Because of the complexity of your hand, it’s imperative that any injury is treated by an expert in this area, such as Gregg K. Satow, MD. At his practice in Monterey, California, Dr. Satow helps patients overcome hand injuries with great long-term results. To learn more, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

Hand Injuries Q & A

What is the structure of the hand?

Each of your hands (and wrists) contains 27 bones, which are held together by an incredibly complex system of soft tissues, including your:

  • Muscles
  • Tendons
  • Cartilage
  • Ligaments

Aside from this musculoskeletal support, your hands also contain a network of nerves that can be compromised by an injury, making many hand injuries fairly complicated.

What are the most common hand injuries?

Take a moment to consider all that you use your hands for during a typical day and you can see how exposed these areas are to injury. From acute injuries sustained in a fall to progressive conditions that develop due to overuse, hand injuries are common and include:

  • Fractures
  • Sprains
  • Dislocations
  • Tendonitis

In each of these categories are dozens of different injuries, from common thumb sprains to overextension injuries like jersey finger.

How are hand injuries diagnosed and treated?

Any time you incur an injury to your hand or wrist, it’s best to have an orthopedist take a look. Your hands are far too critical in your everyday life to ignore an injury, which can quickly turn into a far bigger problem without early intervention.

When you come in, Dr. Satow first reviews your symptoms and performs an extensive examination of your hand to determine the underlying cause of your hand injury. Using advanced imaging to get a closer look at what’s going on inside your hand, Dr. Satow quickly zeros in on the problem so you can get the treatment you need as quickly as possible.

Depending on the nature, location, and severity of your hand injury, Dr. Satow may turn to one or more of the following treatments:

  • Medications for pain and inflammation
  • Bracing and splinting
  • Injections, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid, and steroids
  • Physical therapy

If your hand injury doesn’t respond to conservative treatments, Dr. Satow may recommend surgery. As a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Satow understands the complexities of the hand and his goal is to restore full function to these important appendages.

To learn more about hand injury treatments, call Gregg K. Satow, M.D. or schedule an appointment online today.