Soft tissue injuries of the hand and wrist include those injuries involving any tissues other than the bones and joints, such as the ligaments, tendons, skin, nerves, arteries, and veins.  Injuries can range in severity from minor wrist sprains to amputation of fingers or even an entire hand.  Regardless of their severity, it is essential to seek timely diagnosis of and treatment for hand and wrist soft tissue injuries. At his Caringbah clinic, serving the Sutherland Shire and South-Eastern Sydney, Dr. Jai Sungaran offers a comprehensive range of services to patients suffering from these injuries.

If you are in need of urgent care for a soft tissue injury of the hand or wrist, we urge you to contact Southern Hand & Wrist today.  We would be pleased to answer any questions you might have and assist you in scheduling an appointment.

What types of soft tissue injuries does Dr. Sungaran commonly treat?

Dr. Sungaran treats all types of soft tissue injuries, ranging from the relatively straightforward to the complex.  Soft tissue injuries of the hand and wrist he commonly treats include:

• Lacerations: A laceration is a tear in the skin of the hand. Deep lacerations in the palm of the hand are particularly dangerous since they can damage the flexor tendons, the tendons responsible for movement in your hand.  Lacerations can also cause damage to the nerves in your hand, resulting in loss of sensation in your fingers.  In general, lacerations can be treated non-surgically, although physical therapy is generally required to restore strength and coordination to the hand.  Surgery is required, however, when the nerves or tendons are badly damaged or cut.
• Nail bed injuries: Injuries to the nail bed are often the result of crush accidents, such as occur when one’s finger gets slammed in a door. The injury to the nail bed itself can be extremely painful; the most common is hematoma, or the collection of blood beneath the nail.  However, nail bed injuries are often accompanied by injuries to adjacent injuries, such as fractures of the finger, lacerations of the finger, and damage to the nerves and tendons of the finger.
• Tendon injuries: The tendons in your hand lie very close to the skin, so virtually any injury to your hand puts your tendons at risk of injury. Injuries to your flexor tendons will impair your ability to bend your fingers, while injuries to your extensor tendons will impair your ability to straighten your fingers.  Mild to moderate tendon injuries generally heal with professional care, including splint therapy and orthopaedic therapy.  Severe tendon injuries, including tears, will require surgical repair.
• Nerve injuries: Like tendon injuries, nerve injuries can result from virtually any serious injury to the hand, including cuts, burns, and instances in which the hand is crushed or stretched beyond its natural capacity. Injuries to the median nerve can cause a loss of sensation, tingling, pain, and difficulty manipulating the hand.  Injuries to the ulnar nerve can result in severe disabilities, including paralysis.  In cases nerve compression, surgery may be recommended to release the nerve, especially if non-surgical options prove unsuccessful.  In cases of severed nerves, Dr. Sungaran can perform nerve repair to restore sensation and function to the fullest degree possible.
• Arterial injuries: Injuries to arteries are a concern whenever the hand or fingers are cut. However, heavy bleeding from an artery may not necessarily indicate a need for surgery.  If a single main artery is cut, it may be possible to stop the bleeding without surgery.  However, if both main arteries to a given finger or to the hand are cut, emergency repair of one of the arteries will be necessary.  In many cases of arterial injuries, the patient has suffered other soft tissue injuries as well.
• Amputated digits: When it is possible to restore feeling and function by reattaching an amputated finger to the hand, Dr. Sungaran may perform replantation surgery. Replantation surgery is more likely to be viable if a finger has been cleanly severed, as opposed to crushed or removed by force.  The procedure is highly complex, requiring the meticulous re-joining of the bone ends with plates and screws prior to the repair of muscles, tendons, arteries, nerves, and veins. If necessary, Dr. Sungaran will use grafts to replace missing tissues.

Learn More about Soft Tissue Injuries

To learn more about soft tissue injuries, or to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Jai Sungaran, please contact our Sutherland Shire practice, with offices in Caringbah and Sydney Olympic Park, today. We would be pleased to answer any questions you might have and assist you in scheduling your appointment.