Hand, Wrist and Elbow Program

At Sentara, our specialists offer expert care for conditions and injuries affecting the hand, wrist and elbow, including complex cases. We treat arthritis, joint and nerve concerns and injuries with a compassionate, patient-centered approach delivering all of our services – from diagnosis to treatment – at one convenient location. Our hand, wrist and elbow team includes orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists who have received advanced training. Each year, the experts at our nationally recognized orthopedic program help thousands of people live with less pain. We can help you, too.

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Non-surgical treatments

We offer effective non-surgical treatments for the full spectrum of hand, wrist and elbow injuries and conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, fractures, infections, osteoarthritis, overuse injuries, sports injuries, tendon injuries and tennis elbow. Your team of experts discusses your options with you so you can decide on a treatment plan together. With guidance, you'll consider:

Braces and splints: Used for support and to temporarily limit movement, braces and splints can minimize damage and allow time for healing and additional treatment if needed.
Cortisone injections: With strategic placement, cortisone injections can decrease inflammation and reduce pain at the affected site for weeks or months.
Medications: In some cases, medication can effectively relieve your pain and allow you to complete tasks as you did before you experienced symptoms.
Physical therapy: Our physical therapists use specialized training and expertise to help heal injuries to the hand, wrist and elbow. We use tools and machines designed to evaluate and strengthen the hand and wrist. As certified hand therapists, we've also pursued additional training in restoring function to a complex part of the body. Your orthopedic surgeon collaborates with your physical therapist to coordinate a thorough therapy plan and keep you on track to a full recovery.
Xiaflex injections: If you have been diagnosed with Dupuytren's disease and can feel a "cord" in the palm of your affected hand, you may benefit from Xiaflex. Your physician can inject Xiaflex into your palm to breakdown the tissue and allow you to move your affected finger more freely.

Surgery

If your doctor recommends surgery to relieve pain and restore function, Sentara can perform the most advanced and effective procedures to help you. Our experts use minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques that require fewer incisions and less time to recover compared to traditional methods. We offer the majority of these procedures on an outpatient basis, so you can go home the same day as your surgery.

Some of our most common procedures include surgeries for:

Carpal tunnel syndrome: Our surgeons relieve this well-known condition of a pinched, decompressed nerve near your wrist by eliminating pressure at the site. This helps reduce numbness and pain in your wrist and hand.
Dupuytren's disease: This disease leads to a thickening of tissue under the skin in the palm of your hand. Our surgeons can perform a fasciotomy, making an incision in your palm and dividing the thickened tissue, or a subtotal palmar fasciectomy, in which we remove much of the affected tissue.
Fractures: More commonly known as "broken bones," fractures can be repaired in a number of ways, either through our surgeons manipulating the bones back into place or by inserting hardware such as plates, screws and pins.
Tendonitis/Overuse injury: As with other concerns of the hand, wrist and elbow, we often work with you to ease your pain first with non-surgical treatments such as anti-inflammatory medicines, braces and therapy. If you find the treatments do not help to the degree you'd like, we can surgically ease the pressure of the tendons causing your discomfort.
Trigger finger/Stenosing tenosynovitis: To reduce the curling in your finger or thumb and the "clicking" experienced with this condition, our surgical team makes a small incision in the palm of your hand in line with your affected finger and creates a small opening in a tendon to allow for greater movement in the connected finger.
Tumor of the hands and wrist: Our surgeons can assist in determining if a tumor is benign or malignant with needle or incisional biopsies. When necessary, they will re-visit to the site and remove the tumor.

Resources

We believe that the more you learn, the more comfortable you'll feel with your medical care. We understand education empowers you to play an active role in your health and can help you return to your favorite activities as soon as possible. Our support services couple individual guidance and therapy you can rely on:

Orthopedic patient navigator: We connect you with a dedicated orthopedic patient navigator to answer your questions, address your concerns and coordinate your care. Your orthopedic patient navigator works closely with you to assist with surgical plans and arrange physical therapy sessions. We ensure that you're confident and informed every step of the way.
Physical therapy: After you have a procedure or surgery, physical therapy can strength your body and ease you into a full physical recovery. Sentara's certified hand therapists specialize in restoring function to your hand, wrist or elbow so you can work and play without restrictions quickly.