What Is Hand Surgery?
Hand surgery refers to any surgical procedure that treats injuries, damage, or abnormalities that affect your fingers, hands, or wrists.
Types of hand surgery
There are many types of hand surgery, including:
- Arthroscopy — A minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows your surgeon to see inside your joint and treat joint problems.
- Carpal tunnel release — A procedure to release pressure on the nerve that causes carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.
- Fracture repair — A procedure to treat broken bones, sometimes using metal rods, pins, or screws.
- Joint replacement — A procedure to replace damaged or diseased joints.
- Nerve surgery — A procedure to relieve pressure on nerves or repair cut nerves.
- Replantation — A procedure to reattach a severed finger or hand.
- Skin graft — A procedure to promote skin regrowth by taking skin from another area of your body and attaching it to your hand.
- Tendon repair — A procedure to treat tendon infection, injury, or rupture.
- Tissue removal — A procedure to remove abnormal tissue that develops in Dupuytren’s contracture.
Conditions we treat with hand surgery
- Arthritis of the thumb, fingers, and wrist.
- Broken bones (fractures).
- Congenital conditions present at birth.
- Cysts.
- Deformities.
- Dupuytren’s contracture.
- Nerve problems, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome.
- Tendon injuries, such as trigger finger and tendonitis.
- Tumors.
Why Would I Need Hand Surgery?
If you have a condition in your finger, hand, or wrist that has not responded to conservative treatments or cannot be treated without surgery, you may need hand surgery.
Is hand surgery right for me?
You may be a candidate for hand surgery if you have a finger, hand, or wrist condition that has not responded to other treatments. Your doctor will let you know if hand surgery is right for you.
Alternatives to hand surgery
Alternatives to hand surgery include:
- Activity changes to reduce strain.
- Heat and/or ice.
- Over-the-counter medications to manage pain.
- Physical therapy.
What Are the Risks and Complications of Hand Surgery?
As with any surgical procedure, hand surgery comes with some risks. Hand surgery risks include:
- Allergic reaction to anesthesia or medication.
- Bleeding.
- Blood clots.
- Infection.
- Nerve injury.
- Pain or stiffness that doesn’t improve after surgery.
What Should I Expect From Hand Surgery?
Before: How to prepare for hand surgery
Before your procedure, you will meet with your care team and undergo a physical exam. Then, your care team will discuss how to prepare for your procedure with you.
Your care team may order tests, such as:
- Blood or urine tests — Your doctor may order blood work and urine studies to ensure you are healthy enough for the procedure and check for signs of illness or infection.
- CT scan — A computed tomography (CT) scan creates images of the bones and structures in your hand.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) — This test records the electrical activity of your heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias), and can sometimes detect heart muscle damage. EKGs are often performed before a procedure to ensure your heart is healthy and identify potential problems.
- MRI — MRI is a diagnostic procedure that combines large magnets, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within your body.
- Ultrasound — Uses sound waves to create images of your bones, nerves, and tissues.
- X-ray — Your doctor may order an x-ray to learn more about the condition of the bones and tissues in your hand.
Your doctor will explain the procedure to you and answer your questions. To prepare for the procedure, you should:
- Fast for a certain period of time prior to the procedure. Your doctor will tell you if you need to fast or how long to fast (usually overnight).
- Have any tests that your doctor recommends. For example, your doctor may request a blood test before the procedure to determine how long it takes your blood to clot.
- Tell your doctor if you are sensitive or allergic to any medications, iodine, latex, tape, or anesthetic agents (local and general).
- Tell your doctor about all medications (prescription and over-the-counter) and herbal or other supplements you are taking.
- Tell your doctor if you have any other health conditions. Your care team may need to take certain precautions during your procedure for your safety.
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any blood-thinning medications, aspirin, or other medications that affect blood clotting. You may need to stop some of the medications prior to the procedure.
On the day of your procedure, be sure to bring your photo ID and health insurance card(s). Leave valuables such as cash and jewelry at home.
Hand surgery is usually an outpatient procedure, so you may be able to go home the same day. However, in some cases, you may need to stay overnight in the hospital.
Your doctor will let you know if you will need to stay overnight in the hospital or if you will be discharged the same day. If you stay overnight, you should bring toiletries, a robe, slippers, a cell phone and charger, medications, and a change of clothes.
Whether you stay overnight or are discharged the same day, you must arrange for someone to drive you home after discharge.
How long does hand surgery take?
Hand surgery can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the type of procedure you’re having.
During your hand surgery
When you arrive at the hospital, you will meet with your care team for final preparations.
You will receive an IV in your hand or arm. You will have either general anesthesia to put you to sleep, a regional nerve block to prevent you from feeling pain in specific parts of your body, or a local anesthetic.
After you are positioned on a procedure table, your doctor will:
- Make one or more small incisions (cuts) in your skin to access the inside of your finger, hand, or wrist.
- Use surgical instruments to repair your finger, hand, or wrist.
- Remove the instruments.
- Close your incision with stitches or glue.
After your procedure, your surgeon will place a bandage over your incision and make sure your condition is stable.
Recovery after hand surgery
After your procedure is complete, you will be monitored in the recovery area. Your doctor will let you know when it is safe to go home. You will need someone to drive you home from the hospital after your discharge.
Before you go home, your doctor will tell you:
- How to care for your incision and watch for signs of infection or complications.
- What medications you need to take.
- When or if you should begin physical therapy.
- When to call your doctor or 911 if you have certain symptoms.
- When you should schedule your follow-up appointments, if one has not been scheduled already.
- When you can return to your normal activities, such as driving and bathing.
How long does it take to recover from hand surgery?
Your recovery time will vary depending on the type of hand surgery you had, your overall health, and other factors. Your doctor will talk to you about what to expect during your recovery.
When to call your doctor about complications
You should let your surgeon know if you have:
- A fever of more than 100.0°F.
- Difficulty breathing.
- New or increasing shortness of breath.
- Pain, redness, bleeding, drainage, or increased swelling at your treatment site.
- Severe pain that does not respond to medication.
What’s the prognosis after hand surgery?
In most cases, hand surgery provides symptom relief, restores mobility, and enables people to return to the activities they enjoy. Your doctor will discuss your prognosis with you.
What’s the success rate of hand surgery?
Many conditions that affect the hand, fingers, and wrist can be successfully treated with surgery. Your doctor will discuss your expected success rate with you.
Why Choose UPMC for Hand Surgery?
When you choose UPMC for hand surgery, you will receive:
- Access to world-class orthopaedic expertise — Our world-renowned experts treat the full spectrum of hand, wrist, and finger disorders using the latest surgical and nonsurgical techniques.
- Advanced diagnostic care — We’ll find the cause of your hand, wrist, or finger pain and work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
- A full range of treatment options — We offer nonsurgical care, as well as minimally invasive, robotic, and traditional surgical approaches, depending on your individual care needs.
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-03-12.
