Your hands are how you interact with the world—whether you're working, driving, brushing your teeth, or reaching for a child. When pain, numbness, or an injury affects your hand or wrist, it can disrupt your daily life.
At the UPMC Department of Plastic Surgery, our expert hand surgeons specialize in diagnosing and treating hand, wrist, and peripheral nerve conditions, helping you regain function and get back to the activities you enjoy.
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We look forward to the privilege of providing you with the highest quality care. To schedule an appointment, please call 412-648-8976 or Find a Provider.
What Are Hand, Wrist, and Peripheral Nerve Problems?
Hand, wrist, and nerve problems can occur due to:
- Aging or pregnancy-related changes.
- Injuries like falls, car accidents, and sports-related or work-related accidents.
- Medical conditions like diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and arthritis.
- Repetitive movements like typing, lifting, or using tools.
These issues can cause pain, numbness, stiffness, weakness, or difficulty with everyday activities.
What Are Common Symptoms of Hand, Wrist, and Nerve Issues?
Common symptoms of hand, wrist, and nerve issues include:
- Hand pain that wakes you up at night.
- Numbness, tingling, or shooting pain in the fingers.
- Pain or stiffness when using your hand.
- Popping, snapping, or locking sensations in the fingers or wrist.
- Visible wounds, swelling, or deformities.
- Weakness or difficulty making a fist.
Our goal is to relieve pain, restore function, and improve your quality of life with expert diagnosis and treatment.
Conditions We Treat
Our specialists provide complete care for a wide range of hand, wrist, and peripheral nerve conditions, including:
Cysts, tumors, and vascular conditions
- Ganglion cysts and hand tumors.
- Vasospastic disorders affecting hand circulation.
Joint and arthritis-related conditions
- Degenerative arthritis – osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Wrist pain and ligament injuries.
Nerve and tendon conditions
Pediatric hand surgery
- Congenital hand differences.
- Trauma.
Traumatic hand and wrist injuries
- Amputated fingers or limbs.
- Burns and complex wounds.
- Fractures (hand, wrist, and forearm).
- Ligament tears and strains.
- Nerve injuries and neuromas (including brachial plexus injuries).
- Tendon injuries (extensor and flexor tendon injuries, including mallet finger).
Our team uses the latest plastic and orthopaedic surgical techniques to optimize recovery and function.
Procedures and Treatments We Perform
Our fellowship-trained hand surgeons offer the latest minimally invasive and traditional surgical techniques to treat hand and wrist conditions effectively.
Our treatments include:
- Arthritis treatments – surgical and non-surgical.
- Carpal tunnel and nerve release surgery, including endoscopic and ultrasound-guided techniques.
- Dupuytren’s disease treatments, including collagenase injections and surgery.
- Minimally invasive hand and wrist fracture repair.
- Nerve reconstruction, including nerve transfers, targeted muscle innervation, and regenerative nerve interfaces.
- Steroid injections (cortisone shots).
- Tendon and ligament repair.
- Wrist arthroscopy.
For traumatic injuries, early treatment is critical – many injuries should be addressed within two weeks to ensure the best outcome.
What to Expect at Your Initial Visit for Hand, Wrist, or Peripheral Nerve Problems
During your initial consultation, your hand surgeon will perform a comprehensive physical exam and review any imaging (x-rays, ultrasounds, or MRIs). Additional imaging may be performed during your visit if needed.
If appropriate, you may receive an injection or be referred to a hand therapist on the same day to begin treatment.
For new traumatic injuries:
- If you were seen in a UPMC emergency department or walk-in care location, we will review your records.
- If imaging was done outside of UPMC, please bring your x-ray or MRI on a CD for review.
- Surgery for fractures or traumatic injuries is typically scheduled within two weeks of the injury for optimal healing.
For chronic conditions:
- If you’ve had previous treatments or surgeries, bring any doctor’s notes, test results, and imaging for our team to review.
- Our office can assist in retrieving medical records before your visit.
Early evaluation leads to better outcomes, allowing our surgeons to plan the best course of treatment.
Why Choose UPMC for Hand, Wrist, and Peripheral Nerve Surgery?
Our team of fellowship-trained hand surgery specialists provides comprehensive adult and pediatric treatment for all hand, wrist, and peripheral nerve problems.
Our physicians are leaders in utilizing innovative surgical techniques and treatments for hand, wrist, and peripheral nerve injuries and disorders.
Our goal is to help you regain function, reduce pain, and improve your quality of life as quickly as possible.
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