What we can improve.
The hand contains skin, tendons, nerves, joints and bones in a small space. Similar symptoms can have different causes. During your consultation, we examine sensation, strength and movement and ask about your work, hobbies and the tasks that have become difficult.
Not every problem needs surgery. Splints, activity changes, injections or hand therapy can help in some cases. A recent wound with loss of movement or sensation needs prompt assessment; it should not wait for a scheduled cosmetic consultation.
Options and scars.
The plan depends on the diagnosis: releasing a compressed nerve is different from repairing a tendon or correcting a contracture. When surgery is proposed, we explain which structure will be treated, what may improve and which limitations may remain.
Some procedures use local anaesthetic and allow you to go home the same day; others need a more complex approach. Rehabilitation is arranged as part of treatment, alongside wound care and splints where needed.
Specific treatments.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Pressure on the median nerve at the wrist can cause tingling, numbness or pain, especially at night. Some people lose strength or drop objects. Examination and, where appropriate, nerve tests help assess severity and rule out other causes.
Depending on the case, a splint, activity changes, an injection or surgery to release the nerve may be considered. Night-time tingling can improve early after surgery, while strength and long-standing sensory changes take longer. If damage was advanced, some loss may persist.
Trigger finger
A finger may catch when bending or become locked, with pain in the palm. This usually happens because the tendon does not glide smoothly through one of its pulleys—the structures that hold it close to the bone.
Activity changes, splinting or an injection may be considered. If locking persists or the situation requires it, the pulley can be released surgically. Gentle movement is usually part of recovery, while avoiding pressure on the wound. Even when catching improves, scar tenderness and stiffness can take several weeks to settle.
Dupuytren's disease
Nodules and cords can form in the palm and gradually pull the fingers into a bent position, making them difficult to straighten. This is not a tendon problem. If you can straighten your fingers and have no limitations, monitoring may be sufficient.
When the contracture makes it difficult to place your hand flat or carry out activities, releasing or removing the tissue pulling on the finger may be considered. The procedure depends on location and the degree of bending. Rehabilitation and splints, when advised, help restore movement. Treatment improves the contracture, but the condition can recur.
Ganglion cysts
These fluid-filled lumps usually appear near joints or tendons in the hand and wrist. They may change size and are not always painful. Examination and, if needed, imaging help confirm the diagnosis.
Observation may be reasonable if they cause no discomfort. If painful or interfering with activity, options such as aspiration or surgery are assessed according to location. After surgery, scar care and restoring movement are important. Cysts can recur even after removal; do not hit or puncture them at home.
Tendon injuries
Tendons allow the fingers to bend and straighten. A cut, impact or rupture can affect this movement, even if the skin wound looks small. If you cannot move a finger properly after a wound, seek assessment without delay.
Treatment may require repair, splints or reconstruction depending on the tendon and the time since injury. Rehabilitation is essential: protected movement must be allowed without putting enough force through the repair to break it. Recovery is measured in weeks and months, and the exercise plan must be followed even once the skin wound has closed.
Peripheral nerve injuries
An injured nerve can cause loss of sensation, pain or weakness. We assess the affected areas, how the injury happened and whether there is compression, a cut nerve or another cause. Tests are chosen according to the injury and time since it occurred.
Observation, release or repair may be needed, sometimes using reconstructive techniques. Nerve recovery is slow and depends on distance, damage and time since injury; surgery does not mean sensation returns immediately. While it improves, areas with reduced feeling need protection from heat, cuts and pressure.
Long-term effects of hand injuries
An injury can leave stiffness, pulling scars, weakness or difficulty using the fingers. We review bones, joints, tendons, nerves and skin to understand what limits movement. Your work and the tasks you want to regain help set priorities.
Treatment may combine rehabilitation, release of adhesions, scar revision or tissue reconstruction. Sometimes it is staged. Before further surgery, we assess available movement and what improvement is reasonable, because restoring function does not always mean the hand returns exactly to its previous state.
What recovery involves.
The first few days
Early care usually includes elevating the hand to control swelling and keeping the dressing clean and protected. We will explain which fingers or joints you can move and which need protection. No single movement plan suits every operation.
Returning to your routine
Returning to work depends on the hand treated and the effort required: writing is different from professional driving, using tools or lifting. A straightforward release may allow light activity early, whereas tendon repair needs protection for weeks and rehabilitation over months.
How the result develops
Strength, sensation and scar comfort can recover at different rates. Reviews allow exercises and loading to be adjusted. Having the stitches removed does not mean your hand is ready for every activity.
Safety and possible risks.
Maintaining movement and protecting the repair are balanced through a specific rehabilitation plan. Following it helps reduce stiffness and adhesions without loading the tissues too soon.
Infection, tender scars, stiffness or persistence of some symptoms can occur. There is also a risk of injury to nearby structures and, less commonly, prolonged pain and swelling needing specific treatment. With nerve or tendon injuries, the initial condition affects what can recover. I will explain what we hope to improve and how we will assess it.
What we will discuss.
- Which activities you want to regain.
- When loss of strength, sensation or movement began.
- Which protection and rehabilitation the repair needs.
- How to adapt work to each stage.
Frequently asked questions.
Will I always need rehabilitation?
Not every procedure needs the same support. After tendon repairs, or with stiffness or complex injuries, it is often an important part of the result. In other cases, guided exercises and checks are enough.
When can I drive?
When you can grip the wheel, use the controls and react safely, without immobilisation or medication preventing this. Timing depends on the procedure and the hand affected.
Can I work using my other hand meanwhile?
Tasks can sometimes be adapted. Avoid activities that end up loading or putting the operated hand at risk, even if it is not your main working hand.
Keep exploring.
Revisión inicial del contenido: Dr. Luis Martín Suárez · 2026-09-13
Timeframes are a guide. The technique, suitability and aftercare are agreed during consultation according to your case and progress.