Musculoskeletal Key

Amputations General Information Upper extremity amputations are common injuries. Rates of limb salvage have increased during the last 20 years with improvements in microvascular techniques. Any patient desiring replantation should…

Dupuytren’s Disease General Information Dupuytren’s disease is a condition of the hand that replaces normal digital and palmar fascia (bands and sheaths) with abnormal fibrous tissue (nodules and cords) consisting…

Bites Human Bites General Information Human bites commonly occur on the hand following fights (fight bite) (Fig. 1). These wounds are often complicated by bacteriologic infection because of the complex…

High-Pressure Injection Injuries General Information High-pressure injection injuries (HPII) occur when patients sustain an injury from a high-pressure injection tool. Usually, the material that is injected is an organic solvent…

Burns General Information Thermal burns to the hand occur as a result of energy dissipated from flame, liquid, or gas. Chemical burns arise from direct contact with acidic or extremely…

Tendonitis of the Wrist and Hand General Information Tendonitis of the hand and wrist is a common upper extremity disorder. Tendonitis should not be used as a “waste basket” term…

Arthritis Osteoarthritis General Information In degenerative arthritis or osteoarthritis of the hand, the most commonly involved joints are the distal interphalangeal joints (DIPJ), proximal interphalangeal joints (PIPJ), and thumb carpometacarpal…

Tumors Ganglions General Information Ganglion cysts are the most common soft-tissue tumor of the hand. Ganglions are formed from modified synovial cells. The cyst is usually connected with an underlying…

Infections Felon General Information A felon is a deep infection of the finger pulp (Fig. 1), and accounts for approximately 15% of hand infections. There is usually a history of…

Compartment Syndrome General Information An acute compartment syndrome occurs when the interstitial tissue pressure rises above the tissue perfusion pressure and causes a cycle of increasing edema and cellular necrosis….