What words should I know about hand surgery?

Carpal tunnel syndrome

A condition caused by pressure to the median nerve within the wrist or carpal tunnel causing pain, tingling and numbness.

Dupuytren's contracture

A disabling hand disorder in which thick, scar-like tissue bands form within the palm and may extend into the fingers. It can cause restricted movement, bending the fingers into an abnormal position.

Extensor tendon

A tendon which serves to extend a finger or hand.

Flexor tendon

A tendon which serves to bend a finger or hand.

General anesthesia

Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.

Grafting

Tissue taken from other parts of the body.

Intravenous sedation

Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.

Microsurgery

High magnification to repair or reconnect severed nerves and tendons, common in trauma cases and often used to reattach severed fingers or limbs.

Polydactyly

The presence of extra fingers.

Rheumatoid arthritis

A disabling disease that can cause severe inflammation in any joint of the body. In the hand, it can deform fingers and impair movement.

Syndactyly

When fingers are fused together at birth.

Tendon

A tough cord or band of dense white fibrous connective tissue that unites a muscle with some other part.

Tenolysis

A surgical procedure to free a tendon from surrounding adhesions.

Trigger finger

An abnormal condition in which flexion or extension of a finger may be momentarily obstructed by spasm followed by a snapping into place.

Z-plasty

A surgical incision technique that creates small triangular flaps of tissue that help to close wounds over areas of the hand where bending or flexing is essential to function, such as around knuckles.