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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Patient Handouts

Summary

No matter how old you are or what you do for a living, you are always using your hands. When there is something wrong with them, you may not be able to do your regular activities.

Hand problems include :

• Carpal tunnel syndrome - compression of a nerve as it goes through the wrist, often making your fingers feel numb
• Injuries that result in fractures (broken bones), ruptured ligaments and dislocations
• Osteoarthritis - wear-and-tear arthritis, which can also cause deformity
• Tendinitis - irritation of the tendons
• Disorders and injuries of your fingers and thumb

Start Here

• Overview of Hand Disorders (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bone X-Ray (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Hand/Wrist/Arm Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• X-Ray Exam: Hand (Nemours Foundation)

Treatments and Therapies

• Dislocation: First Aid (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Hand splint - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• What Is a Hand Surgeon? (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

Specifics

• Arthritis of the Hand (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Cold Hands (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Fingertip Injuries and Amputations (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Hand Fractures (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Itchy Hands or Feet (VisualDX)
• Musician's Dystonia (Dystonia Medical Research Foundation)
• Nerve Injuries in the Hand and Fingers (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

Genetics

• Baller-Gerold syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Duane-radial ray syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Feingold syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Hand-foot-genital syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Holt-Oram syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Oral-facial-digital syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Pallister-Hall syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Poland syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• RAPADILINO syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Timothy syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Townes-Brocks Syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hand Injuries (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Characteristics of Hand Injury Presentations to the...
• Article: Trends in immobilization following fracture surgery of the wrist and hand...
• Article: The relationship between pain and activity participation, quality of life and...
• Hand Injuries and Disorders -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Brachial plexopathy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Claw hand (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Dupuytrens contracture (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Hand fracture - aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Hand or foot spasms (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Hand x-ray (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Radial nerve dysfunction (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Ulnar nerve dysfunction (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish