Your hands and wrists do so much for you every day, from typing and cooking to hugging the people you love. That everyday freedom depends on a remarkably intricate design. The hand and wrist together contain 29 bones, 29 joints, 123 ligaments, and 34 muscles, all working in harmony to give you both strength and delicate, precise movement. This same complexity also makes the hand and wrist prone to injury and pain.
When something goes wrong, you deserve the care of a specialist with advanced training and real experience. At Summit Health, our hand and wrist specialists focus entirely on treating fractures, sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and many other conditions, using both surgical and conservative options tailored to your unique situation.
You also benefit from our multidisciplinary approach. Our Orthopedics Department works closely with other specialties, including rheumatology, physiatry, hand therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. This connected model means your hands and wrists receive well-rounded, coordinated care from start to finish, so you can get back to the activities you enjoy.
Conditions and Procedures
Our specialists diagnose and treat a wide range of hand, wrist, and upper extremity concerns, offering everything from at-home care guidance to advanced surgical procedures.
Conditions we treat
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cerebral palsy of the upper extremity
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Disorders of the fingernails
- Dupuytren's contracture
- Ganglion cyst
- Hand and upper extremity fractures
- Infections of the upper extremity
- Kienböck's disease
- Nerve disorders
- Osteoarthritis of the hand, wrist, and elbow
- Rheumatoid arthritis of the upper extremity
- Sports injuries
- Tendinitis
- Trigger finger
- Work-related injuries
- Wrist fractures
- Wrist sprains
Procedures we offer
- Arthroplasty, joint reconstruction, and replacement
- Arthroscopy
- Burn treatments
- Carpal tunnel release
- Cartilage repair or removal
- Compound fracture repair
- Congenital syndactyly and duplicate digit reconstruction
- Cyst removal
- Fracture and dislocation repair of the wrist, forearm, and elbow
- Fracture care
- Free tissue and muscle transfers
- Joint arthritis surgery
- Joint repair and reconstruction
- Joint replacement
- Ligament repair and reconstruction
- Treatment of neoplasms of the hand, wrist, and elbow
- Nerve repair
- Peripheral nerve surgery, including release, repair, and transfer
- Reconstruction of fingers and thumbs
- Replantation of fingers, hands, and arms
- Revascularization
- Soft tissue repair and reconstruction
- Surgical repair and reconstruction of tendons and ligaments
- Tendon reconstruction and repair
- Trigger finger release
- Wide awake surgery
- Wrist arthroscopy and treatment of the triangular fibrocartilage complex
Hand and Wrist Specialists
Frequently Asked Questions
A wrist fracture is a broken bone in the wrist. Most fractures involve one of two bones: the radius, which is the larger bone of the forearm, or the scaphoid, a small bone near the base of the thumb. Wrist fractures range in severity and can sometimes involve the joint surfaces. They most often happen after a fall onto an outstretched hand, though direct trauma can also cause them. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, and, in some cases, visible deformity of the wrist.
The key difference comes down to what gets injured. A fracture is a break in the bone itself. A sprain is damage to a ligament, the soft tissue that connects one bone to another. Because both injuries often stem from a fall onto an outstretched hand and share symptoms like pain and limited movement, they can be hard to tell apart on your own. In fact, a sprain and a fracture can happen at the same time. That's why a professional diagnosis matters so much.
Wrist sprains are classified into three grades based on how severe the ligament damage is:
- Grade 1 – the ligament is stretched but not torn
- Grade 2 – the ligament is partially torn
- Grade 3 – the ligament is torn in two or pulled away from the bone it attaches to
Knowing the grade helps your specialist recommend the right treatment, from at-home care to surgery.
If you've fallen on your wrist, or if hand or wrist pain is getting in the way of your daily life, it's a good idea to be evaluated. Because sprains and fractures look and feel so similar, only a physician can confirm what's really going on. Seek care if you notice ongoing pain, swelling, bruising, limited range of motion, numbness in your fingers, or any deformity in the wrist. Getting an accurate diagnosis early can help you heal properly and avoid complications.
Treatment depends on the type and severity of your injury.
- Wrist fractures often need the bone to be realigned and then immobilized with a cast or splint. More serious fractures may require surgery to insert pins, plates, or screws that hold the bone in place while it heals.
- Wrist sprains are treated based on their grade. Grade 1 sprains often respond well to at-home care using the RICE method: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Grade 2 sprains may need a splint or brace. Grade 3 sprains may require surgery to repair or reconstruct the torn ligament.
- Anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers can help manage pain and swelling for many injuries.
- Hand therapy or physical therapy is often recommended after surgery to rebuild strength and restore range of motion.
Recovery timelines vary depending on the injury and how well it heals.
- A radius fracture typically requires a cast for three to six weeks and can take 6 to 12 months to heal completely.
- A scaphoid fracture may need a cast for up to 12 weeks and usually heals in three to four months.
- A sprained ligament generally heals in two to three months, though it can take six months to a year for your wrist to return to full function.
Your specialist will give you a recovery plan tailored to your injury and your goals, supporting you at every step.