Hand surgery is a complex discipline where careful planning and meticulous technique are required. That’s why we like it so much and why we got into the field years ago. Hand surgery also has the potential to improve patient lives immensely. That is the other reason that we find hand surgery so continually gratifying. Here we’ll discuss hand surgery in general and how to find the best hand surgery specialists for you.
Why Cohen/Winters Specialize in Hand Surgery
Hand surgery allows us to help people improve or regain their range of motion and hand dexterity—so that they can do the things they love and so they can do their daily essential tasks independently. We meet patients in our New Jersey practice every day who suffer from arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, trigger finger and other hand conditions.
The thing these hand problems have in common is: they all get worse and worse as time passes without proper treatment. Temporary treatments don’t help for long and don’t typically halt the physical deterioration of the tendons, bones, nerves and ligaments of the hand.
Common Types of Hand Surgery in NJ
As hand surgery specialists, we are happy to be able to offer patients permanent or long term repair and improvement to the form and function of the hands, especially patients who have been disappointed by basic, non-invasive treatments that work not at all or only temporarily.
After trying non-invasive treatments for a while, those treatments tend to become less and less effective as the underlying condition of the hands grows worse over time. Temporary treatments like cortisone injections in the hand, daily doses of pain relievers, wrist or finger splints, rest, ice and massage don’t help much after a while. That’s when frustrated patients look for a more permanent solution in hand surgery. Types of hand surgery include, but are not limited to:
- Carpal tunnel surgery
- Trigger finger surgery or trigger finger release
- Arthritis hand surgery (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Basal joint correction surgery
- Basal thumb surgery
- Tendon repair
- Nerve repair
- Knuckle (MCP joint) replacement surgery (arthroplasty)
- Wrist tendonitis surgery (condition also called de Quervain’s)
- Reconstructive hand surgery (after injury, due to birth defect or disease)
- And many, many more
The Engineering, Architecture and Aesthetics of Hand Surgery
Although the structure of the hands is very intricate and complex, there are a variety of hand surgeries that can make a big difference in a patient’s life when they have hand deformities or limitations. There are several techniques to accomplish each surgery, as well, which allow us to tailor the surgical treatment to the specific individual’s needs. Using innovative hand surgery techniques and well honed surgical skills helps hand surgery specialists like us: relieve hand pain, restore movement, strengthen the grip, improve finger coordination and correct both functional and aesthetic concerns of the hands, wrists and forearms.
Hand Surgery Outcomes: Highly Technique Dependent
The best hand surgeons combine art and science in their work. For a successful hand surgery outcome, patients in the NJ area should seek a top surgeon who understands aesthetics (a plastic surgeon) along with the complex anatomy and function of the hand (a reconstructive surgeon). Combining this knowledge with years of surgical experience in the field and skill in microsurgery to improve or preserve nerve function, the best hand surgeons can offer predictably successful outcomes. These surgeons are skilled in repairing and adjusting the bones, nerves and tissues of the fingers, thumbs, palms and joints so that they work together properly.
How to Choose Your Best Hand Surgeon
At Cohen/Winters, we always advise research and patience when looking for the perfect match: the best hand surgeon to help you. The better qualified, the more highly skilled and the more experienced your NJ hand surgeon, the better your outcome and the lower the risks of your hand surgery. Therefore:
- We advise you to look into your surgeon’s background and licensure with the State of New Jersey (Dept. of Consumer Affairs) and find out if they have surgical privileges at a well-known hospital, preferably a university hospital.
- You should also learn how many years the surgeon has been in the field of hand surgery and how often they perform the surgery. (You can get an idea of this online and also ask the surgeon.) Ask friends, relatives, your family doctor and ask the surgeon if you can talk to a recent past patient.
- Finally, meet with your top hand surgery specialists and evaluate how they relate to you. Do you get the answers you need? Are the details of the recommended procedure, risks and any options explained to you thoroughly?
- After meeting the surgeon, do you know what to expect, as far as recovery and results, from your hand surgery? Do you feel a sense of trust toward the surgeon? Consider these last factors carefully, because the best hand surgeon for you may be different than the best surgeon for someone else.
Meet the Hand Surgery Specialists at Cohen/Winters
To learn if you can benefit from hand surgery, contact Cohen/Winters Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery here in Bergen County, NJ, for an in-person consultation about your condition and your options
