Hand Surgery in Lancashire – Why does society need a Hand Surgeon?

The clockwork of the hand is too intricate and contains too many moving parts for any existing basic surgical specialty to master fully. Fixed structures (bones) are in intimate contact with gliding structures (tendons, other soft tissues), and their healing requirements are quite different. A fractured bone needs to be rigidly immobilized, whereas a repaired flexor tendon needs to move up to 6 cm. There is no tolerance for error: a millimetre of discrepancy at the base of a bone will translate into a fingertip crossing over another when a fist is made.

Orthopaedic Surgeons are adept at bone healing. Plastic Surgeons train to make soft tissues heal with precision, and to replace missing tissues. After World War2 it was realized that only someone trained in both precise bone and soft tissue healing could achieve good results in operations of the hand. Consequently modern Hand Surgeons first have to complete either a full Orthopaedic or Plastic Surgery training, and then train further in the other discipline until they acquire the skills necessary to deal with both types of tissue.

Hand related problems.

Precise restoration of anatomy must be followed by early restoration of movement; otherwise the repaired tissues will quickly glue to each other and never glide. Therefore good results in Hand Surgery are seldom possible without the dedication, patience and perseverance of a trained Hand Therapist. This specialized area of Physiotherapy requires a depth of knowledge and experience of Hand-related problems simply not available to a general Therapist. In the early days after surgery when your hand can be swollen and painful, only a Hand Therapist knows how to get it moving and what extent of movement is safe.
Arthritis
Ganglion
Infection

Mr Agarwal therefore communicates very closely with Hand Therapists at Fulwood Hall Hospital and BMI Beaumont at Bolton after any operation on the hand, to ensure individualized attention and the very best possible outcomes.

Mallet Finger
Fracture
Congenital Difference

The scope of Hand Surgery for Mr Agarwal includes birth defects, and dysfunction stemming from injury, infection, nerve compression (Carpal tunnel and Cubital tunnel Syndromes), arthritis (Rheumatoid or Osteo), Dupuytren’s Disease, tumours and a host of degenerative conditions consequent to repetitive use (eg trigger finger, ganglions).