A solid understanding of anatomy is essential to effectively diagnose and treat patients with foot and ankle problems. Anatomy is a road map. Most structures in the foot are fairly superficial and can...
Stenosing tenosynovitis, also known as “trigger finger,” is a condition in which the flexor tendons of the fingers may get caught within their sheaths thereby limiting movement and causing pain. When...
The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is a soft tissue structure covering the distal ulna at the wrist, which serves to help stabilize the wrist and transmit load across the wrist joint. Becaus...
Kienböck’s disease is the eponym for avascular necrosis of the lunate (Figure 1), the bone between the scaphoid and triquetrum in the center of the proximal row of the carpus. Left untreated, this dis...
Ganglion cysts are benign, fluid filled, soft-tissue masses found near the joints of the wrist and fingers (Figure 1). Ganglions usually grow out of the tissues surrounding a joint or a tendon sheath....
The hand is susceptible to infection by virtue of its intimate contact with the outside world, its great surface area and its propensity for injury. That is, the hand is exposed frequently to infectio...
Dupuytren's Disease (or simply "Dupuytren's") is a progressive disorder characterized by fibrosis of the palmar fascia. Dupuytren's is associated with the formation of palpable nodules and cords in th...
The fingernail serves multiple functions. In addition to protecting the fingertip, it provides tactile sensation, aids in thermoregulation, and assists in picking up small objects; it also has dense l...
De Quervain’s disease is a common cause of pain at the base of the thumb and the radial side of the wrist. This condition is characterized by irritation of the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor po...
Pressure on peripheral nerves can cause numbness, weakness or pain -- compression neuropathy -- in the areas the nerves supply. Pressure on the median nerve at the wrist (i.e., carpal tunnel syndrome)...
