Hand Surgery Techniques

Techniques used by the division's hand surgeons include:

Grafting
The transfer of skin, bone, nerves or other tissue from a healthy part of the body to repair the injury.

Flap Surgery
Moving the skin along with its underlying fat, blood vessels and muscle from a healthy part of the body to the injured site.

Replantation or Transplantation
Restoring accidentally amputated fingers or hands using microsurgery, a very precise and delicate surgery performed under magnification.

Microsurgery
Hand surgery encompasses a broad range of procedures, from carpal tunnel release to complex reconstructive procedures that require microscopic techniques. In recent years, there have been dramatic advances in treating patients with hand injuries, degenerative disorders and birth defects of the hand. The Division's plastic surgeons have been at the forefront of these advances, particularly specialists emphasizing the improvement of both function and appearance.

Hand specialists in the division undergo intensive hand surgery training and, with orthopedic surgeons and general surgeons, treat patients with a wide range of hand problems. The most common procedures in hand surgery are those to repair injured hands, including injuries to the tendons, nerves, blood vessels and joints. Other common injuries include fractured bones, burns, cuts and other injuries to the skin.