Hand, Wrist & Upper Extremity
Hands and wrists require delicate care. Experience and extensive training are critical for hand and wrist orthopaedic specialists. Knowing which treatments to recommend and when they will be most effective is what sets a truly experienced hand and wrist specialist apart.
At Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, our hand and wrist specialists have the training and expertise to make the right recommendations for patients with hand and wrist injuries or conditions.
Hand and Wrist Evaluation
At WOSM, our physicians will provide a comprehensive evaluation to determine the cause of your pain or condition. You can expect a thorough evaluation, where your doctor will ask you to describe the history and extent of this injury of condition. If you have X-rays or other diagnostic images, you should bring them with you. If you do not, your doctor may recommend them. This evaluation will probably include:
- Clinical history and exam
- X-rays (when indicated)
- Appropriate advanced imaging studies (e.g. MRI or CT scan)
- Nerve testing (EMG) when indicated
Treatment
After your evaluation, your doctor may recommend immediate treatment. In our practice, we focus on creating an individualized treatment plan for each patient. If possible, we opt for conservative management because of the delicate nature of the hand and wrist. This would include rest, splinting, physical therapy and medical management to control pain.
Surgery
If surgery is necessary, you should know you are in excellent hands, as our specialists have a combined experience of more than 30 years performing hand and wrist surgery. If your doctor does recommend surgery, our helpful staff will explain everything you need to know to prepare for surgery. After surgery, your doctor will check on you and then expect to see you in the office a week later to make sure you are healing well.
Common Hand and Wrist Conditions
Some common hand and wrist conditions we treat include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Wrist Fractures
- Bennett’s Fracture
- Boxer’s Fracture
- Basal joint arthritis
- Finger fractures and dislocations
- Elbow fractures
- Lateral and medial epicondylitis(Tennis elbow and Golfer’s elbow)
- Nerve lacerations
- Tendon repairs from lacerations
- Cubital tunnel release (ulnar nerve at the elbow)
- Trigger finger release
- Dupuytren’s contracture
It is with a grateful heart that we announce Dr. Anthony Unger’s retirement, effective December 31, 2024. As a founding member of Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Dr. Unger has had the privilege of forming lasting relationships with many patients and their families. It has been a true honor for him to provide care across multiple generations, and he deeply values the trust placed in him by so many.