Traumatic Hand and Upper Extremity Injuries

Recognized by U.S. News & World Report

UT Southwestern Medical Center has earned a "High Performing" rating from U.S. News & World Report for orthopaedic care, placing us among the nation’s leading hospitals in this area of care.

The orthopaedic surgeons at UT Southwestern Medical Center are experts at evaluating, diagnosing, and treating traumatic hand injuries and upper extremity injuries. We use the latest techniques and tools to treat injuries and restore function to each patient’s hand, wrist, arm, or elbow.

Expert-Level Care for Hand and Arm Trauma

Accidents happen, whether on the job, on the playing field, or in the home. When they do, the complex bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles of the hand, wrist, arm, and elbow can suffer trauma, such as severe bone fractures, soft tissue injuries, and tendon injuries. 

The hand and upper extremities are vital for all kinds of everyday activities, both at work and at home. Our goal at UT Southwestern Medical Center is to accurately diagnose injuries of the hand, wrist, arm, and elbow and provide personalized care to enable our patients to regain their quality of life as soon as possible.

Symptoms

Symptoms of traumatic hand injuries and upper extremity injuries include:

• Deformed or, in extreme cases, exposed bone 
• Limited range of motion
• Numbness or tenderness
• Pain, swelling, or bruising

Diagnosing Traumatic Hand and Arm Injuries

To diagnose an injury, our surgeons examine the hand or upper extremity and get a history of the condition. 

In addition, we might order tests such as X-rays, ultrasounds, computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the extent of the injury.

Treatments

The orthopaedic surgeons at UT Southwestern are skilled in the latest treatments for traumatic hand and upper extremity injuries, such as new types of bone plates and biologics such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) to supplement problematic bone healing, when necessary.  

We might also use advanced grafting and flap surgery techniques to move skin, tissue, fat, blood vessels, or muscle from a healthy area of the body to the injured area. When needed, we use trauma-friendly incisions to allow the soft tissue to heal alongside the bone and avoid complications.