Patient Education

The Blog

Clear, practical articles on hand, wrist, and elbow conditions — written and medically reviewed by Dr. Todd A. Richards.

Hand & Wrist Conditions
Mucous Cysts of the Finger: Why They Form and When to Have One Removed
Digital mucous cysts are small, fluid-filled bumps near the fingertip linked to arthritis of the end joint. A Phoenix hand surgeon explains the causes, warning signs, and treatment options.
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Thumb Arthritis (CMC Joint): Causes, Treatment and Surgery Options in Phoenix
Painful pinching or trouble opening jars may be thumb CMC arthritis. A Phoenix hand surgeon explains causes, symptoms, splinting, injections, and surgery options.
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Raynaud's Disease: When Your Fingers Turn White
Fingers turning white, blue, then red? A Phoenix hand surgeon explains Raynaud's disease, primary vs. secondary types, triggers, and treatment options in Arizona.
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Skier's Thumb (UCL Injury): Why That Jammed Thumb May Need Surgery
A jammed thumb that stays weak may be a torn UCL. A Phoenix hand surgeon explains skier's thumb, the Stener lesion, and why some tears require surgical repair.
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Wrist Arthroscopy: Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment for Wrist Pain
Chronic wrist pain with normal X-rays? A Phoenix hand surgeon explains wrist arthroscopy for TFCC tears, ligament injuries, and cartilage damage, plus recovery.
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Nail Bed Injuries: Why Proper Repair Matters for Your Fingernail
Slammed your finger in a door? A Phoenix hand surgeon explains nail bed injuries, subungual hematoma, repair techniques, and how to avoid permanent nail deformity.
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): Treatment That Actually Works
You don't have to play tennis to get tennis elbow. A Phoenix hand surgeon explains lateral epicondylitis, eccentric therapy, PRP, injections, and when surgery helps.
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Wrist Tendonitis: Intersection Syndrome, ECU Tendonitis and Other Common Causes of Wrist Pain
Wrist tendonitis is often misdiagnosed. A Phoenix hand surgeon explains intersection syndrome, ECU tendonitis and subluxation, FCR tendonitis, and how each is treated.
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Mallet Finger: The Drooping Fingertip Injury (Causes, Splinting & Surgery in Phoenix)
You jammed your finger catching a ball, making the bed, or reaching for something—and now the tip of your finger droops and you can’t straighten it on your…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Kienböck’s Disease: When the Lunate Bone Dies (Causes, Staging & Treatment Options)
You have chronic wrist pain that won’t go away, stiffness, and weakness—but you never had a significant injury. Your X-rays may have been read as "normal" at…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Cut Tendon in Your Hand? Why Flexor Tendon Repair Can’t Wait
You cut your hand or finger on glass, a knife, or a piece of metal. The wound may not look that deep, but now you can’t bend one of your fingers. If this has…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Giant Cell Tumor of the Tendon Sheath: The Most Common Hand Tumor You’ve Never Heard Of
You’ve noticed a firm, painless lump on your finger or hand that’s been slowly growing over months or years. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s getting bigger and now…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Hand Injuries from Hiking, Biking & Rock Climbing: An Arizona Hand Surgeon’s Guide
Arizona’s outdoor lifestyle is one of the best things about living here—hiking Camelback Mountain, mountain biking in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, rock…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Boutonniere Deformity: The Bent Finger Injury That’s Easily Missed
After a jammed finger, cut, or crush injury, you may notice your finger developing an unusual posture: the middle joint (PIP joint) is stuck in a bent…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: Ulnar Nerve Compression at the Elbow (Phoenix Hand Surgeon Guide)
If you’re experiencing numbness or tingling in your ring and small fingers—especially when your elbow is bent—you may have cubital tunnel syndrome. This…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Enchondroma of the Hand: When a Bone Tumor Causes a Finger Fracture
You bumped your hand lightly and your finger broke—or an X-ray for another reason revealed a hole or cyst-like area in one of your finger bones. In either…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Finger Amputation: Replantation, Revision & What to Do When You’ve Lost a Finger
A finger amputation is terrifying. Whether from a saw, machinery, a door, or another accident, the immediate question is: can my finger be saved? The answer…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Jammed Finger or Dislocated? When a Finger Dislocation Needs More Than Buddy Taping
You jammed your finger during a game, a fall, or while doing yard work. It swelled up, maybe looked crooked for a moment, and someone "popped it back in."…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Glomus Tumor of the Finger: The Tiny Tumor That Causes Big Pain
Imagine excruciating, stabbing pain in your fingertip—triggered by the slightest touch, a cold breeze, or bumping your finger on something. You’ve seen…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Ganglion Cyst on Your Wrist or Hand: Do You Need Surgery? A Phoenix Hand Surgeon Explains
You’ve noticed a bump on your wrist or hand. It appeared seemingly out of nowhere, it may change size, and you’re wondering whether you should be worried. If…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Broken Hand or Wrist? A Hand Surgeon’s Guide to Fracture Treatment in Phoenix
A broken hand or wrist can happen to anyone—from a fall on an outstretched hand, a sports injury, a car accident, or even a misstep on one of our Arizona…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Hand and Finger Infections: Why Emergency Treatment from a Hand Surgeon Matters
A hand and finger infection are both a true hand emergency. What may start as a small cut, puncture wound, or animal bite can quickly become a serious…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Nerve Injury in the Hand or Wrist: Repair, Recovery & What a Phoenix Hand Surgeon Wants You to Know
A nerve injury in the hand or wrist can result in numbness, loss of sensation, weakness, or inability to move certain fingers. These injuries are most…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Skin Grafting for Hand Injuries: What to Expect from a Fellowship-Trained Hand Surgeon in Arizona
Severe hand injuries—from machinery accidents, burns, crush injuries, degloving injuries, or deep infections—sometimes result in significant skin loss that…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Trigger Finger Treatment in Scottsdale & the East Valley: When Do You Need Surgery?
If your finger catches, locks, or clicks when you bend it—or if you have to physically straighten it with your other hand—you may have trigger finger. It’s…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
When to See a Hand Surgeon vs. an Orthopedic Surgeon or ER Doctor: A Phoenix & East Valley Guide
You’ve got a hand or wrist problem and you’re not sure where to go. Your primary care doctor? The ER? An orthopedic surgeon? A hand surgeon? The options can…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Dupuytren’s Contracture Treatment Options in Arizona: From Needle Aponeurotomy to Surgery
If you’ve noticed thick cords or nodules developing in your palm, or if one or more fingers are gradually curling toward your palm and you can’t straighten…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
De Quervain’s Tendonitis: Why Your Thumb and Wrist Hurt (and When to See a Hand Surgeon in Phoenix)
If you’re experiencing sharp pain on the thumb side of your wrist—especially when gripping, pinching, or turning your wrist—you may have De Quervain’s…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Carpal Tunnel Surgery in Phoenix: What to Expect from Diagnosis to Recovery
If you’re waking up at night with numb, tingling fingers or dropping things because your grip has weakened, you may be dealing with carpal tunnel…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Understanding Common Hand Injuries and Treatments
Hand injuries are a common occurrence that can significantly impact daily life. Whether you are an athlete, a manual laborer, or simply someone who uses…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Top Tips for Hand Surgery Recovery Success
Recovering from hand surgery can be a challenging journey, but with the right strategies and mindset, you can significantly improve your recovery experience…
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Hand & Wrist Conditions
Meet Dr. Todd Richards: Expert Hand Surgeon
Hand injuries can be debilitating, affecting not just the ability to perform daily tasks but also impacting overall quality of life. When faced with such…
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