Wrist pain has many causes, and tendonitis is one of the most common. While De Quervain’s tendonitis (which I cover in a separate blog post) gets the most attention, several other wrist tendon conditions cause significant pain and are frequently misdiagnosed or undertreated. Intersection Syndrome  Intersection syndrome causes pain and swelling on the back of the forearm, about 2–3 inches above the wrist. It occurs where two groups of tendons cross over each other (the first a

You’ve noticed a small, firm, translucent bump on the back of your finger near the nail. It may have appeared, gone away, and come back. Maybe it’s caused a groove or ridge in your fingernail. This is most likely a mucous cyst (also called a myxoid cyst or digital mucous cyst)—a common condition related to arthritis of the finger’s last joint. What Is a Mucous Cyst? A mucous cyst is a type of ganglion cyst that forms at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint of the finger—the

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 own. This is a mallet finger, and it’s one of the most common tendon injuries in the hand. What Is a Mallet Finger? A mallet finger occurs when the extensor tendon that straightens the tip of your finger (the distal interphalangeal or DIP joint) is disrupted. This can happen as a pure tendon rupture (the tendon pulls off t

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 first. If this sounds familiar, you could be dealing with Kienböck’s disease—a condition in which the lunate bone in the center of the wrist loses its blood supply and gradually dies (avascular necrosis). What Is Kienböck’s Disease? The lunate is one of eight small carpal bones in the wrist. It sits in a critical positio

Arizona’s outdoor lifestyle is one of the best things about living here—hiking Camelback Mountain, mountain biking in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, rock climbing in Queen Creek, or playing golf year-round in Scottsdale. But these activities also bring a steady stream of hand and wrist injuries to my practice. Here’s what to watch for, how to prevent injuries, and when to see a hand surgeon. Hiking Injuries The most common hand injury from hiking is a wrist fracture from a FO

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 interferes with gripping or bending the finger. The most likely diagnosis? A giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath (GCTTS)—the second most common hand tumor after ganglion cysts. What Is a Giant Cell Tumor of the Tendon Sheath? Also known as pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) of the tendon sheath, this is a benign (

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 happened to you, there’s a strong chance you’ve cut a flexor tendon—and this is a hand emergency that requires surgical repair, usually within days. What Are Flexor Tendons? Flexor tendons are the rope-like structures that run from the forearm through the wrist and palm into each finger. When your forearm muscles contrac

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." You buddy taped it and figured it would get better. But weeks later, the finger is still swollen, stiff, and unstable. This is one of the most common scenarios I see in my Phoenix practice—a dismissed finger dislocation that needed more attention from the start. What Happens When a Finger Dislocates? A finger dislocation oc

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 case, the most likely diagnosis is an enchondroma—the most common primary bone tumor of the hand. What Is an Enchondroma of the Hand? An enchondroma is a benign (non-cancerous) cartilage tumor that develops inside bone. In the hand, enchondromas most commonly occur in the proximal phalanges (the finger bone closest to the p

Imagine excruciating, stabbing pain in your fingertip—triggered by the slightest touch, a cold breeze, or bumping your finger on something. You’ve seen multiple doctors, had X-rays that look normal, and been told "nothing is wrong." If this sounds like your story, you may have a glomus tumor. Glomus tumors are one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in hand surgery. They’re small, benign, and often invisible on standard imaging—but they cause pain that is wildly disproporti

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 depends on several factors, and knowing what to do in the first minutes and hours after the injury is critical. What to Do Immediately After a Finger Amputation If a finger or fingertip has been amputated: Control bleeding: Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth. Elevate the hand above the heart. Preserve the amputated

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 position while the fingertip (DIP joint) hyperextends backward. This is a boutonniere deformity, and it’s one of the most commonly missed injuries in the hand. What Causes a Boutonniere Deformity? The boutonniere deformity results from disruption of the central slip—the portion of the extensor tendon that straightens the PIP (m

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 condition is the second most common nerve compression in the upper extremity (after carpal tunnel syndrome) and involves the ulnar nerve at the elbow. The ulnar nerve is the "funny bone" nerve. When you hit your elbow on a hard surface and feel that electric shock down to your small finger—that’s the ulnar nerve. In cubital t

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 be confusing, and choosing the right specialist from the start can save you time, money, and—most importantly—get you the best outcome. What Is a Hand Surgeon? A hand surgeon is a specialist who has completed additional fellowship training beyond residency specifically focused on conditions of the hand, wrist, and forearm

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 one of the most common conditions I treat as a hand surgeon serving Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, and the greater Phoenix area. The medical term is stenosing tenosynovitis, and while the name sounds complicated, the condition is straightforward: the tendon that bends your finger gets caught on a thickened pulley at

Severe hand injuries—from machinery accidents, burns, crush injuries, degloving injuries, or deep infections—sometimes result in significant skin loss that cannot be closed with stitches alone. In these cases, a skin graft is needed to provide coverage, protect underlying structures, and allow the hand to heal properly. As a fellowship-trained hand surgeon in Phoenix, I perform skin grafting procedures for patients with complex hand wounds, and I want you to understand what t

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 commonly caused by lacerations (cuts from glass, knives, or machinery), but can also result from fractures, crush injuries, or stretch injuries. Nerve repair is one of the most technically demanding areas of hand surgery, requiring microsurgical expertise and careful postoperative management. How Nerves Work in the Hand Three m

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 hiking trails. Hand and wrist fractures are among the most common injuries I treat as a hand surgeon in Phoenix, and getting the right treatment early makes all the difference in how well your hand heals and functions long-term. Types of Hand and Wrist Fractures The hand and wrist contain 27 bones, and a fracture can occur i

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 surgical problem if not treated promptly. The hand’s complex anatomy—with tendons, tendon sheaths, joints, and tight compartments—means infections can spread rapidly and cause permanent damage to critical structures. As a hand surgeon serving the Phoenix metro—including Peoria, Goodyear, Buckeye, and the West Valley—I treat han

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 this sounds familiar, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with a ganglion cyst—the most common soft tissue mass in the hand and wrist. As a hand surgeon in Phoenix, I see ganglion cysts almost every day in my office. Here’s what you need to know about them, when treatment is needed, and what your options are. What Is a