What is a Stiff Hand?
A stiff hand refers to a condition characterized by limited movement of the fingers. It can result from various factors, including infections, arthritis, prior hand surgeries, or hand injuries.
A stiff hand refers to a condition characterized by limited movement of the fingers. It can result from various factors, including infections, arthritis, prior hand surgeries, or hand injuries.
A short walk-through of our Lucknow clinic, plus a brief introduction from Dr. Amit Agarwal.
A quick tour of Kayakriti clinic, Lucknow
Meet Dr. Amit Agarwal
A stiff hand refers to a condition characterized by limited movement of the fingers. It can result from various factors, including infections, arthritis, prior hand surgeries, or hand injuries.
Stiff hand can manifest in different forms, such as:
Limitation of Extension Movement: In this type, the inability to straighten the fingers can result from tightness in structures located on the palm’s inner aspect. Possible causes include scarred skin, palmar fascia issues (like Dupuytren’s contracture ), tendon sheath shortening and contracture, and tendon problems such as shortening or adhesions.
Limitation of Flexion Movement: This type involves the inability to bend the fingers inward and can be caused by tightness in structures located on the hand’s dorsal (back) aspect. Causes may include scarred skin on the back of the hand, capsule and ligament shortening, and extensor tendon shortening or adhesions. Bone blockage can also contribute to this type of stiffness.
Patients with a stiff hand typically experience the following:
The stiff hand is often observed following burn injuries, accidental hand injuries, or hand infections.
Diagnosing a stiff hand involves the following steps:
Stiff hand after hand injury or infection can be prevented with good and regular physiotherapy.
Hand and finger radiographs may be conducted to assess bone conditions or their involvement.
Effective non-operative management is often more successful in the early phase following a hand injury, infection, or surgery, as it allows for fluid displacement and collagen remodeling. Measures may include:
Surgical intervention is considered when non-operative measures have failed to restore finger movements. Procedures may vary based on the specific condition:
Post-surgery, patients are often advised to:
Addressing stiff hands through timely intervention and a combination of treatments helps improve finger movement and overall hand functionality.
Drag the handle to compare. All photos are real patients shared with consent.
Images shown are intended to provide general treatment insight only. Every patient is unique, and outcomes may vary depending on individual condition and treatment plan.
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