Hand and wrist injuries can happen in an instant, and getting expert care sooner rather than later can help minimize pain and mitigate long-term damage.

We treat common hand and wrist injuries, such as:

• Broken fingers, hands or wrist
• Fingertip injuries or amputations
• Nerve injuries
• Tendon injuries

As a Level I Trauma Center, our skilled hand surgeons are also available 24/7 to provide surgery when you need it, such as:

• Complex hand surgery
• Limb preservation
• Microsurgical reconstruction-flap surgery 

Our expert team offers everything from casting and bracing to hand therapy and advanced surgery to repair tendons and nerves.

Chronic hand and wrist conditions can cause pain and limit your ability to move, grip or perform daily tasks. At MU Health Care, we treat patients of all ages for a wide range of hand and wrist conditions, including:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A compressed nerve in your wrist can cause numbness, tingling or weakness, sometimes making it difficult to grip objects.
• Wrist arthritis: Inflammation and degeneration of the wrist joint can cause pain, stiffness and reduced range of motion.
• Thumb arthritis: Cartilage at the base of the thumb wears away, leading to pain, swelling and difficulty with gripping or pinching.
• Cubital tunnel: Pressure or stretching of the ulnar nerve at the elbow leads to numbness, tingling and weakness in the ring and little fingers.
• Dupuytren: Thickened tissue in the palm causes the fingers — usually the ring and little fingers — to bend inward and lose flexibility.
• Trigger finger: Swelling in the flexor tendon can make your finger click, catch or lock in a bent position, limiting smooth movement.
• Wrist tendinitis (De Quervain’s or “texter’s thumb”): Repetitive wrist and thumb motions, like texting or lifting, can cause inflammation and pain, especially with twisting movements.
• Tendon repair: An injured or damaged tendon usually won’t heal on its own and can prevent your finger from bending or straightening.
• Lumps and bumps (ganglion cysts): Fluid-filled lumps near joints or tendons can grow, shrink or press on nerves, sometimes causing discomfort with movement.
• Retained foreign bodies: Embedded objects like glass, metal or splinters can cause pain and swelling. If they don’t come out on their own, we may need to remove them to prevent irritation or infection.

Once we understand your condition and goals, we may explore nonsurgical options first. Depending on your needs, treatment may include: 

• Rest: Limiting movement gives your body time to heal. A splint, brace, ice or heat may help reduce pain.
• Injections: Targeted medications can relieve pain and inflammation, often with same-day availability for quick relief.
• Medications: NSAIDs and other medications can help with pain, swelling and inflammation.
• Physical therapy: Stretches and exercises help improve flexibility and strength.
• Injury prevention: Small adjustments to your workspace or daily activities can reduce strain and prevent pain from returning.

If nonsurgical treatments aren’t enough, MU Health Care is the only hospital in Mid-Missouri, and one of just 50 in the U.S., to earn the Hand Trauma Center of Excellence designation from the American College of Surgeons. 

We specialize in outpatient procedures such as: 

• Carpal tunnel syndrome surgery
• Cyst removal
• Foreign body removal
• Tendon repair
• Trigger finger surgery
• Wrist tendinitis surgery

We use local anesthesia to keep you comfortable without sedation, so you can skip the hospital stay and head home the same day. 

Our surgeons also handle the region’s most complex cases, from referrals to second opinions.