Neurological diseases of the hand
Carpal tunnel syndrome is damage to the median nerve caused by trauma, inflammation or degenerative changes, which in the long term leads to regression or atrophy of the thumb ball muscles. Typically, night-time sensory disturbances of the first three fingers occur.
Congenital diseases of the hand
Syndactyly of the hand is a bony or connective tissue connection of two fingers, where the space between the fingers is missing. The disease belongs to the congenital malformations of the hand.
Traumatic diseases of the hand
In scapholunar dissociationSLD, external force causes injury to the ligaments in the carpal region between the scaphoid bone (Os scaphoideum, formerly Os naviculare) and the lunate bone (Os lunatum). Typically, the disease is preceded by a fall on the extended wrist. Morbus Dupuytren belongs to the so-called fibromatoses.
More precisely, it is a benign, primarily painless, nodular and strand-like proliferation of connective tissue of the hand. This leads to an inhibition of stretching of the fingers, or to a contracture of the little finger. The most frequent localizations are located at: Hollow hand, ring finger, little finger, middle finger, rarely thumb and index finger.
The cause of the disease probably lies in the genetic predisposition. An injury or fracture can then trigger the symptoms. Sudeck’s disease is also called CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome).
It is characterized by painful dystrophy (nutritional disturbance) and atrophy (shrinkage) of the soft tissues (muscles, skin) and bones of the extremities with a typical stage-like course. The cause for the departure of the extensor tendon of the end phalanx of the finger is often caused by sports accidents. The extensor tendon can tear out of the distal phalanx together with a piece of bone. Depending on the size of the torn out bone fragment, malpositioning may occur.Immediately after the injury it is noticeable that the end phalanx of the finger hangs limply downwards.
Inflammatory diseases of the hand
Tendons represent the connection of the muscle to the bone. In places of great stress, they are sheathed by the so-called tendon sheaths. If an inflammation of these tendon sheaths occurs, it is called tendovaginitis.
Triggers can be overstrain, for example by too much computer work, or an infection. With tendosynovitis, pain occurs at the affected area. These can spread along the course of the tendon and even radiate into the muscle.
Externally, a redness and swelling can be seen. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints. The inflammation is directed against the inside of the joints.
The disease occurs not only on the hands, but also on the joints of the whole body. It initially manifests itself insidiously through swelling and overheating of the joints, pain when under pressure or moving and the so-called morning stiffness. Osteomyelitis is a mostly chronic disease in which an inflammation of the bone occurs.
The inflammation can spread to the bone marrow inside the bone and also affect the bone marrow. In most cases, the cause is an infection caused by a pathogen. This can occur especially after operations or open fractures.
