Whether you need surgery for wrist fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, swollen tendons in wrists (De Quervain’s), or an enlarged ganglion cyst, Dr. Mellano is an Torrance orthopedist that can help relieve your symptoms with fast, effective procedures that minimize downtime.
At Mellano Orthopedics in Torrance wrist fractures treatments are a common injury we offer. An orthopedic doctor performs diagnostic imaging such as a wrist x-ray to see what is going on with the wrist bones. A simple cast, splint, or brace may be all that is needed to repair a broken wrist. This provides additional strength and support to keep the wrist from moving as the wrist bones mend on their own by immobilizing the wrist. In some cases, however, a severe wrist fracture occurs as a result of an accident or injury. An Torrance orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Chris Mellano is board certified to perform both complex and simple broken wrist repairs. Patients that have the following types of wrist fractures should come in as soon as possible when they have:
Dr. Mellano routinely performs a minimally invasive wrist arthroscopy. This is a type of wrist surgery that allows your doctor to view inside the wrist joint to determine the extent of damage that is present. The wrist is then repaired and immobilized. Patients may return home same-day and resume use of the wrist in just a few weeks to months after surgery, depending on the severity of the broken wrist bones and joint damage.
A ganglion cyst is a small, fluid-filled lump that commonly occurs on the back or sides of the wrist area. While generally harmless, ganglion cyst removal may be necessary when it causes pain or discomfort that disrupts the patient’s quality of life. This happens when the ganglion cyst grows in size and thus compresses wrist nerves located nearby. Dr. Chris Mellano’s Ganglion Cyst Excision surgery is highly effective and has a recovery time of 2 to 8 weeks. Aspiration (cyst fluid removal) or steroid injections may be used to alleviate pain in mild cases.
Some patients develop Trigger Finger (stenosing tenosynovitis), which causes one or more of the fingers to appear bent, even when the hand is at rest. Trigger Finger may heal on its own in some cases, but patients with a recurring trigger finger can benefit from seeing an orthopedic surgeon that might advise trigger finger treatments that can greatly improve a patient’s life quality.
In recurrent trigger finger that fails to respond to nonsurgical trigger finger remedies such as splints, steroids, and rest, a trigger finger surgery may be performed. This minimally invasive procedure involves adjusting the finger tendon sheath that is obstructing the movement of the finger. After recovering from trigger finger surgery, patients can have a more aesthetic hand with improved functionality. This makes it easier to do everyday tasks such as button clothes, typing emails or text messages, playing sports or musical instruments, preparing foods, and much more.
Swollen wrist tendons can cause considerable pain.
It may hurt to turn your wrist, make a clenched fist, or grasp objects. This makes everyday tasks such as writing, typing, driving, cleaning, lifting groceries, and athletics very difficult, which can be frustrating, to say the least. While the problem may be temporary for some people, others find it is a chronic concern
If you have prolonged De Quervain's tenosynovitis, it may be in your best interest to see an orthopedic surgeon for tendon release surgery. Finger tendon release surgery helps to reduce pressure on the tendon that runs along the sides of the wrist, near the thumb. During this outpatient surgery, Dr. Mellano makes a small cut on the sheath that is located around the swollen tendons. This provides more room for the tendons to move
Carpal tunnel wrist syndrome is a growing problem in modern society. Patients that have jobs requiring repetitive wrist movements are the first to suffer. The wrists can become painful as the ligament tightens and pressed down on the median nerve in the wrist. Pain, numbness, and tingling often result from this.
Carpal Tunnel is progressive. It only gets worse with time. It can even begin to weaken muscles in the hand and wrist. For severe carpal tunnels, surgery is an effective solution that provides long-term pain relief and improved wrist mobility. During a carpal tunnel release, Dr. Mellano creates small cuts on the wrist ligament that is compressing the carpal tunnel in your wrist. This allows for more room around the median nerve and wrist tendons that pass through the tunnel. The carpal tunnel surgery recovery time can take a few weeks or months, depending on the extent of surgery that is needed. Dr. Mellano favors a conservative approach so that patients may resume normal daily activities as soon as possible. Visit Mellano Orthopedics, we strive to provide you with the best carpal tunnel treatments Torrance has to offer.
Dr. Mellano’s mission is to give his patients the freedom to keep doing the activities they love. If you are struggling with joint pain, arthritis, lack of mobility, or joint inflammation, contact Dr. Mellano for a consultation so he can help you get moving again.
