Hand & Arm Service

Overview of the Hand & Arm Service at Mass General

Mass General orthopedic clinicians treat common conditions of the hand and arm, including carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and base-of-thumb arthritis. We care for sprains and fractures of the elbow, forearm, wrist and hand using tried-and-true techniques perfected in the clinic and the laboratory. In addition, Mass General offers cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatments designed to restore and advance function and mobility in the hand and arm--including nerve reconstruction, tendon transfer surgeries and arthroscopic techniques. Our team also specializes in second opinions, alternatives to surgery and revision surgeries meant to correct failed treatments.

The Hand & Arm Service takes a multidisciplinary approach to care, working closely with experts across the Mass General Brigham system, including doctors from Mass General’s Shoulder Service, the Orthopedic Trauma Service, and the Departments of Plastic Surgery, Rheumatology, Infectious Disease and Occupational Therapy.

Our hand and arm surgeons specialize in:

• Brachial Plexus Surgery: The brachial plexus is the group of nerves that connect the arm to the brain and spinal cord. Our doctors in the Mass General Brigham Brachial Plexus and Nerve Disorders Program are experts in caring for patients with the full range of arm nerve problems, including stroke-induced injuries, pain, numbness, trauma, congenital deformities and all other arm mobility and dexterity issues.
• Elbow Care: We treat the whole range of problems that can affect the elbow from tendon disorders, compression of the nerves, ligament injuries, bone fractures and arthritis. Learn more about elbow surgery at Mass General.
• Hand, Wrist & Microvascular Surgery: Our surgeons care for all hand and wrist problems from the common and simple to the rare and complex. They are also expert microvascular surgeons, meaning that they can repair delicate hand and arm tissues and bones after major injury or as part of reconstructive surgery.
• Limb & Digit Reattachment and Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR): The first limb replantation in the world was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital, and we continue to lead the way in this area, serving as the major referral center for acute limb trauma in New England and Upstate New York. In addition to reattachment and repair, our team is using novel approaches to amputation and prosthetics, including a targeted muscle reinnervation program. TMR greatly improves prosthetic function for patients who have undergone amputation, and there is emerging evidence suggesting that TMR is helpful in reducing nerve pain as well.
• Tendon Transfers: Mass General researchers and clinicians are working to redeploy patient’s own tissues to aid in healing and function, and one of the key applications of this approach is in tendon transfers of the hand and arm. When a patient has limited mobility in their fingers, hand or arm, whether due to stroke, trauma, arthritis or any other neuromuscular injury, weak or damaged tendons may be at fault. Our doctors are experts at restoring lost movement and function by identifying and redeploying healthy tendon tissue during minimally invasive surgery.