Finger fractures can lead to permanent stiffness, weakness, and limited function in the hand. If these are not treated carefully, patients can have a poor hand function. Much can be done to prevent many of these problems. There are a variety of techniques available for treatment of these injuries including splints, casts, therapy, and surgery. […]
Nerves are fragile and can be injured in many ways — including compression, lacerations, or blunt trauma. Compression is caused by prolonged pressure on a nerve, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome. Nerve lacerations are caused by a sharp object such as a knife or broken glass. A cut nerve in the finger will make […]
What is a SLAC wrist? SLAC wrist is a type of wrist arthritis. SLAC stands for “Scapho-Lunate Advanced Collapse.” This occurs when the bones of the wrist abnormally wear down the cartilage surfaces, causing osteoarthritis. SLAC wrist can occur after injury to the ligaments which stabilize the wrist bones, most commonly the scapholunate ligament. Some […]
As the weather gets nice, we see more pediatric wrist fracture injuries as kids are active, playing outside on trampolines, monkey bars, scooters, and bicycles. Children are not just little adults. Kids have developing bodies which respond much differently to injuries than adults. Injuries to the bones and joints of pediatric patients take special orthopedic […]
“Broken wrists” are a very common type of injury. These fractures frequently occur from a fall at home, a sports injury, or during a car accident. These injuries are very common in children and in older patients with osteoporosis. The radius and ulna bones are the skeletal foundation of the forearm. At the wrist, the […]
Dr Erickson was elected to be the Treasurer of the North Carolina Society for Surgery of the Hand (NCSSH). in 2021, he will serve as the society’s president.
Former NFL football star quarterback John Elway has recently become a spokesperson for Dupuytren’s disease. He has made multiple media appearances and has been in commercials to promote awareness of this condition. Dupuytren’s is also known as “Vikings Disease” due to the large percentage of affected patients with Scandinavian and Northern European ancestry. In this […]
In the United States, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and turmeric are sold as nutritional supplements over-the-counter. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not oversee or regulate the quality of these products or critically review the claims made by advertisements. Therefore, keep in mind that what you see on TV or what you read on the label, […]
Needle aponeurotomy (NA) is a minimally-invasive procedure performed under local anesthesia in the office. This procedure is also referred to as “percutaneous fasciotomy” by some surgeons. Using the tip of a syringe needle, the tight cords in the palm are perforated multiple times. Then the fingers are manipulated to rupture the cords, allowing the fingers to […]
The opioid epidemic continues to get worse in many communities throughout the United States. More families are now being affected by addiction, overdose, and death from narcotics than ever before. Overdose is now the main cause of death for Americans aged less than 50 years. 1 in 5 deaths in young adults is related to […]
