ELBOW, HAND & WRIST

Upper Extremity - Elbow, Hand and Wrist Surgeons in Missoula, MT

Missoula Bone & Joint is fortunate to now have three board-certified, fellowship-trained hand and microvascular surgeons on staff. Wrist injuries, hand disorders, and elbow conditions are common and can cause pain, loss of sensation, loss of movement, and impaired function. Our specialists are passionate about treating these problems so that you can return to work or your favorite activities as quickly as possible. They have all received a Subspecialty Certificate in Surgery of the Hand (formerly known as Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery) from the American Society of Surgery of the Hand, ASSH.

Dr's Andy Puckett and Charlie Sullivan are pleased to welcome Dr. Nicholas Beck to their team. Dr. Beck joins us with over 4 years of experience in practice in Billings, Montana. He is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, with a subspecialty certificate in orthopedic surgery of the hand. He grew up in Baker, Montana and is so pleased to relocate to Missoula with his wife and colleague, Dr. Lindsey Beck, their two children and two cats.

Hand & Wrist Injuries

The hands and wrists feature a complex anatomy: 27 small bones, plus an intricate network of nerves, blood vessels, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, some of which extend to the elbow. A problem in the hand or wrist must be dealt with very carefully, which is why it’s best to turn to an expert such as those at MBJ.

Many of the hand and wrist patients we see have suffered a work-related injury. Accidents such as lacerations or fractures can cause damage to bones, tendons, nerves, or blood vessels. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive stress injury that causes pain, numbness, and tingling in your thumb and/or fingers that radiates to your arm.

Patient Education Videos and Printable Handouts:

 

The most common hand and wrist conditions we treat and surgeries we perform include:

Conditions:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis of the hand
• DeQuervain’s tendonitis
• Dupuytren's contracture
• Trigger finger
• Ganglion cysts
• Flexor tendon and extensor tendon injuries
• Radial tunnel syndrome
• Hand, wrist, and finger fractures
• Scaphoid fracture
• Infections
• Nerve injuries

Procedures: 

• Endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery
• Open release carpal tunnel surgery
• Open surgery for wrist fractures
• Wrist fusion and arthroscopy
• Thumb (basal) joint arthroplasty/reconstruction
• Finger joint replacement (PIP/MCP)
• Hand nerve injury repair
• Tendon transfers

Elbow Injuries

The elbow is a hinge joint between the upper arm bone (humerus) and the bones of the forearm (the inner bone, or ulna, and the outer bone, or radius). The bicep muscle flexes the elbow hinge while the triceps muscle extends it. A fluid-filled sac (bursa), which serves to reduce friction, overlies the tip of the elbow.

The elbow can be affected by inflammation of the tendons or the bursa, or conditions that affect the bones and joints, such as fractures, arthritis, or nerve irritation. The elbow conditions we most frequently treat include:

Elbow Conditions:

• Arthritis
• Olecranon (elbow ) bursitis
• Sprains
• Fractures
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer's elbow
• Pitcher’s elbow
• Spurs and bone fragments

Rarely will an elbow condition require surgery. The most common surgery would be arthroscopy to remove spurs and bone fragments. Other elbow procedures we perform include:

Procedures:

• Arthroscopic debridement of the elbow
• Ulnar nerve transposition
• Ultrasound-guided injections

If you have an elbow, hand, or wrist condition that is causing you pain or limiting the things you can do, come see one of our hand surgeons in our Missoula, Montana office. Call (406) 721-4436 or request an appointment online today.