A hyperextended elbow occurs when the joint exceeds its normal, healthy range of motion. A hyperextension may make that joint unstable and increase the risk of a dislocation or other potential damage to the bones and soft tissues in the elbow. “When the elbow joint is pushed beyond its normal range of motion, often due to sudden impact or forceful movement, this causes hyperextension. ” Brandon P. Donnelly, MD What Causes a Hyperextended Elbow When the elbow joint is pushed beyond its normal range of motion, often due to sudden impact or forceful movement, this causes hyperextension. T ..read more

The simple act of walking our furry companions is a cherished routine for many pet owners. However, beneath the joy and companionship lies an unexpected danger – the risk of hand injuries caused by dog leashes. In today’s post, Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly sheds light on the often underestimated hazards of dog leash hand injuries. “In one year there were more than 16,000  dog leash-related injuries treated in US emergency rooms.” Consumer Reports The Nasty Reality of Dog Leash Injuries We all love our pets, but they do come with risks to our health, as I discussed in my post about cat ..read more

While it may seem unusual, I see a surprising number of puncture wound injuries after a freeze. It's not icicles, rather, the result of accidents that occur when people trim back their dead palm fronds! Puncture wounds are particularly susceptible to infection. It’s especially important to care for your hands when working in the yard. In today’s post, I’ll discuss how to determine if a wound is a simple annoyance, when to see a specialist, and how to prevent injuring your hands. From cat bites to firework hand injuries, puncture wounds can seem minor, but pose serious risks of infection ..read more

It’s time to string the lights and decorate that tree! The holidays bring a lot of joy to our homes, but one bad fall off a ladder can really take the sweetness out of your eggnog. Thankfully, today’s post includes some of Santa’s ladder safety tips to avoid holiday hand injuries (and some helpful insights from our own Dr. Donnelly). Common holiday injuries include lacerations from scissors while wrapping gifts or picking up broken ornament pieces, pine needles poking people in the eyes, back strains or sprains from lifting Christmas trees and heavy boxes, and most of all, hand, wrist, and ..read more

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) affects as many as a third of all workers in the U.S., in particular those with jobs requiring repetitive hand movements. A wide range of conditions can cause general hand and wrist pain, or as Dr. Donnelly discussed in his blog post, even seasonal hand pain. In today's post, learn the warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome and why you should not ignore them. What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition where the median nerve, running from the forearm into the palm, becomes compressed at the wrist within the carpal tunnel. This ..read more

With hunting season upon us, the risk of crossbow hand injuries will inevitably rise. Here’s a look at what leads to these mishaps and how they can be prevented: Crossbow Hunting in Louisiana Crossbows are designed to work intuitively for rifle hunters by combining a horizontal archery assembly with a rifle stock. Crossbows are designed to work intuitively for rifle hunters by combining a horizontal archery assembly with a rifle stock. They are still considered a type of archery equipment, so they can be used in all of Louisiana’s hunting seasons – except when hunting migratory birds.&nb ..read more

As Dr. Donnelly recently discussed in his blog post Cysts, Lumps & Bumps!, finding unfamiliar bumps on our hands, arms, or elbows can be alarming. Fortunately, most of these types of lumps are totally harmless. In today’s blog post, Dr. Donnelly discusses volar retinacular cysts - small growths that can sometimes cause real problems. What Are Volar Retinacular Cysts? There are many different types of cyst that can appear all over the body. “Cysts” are small sacs of fluid or gas that can develop just under the skin. “Retinacular cysts” are very small cysts that affect the sheaths aro ..read more

ORIF stands for open reduction and internal fixation. ORIF wrist surgery, or open surgery for wrist fractures, is a technique used to reposition, stabilize and heal a severely broken wrist. Internal fixation means hardware such as pins, screws, or wires is used to hold the broken bones together. This most often occurs in a distal radius fracture; fractures involving the lower portion of the radius, the larger bone of the forearm. What does the hardware do? The goal of the hardware is to keep the bones together, while they mend themselves. This process is referred to as union. A good ana ..read more

Hand specialists are seeing more and more overuse-related injuries with members of the gaming community. While the games may be computer generated, the resulting injuries and pain are very real – and they might require IRL medical attention. In today’s blog post, Dr. Brandon Donnelly discusses some growing issues related to video game hand injuries, and possible treatment options. Virtual Sports Generate Real Money Electronic sports, or eSports, aren’t just an amateur hobby anymore.  It’s estimated that millions of players take part in competitive gaming, with some becoming paid pr ..read more