Hand, Elbow and Peripheral Nerve
Video: Learn about the UCSF Peripheral Nerve and Complex Limb Reconstruction Center. Our interdisciplinary center is dedicated to nonsurgical treatment and surgical reconstruction for patients with complex upper and lower extremity peripheral nerve conditions.
Our approach
The UCSF Hand, Elbow and Peripheral Nerve Program works to restore range of motion, decrease pain and increase strength. Our experts are world-renowned for treating adults and children with bone and soft-tissue conditions of the hand, elbow and upper extremity, including peripheral nerve conditions.
Our team
Adult services
Our physicians treat the entire spectrum of upper extremity conditions in adults, including problems with bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and other tissues. Injuries and other conditions are diagnosed and managed using the latest techniques.
Pediatric services
We provide full-service, family-centered care to children with musculoskeletal conditions of the hand, elbow and peripheral nerve—whether congenital or traumatic in origin. Our specialists have additional training in the care of children and are experts in treating conditions ranging from trigger thumb and fractures to birth injuries and complex thumb reconstruction.
Complex Elbow Clinic
Learn about our Complex Elbow Clinic, a multidisciplinary clinic for patients with complex elbow conditions.
Thumb Joint Replacement for Thumb Arthritis
UCSF offers thumb joint replacement as a treatment option for appropriately selected patients with thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis. The procedure is designed to relieve pain, improve thumb function and help preserve motion for patients whose symptoms have not responded to nonsurgical treatment.
Unlike traditional procedures that remove the trapezium bone, thumb joint replacement replaces the damaged joint surfaces while preserving the surrounding anatomy. At UCSF, surgeons offer the TOUCH® Thumb Implant for appropriately selected patients.
Patients considering thumb joint replacement undergo a comprehensive evaluation by a UCSF hand surgeon to determine whether the procedure is appropriate for their condition, anatomy and treatment goals. Factors considered may include the stage of arthritis, bone quality, age, activity level and other clinical considerations.
Potential benefits of the procedure may include:
- Relief of thumb pain
- Potential for faster recovery compared with traditional surgical approaches
- Improved pinch strength and hand function
- Preservation of thumb motion
- Improved ability to perform daily activities with greater comfort
Thumb joint replacement is one of several surgical options available for treating thumb arthritis. Your surgeon will discuss all appropriate treatment options—including ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI), trapeziectomy and joint fusion, when appropriate—and recommend the approach that best meets your individual needs.
The Division of Hand, Elbow and Peripheral Nerve at the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery offers thumb joint replacement for appropriately selected patients. As the first center in Northern California to introduce this advanced treatment option, UCSF remains a regional leader in the surgical treatment of thumb arthritis.
Appointments & Locations
Appointments: 415-353-2808
Hand, Elbow and Peripheral Nerve services are available in multiple locations in the Bay Area.
Quick Links: Peripheral Nerve Clinic | Get a Second Opinion |
Hand, Elbow and Peripheral Nerve People
Children’s hand, wrist and elbow
Congenital hand and upper extremity differences
Cubital tunnel syndrome
Dislocations of the hand, wrist, forearm and elbow
Dupuytren’s disease
Fractures of the hand, wrist, forearm and elbow
Ganglions
Hand numbness
Hand paralysis
Hand stiffness
Hand, wrist, and elbow infections
Joint replacements in the hand, wrist, and elbow
Kienbock’s disease
Ligament injuries of the fingers, wrist, elbow
Nail and fingertip injuries
Nerve injuries in the hand and arm
Olecranon bursitis
Pain in the fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, or elbow
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sports injuries in the hand, wrist and elbow
Sprains
Stiffness of the hand, wrist and elbow
Tendinitis
Tendon injuries of the fingers, hand, wrist, elbow
Trigger finger
Tumors in the fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, or elbow
Vascular problems in the hand
Complex elbow problems
At UCSF, our physicians have special expertise in treating complicated problems of the elbow joint. For example, the world’s first elbow transplant between same patient’s arms was performed at UCSF, by a multidisciplinary team which included Dr Lisa Lattanza, Dr Scott Hansen, and Dr Michael Terry.
3D Planning
Our physicians utilize 3-D planning for complicated surgeries. Patients with malunions (incorrectly healed fractures), and other conditions, can benefit from this state-of-the-art technology. A special scan is done before surgery, and the surgeon and an engineer use special software to design custom-made devices that help guide the actual surgery. This technology vastly improves the accuracy of surgery, and can lead to superior outcomes.
Wide-Awake Surgery
Our experts offer wide-awake surgery for many of the common procedures done on the hand, wrist, or elbow. This technique was recently profiled in the New York Times. It allows patients to experience painless surgery but without the downsides of general anesthesia. In some cases, this can even improve the final results of the treatment.
Minimally-invasive surgery
Our surgeons utilize the latest minimally-invasive surgical techniques, such as percutaneous, arthroscopic, and endoscopic techniques, to expedite recovery and provide patients with superior outcomes. Examples include endoscopic carpal tunnel release, percutaneous release and Xiaflex injections for Dupuytren’s disease, percutaneous trigger finger release, as well as hand, wrist, and elbow arthroscopy.
Complex soft-tissue coverage and reconstruction
Our experts utilize the latest advances in plastic surgery and microsurgery to treat complicated bone and soft tissue reconstruction problems, including amputations, chronic wounds, scars, contractures, and congenital differences.
Nerve injuries
Peripheral nerve injuries, including injuries to the brachial plexus, require a careful and multi-disciplinary approach. At UCSF, patients with nerve injuries are treated by a team approach, utilizing the latest in diagnostic and treatment techniques, in order to provide the best possible outcome in these complex injuries.
The Perry Initiative is committed to inspiring young people to be leaders in the fields of Orthopaedic Surgery and Engineering, two fields in need of innovative thinkers and problem solvers. Both of these fields require extensive education, and we specifically target high school and medical school, two critical junctures along the career path.
For more information about their outreach programs, please visit the Perry Initiative Outreach Programs.
Perry Initiative Outreach Programs
Medical Student Outreach Program Application
Orthopaedics In Action, a hands-on curriculum for middle and high school STEM classrooms
Perry Initiative Upcoming Events