Hand Surgery
What is Hand Surgery?
Hand surgery addresses injuries, deformities, and conditions affecting hand function, such as fractures, tendon injuries, nerve compression, or arthritis. It’s performed by orthopedic or plastic surgeons specializing in hand surgery at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS in India, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Hand Surgery?
Hand surgery is indicated for:
- Traumatic injuries:
- Fractures (e.g., scaphoid, metacarpal), tendon lacerations, or nerve injuries.
- Nerve compression:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (we discussed this earlier), cubital tunnel syndrome.
- Degenerative conditions:
- Arthritis (e.g., thumb base osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis).
- Deformities:
- Dupuytren’s contracture (finger bending), congenital anomalies (e.g., syndactyly).
- Tendon disorders:
- Trigger finger, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
- Masses:
- Ganglion cysts, tumors (e.g., giant cell tumor of tendon sheath).
The goal is to restore function, reduce pain, and improve appearance using techniques like fracture fixation, tendon repair, nerve decompression, or joint reconstruction.
Why Do Hand Surgery Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹20,000 to ₹1.5 lakh :
- Procedure Type: Simple (e.g., ganglion excision: ₹20,000–₹50,000); complex (e.g., tendon/nerve repair: ₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹50,000–₹1.5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹10,000–₹30,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Hand specialists charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), hardware (e.g., screws: ₹5,000–₹20,000), hand therapy (₹5,000–₹15,000 for 1–2 months).
- Insurance: Covered for functional issues (e.g., fractures, nerve compression); confirm with your provider.
Hand Surgery Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- X-ray/MRI: Assesses bones, tendons, or nerves.
- Nerve conduction studies (NCS): For nerve compression (e.g., carpal tunnel).
- Blood tests: Blood sugar, clotting profile (esp. for diabetics).
- Medications: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe.
- Consent: Risks, including stiffness, are explained.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Common Procedures:
- Fracture Fixation: ORIF with plates/screws for metacarpal or phalangeal fractures (similar to ORIF we discussed).
- Tendon Repair: Sutures to reattach lacerated tendons (e.g., flexor tendon repair).
- Nerve Decompression: Carpal tunnel release (open or endoscopic, as covered earlier) or cubital tunnel release.
- Dupuytren’s Release: Removes thickened tissue to straighten fingers.
- Arthroplasty/Fusion: Joint replacement or fusion for arthritis (e.g., thumb CMC joint).
- Ganglion Excision: Removes cysts from wrist or finger.
- Performed under local (e.g., wrist block), regional, or general anesthesia, lasting 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Incisions vary (1–5 cm); minimally invasive techniques (e.g., endoscopic) used when possible.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Microsurgery instruments: For nerve/tendon repair.
- Fluoroscopy: Guides fracture fixation.
- Splint/cast: Post-op immobilization.
- Common Procedures:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: Same-day discharge (minor procedures); 1–2 days (complex repairs).
- Care: Splint/cast for 2–6 weeks; keep incision dry; elevate hand to reduce swelling.
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days; managed with analgesics (e.g., paracetamol).
- Instructions: Avoid heavy use of hand for 4–8 weeks; start hand therapy early.
Recovery After Hand Surgery
- Hospital Stay: Same-day discharge (minor); 1–2 days (complex).
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Peaks at 3–5 days; ice and elevation help; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Immobilization: Splint/cast for 2–6 weeks (e.g., fractures, tendon repairs).
- Hand therapy: Starts at 1–3 weeks; focuses on range of motion, grip strength, and desensitization; continues 1–3 months.
- Activity: Light use (e.g., writing) in 2–4 weeks; heavy tasks (e.g., lifting) in 6–12 weeks.
- Sutures: Removed at 10–14 days.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months to monitor healing and function.
- X-ray (if hardware used): At 4–6 weeks to check bone healing.
Most resume normal activities in 4–8 weeks; full recovery takes 3–6 months. Success rate: 85–95% achieve improved function; outcomes vary (e.g., nerve repairs may have 70–80% sensation recovery).
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Infection (1–3%): Treated with antibiotics; may need debridement.
- Bleeding (1–2%): Hematoma; may need drainage.
- Nerve injury (<1%): Numbness or weakness; rare with microsurgery.
- Post-Surgery:
- Stiffness (5–15%): Limited motion; managed with therapy.
- Scar sensitivity (5–10%): Tenderness at incision; improves in 3–6 months.
- Tendon adhesion (2–5%): Tendon sticks to surrounding tissue; may need tenolysis.
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS, <1%): Chronic pain/swelling; treated with therapy.
- Long-Term:
- Arthritis (5–10% over 10 years): Post-traumatic (e.g., after fractures); managed with medication.
- Residual weakness (2–5%): Esp. after nerve/tendon injuries; may need prolonged rehab.
Report severe pain, swelling, fever, or numbness promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What conditions require hand surgery?
Fractures, tendon/nerve injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, Dupuytren’s contracture, or ganglion cysts.
Can I avoid hand surgery?
Yes, for mild cases: Splints, steroid injections, or therapy; surgery is for severe symptoms or functional loss.
Is hand surgery painful?
Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days, managed with medication; discomfort reduces in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume activities?
Light activities in 2–4 weeks; normal use in 4–8 weeks; heavy tasks in 3–6 months.
Is hand surgery covered by insurance in India?
Yes, for functional issues; confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Severe pain, swelling, fever, or numbness.
Will I regain full hand function?
85–95% regain good function; nerve or tendon injuries may have residual limitations.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Avoid heavy hand use for 4–8 weeks, follow hand therapy, use ergonomic tools, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Hand surgery effectively restores function and relieves pain for a wide range of conditions, with a high success rate. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance for functional issues. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult a hand surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Hand Surgery
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ahmedabad |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Ajmer |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Aligarh |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Allahabad |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Amritsar |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Aurangabad |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bangalore |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Bareilly |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Belgaum |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bhopal |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bikaner |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Chandigarh |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Chennai |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Coimbatore |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Dehradun |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Delhi |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Dhanbad |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Durgapur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Faridabad |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Ghaziabad |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Gorakhpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Guntur |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Gurgaon |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Guwahati |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Gwalior |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Hyderabad |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Indore |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Jabalpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jaipur |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Jalandhar |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Jamshedpur |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Jodhpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Kanpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Kochi |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Kolkata |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Kollam |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Lucknow |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ludhiana |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Madurai |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Mangalore |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Meerut |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Moradabad |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Mumbai |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Mysore |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Nagpur |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Nashik |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Noida |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Patna |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Pune |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Raipur |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Rajkot |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ranchi |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Surat |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Thane |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Vadodara |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Varanasi |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.