Hand & Wrist
Hand and wrist doctors are dedicated, specialty-trained specialists who focus their medical practice on diagnosing and treating injuries and conditions of the hand and wrist. While these hand and wrist specialists are able to offer wrist treatments and hand treatments that are not surgical procedures, they also have the skills required to perform surgery.
At Orthopaedic Associates, our hand and wrist doctors, Dr. Jason Thackeray, Dr. Mark Tenholder, Dr. James Watt, Dr. David Dean, Dr. Mark Awantang, Dr. J. Ryan Cotton, and Dr. Chad Mitchell are recognized experts in the diagnosis and treatment of hand and wrist injuries and conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. Our orthopaedists have extensive training in the surgical and nonsurgical care of the hand and wrist and are dedicated to providing you with the specialized, compassionate care you need to become stronger.
Expert Hand & Wrist Care for a Stronger You
During an exam, our doctors will ask the patient for details about their hand or wrist problem. They may also request an X-ray or additional tests to better understand the injury. Once they determine the diagnosis, our wrist and hand specialists will create an individualized treatment plan specific to the patient's needs.
When our doctors and surgeons develop a treatment plan for a patient with a hand or wrist problem, their first step is always to consider nonoperative treatments first. Sometimes, there are nonsurgical options available, such as splinting, occupational therapy, or physical therapy, that can provide relief for a patient's injury or condition. However, sometimes the patient's hand or wrist issue will not respond to nonsurgical treatment options or becomes so problematic that surgery is recommended as the best choice.
If hand surgery or wrist surgery is the best option for you, our board-certified and specialty-trained hand and wrist surgeons will work with you to create a surgical treatment plan that is right for your injury or condition. Our surgical team is equipped with state-of-the-art technology as well as the knowledge and surgical skills needed to treat your hand or wrist problem and get you on the road to becoming stronger.
Having undergone extensive training, our surgeons are highly skilled and are considered experts in the following wrist and hand surgeries and procedures:
- Carpal tunnel release
- Fasciectomy
- Ganglion cyst excision
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Surgical fracture care
- Tendon repairs
- Tendon transfers
- Trigger finger release
- Wrist arthroscopy
Signs You May Have a Hand or Wrist Injury
Common signs and symptoms you may be experiencing if you have a hand or wrist injury or condition include:
- Difficulty straightening or bending the fingers
- Fingertips are swollen
- General upper extremity pain
- Hand weakness or diminished hand function
- Pain when attempting to squeeze or grab items
- Rotating your wrist causes pain
- Tingling sensations
- Twisting or turning doorknobs causes pain
If you are experiencing any of the above for more than a few days or if any of them are getting worse, make an appointment to see an orthopaedic hand or wrist specialist. The doctor or surgeon may diagnose you with one of the following injuries or conditions:
- A form of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis
- A type of fracture, such as a thumb fracture, finger fracture, or wrist fracture
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dupuytren's contracture
- Ganglion cyst
- Nerve injury
- Sports-related injury
- Sprain
- Tendon or ligament injury
- Trigger finger
- Wrist dislocation
- Wrist tendonitis
Orthopaedic Associates: The Strength of Experience
At Orthopaedic Associates, we are regional experts committed to providing patient-centered care. When you are seen by one of our experienced orthopaedic providers—from our upper extremity specialists and sports medicine doctors to our physical therapists and physician assistants—you can rest assured that you are receiving treatment from an experienced orthopaedic provider who is highly skilled in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of the musculoskeletal system.
As a team, our goal is to help you, educate you, care for you, and treat you with the same high level of care and respect we would want for a member of our own family. Throughout your entire orthopaedic experience, we will be by your side for every step—from your first appointment to your last.
If you are ready to start your journey to a stronger you with less or no hand and wrist pain, take the first step by requesting an appointment online or calling one of our five locations: Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Niceville, Crestview, or Panama City.
