Hand & Wrist

Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve as it passes through the narrow carpal tunnel at the base of the palm, often due to repetitive wrist flexion, swelling seen in pregnancy or anatomical crowding, such as osteoarthritis. It affects adults of all ages, particularly those who perform repetitive tasks such as typing, assembly-line work or sustained gripping.

You’ll notice numbness, tingling or burning in the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger, often waking you at night. Symptoms may spread into the palm, and you might drop objects or struggle with fine tasks—like buttoning clothing—because of loss of sensation or grip weakness. A clinical test called Phalen’s Test is used to help confirm the diagnosis.

Basal thumb arthritis is wear and tear of the joint at the base of the thumb (first carpometacarpal joint), frequently developing in middle-aged or older adults and more common in women.

Features of this include pain and stiffness at the base of the thumb, especially when pinching or gripping—such as undoing a lid on a jar. You may feel grinding and the joint can appear swollen or tender to touch.

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is inflammation of the sheath surrounding the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis along the thumb side of the wrist. It often arises from repetitive hand-wrist movements, such as lifting infants, texting or using gardening tools.

You’ll notice sharp pain or a dragging ache at the base of the thumb extending into the wrist, aggravated by grasping or wrist movement—particularly with thumb abduction and ulnar deviation (e.g. turning a doorknob or lifting a heavy pot). Pressing over the tendon sheath reproduces the pain, and a “catch” may be felt when moving the thumb. A simple clinical test called Finkelstein’s Test is used to help with the diagnosis.

Finger joint arthritis encompasses degenerative (osteoarthritis) or inflammatory (e.g. rheumatoid) processes affecting the interphalangeal joints, leading to cartilage loss, joint-space narrowing and occasional bony enlargement. It most commonly appears in later life or alongside systemic conditions.

You’ll recognise it by pain, stiffness and swelling at the affected finger joints—often the distal interphalangeal joints (furthest finger joints) in osteoarthritis or the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints (nearest finger joints) in inflammatory arthritis. Morning stiffness, crepitus on movement and visible knobbly enlargement (Heberden’s or Bouchard’s nodes) are hallmark signs.

Trigger finger is snapping or locking of a finger when the flexor tendon catches in the tendon sheath that normally lubricates the tendon, often following repetitive gripping or direct trauma. It affects adults of any age, with a slight female predominance.

You’ll feel a painless nodule or lump in the palm at the base of the finger, followed by a sudden jerk or “catch” when you try to straighten the finger. The digit may lock in flexion and require a forceful push to release, sometimes accompanied by discomfort or stiffness after prolonged holding.

Dupuytren’s contracture is a fibrous thickening of the palmar fascia, in the palm of the hand. As it shortens and contracts it pulls the fingers, bending them in towards the palm—most commonly the ring and little fingers—It is thought to be have a hereditary component and tends to appear from middle age onwards.

Symptoms, in addition to the bent fingers affected, include palpable nodules in the palm and early on an inability to lay your hand flat, palm down, on a surface.