Hand Surgery in Cologne with a Hand Specialist
At the PALMKLINIK, we cover almost the entire spectrum of hand surgery. This includes carpal tunnel syndrome surgery, Dupuytren’s disease surgery (vikings disease), hand reconstruction following injuries or congenital deformities, injuries to the hand nerves as well as rheumatism and arthrosis treatments.
All hand surgery procedures are carried out by our hand surgery specialists using the latest scientific methods. The highly qualified team of doctors and practitioners pay particular attention to individual, empathetic and pain-free treatment.
On this page you will find all the important information about hand surgery in Cologne at the PALMKLINIK. Arrange your individual consultation appointment now.
Your Specialist for Hand Surgery
Head physician Dr. Lijo Mannil is a hand specialist with many years of experience and numerous successful hand operations.
- Additional qualification in hand surgery from the Ärztekammer Nordrhein
- Full member of the DGH (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Handchirurgie)
- Certificate of the Vienna Hand Course
- Examiner for the additional qualification in hand surgery
- Reviewer and specialist examiner for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery
Overview:
- At a Glance: Hand Surgery
- What is Hand Surgery?
- What Hand Surgery Treatments does the PALMKLINIK offer?
- When are Hand Surgery Operations necessary?
- Common Diseases and Injuries to the Hands
- What Treatment Techniques are used in Hand Surgery?
- Hand Surgery – Treatment Procedure
- Hand Surgery – Aftercare
- Frequently asked Questions about Hand Surgery at the PALMKLINIK
At a Glance: Hand Surgery
| Surgery duration | 1-4 hours |
| Hospitalization | Outpatient or 1 day inpatient |
| Aftercare | If necessary, medical splint, physiotherapy and occupational therapy |
| Anesthesia | General anesthesia |
| Socially presentable | A few days to 2 weeks |
| Sport | No contact sports for at least 2 weeks, other sports by arrangement |
What is Hand Surgery?
As a specialist area of plastic surgery, surgery of the hand is concerned with restoring the functionality of the hand after injuries, illnesses or congenital deformities. This includes, for example, cuts, severe bone fractures, severed or constricted nerves, as well as torn ligaments and tendons.
What Hand Surgery Treatments does the PALMKLINIK offer?
The PALMKLINIK offers you a wide range of different hand surgery treatments and surgical procedures. Our head physician Dr. Lijo Mannil is a specialist in the field of hand surgery and an expert in the complex muscle, tissue and joint structures of the han
We offer the following hand surgery treatments:
- Ligament inury (trigger finger treatment)
- Decompression of constricted nerves (carpal tunnel syndrome surgery)
- Dupuytren’s disease surgery (viking disease)
- Osteoarthritis treatment of the fingers and wrist, e.g. on the thumb saddle joint (rizarthrosis surgery)
- Arthroscopy of the finger and wrist (wrist arthroscopy)
- Embolization for chronic joint pain in the hand (treatment of osteoarthritis and inflammation of the tendon apparatus)
- Elimination of pain in the finger and wrist joint
- Stiffening and partial stiffening of the finger and wrist joint
- Rheumatism treatment of the finger and wrist
- Correction of congenital deformities of the hand
- Removal of ganglions on the hand
- Scar corrections and functional corrections
- Motor tendon replacement surgery
When are Hand Surgery Operations necessary?
If you notice discomfort or abnormalities in your hands, hand surgery may be necessary. It is important to have the symptoms checked out by a doctor at an early stage to enable effective treatment.
Reasons for hand surgery treatment:
- Persistent pain in the hand or fingers
- Limited mobility or stiffness in the joints
- Visible deformities or malformations of the hand
- Symptoms of nerve compression syndromes such as numbness or tingling
- Chronic diseases such as rheumatism or osteoarthritis in the wrists
- Injuries affecting the tendons, muscles or bones of the hand
- Recurrent inflammation or swelling in the hand or fingers
Common Diseases and Injuries to the Hands
The following diseases of the hands are common:
- Rheumatism in the finger and wrist joints (chronic inflammation of the joints)
- Osteoarthritis in the finger and wrist joints (chronic wear and tear of the joints)
- Finger stenosis – trigger finger (inhibition of flexion and extension of the finger, movement only possible through sudden and forceful snapping)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (constriction of the median nerve in the wrist)
- Dupuytren’s disease (formation of nodules and cords in the connective tissue of the palm)
- Ganglion cyst (cyst or overgrowth on the joint or tendon sheath of the hand)
- Tendon sheath inflammation (tendinitis)
- Fractures and sprains (e.g. scaphoid fracture)
What Treatment Techniques are used in Hand Surgery?
Hand surgery is a large area of plastic surgery. Due to the complexity of the muscles, tendons, joints and nerves, there are a variety of different treatment methods that are often used in combination.
Conservative treatments:
Surgery is not always necessary and conservative treatment is already sufficient to ensure a major improvement in symptoms. Conservative treatments include occupational therapy or physiotherapy, for example. The main aim here is to restore the mobility and function of the hands and fingers.
Conservative therapy also includes medication to treat pain or inflammation. One example of this is the injection of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids. Conservative treatments are often also prescribed as support after surgery and for rehabilitation.
Minimally invasive procedures:
Minimally invasive techniques are surgical procedures in which surgical access to the affected area of the body is only through a small incision in the skin (keyhole technique). The advantage here is that only a very small incision is required and there is only minimal tissue damage and scarring. Such procedures are used, for example, in carpal tunnel syndrome surgery and are also used for diagnostic purposes such as arthroscopy (endoscopy of the joint with camera optics).
Open surgery:
If minimally invasive procedures are not effective, for example in the case of a joint replacement, open surgery may be necessary. In this case, access is gained through a larger incision in the skin, which exposes the affected area of the body so that “open” surgery can be performed.
Microsurgery:
Microsurgery is a surgical technique in which the surgeon works with highly magnifying surgical aids such as a surgical microscope or magnifying glasses. The advantage here is that the surgeon has optimum illumination and a perfect view of the operating area. This enables high-precision surgery using minimally invasive techniques.
Low-level laser therapy:
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) uses low-energy light. This type of laser treatment is used in hand therapy to stimulate healing processes, inhibit inflammation and relieve pain. Laser irradiation stimulates metabolic processes in the cell and improves microcirculation. LLLT is used, for example, to treat inflammatory diseases such as arthritis in the finger and wrist joints.
Hand Surgery – Treatment Procedure
Before treatment
Before you come to our clinic, it is important that you have a medical diagnosis made by your specialist. This will allow all further treatment steps to be planned.
The first step before a hand surgery treatment in Cologne is an individual consultation in which we get to know you. During this consultation, we can make treatment recommendations based on your diagnosis and give you the best advice on all possible options.
After the initial consultation, we will draw up a treatment plan tailored precisely to you and your diagnosis and inform you about the procedure, risks and correct aftercare.
On the day of treatment
As the procedures vary greatly depending on the hand surgery procedure, we cannot provide any precise information on the treatment process here. However, we will inform you individually and transparently about all steps in advance.
Here are a few general tips:
As a rule, all hand surgery operations are performed under general anesthesia. Depending on the procedure, the treatments take between one and four hours. Please check with your doctor beforehand if you are taking blood-thinning medication.
Hand Surgery – Aftercare
Proper aftercare is crucial for optimal healing and functional restoration. Please note our individual aftercare recommendations and the rehabilitation plan we have drawn up.
Swelling of the hand may occur immediately after treatment. In this case, the operated hand must be elevated. In many cases, you will be given a splint bandage after the operation to immobilize the hand or fingers. The splint is then usually replaced after a few days with a special splint or a new bandage. Physiotherapy or occupational therapy is often prescribed after the operation to restore the mobility, muscles and function of the hand and fingers.
Here are a few general aftercare recommendations:
- Organize pickup
- Expect to be unable to work
- Take painkillers as required
- Keep appointments for follow-up examinations
- Physiotherapy/ occupational therapy by arrangement
- Wound care by arrangement (e.g. wound ointment, cleaning the wound, changing dressings)
- Refrain from sport (duration as agreed)
Frequently asked Question about Hand Surgery at the PALMKLINIK
Do you still have questions about surgery of the hand in Cologne? We have answered the most important questions for you below. If you have any further questions, please make an appointment for a non-binding consultation.
What are the risks of hand surgery?
As with all surgical procedures, there are certain risks involved in hand surgery, even if these are very low. Rare complications during anesthesia can never be ruled out. Infections, secondary bleeding, scarring or swelling may occur after the operation. In very rare cases, nerves or vessels may be damaged and movement restrictions may occur. There is also a small risk of thrombosis.
Our team of doctors and clinicians is highly experienced, well trained and takes the utmost care during all operations. This enables us to rule out these risks almost completely.
Are hand surgery operations painful?
No, the actual operation takes place under general anesthesia and is not associated with any pain. After the operation and during rehabilitation, mild to moderate pain cannot be ruled out.
Are hand surgery procedures covered by health insurance?
Health insurance covers the costs of medically necessary hand surgery. These include chronic illnesses such as rheumatism or osteoarthritis, injuries to the hands and fingers, nerve compression syndromes (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome) or congenital malformations.