Whether pouring your morning coffee, typing an email or hugging a loved one, you use your hands and arms every minute of the day. At Wake Forest Baptist Health, we know how pain, stiffness and movement problems can disrupt your life.
Our hand, shoulder and elbow specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating problems that affect this important part of your body, from the tiny bones of your fingers and wrist to the complex network of nerves that control feeling in your hand and arm.
Our doctors work closely with other specialists to manage your treatment plan. We address all aspects of your care from pain management to rehabilitation. We offer:
- Advanced diagnostic tools
- In-house physical and occupational therapists
- Minimally-invasive treatment options
- Specialized pediatric care
- Modern surgical facilities with advanced technology
Hand, Shoulder and Elbow Treatment Options
At Wake Forest Baptist Health, we offer a complete menu of treatment options for hand, shoulder and elbow conditions. In some cases, surgery is necessary to reduce pain and restore function. But our goal is to use non-surgical treatments whenever possible.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Non-surgical approaches can be effective long-term solutions for hand, shoulder and elbow disorders. In fact, much of our research has focused on medical treatments to manage the symptoms of muscle spasms, connective tissue disorders and vascular conditions. Our non-surgical treatments include:
- Alignment and casting of broken bones
- Lifestyle changes
- Oral medication
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Injections
Surgical Treatment Options
We believe in using minimally-invasive treatments whenever possible. Our doctors were among the first to use arthroscopy – a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery. However, when necessary, our surgeons also perform traditional open surgeries for partial and total joint replacements, complex fractures and nerve disorders. Surgical treatment options include:
- Total shoulder replacement
- Partial shoulder replacement
- Reverse shoulder replacement
- Shoulder resurfacing
- Elbow replacement
- Wrist replacement
We use interactive HD imaging technology for minimally invasive procedures in our operating rooms.
Chronic Pain in the Hand, Shoulder and Elbow
Chronic pain can be caused by many contributing factors. If you are experiencing persistent pain, it is important to see a doctor because early diagnosis helps you get the best treatments possible.
Our hand, shoulder and elbow doctors work closely with local and regional pain specialists, anesthesiologists and physical therapists to provide a complete, holistic approach to care.
Our doctors use the latest technology, including 3-phase bone scans, to help them pinpoint the source of your chronic pain.
Wake Forest Baptist is home to one of the only microangiology labs in the world. The lab allows doctors to use advanced diagnostic tests to pinpoint the source of chronic hand, shoulder and elbow pain. Our specialized equipment can monitor blood flow, cold sensitivity and study blood vessels up close. Our lab offers patients a comfortable environment to undergo these tests, which are painless.
We offer many non-surgical options including physical therapy, pain medications and nerve blocks. If surgery is required, our experienced surgeons have performed hundreds of procedures that have significantly improved pain in patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy and complex regional pain syndrome.
Hand, Shoulder, and Elbow Trauma
From severed hands and limbs to complex fractures of the wrist, elbow and arm, our goal at Wake Forest Baptist is to preserve as much mobility and function as possible for our trauma patients.
Our doctors at the Wake Forest Level I Trauma Center handle the most severe orthopaedic injuries. For our pediatric patients, Atrium Health Levine Children's Brenner Children's Hospital operates the first and only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in Western North Carolina.
Limb Saving
As the leading replant center in the Winston-Salem region, we are experts in limb salvage. Using microsurgery, our surgeons restore blood flow and feeling to the injured limb by reconnecting blood vessels and nerves finer than a human hair. We work in collaboration with specialists in plastic surgery to minimize scarring and preserve the appearance of the damaged limb.
Nerve Injuries
Nerve injury is common in patients suffering high impact accidents. To preserve movement and feeling in the hand, wrist, arm, elbow and shoulder, we specialize in:
- Nerve repair
- Nerve transfers
- Tendon transfers
