Hand surgery in Munich

The human hand is a marvel of evolution—a finely tuned interplay of bones, joints, nerves, vessels, tendons, and muscles. Our hands allow us to literally grasp the world and enable us to perform incomparable manual, creative, and emotional tasks.

If hand function is impaired due to accident, illness, congenital malformations, or age-related wear and tear, this has a significant impact on quality of life.

What is hand surgery?

The connection between plastic reconstructive surgery and hand surgery is based on special "atraumatic" surgical techniques that are particularly gentle on tissue. Due to the closely spaced fine structures, plastic surgery plays a central role in planning precise skin incisions and tissue replacement through flap plasty or transplants.

Microsurgical techniques enable the reconstruction of even the finest nerves and vessels. The range of treatments offered by hand surgery covers the entire arm, as this is where all the structures leading to the hand are located.

Our range of treatments in the field of hand surgery:

The hand is a complex part of the body that can be affected by disorders of the ligaments, tendons, joints, bones, and blood vessels, such as

Nerve compression syndromes: carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome (nerve constriction)
Tendon disorders: trigger finger, tendon ganglion
Dupuytren's contracture: The formation of nodules on the hand with a lack of extensibility
Benign and malignant tumors: ganglions, cysts, etc.
Congenital malformations: syndactyly, e.g., fused fingers or toes

However, hand surgery is also used in particular after accidents, e.g., after injuries to the skin, ligaments, tendons, bones, and joints.

How are hand surgery procedures performed?

Hand surgery procedures are usually performed on an outpatient basis under brachial plexus anesthesia in our outpatient operating room or under general anesthesia in our affiliated hospital.

Example – Dupuytren's contracture (Dupuytren's disease) = "knots in the hand":
The procedure is performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis under arm anesthesia or general anesthesia. The connective tissue strands responsible for the contracture are isolated and removed. The hand is temporarily splinted, and any drainage tubes inserted are removed the following day. The stitches are removed after approximately two weeks. As a rule, the fingers can be stretched out again to a large extent after the operation. However, consistent physical and occupational therapy is often necessary. Despite effective surgical techniques, new contractures can occur over the years, requiring repeat surgery.
Example – Carpal tunnel syndrome = "numbness in the fingers":
The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local or general anesthesia. The trapped nerve is exposed via an incision approximately 4 cm long between the thumb and little finger pads. The hand is splinted for approximately 8 days, and the stitches are removed after approximately 2 weeks. The hand should be rested for a further 4 weeks. The numbness improves quickly, depending on how long the condition has been present.

What should be considered after hand surgery?

After the procedure, close follow-up care for the patient during our consultation hours is a matter of course. Individually tailored follow-up treatment—such as splints, plaster casts, or physical therapy—supports rapid healing. Based on our experience, we recommend taking at least one week off work to recover from the operation. Depending on your occupation, more time may be needed for recovery.

Overview of aesthetic surgery