Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH)
170 Tottenham Court Road London W1T 7HA
Hand arthritis surgery
ARTHROSCOPY AND ARTHRODESIS
Surgeons at our HCA UK hand and wrist units can help to restore mobility and reduce pain in your fingers
About hand arthritis surgery
With your fingers and thumbs are in constant use surgery can eases pain and restore mobility in an arthritic hand joint. Wear and tear can mean an increased risk of osteoarthritis in your knuckles, thumb joint and the joints at the end of your fingers.
The cartilage cushioning your finger joints can wear away over time, causing your finger bones to grind together. This makes it hard to move and causes pain. Hand surgery can often give pain relief and restore mobility. The two most common types are arthroplasty and fusion (arthrodesis).
In arthroplasty, a joint is removed from the hand and replaced with artificial surfaces made from synthetic material. This is usually carried out on the knuckles and restores shape, stability and some mobility.
In fusion (arthrodesis), two of the hand bones are fused together. This inhibits mobility but provides pain relief.
Need to know
Both arthroplasty and fusion surgery are performed under general anaesthetic. The procedure takes between one and two hours.
For an arthroplasty, a small cut is made in your hand and the worn bone ends. An implant is put in its place and the area closed.
For fusion surgery, the worn joint surfaces are sculpted to match each other, and fixed firmly together using screws or plates.
Your consultant will explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you may have. Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you.
Your consultant may recommend a splint while your hand recovers from surgery. You'll have a follow-up appointment with a hand therapist after two weeks. They will help you move your hand and manage the scar. You'll have a regular follow-up appointment with the hand therapist.
Our Hand arthritis locations
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street London W1W 5AH
The Princess Grace Hospital Outpatients
30 Devonshire Street London W1G 6PU
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place London W1U 5NY
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, London SW1W 8RH
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street London SE1 9BS
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street London SE1 2PR
The Wellington Hospital Outpatients
15 - 17 Lodge Road London NW8 7JA
Chelsea Outpatients - 280 King's Road
280 King's Road London SW3 5AW
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place London NW8 9LE
Golders Green Outpatients
Golders Green Outpatients and Diagnostic Centre London NW11 9PY
Elstree Waterfront Outpatients
Beaufort House Elstree WD6 3BS
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.