Baytown Orthopedic Surgery for Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder Conditions & Injuries
Your hands and arms are involved in almost everything you do, from cooking and typing to casting a fishing line, swinging a bat, or picking up your kids. When pain, stiffness, numbness, or an injury gets in the way, even simple tasks can become frustrating.
This guide covers the everyday conditions and sports injuries that most often bring patients to an orthopedic surgeon, the signs that need prompt attention, and how treatment can help you get back to normal. It’s written for Baytown residents looking for an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the hand and upper extremity: Dr. David R. Sollaccio.
Specialized Orthopedic Care in Baytown, TX
Baytown residents enjoy an active lifestyle, from fishing and boating on Galveston Bay to youth and adult sports leagues, golf, and weekend projects around the house. Dr. Sollaccio sees patients at his Baytown office on Fridays, so you can get specialized care close to home. He also practices at Fondren Orthopedic Group’s Main Street location in Houston, which offers same-day and urgent-care visits for acute injuries.
Dr. Sollaccio trained at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the University of Florida College of Medicine, and the USC Keck School of Medicine. He focuses on conditions from the shoulder to the fingertips and emphasizes patient education, so you understand your diagnosis and every option before making a decision.
Common Conditions That Require Orthopedic Treatment
Many upper extremity problems develop gradually, without a single injury.
Carpal tunnel syndrome. Compression of the median nerve at the wrist causes numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, often waking people at night or flaring while driving or holding a phone.
Trigger finger. Inflammation around a finger or thumb tendon can cause it to catch, click, or lock when you bend and straighten it, sometimes with a tender bump at the base of the finger.
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Irritation of the tendons along the thumb side of the wrist causes pain when gripping, lifting, or turning the wrist. It’s common among new parents and anyone who does repetitive thumb motions.
Ganglion cysts. These fluid-filled lumps often appear on the back or front of the wrist. Many are painless, but some cause discomfort or press on nearby nerves.
Arthritis. Wear-and-tear arthritis frequently affects the base of the thumb and the finger joints, causing aching, stiffness, swelling, and weak pinch strength.
Sports & Recreation Upper Extremity Injuries
Tennis and golfer’s elbow. Repeated gripping and swinging in tennis, pickleball, golf, and even fishing can strain the tendons that attach at the elbow, causing pain on the outside or inside of the elbow that worsens with gripping and lifting.
Shoulder injuries. Throwing, swimming, weightlifting, and falls can strain or tear the rotator cuff tendons, leading to pain when reaching overhead, weakness, and discomfort at night.
Wrist sprains and fractures. Falling onto an outstretched hand is one of the most common ways to injure the wrist. Pain on the thumb side of the wrist after a fall should be checked, since some fractures don’t show up on initial X-rays.
Finger injuries. Jammed fingers, dislocations, and tendon injuries are common in ball sports. A fingertip that droops and won’t straighten, or a finger that can’t bend at the tip, may mean a tendon has been injured.
Elbow tendon tears. Lifting something heavy with the elbow bent can tear the biceps tendon near the elbow, often with a pop, bruising, and weakness when turning the palm up.
When to See an Orthopedic Specialist
Schedule an appointment if you have:
- Pain that lasts more than a few weeks or keeps coming back
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand or fingers
- A finger that catches or locks
- Swelling, stiffness, or loss of motion
- A lump that’s growing or painful
Seek prompt care for a suspected fracture or dislocation, a finger you can’t bend or straighten after an injury, a pop followed by weakness, or a deep cut with numbness beyond the wound. These injuries often have better outcomes when treated early.
Go to the emergency room or call 911 for heavy bleeding that won’t stop, a bone through the skin, or fingers that are pale, blue, or cold.
Orthopedic Treatment & Recovery
Starting conservatively. Many conditions improve without surgery. Splints and braces, activity changes, hand or physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and injections can relieve pain and restore function for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendinitis, and arthritis.
Surgery when it’s needed. When symptoms persist or an injury involves a displaced fracture or torn tendon or ligament, surgery may offer the best results. Common procedures include carpal tunnel release, trigger finger release, ganglion cyst removal, fracture repair, and tendon repair, many of which are performed on an outpatient basis.
Getting back to what you love. Therapy helps rebuild motion, strength, and coordination after an injury or surgery. Dr. Sollaccio works with each patient on a recovery timeline that fits their goals, whether that’s returning to sports, work, or everyday activities without pain.
Book an Appointment With a Baytown Orthopedic Surgeon
If pain, stiffness, numbness, or an injury is affecting your hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder, Dr. David R. Sollaccio can help you find relief and get back to the activities you enjoy. He sees patients at his Baytown office on Fridays and at Fondren Orthopedic Group’s Main Street location in Houston, where same-day and urgent visits are available.
