ORTHOPEDICS + SPORTS MEDICINE
Hand and Wrist Surgery in Sarasota, FL
Carpal Tunnel, Trigger Finger, Thumb Arthritis, and Wrist Care by Board-Certified, Fellowship-Trained Orthopedic Surgeons
Hands and wrists are involved in nearly everything you do, so pain there is hard to ignore. Numbness that wakes you at night, a finger that catches when you make a fist, or a thumb that aches every time you grip a steering wheel all have a way of narrowing daily life. At Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine, hand and wrist conditions are evaluated and treated by board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons in Sarasota, FL. Many of these conditions improve without an operation, and surgery is recommended only when it is the option most likely to give you lasting relief.
When Hand or Wrist Pain Starts Limiting You
Not every hand or wrist problem needs surgery, and our first recommendation is often something else entirely. We start by identifying exactly what is causing your symptoms, then treat it with the least invasive option that will actually hold up.
Carpal Tunnel Release
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the wrist, producing numbness, tingling, and night-time symptoms in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Carpal tunnel release relieves that pressure by opening the ligament that forms the roof of the tunnel. It is a short outpatient procedure, and many patients notice that the night-time numbness eases quickly afterward. Grip strength and fine motor comfort continue improving over the following weeks as the nerve recovers.
Read more about carpal tunnel release in Sarasota, including how endoscopic and open techniques differ and what recovery looks like week by week.
Trigger Finger Release
Trigger finger occurs when a flexor tendon no longer glides smoothly through its sheath, causing a finger to catch, lock, or pop as it bends and straightens. When splinting, activity changes, or an injection have not resolved the problem, trigger finger release opens the tight portion of the sheath so the tendon moves freely again. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, and most patients are encouraged to begin gentle motion very soon afterward to keep the tendon gliding.
Thumb CMC Arthroplasty
The thumb carries an enormous share of the work your hand does, so arthritis at its base can make ordinary tasks such as opening jars, turning keys, and writing genuinely painful. When splinting, activity changes, and injections stop providing relief, thumb CMC arthroplasty removes the arthritic joint surface and reconstructs a stable, cushioned thumb base. Patients are typically placed in a protective splint or cast afterward, followed by a guided hand therapy program that restores pinch and grip strength over time.
What to Expect: From Consultation to Recovery
Before Surgery
Your evaluation covers motion, strength, stability, and nerve function in the hand and wrist, along with on-site X-rays or nerve testing when they are needed. Your surgeon explains the diagnosis in plain language and reviews cost and coverage before your visit so there are no surprises.
Surgery and the First Days
Most hand and wrist procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, so you go home the same day. Early recovery focuses on protecting the repair, managing swelling by keeping the hand elevated, and beginning the motion your surgeon prescribes. Many patients return to light desk work within days, while jobs requiring gripping or lifting take longer.
Hand Therapy
Hand surgery results depend heavily on the therapy that follows. Our certified therapy team works in the same practice as your surgeon, coordinating splinting, scar management, and a progressive motion and strengthening program so nothing is lost between offices.
Prefer to Start Without Surgery?
Many hand and wrist problems improve without an operation. Depending on your diagnosis, that may include splinting, activity modification, therapy, or a corticosteroid injection. Every option is presented honestly, including what the evidence supports and what it does not.
Why Patients Choose Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart
Board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons, recognized by Castle Connolly as 2026 Top Doctors
On-site imaging and hand therapy, so evaluation, treatment, and recovery happen in one place
Appointments built around you: morning, lunch-hour, or afternoon
Urgent hand injuries worked into the schedule
Hand and Wrist Surgery FAQs
Our hallmark is patient service. Appointments are scheduled around your preferences, morning, lunch hour, or afternoon, and urgent problems are worked in. Call (941) 378-5100 or request an appointment online.
Yes. We work with Medicare and most major insurance plans. Our team verifies your coverage before your visit so there are no surprises.
Many hand and wrist procedures are performed with local or regional anesthesia, often with sedation, rather than general anesthesia. Your surgeon and the anesthesia team review the options and choose what is safest and most comfortable for you.
It depends on the procedure and on what your hands need to do. Many patients return to light desk work within days, while work that requires gripping, lifting, or repetitive use generally takes several weeks. Your surgeon gives you a realistic timeline for your specific job and activities.
Often, yes. Therapy protects the repair early on and then restores motion and strength. Our therapy team works in the same practice as your surgeon, so your program is coordinated directly with the person who performed your surgery.
Frequently. Splinting, activity changes, and injections resolve symptoms for many patients, particularly when treatment starts early. Surgery is recommended when those measures stop working or when nerve testing shows compression that warrants release.
Get Your Hands Back to Work
Schedule an evaluation with our hand and wrist team in Sarasota. Morning, lunch-hour, and afternoon appointments available.