“He has helped me a great deal with the reconstruction of my foot.”
Reconstructive surgery
Hand surgery in Merida, Mexico
Hand and upper-limb surgery aimed at restoring function: tendon, nerve, soft-tissue cover and movement. By Dr. José Antonio Orozco Gómez, plastic surgeon board-certified by the CMCPER, with published research in upper-extremity reconstruction.
The specialty
What does hand surgery treat?
Hand surgery treats injuries and conditions that compromise movement, sensation and strength in the hand, wrist and forearm. Unlike other surgery, the goal here is not appearance but function: getting the hand to grip, pinch, feel and work again.
Conditions treated
- Carpal tunnel syndrome — median nerve compression: tingling, night-time numbness, loss of grip strength.
- Flexor and extensor tendon injuries — cuts that prevent bending or straightening a finger.
- Peripheral nerve injuries — loss of sensation or movement after trauma.
- Hand trauma — complex fractures, crush injuries, partial amputations.
- Burn contractures — scars that limit the hand from opening. → Burn care and reconstruction
- Congenital differences — syndactyly (joined fingers), polydactyly (extra digits).
- Soft-tissue tumours — lipomas, ganglion cysts, skin lesions.
- Dupuytren's contracture and other palmar fascia retractions.
Training
Why a plastic surgeon
The hand is where plastic surgery and orthopaedics meet, and each specialty brings something different. The orthopaedic surgeon owns bone and joint. The plastic surgeon owns soft tissue: tendon, nerve, vessel and above all coverage — how to close a skin defect without sacrificing movement.
In injuries where skin is missing, where tendon is exposed, or where healthy tissue must be brought in from elsewhere as a flap, that training is what determines the functional outcome.
Published research by Dr. Orozco on the upper extremity
- Validation of Thermography for the Diagnosis of Compartment Syndrome in the Upper Extremities Due to Electrical Burns in Patients with Altered Alertness — DOI 10.47191/ijmscrs/v4-i04-15
- Late Revascularization on Upper Extremity — DOI 10.20431/2455-572X.0701001
The most common case
Carpal tunnel syndrome, explained
Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve as it passes through the wrist, and it is the most common reason for a hand consultation. It presents as tingling and numbness in the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger — typically at night — and progressive loss of strength when gripping.
When it is operated
When symptoms do not resolve with conservative treatment — night splinting, activity modification, injection — or when nerve conduction studies show moderate or severe involvement. Waiting too long has a cost: nerve damage can become irreversible and recovery after surgery incomplete.
What the surgery involves
An outpatient procedure of roughly thirty minutes, usually under local anaesthesia with sedation. The ligament compressing the nerve is released. Most patients notice relief from night-time tingling within days.
Aftercare
Recovery and rehabilitation
In hand surgery, rehabilitation is not an extra — it is part of the operation. A perfectly repaired tendon that is not mobilised at the right moment scars down and loses excursion.
| Procedure | Return to light activity | Rehabilitation | Functional outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpal tunnel release | 7–14 days | Early mobilisation | 4–8 weeks |
| Flexor tendon repair | 3–4 weeks in a splint | Specific protocol from week 1 | 3–6 months |
| Nerve repair | Variable | Sensory re-education | 6–18 months (nerve grows ~1 mm/day) |
| Burn contracture release | 2–3 weeks | Splinting and occupational therapy | 3–12 months |
Hand therapy is coordinated from the immediate post-operative period. Without it, the best surgical result is lost.
Reviews
Patient reviews
“No words — excellent service. Very attentive and helpful throughout.”
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How is the cost of hand surgery set?
It is determined at your consultation and varies enormously between procedures: a carpal tunnel release and a reconstruction of a traumatised hand with a flap are not comparable. Complexity, operating time, type of anaesthesia, whether hospitalisation is required and the rehabilitation the case needs all affect it. You receive a written quote.
What is the difference between an orthopaedic surgeon and a plastic surgeon for the hand?
Orthopaedics specialises in bone and joint; plastic surgery in soft tissue — tendon, nerve, vessels and skin coverage. Both operate on the hand and often work together. For injuries with missing skin, exposed tendon or a need for flap coverage, plastic surgery training is the relevant one.
How long does an injured nerve take to recover?
Peripheral nerves regenerate at roughly one millimetre per day, so a wrist-level injury may take six to eighteen months to restore sensation in the fingers. It is slow and not always complete, which is why operating early matters.
Does carpal tunnel surgery require hospitalisation?
No. It is an outpatient procedure of about thirty minutes and you go home the same day, usually under local anaesthesia with sedation.
When can I go back to work?
It depends on the procedure and your job. Desk work: 7 to 14 days in most cases. Manual or load-bearing work: six to twelve weeks, always with clearance at a follow-up visit.
Are acute hand injuries seen urgently?
Acute injuries — cuts with loss of movement, partial amputations, crush injuries, burns — need attention within hours. If you have a recent injury, contact us immediately on WhatsApp or go to an emergency department; timing is decisive for the outcome.