procedures
Hand surgery
Surgery of the hands is a specialised area and one which Mr Yang has had training in.
This surgery is usually to make functional changes (reconstructive) with conditions occurring as a result of trauma, injury, age or congenital defects.
Median nerve: Carpal tunnel surgery +
Carpal tunnel is a ‘tunnel’ in the wrist made up of bones and ligaments. It supports tendons (which move the fingers), and the median nerve (provides feeling and movement) from the forearm to the hand. Numbness and tingling of the hands/fingers can occur if there is any swelling to the already tight tunnel – due to pregnancy, injury, inflamed tendons and so forth. If non-surgical methods are not successful, a carpal tunnel release is performed under local or general anaesthetic, which effectively divides the carpal ligament and release pressure.
Ulnar nerve: Guyon’s canal and cubital tunnel +
The ulnar nerve controls motor function to multiple muscles in the forearm and in the hand making it indispensable to the functioning of a hand. It also supplies sensation to the inside part of your hand, important for grip and protective sensations. The ulnar nerve can be prone to tightening as it travels behind the elbow (cubital tunnel) and into the hand under the inside part of your palm (Guyon’s cannel). A squeezed nerve may cause tingling and numbness on the inside border of your hand (where “funny bone” sensation occurs if you knock your elbow), and also weakness in the hand affecting finer hand movements. Diagnosis of a ulnar nerve compression may require a nerve conduction study of electrical impulses through the ulnar nerve, to isolate the location of compression. Decompression surgery is designed to explore and release one or both of these regions through which the ulnar nerve passes.
Dupuytrens contracture +
A disease that begins as nodules in the palm which often progress to the fingers. This can be followed by the hand tissue within causing permanent tightening and contracting of the fingers. Surgery is indicated when the hand is unable to be flattened palm down on the table. This condition has a hereditary component and may affect feet and other parts of the body.
Tendon repairs and reconstruction following injury (ACC) +
In New Zealand, acute tendon injuries are usually treated first at the public hospitals. Secondary tendon surgeries or reconstructions can often be done under ACC at a private hospital. These surgeries, depending on the complexity, may require more than one (staged) operations.
“I perform high quality cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery treatments, and ensure cancer surgery is I always spend the time necessary to understand and address each patient’s individual goals and concerns through open discussions grounded in trust and mutual respect.”