Trauma & Emergency Care
Emergency Medical Notice
Acute hand injuries, total or partial amputations, open fractures, and deep tendon lacerations require immediate hospital admission. Our surgical team partners with Erlanger Hospital's trauma network to provide comprehensive, round-the-clock microsurgical emergency coverage.
Upper Extremity Trauma Services
Injuries to the hand and upper extremity can happen in an instant, whether resulting from an industrial accident, a motor vehicle collision, a household mishap, or athletic activity. Because the hand houses an exceptionally dense architectural grid of delicate bones, blood vessels, tendons, and nerves, obtaining swift and precise specialized care from a dedicated hand surgeon is critical to preserving long-term functionality.
At Erlanger Hayes Hand Center in Chattanooga, our board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons provide full-scale restoration for complex musculoskeletal and soft-tissue injuries. We specialize in uniting structural skeletal fixation with high-magnification microsurgical repair of severed vessels and compromised nerve tracts.
Conditions & Traumatic Injuries We Treat
Our clinical expertise covers a comprehensive spectrum of acute and chronic post-traumatic conditions across the forearm, wrist, and digits:
- Fractures & Dislocations: Complex intra-articular fractures, carpal bone dislocations (including scaphoid injuries), and displaced phalangeal fractures.
- Tendon Injuries: Lacerations and ruptures of both flexor and extensor tendons, alongside specific trauma adaptations like Mallet Finger deformities.
- Nerve Repair: Micro-suturing and neural grafting of severed peripheral nerves to restore baseline sensitivity and structural hand motor controls.
- Crush Injuries: Severe, combined soft-tissue, muscle, and structural bone compression patterns carrying elevated compartment syndrome indices.
- Replantation Surgery: Emergency microsurgical attachment of fully amputated fingers, thumbs, hands, or upper extremity limbs to fully re-establish cellular perfusion.
The Road to Recovery
Successful post-traumatic recovery doesn't conclude when the patient leaves the operating suite. Complex reconstructive upper extremity procedures rely heavily on early, structured clinical rehabilitation. Our surgical faculty operates in lockstep with our internal Hand Therapy Center.
Our onsite Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs) fabricate customized dynamic splints and progressive movement regimens. This specialized care minimizes scar tissue adhesion, protects structural repairs, prevents structural joint contractures, and accelerates the patient's safe return to everyday vocational and personal tasks.