Hendon Hospital
46/50 Sunny Gardens Road, Hendon, London, NW4 1RP DirectionsPhone
Opening hours
Outpatient department
Monday - Friday: 8am - 9pm
Car parking
Free parking
It is every easy to take our hands for granted. We constantly use our hands to interact with our environment - whether it's to perform everyday tasks such as using a knife and fork or enjoy recreational activities like knitting or playing a musical instrument, our hands play a vital role in our fulfilment of daily life.
This means that any issues affecting your hands and wrists can quickly make your day-to-day life much harder than it should be. Our hand and wrist services at Hendon Hospital welcome people requiring medical care and intervention for disorders affecting their hand and/or wrist.
At The Hendon Hospital, we have highly qualified orthopaedic consultants who can help decide if surgery is right for you. Our network of healthcare professionals ensure you receive the highest levels of care from start to finish, including rehabilitation.
Introducing Hendon Hospital in North London
Hendon Hospital provides day case and outpatient treatments and services for people living in Hendon, North London, and beyond.
A smaller Circle Health Group hospital, Hendon Hospital has an especially warm, friendly and compassionate feel and approach to care that helps reassure and relax people from the moment of their arrival.
Despite its smaller size, Hendon Hospital still has a full complement of healthcare professionals working within the hand and wrist service team, including consultants, pain relief specialists, practitioners, and physiotherapists.
Your hand and wrist are made up of many different bones, muscles, ligaments and other connective tissues that help facilitate each of the large and small movements that we can make with them - from bending a single finger to gripping an object like a glass or pen.
There are 29 bones in your hand and wrist if you include the ulna and radius. The ulna is one of the two long forearm bones, which, in conjunction with the radius, make up a part of your anatomy called the antebrachium.
There are 14 bones found in the fingers of each hand, with each finger having three phalanges (the distal, middle and proximal), while your thumb only has two. There are five bones known as metacarpal bones within the middle part of your hand. There are eight bones that form the wrist.
All of these bones are arranged to be able to roll, spin and slide, which work alongside the muscles, ligaments and other connective tissues to enable your hand to move in many different ways, as well as grip and hold and manipulate objects.
There are many different disorders and injuries that can affect your hands and wrists, but some are more common than others, making up the majority of cases seen at Hendon Hospital, North London. These include:
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is one of the most common disorders affecting your hands and wrists. "Tendonitis accounts for about 50% of the cases I see at the Hendon Hospital," explains Mr Phillips.
It occurs when one of the tendons - thick, fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone - within your hand and wrist becomes irritated or inflamed. The primary symptom of tendonitis is pain, which may be chronic or come and go but feel extremely acute.
Tendonitis is normally caused by overuse of a specific tendon, making it more common in people who experience repetitive strain injuries such as musicians who play the piano, guitar, clarinet and other instruments.
Most cases of tendonitis are treated using a variety of non-surgical methods such as steroid injections, splinting and ergonomic workarounds.
Dupuytren's Disease
Also known as Dupuytren's contracture, this condition is characterised by one or more of your fingers permanently bending inwards towards the palm of your hand. It usually develops over a period of years and is caused by knots of tissue forming under your skin that creates a thick cord that pulls your fingers into this position.
There is no cure for Dupuytren's disease, but there are treatments that can help straighten your affected fingers, particularly if it is diagnosed early. Surgery is always a last resort, and only recommended where non-surgical treatment options are unsuccessful.
Trigger finger
Trigger finger is a condition affecting one or more of the tendons of your hand, making it difficult to bend your affected thumb or finger. It causes pain, stiffness, and your joint to lock when you bend and straighten it.
It is very similar to Dupuytren's disease, but it is caused by a tendon or tendon sheath becoming swollen and inflamed, not the tissues.
There are a variety of non-surgical treatments that can be used to address trigger finger, with surgery being a final option where these have failed.
If you are experiencing problems and/or pain with your hand or wrist, you can book an appointment for hand and wrist treatment at Hendon Hospital.
Your initial consultation
During your first appointment, your consultant orthopaedic surgeon will provide a range of assessments to provide an accurate diagnosis.
Your personalised treatment plan
After this, your personalised treatment plan will be built to ease or eliminate your symptoms, restore the full function of your hand, and improve your quality of life.
People who access our hand and wrist service at Hendon Hospital can expect a multidisciplinary approach to their care. This will involve a variety of professionals, from specialist orthopaedic surgeons to practitioners who specialise in specific rehabilitation techniques, such as pedagogs and Alexander technique practitioners.
Non-surgical methods to reduce and manage joint pain include:
Steroid injection therapy
Also known as steroid injection therapy, this treatment involves injections of steroid medication (corticosteroid) into your painful joint. This can effectively reduce pain and inflammation, and the effects can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. This form of pain relief may be recommended if you can't take oral anti-inflammatories for any reason.
Oral anti-inflammatories
These can either be prescribed by your GP or your consultant. They reduce swelling in your joint, which can lessen stiffness and pain. Your doctor might also recommend using heat therapy (in the form of icepacks or heat pads) to reduce swelling or numb your joint pain. Heat therapy can be used in addition to anti-inflammatory medication.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy for joint pain comprises a specialist exercise programme designed to strengthen the muscles around your joints, improving mobility and - in taking the pressure of your joints - reducing your pain. It can be a highly effective treatment and many people see amazing results.
If these do not help alleviate your symptoms, you might need surgery. Your surgeon will assess whether other options will help before booking you in for surgery, if needed.
In the rare instance that surgery is needed, this will be explained to you in detail by your consultant orthopaedic surgeon.
"Around 90% of our patients who need surgery are very happy with their outcome and are able to experience a return to their pre-condition performance levels," says Mr Phillips.
You'll be advised how to prepare for surgery, what to expect from your recovery, and what risks are involved. You will also be able to ask any questions that you have.
It's important to note that there are no overnight facilities at Hendon hospital. As such, any complex surgeries will be performed by your consultant at another Circle Health Group hospital.
When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:
- Flexible appointment times to fit your schedule
- The freedom to choose your hospital and your consultant
- Bespoke, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
- Private ensuite rooms as standard
- Tasty and nutritious meals cooked onsite to your dietary requirements
- Support from the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
- Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
- Flexible payment options to help spread the cost of your care
If you want to know more about our services, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009
