The human hand is an extremely complex device composed of 27 bones, 29 joints, 34 muscles, 48 named nerves, 30 named arteries and at least 123 named ligaments.

When functioning properly, our hands perform countless tasks for us each day, most of which we take for granted. That changes, of course, if our ability to use a hand, wrist or finger is lost or restricted.

I am a general orthopedic surgeon, but I spend 70 percent of my time caring for patients with hand, finger or wrist problems.

I often work with the hand therapists at Hope Orthopedics of Oregon as a first course of treatment, but many times surgery winds up being the best option for relieving pain and restoring function.

Hand-related maladies are often difficult to prevent, including the conditions I see most frequently in my office -- carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a pressing or squeezing at the wrist of the median nerve, which runs from the forearm to the hand.

People often think carpal tunnel is injury the result of some repetitive motion, such as spending all day typing on a computer keyboard. In reality, the most common risk factors are being female and growing older, neither of which is very preventable.

The treatment of carpal tunnel depends on the severity. Sometimes a splint that positions the wrist properly is effective, but surgery to relieve pressure on the median nerve is often a better long-term solution.

Trigger finger is a condition in which a nodular swelling occurs on one or more of the tendons that control the movement of fingers. This causes a snapping of the “trigger” finger. If the condition worsens, the trigger finger may need the help of other fingers to straighten, or it may not straighten at all.

Like carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger affects many females in their 50s. It also cannot be prevented, but the condition can be resolved fairly routinely through a quick outpatient surgical procedure.

Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger or wrist fractures are my most frequent visitors at Hope. Though these conditions often are unavoidable, there are some steps people can take to avoid hand-related problems.

The best preventive medicine often involves a prescription for some common sense. For example, research has shown repeatedly that if we could talk all skateboarders and snowboarders into wearing wrist guards we would significantly reduce the incidence of wrist injuries.

One recent study showed that teens who drank a lot of soda pop had a significantly higher risk of fractures than those who did not. The potential for reducing the chances of a fracture is just one in a long list of health benefits that can be gained by moderating our children’s intake of sugared drinks.

In more mature adults, taking steps to monitor and control the progression of osteoporosis is an excellent measure to help prevent wrist fractures, which often are the result of a fall.

Our hands are involved in virtually everything we do, including communicating. If we treat them with the TLC they deserve, we can avoid some of the issues that may limit our use of them. And though often times hand-related injuries simply cannot be avoided, modern medicine has made it possible for orthopedic specialists like myself to restore function and help our patients return to the lifestyle they previously enjoyed.

Dr. Mark Foglesong is an orthopedic surgeon at Hope Orthopedics of Oregon. A regional resource for patients throughout the Willamette Valley, Hope Orthopedics of Oregon offers on-site physical therapy, advanced X-ray imaging systems, MRI and DEXA scan bone-density technology, a cast room, brace shop and orthotics department, as well as satellite lab services. Hope Orthopedics of Oregon is located at 1600 State Street in Salem.