Latest Articles

Dr. John Erickson of the Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center has been named a “top doctor” by both Castle Connolly in 2020 and 2024 and by NC Top Docs in 2023.

Do you have hand pain after punching a wall? It could be a boxer’s fracture. Boxer’s fracture are very common hand injuries. The typical cause is striking a hard surface with a clenched fist – such as punching a wall. These injuries can also occur in contact sports, automobile collisions, altercations, or falling to the […]

Dupuytren’s disease is a common condition affecting the hand. This condition is characterized by abnormal fibrous tissue formation in the palms and fingers. Early in the course of the disease process, nodules of fibrous tissue develop in the palm. In about a 30-50% of patients, these nodules develop into cords which gradually bend the fingers […]

The patient in this case example sustained a broken wrist after a fall as he landed on the outstretched hand. This is called a displaced distal radius and ulnar styloid fracture. Due to the fracture pattern and the high functional requirements of the patient, surgery was recommended. The patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation […]

Dr. John Erickson of Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center discussed the treatment options for patients with rheumatoid arthritis affecting the hand. He presented at WakeMed Raleigh Hospital hand conference on Monday, August 8, 2022.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common ailments affecting the hands. Wear and tear arthritis within the joints can lead to weakness, deformity, limited range of motion, inflammation, and pain. These symptoms can impair the function of the hand and reduce a person’s quality of life. Conventional medical treatments for hand osteoarthritis in the United […]

Thumb pain is very common in my patients. When the thumb is painful or injured, it becomes very difficult to use the hand. During normal life, we take our thumbs for granted. When the thumb is not working properly, we then realize how important it is. Opening jars, turning door knobs, and buttoning shirts can […]

Injuries to the fingertips are very common. The injury can range in severity from a minor laceration to a complete amputation of the fingertip. This can occur from a misplaced hammer strike, a crush in a car door, or a laceration from a sharp object. Early treatment of fingertip injuries can improve the results. The […]

Numb hands are common at night. Numbness and tingling in the hands can wake you from sleep. These symptoms could be signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most prevalent compression neuropathy in the hand and arm. This is basically a type of pinched nerve in the wrist. Patients feel tingling […]

One of the most common causes of thumb and wrist pain is due to tendonitis. DeQuervain’s tendonitis is a type of tendonitis which common in young mothers. This causes pain on the thumb side of the wrist. The pain is worse with movement of the thumb and wrist at the same time. Opening jars, turning […]