Cold Hands Syndrome Treatment
Treatment Options
University of Chicago Medicine hand surgeons offer distinct clinical expertise and a comprehensive range of diagnostic and treatment services for cold hands syndrome, including surgical and nonsurgical techniques. In the Cold Hand Clinic, we combine traditional and innovative approaches to determine the most effective therapeutic strategy for each individual.
Behavioral Counseling for Cold Hands Syndrome
In the Cold Hand Clinic, we will help you identify behaviors that may be helpful or harmful to blood flow in your the hands. Our doctors educate patients on a range of behavioral topics, including:
- Biofeedback
- Healthy temperature regulation
- Proper hand hygiene (e.g., correct moisturizing options, appropriate skin care)
- Smoking cessation
- Wearing warm and protective hand wear (e.g., guidance in glove type choices and usage)
Botox Injections for Cold Hands Syndrome
Most commonly recognized as a cosmetic procedure, botulinum toxin type A (Botox or BTX-A) injections are now used as a highly effective treatment for cold hands syndrome. In a simple outpatient procedure, Botox is injected into the hand to relax muscles surrounding constricted blood vessels. Botox paralyzes and relaxes the muscles, allowing blood vessels to dilate and increase in diameter. As the vessels dilate, more blood can flow through to supply the rest of the hand and the fingertips. This procedure may provide relief of cold hand symptoms in certain individuals for up to three months.
Activity Modification Counseling
All patients undergo a thorough activities of daily life (ADL) assessment in their hand therapy work-up. The ADL assessment is an evaluation of a person's ability to perform daily tasks with their hands, such as bathing, dressing, eating and other activities. Based on ADL assessment outcomes, the physician and hand therapist work closely to coordinate an individualized treatment and therapy plan tailored to the specific needs and medical history of each patient. ADL assessments also help hand therapists educate patients, by identifying and providing specific behavioral and safety recommendations for hand health and functionality.
Hand Surgery for Cold Hands Syndrome
Hand and wrist conditions or injuries can vary dramatically in their severity and in the impact they have on patients daily lives. At UChicago Medicine, our highly skilled surgeons are dedicated to finding a treatment strategy to best restore function and form to patients’ hands. We specialize in a broad scope of hand and wrist conditions, including congenital hand malformations, arthritis and rheumatologic disorders, nerve dysfunction and traumatic hand injuries. Our goal is to provide the best possible outcome for our patients and improve their overall quality of life.
Hand Therapy and Rehabilitation
Hand therapy is often necessary in the treatment of circulatory disorders and peripheral nerve injuries and also in post-surgical rehabilitation care.
In these cases, our physician team works closely with skilled hand therapists to provide the most effective care. With training and expertise in occupational therapy, our hand therapy team specializes in assessment, injury prevention and rehabilitation.
We offer a range of hand therapy services, including:
- Advanced and complex wound care (including hydrotherapy, provided in partnership with the physical therapy team)
- Desensitization
- Exercises to strengthen weakened hands
- Finger amputation care
- Pain management
- Scar tissue mobilization/management, including scar massage and other techniques, to increase range of motion (ROM) by decreasing adhesion formation (tightness) after surgical procedures
- Splinting
- Swelling control (edema management)
Medication for Cold Hands Syndrome
In many cases, our doctors may prescribe medications that reduce the risk of developing blocked or constricted blood vessels and improve blood flow through the hands and fingers.
Effective medications include:
Oral medications used to reduce the risk of blood clotting and other blockages of blood flow through upper limb vessels.
Used with calcium channel blockers to regulate pressure in the blood vessels and help maintain a proper amount of blood flow throughout the entire hand.
Oral and topical medications used to relax the muscles that place pressure on blood vessels.
Surgical Treatment for Cold Hands Syndrome
Surgery is often the best treatment option for complex cold hand diseases. Our highly skilled hand surgeons perform a range of advanced techniques with expert precision.
Surgical treatment options for cold hands syndrome include:
Repair of an aneurysm by inserting a stent to strengthen a weak blood vessel, or aneurysm removal followed by replacement with a graft of healthy vascular tissue.
A microsurgical technique used to separate the nerves and vessels in the forearm, palm (palmar sympathectomy) or fingers (digital sympathectomy). When nerves are separated, the vessels become larger, allowing increased blood flow through the hands and fingertips.
Blood clot removal using microsurgical techniques.
A procedure that redirects blood flow around an obstructed segment of the blood vessel.
Soft Tissue Reconstruction
If a patient experiences severe loss of blood flow, dead tissue (i.e., gangrene, necrosis) may form in their hands and/or fingers. In these highly complex cases, our hand surgeons may perform one of two advanced treatment techniques.
An innovative technique that uses artificial tissue or tissue from a human or animal donor to stimulate the growth of healthy tissue.
Acellular dermal matrix is a leading-edge technique with a lower risk of complication because it does not require the removal of tissue from elsewhere in the patient's body.
A technique using skin grafts (healthy tissue that has been removed from the abdomen or elsewhere in the patient's body) to repair and replace severely damaged tissue.
Request an Appointment
To speak to someone directly, please call 1-888-824-0200. If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.
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