Hand
Susan Moen, MD
With special training in hand surgery, Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Susan Moen, MD diagnoses and treats any conditions related to the hand, wrist and elbow. She treats many conditions both non-operatively and operatively.
Hand & Wrist Conditions We Treat
Within your hand and wrist lies an intricate arrangement of soft tissues and bones that must work together to execute tasks we often overlook. When an issue arises, even the simplest activity may become burdensome. Our team of hand and wrist specialists work with you to improve function enabling a return to everyday activities and vibrant living.
With a team approach and advanced technologies and treatments, Riverwood will provide you with personalized and compassionate care you deserve.
With a team approach and advanced technologies and treatments, Riverwood will provide you with personalized and compassionate care you deserve.
Numbness, tingling, and weakness in the thumb and fingers may be the result of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when one of the major nerves to the hand (median nerve) is squeezed or compressed as it travels through the wrist. Factors such as wrist anatomy, health issues, and repetitive hand movements may exacerbate the condition.
Cubital tunnel syndrome is caused by injury and inflammation of the ulnar nerve as it passes through the cubital tunnel within the elbow—a passage comprised of muscle, ligament, and bone. This condition causes pain similar to hitting the “funny bone,” which is actually the ulnar nerve. Cubital tunnel syndrome can occur with frequent elbow bending, leaning on the elbow, and elbow injuries.
Conditions like arthritis, bone spurs, prior elbow fractures, or dislocations can cause Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.
Hand pain occurs for a variety of reasons from injury or disease of the muscles, nerves, or tendons in your hand. Arthritis, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome are common causes of hand pain.
Our orthopaedic team has a variety of methods to ease hand and wrist pain.
Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons that attach muscle to bone. Symptoms include pain in the tendon that gets worse when you move, difficulty moving the joint, feeling a crackling sensation when you move the tendon, and swelling, sometimes redness or with heat. If you experience sudden or severe pain, and it happened during an injury or accident, you may have a torn (ruptured) tendon.
Tendonitis is often treated by bracing to rest the irritated soft tissue structures. Hand therapy can also be helpful. Injections are sometimes used to ease pain and inflammation and restore function.
Traumatic injuries are a result of a wide variety of physical injuries of sudden onset and severity requiring immediate medical attention. These could include motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, falls, natural disasters and other physical injuries needing immediate care.
Arm and hand injuries are common and can be life altering and sensitive to repair.
Common injuries include tendon and nerve lacerations, sports injuries to the hand and wrist, fractures of the hand, wrist, and forearm, dislocations, ligament strains, tears, amputations, fractures, and traumatic carpal tunnel syndrome.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, in which the tissues in the joint break down over time.
Surgical Solutions
Our fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon team provide a comprehensive approach combining cutting-edge techniques with compassionate and personalized care to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients. Whether you’re struggling with chronic pain, injury, or degenerative conditions, we’re here to guide you toward a future of strength, flexibility, and vitality for an enhanced quality of life.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when pressure on the median nerve in your wrist leads to numbness, tingling, and weakness in your hand. The median nerve controls movement and feeling in your thumb and first three fingers. Surgery involves releasing a ligament to relieve pressure on the nerve.
Surgery for thumb arthritis aims to remove the painful bone and create support for the thumb’s stability. After surgery, thumb motion gradually resumes, reducing pain.
Nerve compression at the elbow may require surgery to release the nerve. Short-term hand therapy aids recovery by teaching nerve gliding exercises and managing scar tissue.
Surgery removes diseased tissue causing fingers to curl into the palm. Fingers are splinted straight afterward, and long-term management may involve surgical or non-surgical options.
Tendon repair surgery fixes damaged tendons that limit movement and cause pain, aiding those with tendon injuries that hinder joint motion.
Ganglion cysts causing pain and function loss may need surgical excision, which involves removing the cyst and its root. Recurrence is possible but rare.
Fractures may require surgical stabilization to ensure proper healing and function. Dr. Moen discusses risks and benefits, considering future hand function needs.
Joint fusion stabilizes and relieves pain in dysfunctional joints by immobilizing them. Dr. Moen explains the pros and cons based on individual circumstances.
Inflammation of tendons at the thumb base may require treatment ranging from bracing to surgery to create more space for tendon movement.
Finger pulley system issues causing difficulty in straightening the finger may be treated with splinting, icing, injections, or surgery to release the pulley and restore tendon movement.
Non-Surgical Solutions
We prioritize conservative, non-invasive approaches for managing and alleviating pain through injections, lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, or plasma injections. If your shoulder injury or condition is more serious or conservative measures fail to give you relief, your specialist will discuss next steps and together we will determine the right path of care for you. Our team of orthopaedic specialists collaborate closely with patients to identify optimal treatment paths tailored to their condition, individual requirements, and lifestyle.
At Riverwood our occupational therapists are specially trained in hand therapy.
Steroid injections, also called corticosteroid injections, are anti-inflammatory medicines used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Steroid injections can be administered into joints, such as the knee to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain associated with conditions like arthritis, tendonitis, or bursitis. The injections can take up to three weeks to work to their full effect. It’s important to note that steroid injections are typically used as a short-term treatment to provide temporary relief from pain and inflammation. If you are having an injection to relieve pain, it will also contain local anesthetic. This provides immediate pain relief that lasts a few hours. You should be able to go home soon after the injection.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines are used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
Our Dedicated Provider Team
Erin Mason, Physician Assistant and Jeff Temple, Nurse Practitioner see patients in our Specialty Clinic in Aitkin.
Kate Sarlette is a practicing Physician Assistant working closely with Dr. Moen in both clinic and operating room.
Schedule a visit
To schedule a visit call (218) 927-5181. During the scheduling of the visit you will be asked to review health history to gather important information and to determine next steps.
Clinic consult
A clinic consult with the orthopedic team for evaluation of symptoms, ordering of appropriate labs, and to discuss therapies and/or injections. (conservative non-surgical approach) Initial imaging will take place prior to clinic consult.
Treatment Plan
Your treatment plan will include a team based approach to care discussing the best option for you, the patient. Both surgical and non-surgical options will be discussed along with follow-up imaging and non-surgical diagnostics \ interventions.
Real patients. Real stories.
Wrist surgery that saved my game
Barbara Kallio, Embarrass, MN is an avid bowler, sometimes bowling in two different leagues. She set a personal goal to carry out her passion of bowling until she reached the age of 85. Until she couldn’t. Barb could no longer bowl due to a hand issue. “It wasn’t just bowling, Barb says, I could no longer carry a dinner plate, or hold items in my hand. My hand issue was impacting my daily life.” Kallio consulted with two different orthopedic specialists near her hometown, resulting in two different care plans. During a conversation with her son-in-law, Ken Westman, CEO at Riverwood Healthcare Center, Barb shared the differing opinions. Ken mentioned that Riverwood has an exceptional hand surgeon and suggested a consult with Susan Moen, MD. Kallio took Ken’s advice and scheduled an appointment. Kallio chose Riverwood Orthopaedics after pondering her care plan for a couple days. She said, “I connected with Dr. Moen. I trusted what she said. She made me feel comfortable about my hand surgery and was so easy to talk to, answering all my questions.” Surgery took place early February with Dr. Moen performing the following procedures: endoscopic carpal tunnel release, thumb MCP joint fusion, and a CMC suspension arthroplasty. Kallio shares, “I am making strides. I was unsure if I would ever bowl again, but Dr. Moen is hopeful by fall, with some adaptations to my bowling ball, I may be back in the alley doing what I love to do.” Kallio was impressed with the care she received at Riverwood and is sharing with all her friends in northern MN. “Riverwood exceeded my expectations with the overall care of my hand injury. Dr. Moen and the entire surgery team were so comforting. The hospital itself was much bigger and more beautiful than I expected.” states Barb.