Reclaim Your Strength. Rebuild Your Grip. 

Losing the power in your hand can be a frightening experience, affecting your work, your independence, and your passions. A weak grip is a serious functional concern that requires a specialist’s evaluation. We are experts in diagnosing the underlying cause of grip weakness and providing advanced surgical solutions to restore strength and function to your hand. 

Grip Strength is a Foundation of Daily Life. 

From a firm handshake to opening a jar, carrying groceries, or holding a tool, your grip strength is fundamental to nearly every task you perform. When you notice that power starting to fade, it’s more than just an inconvenience—it’s a sign that a key component of your hand’s intricate machinery may be failing. Understanding the cause is the first step toward rebuilding your strength. 

Pinpointing the Source of the Weakness 

Tendon Problems: A Broken Link 

• Tendons are the strong “ropes” that connect your muscles to your bones. When you flex a muscle in your forearm, the tendon pulls on a bone in your finger or thumb, creating movement and power. If a tendon is torn or ruptures from an injury or chronic wear, that connection is broken. The muscle can no longer transmit its force, resulting in a direct and often sudden loss of grip strength. 

Nerve Problems: A Disrupted Signal 

• Nerves are the “electrical wires” that carry signals from your brain to your muscles, telling them when to contract. If a nerve in your wrist (like in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) or elbow is compressed or damaged, that signal gets interrupted. The muscle doesn’t receive the command to fire properly, leading to a progressive weakness. Over time, this can also cause the muscle to shrink from disuse (atrophy). 

Bone and Joint: Subtle arthritis or joint instability 

• As complicated as the wrist and hand are, pain and instability will cause a rapid decline in grip strength that may be too subtle for the patient to notice.  Our brains are hardwired to not want to cause us pain and a loss of grip strength can be the brain’s “unconscious response” to prevent pain from starting. 

• Loss of grip strength can be the end-result of any one of a multitude of hand and wrist problems or it may be from a combination of problems. Making a solid diagnosis which factors in all possibilities while ruling out other potential causes is the first critical step that needs to be done before any treatments are entertained. 

Re-wiring and Rebuilding Your Hand’s Strength 

Tendon Repair

• If a tendon has been torn, a direct surgical repair is often the best solution. In this procedure, Dr. French meticulously sutures the torn ends of the tendon back together. This re-establishes the crucial link between muscle and bone, providing the foundation for a rehabilitation program to rebuild your hand’s original strength. 

Tendon Transfers

• When a muscle or tendon is paralyzed or irreparably damaged, a Tendon Transfer is a sophisticated reconstructive option. This procedure is like “re-wiring” your hand. Dr. French strategically detaches a healthy, functioning tendon from its normal insertion point and reroutes it to take over the job of the non-functioning one. This can restore a critical function, like the ability to pinch with your thumb or extend your wrist. 

Nerve Decompression (Neurolysis)

• If the weakness is caused by a “pinched” nerve, a procedure to release the pressure on that nerve is required. A nerve release (neurolysis), such as a Carpal Tunnel Release, can allow the nerve to recover and begin sending clear signals to the muscle again. Over time and with therapy, this can lead to a significant recovery of strength. 

A Complex Bio-Mechanical Challenge 

Diagnosing the problem and restoring power to the hand is not a simple task. It requires a surgeon with a deep, nuanced understanding of the complex bio-mechanics of the hand—the delicate interplay between nerves, muscles, and tendons. Procedures like Tendon Transfers, in particular, are advanced reconstructive techniques that demand an high level of skill. Dr. French’s expertise as a Harvard-trained reconstructive surgeon can help in designing and executing the right surgical plan to rebalance and re-power your hand.