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Repetitive strain injuriesof the upper extremities refer to pain in the forearm, wrist and hand, caused by excessive strain. Diagnoses include tenosynovitis, epicondylitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Treatment is aimed at alleviating pain, restoring normal physical functioning and maintain ability to work. Preventive interventions have shown some attenuation of discomfort but no effects on disease prevalance or sick leave days. Return to work interventions seem to decrease length of sickness absences. Part time work has hastened return to work and decreased sickness absences in musculoskeletal disorders.

Most commonly affected joints of the hand in osteoarthritis include the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb (CMC 1) and the distal (DIP) and proximal (PIP) interphalangeal joints. Ageing, female gender, genotype, heavy work causing pressure on the hands, and injuries predispose to osteoarthritis in the hand. The pain is likely to be due to secondary synovitis caused by molecules released from the joint cartilage. Initial treatment of osteoarthritis is always conservative: analgesic medication, splint and physiotherapy. Surgery is considered for severe symptoms. The most common procedures include arthrodeses and arthroplasties with autogenous grafts or implants.

Most fractures of the distal radius are treated with closed reduction and casting. Locking plates are the most common method of fixation. In young persons and in elderly persons with functional activity above that of their age level, a <10 degrees dorsal or <20 degrees volar angle of tilt, a radial shortening of <2 mm, a radial inclination of >15 degrees and an intra-articular step-off or gap of <1 to 2 mm are regarded as an acceptable limit of position of the radius. In persons over 65 years of age the functioning of the hand can usually be restored with casting.