Quality Approved resource with blue tickThis leaflet may not be reproduced in whole or in part, without the permission of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.

Your clinician at Walkergate Park has referred you to our clinic. They should have discussed this with you.

This is because of a neurological condition causing problems with your:

  • arm
  • wrist
  • or hand

This leaflet tells you what will happen when you come to the clinic. It also tells you about the options you have.

If you have any questions, please ask the clinician working with you.

You will see:

  • Miss Stevens (Consultant Hand and Plastic Surgeon)
  • Lynsay Duke (Advanced Occupational Therapist)

They will look at your arm and ask some questions. 

There will be a chance to decide if surgery might help you. 

We will ask what the main problems are with your hand and arm. Things like:

  • looking after your skin
  • cleaning your hand
  • cutting your nails
  • straightening your arm, wrist and fingers

We will also:

  • ask about any pain that you have
  • check the movement of your arm or hand
  • check for problems with your joints, tendons or muscles

We may take photos of your arm or hand. 

If surgery is possible, we will go over the options with you. 

We may use outcome measures. This is a way to measure:

  • the problems you have
  • how bad they are

Please bring:

  • a list of your current medicines
  • details about your health conditions
  • a short list of any questions you have

You can bring someone to support you if you like.

If surgery might help, we will discuss this briefly in the clinic. We will give you a leaflet with more details.

Options may include one of more of the following:

  • Tendon lengthening
    Lengthen tendons which have become short 
  • Tendon transfers
    Move tendons from one place to another
  • Joint release
    Release joints which have become stuck
  • Hyperselective neurectomy
    Reduce the nerve supply to the muscle that is making the arm or hand tight

You might decide to go ahead with surgery. Or you might want more time think about it with your family and friends.

If you choose to go ahead

We will arrange an appointment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI). You will meet the anaesthetic team.

Miss Stevenson will tell you the plan in more detail. We will also ask for your consent.

If you want to think about the options

We will arrange an appointment at the RVI after two or three months. This will be with Miss Stevenson to talk about things again.

We do all surgery at the RVI.

After surgery you will have:

  • stitches
  • a bandage on
  • a post-surgical splint

We will arrange further appointments at the RVI.

These will be to:

  • check the wounds
  • change the dressings
  • remove the stitches
  • review your progress with Miss Stevenson

You may need physiotherapy following surgery. This is provided by the RVI.

You will be seen in the splint clinic five weeks after surgery. You might need ongoing splinting.

The team will discuss other ways to help the problems you are having.

This may include other choices like: 

You can call Lynsay Duke if you have any questions:
0191 287 5100 – (Neuro Outpatient Reception)

We also have some short videos that tell you:

  • more about the clinic
  • other patients’ experience of having surgery
  • the types of surgery we may offer

The team:
•    Miss Stevens - Consultant Hand and Plastic Surgeon
•    Lynsay Duke - Advanced Occupational Therapist

You can talk to a staff member or use the contacts listed below. See other ways to give feedback.

Your Voice

You can use this email to tell us what you think about your care. This can be good or bad. You can also ask us to tell you what happens after you send feedback.

Email: yourvoice@cntw.nhs.uk

Comments and complaints

If something went wrong, please tell us. This will help us improve services.

Email: complaints@cntw.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0191 245 6672
Write to: Complaints Department, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3XT.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

PALS offer a free, confidential service. They can help if you are worried about your care. They support patients, families and carers.

PALS North of Tyne
(services in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and North Cumbria)
Email: pals@nhct.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0800 032 0202

PALS South of Tyne
(services in Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Lotus Ward, Middlesbrough)
Email: pals@cntw.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0800 328 4397

You can get more information about this leaflet from the Patient Information Centre. This includes how the leaflet was made. We can provide this leaflet in other formats. These include Braille, audio, large print, Easy Read, British Sign Language, and other languages.

We welcome your feedback about this leaflet. You can email pic@cntw.nhs.uk

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2026 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref: PIC/835/1026 October 2026 V2
Review date 2029

Website: www.cntw.nhs.uk – Telephone: 0191 246 6800