Dr James Small, Consultant Anaesthetist at IIS Health The Cheshire Hand Clinic

Dr James Small

Consultant Anaesthetist
GMC Number
7036940
Procedures performed
Consultant Since
6
Consultant anaesthetist with NHS practice at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust providing anaesthesia for adult and paediatric surgery with a specialist interest in awake upper limb regional anaesthesia.

Clinical Expertise

Conditions Treated

Procedures Performed

Area of Expertise

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Dr James Small

Biography

Professional Background

Qualifications

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Achievements & Awards

Languages Spoken

English

Articles and Insights

Base of Thumb Arthritis: Non-Surgical Options and When to See a Specialist

August 7, 2026
What's actually happening at the base of the thumb, why hand therapy comes first, and what the evidence shows about steroid injections, PRP, trapeziectomy and modern joint replacement.

Ganglion Cyst: Will It Go Away on Its Own, and Do I Need Surgery?

August 7, 2026
What's actually happening inside a ganglion cyst, why most resolve without treatment, and what the evidence says about aspiration versus surgery.

Dupuytren's Contracture: Needle Fasciotomy vs. Surgery vs. Collagenase — Which Is Right for You?

August 3, 2026
A clear, evidence-based comparison of needle fasciotomy, collagenase and surgery for Dupuytren's contracture, including real recurrence rates and why one option is currently unavailable in the UK.

Trigger Finger Treatment Without Surgery: Splints, Injections and When an Operation Is Actually Needed

August 2, 2026
What the evidence actually says about splints, steroid injections and exercises for trigger finger — and when surgery becomes the better option.

SNAC Wrist: What Scaphoid Nonunion Advanced Collapse Means and What Can Be Done About It

July 13, 2026
SNAC wrist develops when an old, unhealed scaphoid fracture leads to a predictable pattern of arthritis. This article explains what SNAC means, how it's staged, and what treatment looks like at every stage, from simple measures through to surgery.

Why Haven't I Got Better After Carpal Tunnel Surgery?

July 1, 2026
Most patients improve after carpal tunnel surgery, though not always immediately or completely. This article explains the main reasons recovery sometimes falls short, and how the cause is worked out.

Open, Endoscopic, or Ultrasound-Guided: Choosing Your Carpal Tunnel Surgery Option

July 11, 2026
Carpal tunnel release can be performed as an open operation, endoscopically, or under ultrasound guidance. This article explains how the choice is actually made, and which patients benefit most from each technique.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment Explained

July 11, 2026
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common nerve conditions seen in a hand clinic. This article explains why symptoms are often worse at night, how the diagnosis is actually made, and how the decision between splints, injections, and surgery is reached.

Scaphoid Nonunion: Why Scaphoid Fractures Fail to Heal and What Can Be Done About It

July 6, 2026
A scaphoid fracture that never healed can sit silent for decades, or cause pain from the first weeks. Why scaphoid nonunion happens, how it is assessed, and how it is treated.

Why Scaphoid Fractures Are Missed

May 3, 2026
Scaphoid fractures are the most commonly missed wrist injury, and not usually because of a technical imaging failure. This article explains why the injury is so easily mistaken for a sprain, why X-ray alone cannot be trusted, and what the medical negligence data reveals about where diagnosis actually goes wrong.

Videos

Hand Therapy Exercises

Simple exercises to improve mobility and strength during recovery.

How to change your dressing

Step-by-step guide to safely changing your hand dressing at home.

Hand Examination Tutorial

Learn the key steps of a basic hand examination.

Need expert assessment for hand or wrist pain?

Book a consultation with our specialist team today.