How did he hurt his hand?
Cause of Ronald Reagan’s and Margaret Thatcher’s hand disease
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/33685.php
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 — President Reagan was termed in ‘’good spirits’’ after minor surgery today to correct a condition that had caused a curvature of the ring finger on his left hand. A White House spokesman said Mr. Reagan remained awake throughout the operation and chatted about horses with his doctors.
The surgery, performed under local anesthesia at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, began at 7:30 A.M. and was completed by 11 A.M., said Col. John E. Hutton Jr., the White House physician. ‘’The President is comfortable and completed the operation with flying colors,’’ Dr. Hutton said in a written statement. ‘’He was alert and responsive throughout the process.’’
The condition, which is not painful, is called Dupuytren’s (pronounced dew-pwee-TRANS) contracture. While its cause is unknown, it is common among white men over the age of 50 who are of Celtic or Northern European descent. Diseased Tissue Removed
A three-man team of orthopedic and plastic surgeons, assisted by Dr. Hutton, removed the diseased tissue that extended from the wrist to the tip of the ring finger in Mr. Reagan’s hand, the White House physician said.
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/08/us/reagan-in-good-spirits-after-hand-surgery.html