The Upper Hand: Chuck & Chris Talk Hand Surgery

Hand therapist Macy Stoner joins Chuck and Chris to discuss nonsurgical care and recovery post CMC arthroplasty. Topics include hand orthoses for CMC joint management, nerve reeducation strategies for brachial plexus injuries, and preventing nerve injuries during hand surgeries.

Glenn Gaston and Peter Rhee, the Chairs of the ASSH Annual Meeting 2022, dive into the behind-the-scenes of organizing a major hand surgery conference. They share the challenges and humor of their roles, highlighting innovative enhancements like interactive sessions and hands-on labs. Expect over 600 research submissions reviewed, emphasizing practical insights for attendees. They also touch on addressing burnout and the excitement around guest speakers, promising a diverse schedule full of engaging content in Boston!

Chuck and Chris discuss engaging with patients, managing challenging cases, and planning a live show in London. They share tips on handling difficult patients, emphasizing empathy and personalized care. Exploring struggles with narcotics use, work comp cases, and the importance of unbiased perceptions in patient care.

Generational differences in healthcare take center stage, sparking a lively debate over the varying values between Boomers and Gen Y. Personal anecdotes highlight family life and cultural celebrations, illustrating how traditions evolve. Delving into workplace dynamics, the hosts emphasize the importance of mentorship across ages. They tackle surgical decision-making complexities while assessing how generational attitudes impact patient care. Finally, they explore work-life balance and community engagement, stressing the emotional ties between professional responsibilities and personal values.

Discussing academia and education, Chuck and Chris dive into a listener's case on nerve injury during carpal tunnel surgery. They share insights on workup and surgical technique. They also mention launching a newsletter and ask for listener feedback through a survey.

The hosts share light-hearted anecdotes, including a fun cycling story and a humorous listener email about an arm injury. They dive into the complexities of long bone fracture recovery and the challenges of explaining medical concepts to patients. Surgical insights unfold as they discuss nerve injuries from gunshot wounds and the innovative use of 3D models in complex hand surgeries. They also touch on the pressures of balancing medical standards with patient demands, highlighting the importance of communication in the medical field.

The podcast delves into the complexities of ECU tendon surgery in hand surgery, discussing diagnostic tests, surgical techniques for tendonitis patients, and post-operative care. The hosts also explore gestures of gratitude in the medical setting, personal insights on sacrifices for Lent and Passover, and engagement at academic meetings.

Chuck and Chris discuss important hand surgeries non-surgeons should know, including carpal tunnel surgeries and distal radius fractures. They also share insights on continuous education, financial flexibility, and their casual conversations on cooking plans.

The hosts tackle listener questions about the complexities of surgical coding, comparing practices in academia and private practice. They reflect on their experiences with patient rounds and teaching dynamics, while sharing insights on TFCC repair techniques and upcoming studies. The discussion also includes amusing anecdotes about coding confusion, emphasizing its importance for fair surgeon compensation. Their lively conversation encapsulates both the challenges and rewards found within the field of hand surgery.

Chuck and Chris discuss surgical techniques for radial tunnel decompression, comparing volar vs dorsal approaches. They also touch on the importance of mask-wearing, 3D printing prosthetics, and tennis elbow surgery outcomes.