The Upper Hand: Chuck & Chris Talk Hand Surgery

Delve into the world of wrist injuries as elite athletes face the daunting scaphoid fracture. Discover advanced imaging techniques that play a crucial role in accurate diagnoses. Learn about the nuances of patient counseling for both operative and non-operative care. The hosts break down the dorsal approach in surgery, sharing practical tips and technical tricks. Comprehensive discussions emphasize the balance between surgical technique and postoperative recovery, ensuring athletes get back to their game.

Chris and I talk about the technical aspects of carpal tunnel surgery including our approach, open versus endoscopic, and other controversies.  Thanks to @IamPeterMartin for the amazing jazz piano.

We talk about one of the most common diagnoses in any upper extremity surgeon's practice- carpal tunnel syndrome.  This episode is mostly about our approach to the patient and the steps we take in assessing the patient and making a diagnosis.  We review important considerations such as: key patient complaints, which diagnostic tests help most, and how we use steroid injections.  Thanks to @IamPeterMartin for the amazing jazz piano.

The hosts discuss Steph Curry's recent hand injury and its impact on the Warriors. They delve into metacarpal fractures, exploring both surgical and non-operative treatment options. Personal anecdotes highlight the complex communication between medical professionals and athletic trainers in assisting high-level athletes. The conversation shifts to the essential collaboration during recovery, emphasizing tailored rehab strategies and realistic timelines for athletes eager to return to play. Insights on the advancements in fixation techniques wrap up a comprehensive look at this pivotal topic.

Learn a little more about your co-hosts and why we decided to launch a podcast about hand surgery. Chuck describes his experience with a highly successful patient education blog. Chris describes his failed blog and his hot/cold relationship with Twitter.

Episode 2: we continue with the case vignette on cubital tunnel syndrome discussed in the first episode. We discuss our preferences regarding choice of procedure – when we like doing an in situ decompression or an ulnar nerve transposition (and which types). We also get into details regarding our surgical technique and postoperative protocols after each surgery.  Thanks to @IamPeterMartin for his advice and amazing jazz piano.

We just finished hosting residency interviews and we have our fellowship interviews coming up, so we have had some time to reflect on the process. We discuss our recent experiences interviewing candidates for our training programs. Hopefully our insights will be helpful to those on or soon to be on the interview trail!  Thanks to @IamPeterMartin for his advice and amazing jazz piano.

In our first episode, we discuss our approaches to the diagnosis and work-up of a patient with cubital tunnel syndrome. We review the pertinent history, our preferred physical exam, and our thoughts regarding diagnostic testing. We also discuss our initial treatment and counseling regarding prognosis and expectations.  Thanks to @IamPeterMartin for his advice and amazing jazz piano.