The Upper Hand: Chuck & Chris Talk Hand Surgery

Chuck and Chris catch up on with listener submitted questions on technical aspects of two procedures: a deep dive on CMC arthroplasty with suture tape suspension and the indications for subcutaneous vs submuscular ulnar nerve transposition.  We close with a brief discussion of  medial epicondyle fractures with ulnar nerve pathology. Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.prac...

Chuck and Chris welcome 2024 and season #5 with a technical episode on the treatment of Kienbocks disease.  We discuss patient evaluation and surgical considerations including radius shortening, vascularized bone flaps, carpal pinning, and so much more.   Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search a...

Chuck and Chris with a bonus, year- end episode with listener questions, CMC fusion case discussion, and an HBR review on the importance of positive energy.  This was a really a catch- up episode and we catch up on Chris' travel, Chuck's b-school, and other timely topics. HBR: The Best Leaders have Contagious Positive Energy.  Emma Seppala and Kim Cameron.  April 18, 2022.  Reprint HO6ZU...

Chuck and Chris welcome Tony Smith and Steve McCabe to discuss the founding of the Hand Society and Sterling Bunnell.  The two have been on an amazing journey of primary research to learn more about Sterling Bunnell.  They share insights with us in advance of their expected biography.  Join us for some exciting history of hand surgery. Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.p...

Chuck and Chris discuss the adolescent medial epicondyle fracture and a group of patients with a challenging outcome.  This deep dive into the pathology and the technical considerations for treatment help us better understand the fracture, the relationship of the ulnar nerve, and more Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information fr...

Chuck and Chris build on a hand society symposium led by Don Lalonde- What to Say and What not to Say to patients.  Chuck and Chris discussion tips to build the patient relationship and challenges in doing so.  We look forward to your thoughts and your tips.  We also discuss the medical school tradition of the white coat ceremony! Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practi...

Chuck and Chris have a brief discussion about Chuck's Executive MBA program and then take a deep dive on a laceration in the distal forearm- the so- called spaghetti wrist.  We talk details including the technical aspects of the procedure and patient expectations. Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner o...

Chuck and Chris are joined my Marschall Berkes, Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma at Washington University Orthopedics to discuss clavicle fractures.  Recognizing that many hand surgeons treat the entire upper extremity including clavicle fractures, Marschall's perspective will be interesting to many listeners.  We discuss indications, approach, technique, etc. Subscribe to our newsletter:  https:/...

Chuck and Chris discuss the Hand Society meeting in Toronto including the highlights for each of them.  They also discuss a pediatric elbow case including dome osteotomy treatment.  And, if you listen to the end, you will learn more about the Drake show in Toronto! Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on jo...

Chuck and Chris discuss a three new Journal of Hand Surgery articles for our podcast journal club.  Join us and share any thoughts! Isaacs , Nydick, Means, Merrell, Ilyas, Levine and RECON study group.  A multicenter prospective randomized comparison of conduits versus decellularized nerve allografts for digital nerve repairs.  JHS 2023 Guidi , et al Distraction arthroplasty for basal joint arthri...

Chuck and Chris welcome Macy Stonner back for an in depth discussion of CMC arthritis and post surgical management.  As usual, Macy brings great insights which are pertinent for anyone caring for patients with thumb pain.  We also discuss a listener submitted question on the differences between TMR and RPNI. Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand...

Chuck and Chris start with a brief discussion on coding before taking a deeper dive on acute median nerve repair based on a listener question regarding tension during repair (tension on the nerve, not tension of the surgeon).  We then pivot to volar scaphoid approach and pearls. Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our...

Chuck and Chris start with a deep dive on a few technical points with ulnar nerve surgery.  Next we tackle a listener question on management of hook of the hamate fractures.  And finally, we discuss life as a busy clinician and how we respond to different requests- it can be ok say 'no' to academic/ life requests if there simply is no time. Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3i...

Chuck and Chris are joined by a special guest, Megan Conti Mica currently at the University of Chicago.  The three of us catch up a bit with a hand club discussion before diving in to a technical discussion of distal radius malunion. Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunitie...

Chuck and Chris discuss use a listener submitted case as the basis of a discussion of the PIP joint.  We break down treatment considerations for a dorsally subluxated PIP joint that is stiff in extension.  Dive in with us- complicated discussion!  We also briefly touch on FPL ruptures, the rheumatoid hand (and the disappearing art of treating it). The stiff finger was a part of our discussion- her...

Chuck and Chris discuss the 4th of July and fireworks injuries.  We review the most common presentations and treatment including acute and delayed.  We then pivot to review three interesting and recent publications. Bulstra and the Machine Learning Consortium, "A Machine Learning Algorithm to Estimate the Probability of a True Scaphoid Fracture after Wrist Trauma."  J Hand Surg 2022: 47:...

Chuck and Chris spend a few minutes catching up before taking a deep dive into the assessment and care of the scaphoid nonunion.  We discuss general approach before discussing the technical details of fixation. Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities.   Please complete NE...

Chuck and Chris catch up before and after some major travel and then dive into the impact of patient age on treatment decisions.  We use scaphoid fractures and cubital tunnel as the basis of this discussion.  Do we make inappropriate assumptions about young patients' healing abilities?  And when we operate, do we treat patients differently- what's the evidence? Subscribe to our newslette...

Season 4, Episode 15.   Chuck and Chris discuss community and what it is so important.  We begin, however, discussing kids, coaching and other activities before pivoting into a discussion on burnout and how community helps!  More and more brunout is a topic that matters.  While time away from work and time with family is one burnout remedy, another is connection or, for the purposes of this discus...

Chuck and Chris share a live podcast from Singapore at the 13th Congress of the Asian Pacific Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand, the 9th Congress of the APFSHT, and the 8th APWA.    We are grateful to many for this opportunity, especially Soumen Das De. We interview Dr. Yuan-Kun Tu from Taiwan who is known internationally for his positive perspective, spirit of giving, and care of pa...

Season 4, Episode 13.   Chuck and Chris spend the first 20 minutes of this nearly hour- long episode discussing past and future travel- the meetings, the patient care challenges, etc.  Then we pivot to deep dive with a discussion on a case of FPL rupture after volar plating of a distal radius fracture.  While uncommon, this problem can be a real challenge and we discuss  efforts to minimize, diagn...

Season 4, Episode 12.   Chuck and Chris welcome two amazing guests: Mireia Esplugas from Barcelona, Spain and David McCombe from Melbourne, Australia.  Our guests join us to discuss the March 2023 special issue of JHS European, Unsolved problems in hand surgery.  David McCombe was the guest editor of this special journal.  We chose two articles to discuss with our guests.  Tham and McCombe authore...

Season 4, Episode 11.   Chuck and Chris welcome Macy Stonner back, our good friend and friendly hand therapist extraordinaire!  Macy will lead our discussion on mallet fingers.  She will share tips and tricks and we will all share our thoughts about this 'routine' but sometimes challenging diagnosis. Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperha...

Season 4, Episode 10.   Chuck and Chris take a deep dive into Deborah Bohn's What's New in Hand Surgery in JBJS, part 2!  Chuck also drops some news on a new endeavor. JBJS 2023; 105:428-34 Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities.   Please complete NEW Survey: b...

Season 4, Episode 9.   Chuck and Chris take a deep dive into Deborah Bohn's What's New in Hand Surgery in JBJS.  The article covers key new articles into our favorite research topics in hand surgery.  This is Part 1 of a two part series. JBJS 2023; 105:428-34 Subscribe to our newsletter:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner o...