The Upper Hand: Chuck & Chris Talk Hand Surgery

Chuck and Chris welcome Mark Baratz as our guest to talk about a number of topics, including sustainability and surgery, book club, culture, and so much more. Join us for pearls of wisdom from Mark Baratz and learn alongside of us. See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities. The Upper Hand Podcast is sponsored by Checkpoint Su...

Chuck and Chris catch up and discuss the new JBJS 'What's New in Hand Surgery', written by Eric Wagner and Nina Suh.  This takes us through 2025 and highlights new and impactful scientific articles on our field.  Wagner ER, Suh N. What's New in Hand and Wrist Surgery. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2026 Mar 18;108(6):401-409. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.25.01568. Epub 2026 Feb 3. PMID: 41632853....

Chuck and Chris catch up and discuss a few clinical scenarios including the Arcade of Struthers and indications to address it with ulnar nerve transposition.  They also discuss adolescent forearm instability, especially in congenital conditions, and the role of the one- bone forearm We are still need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for...

Chuck and Chris continue the initiative working with The Journal of Hand Surgery on a quarterly journal club.  Nash and Macerena choose the articles from the previous quarter and Chris and Chuck review the articles and discuss practical implications.  See articles below. In addition, we discuss a case of possible pronator syndrome together with carpal tunnel syndrome including debate on the role o...

Chuck and Chris catch up on recent travels including the Pediatric Hand Study Group meeting in Atlanta.  We discuss a few cases including a 5th CMC fracture dislocation, a 5+ year old scaphoid nonunion, a nightstick fracture, and more.  We also respond to listener submitted questions including 4th compartment tenosynovitis, CMC arthritis with MCP hyperextension including the role of CMC fusion, an...

Chuck and Chris welcome Jason Strelzow to discuss AI in general, applications in medicine (including ambient listening), and his favorite chatbot.  Dr. Strelzow is a hand surgeon with a trauma focus at Wash U and is the JBJS AI Associate Editor. We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job...

Chuck and Chris spent a few minutes discussing Artemis II.  So many interesting discussion points from this mission around the moon- we focus on selection criteria for competitive jobs (like astronauts and orthopedic residents)!  In addition, we hit the highlights from Rick Wright's visit as a Leadership lecturer.  Rick spoke on 'How to be the best resident and attending' and we all...

Chuck and Chris discuss volar plating for distal radius fractures.  What are the alternatives, what are some technical pearls,  and more. We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities. The Upper Hand Podcast is sponsored by Checkpoint Surgical, a provider of...

Chuck and Chris share interesting information about Chuck's trip to India for the World Congenital Symposium and Chris' visit to the Curtis National Hand Center as a Visiting Professor.  Then they discuss a listener's concern about their discussion of operating room efficiency/ Chuck's trip to Atlanta.   We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! Se...

Chuck and Chris begin a new initiative working with The Journal of Hand Surgery on a quarterly journal club.  Nash and Macerena will choose the articles from the previous quarter and Chris and Chuck will review the articles and discuss practical implications.  This first episode includes discussion of the following articles from Q4 of 2025: Porche KM, Spinner RJ, Bishop AT, Pulos N, Shin AY. Age-R...

Chuck and Chris begin a new initiative working with The Journal of Hand Surgery on a quarterly journal club.  Nash and Macerena will choose the articles from the previous quarter and Chris and Chuck will review the articles and discuss practical implications.  This first episode includes discussion of the following articles from Q4 of 2025: Portney DA, Lee CP, Wolf JM, Strelzow JA, Stepan JG. A Ch...

Chuck and Chris review common, "straightforward" surgeries in hand surgery and what might go wrong.  We specifically discuss trigger finger release, dequervains release, ganglion excision and carpal tunnel release.  We share our thoughts and hope for listener feedback. We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more i...

Chuck and Chris respond to listener submitted questions regarding cubital tunnel decompression and ulnar nerve transposition.  We also discuss some nuanced cases of thumb UCL injuries. We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities. The Upper Hand Podcast is s...

Chris goes solo on this one as we share his guest podcast appearance on "The Resident Review Podcast."  The Second Look: Navigating Revision Surgery for Carpal and Cubital Tunnel Syndromes Revision surgery for nerve compression in the upper extremity presents unique challenges. While primary decompression procedures for conditions like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and Cubital Tunnel Synd...

Chuck and Chris discuss tricks and tips for elbow arthroscopy, a listener submitted topic.  Learn more about indications, portal placement, and keys to success. We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities. The Upper Hand Podcast is sponsored by Checkpoint S...

Chuck and Chris discuss tips for an efficient clinic and review a surgical approach for radial tunnel syndrome and pronator syndrome treatment. We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities. The Upper Hand Podcast is sponsored by Checkpoint Surgical, a provid...

Chuck and Chris discuss Guyons Canal release indications and technical pearls along with treatment of hook of the hamate fractures. Also, Chris and Macy's book is available: https://www.amazon.com/Rehabilitation-Nerve-Transfers-Upper-Extremity/dp/3031920074 We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from o...

Chuck and Chris had fun with this episode as we discuss listener comments, highlight an interesting elbow case, and take a deep dive on thought leadership based on a great piece written by Benjamin Schwartz. https://resources.nejmcareercenter.org/article/thought-leadership-101-getting-started/ Also, Chris and Macy's book is available:  https://www.amazon.com/Rehabilitation-Nerve-Transfers-Upp...

Chuck and Chris discuss their approach to local only surgery include some basic pearls, building on previous episodes.  They also discuss some local challenges including insurance companies. We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities. The Upper Hand Podcas...

Chuck and Chris host a live podcast in Vancouver at the ASSH Annual Meeting.  Listen in for some fun and lively discussion about topics pertinent to all including dupuytrens, distal radius fractures and more! We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities. The...

Chuck and Chris are joined by the co-chairs of the ASSH Annual Meeting, Lindley Wall and Carl Harper.  They share insights on ALL of the exciting plans for the robust annual meeting in Vancouver.  Join us and get excited about the. meeting with a few insider tips. We mention a new book about Sterling Bunnell.  If you are not going to the meeting and would like to purchase a copy, use this link. ht...

Chuck and Chris are joined by podcast regular Macy Stonner to discuss tennis elbow. Macy shares therapy perspectives on 'LET'.  We also hear about about therapy for free functioning muscle transfers. We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities. Th...

Chuck and Chris discuss the ulnar wrist, some listener submitted pearls on carpal tunnel release and close with a discussion of practical tips for an efficient practice.  Join us to hear our thoughts and always feel free to share yours at handpocast@gmail.com We mentioned this article as a key physical exam assessment: Ruland RT, Hogan CJ.  The ECU synergy test: an aid to diagnose ECU tendonitis....

Chuck and Chris discuss a listener submitted query around handling referrals.  We also discuss our tips and tricks around common surgeries including carpal tunnel release, trigger ringer release, and ganglion excxision. Join us to hear our opinions and always feel free to share yours at handpocast@gmail.com We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelin...

Chuck and Chris discuss fellowship graduation, a case of AIN palsy, and advice for new fellowship graduates as the establish their practices.  Join us to hear our opinions and always feel free to share yours at handpocast@gmail.com We are in need of a podcast intern!  We would appreciate any referrals! See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and ca...