The Upper Hand: Chuck & Chris Talk Hand Surgery

Episode 1, season 2.  Chuck and Chris talk more about Chris' favorite topic- nerve surgery.  We begin a three part discussion on nerve surgery, focused on the technical aspects of nerve repair including use of allografts, digital nerve repair, and sural nerve grafts. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. And thanks to Eric Zhu, the Upper Hand...

Episode 51.  Chuck and Chris talk about Chris' favorite topic- nerve surgery.  We begin a three part discussion on nerve surgery, focused on a single case and some of the technical aspects of the process of ideal nerve repair.  How do you properly assess a nerve before surgery, how do you decide how to excise the damaged segment and how do you technically excise that segment, and much more. ...

Episode 50!   Chuck and Chris round out the distal radius fracture series by welcoming Dr. Macyn Stonner to discuss therapy after distal radius fractures.  She will help explain what happens behind closed doors, when therapy is most helpful, when specialized splints can help and she even tackles the topic of 'is therapy always necessary'. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amaz...

Episode 49.  Chuck and Chris welcome Asif Ilyas, MD from the Rothman Institute to discuss the opioid epidemic.  Asif is the President of the Rothman Opioid Foundation, check it out here: www. Rothmanopioid.org.   We discuss hand surgery, training, and a number of topics around the opioid crisis including how we got here, better prescribing habits, multimodal treatment, and more. As always, thanks...

Episode 48.  Chuck and Chris discuss a classic manuscript called 'Understanding Academic Medical Centers: Simone's Maxims.  This is from Clinical Cancer Research, Vol 5 2281-2285, 1999.  This is a great piece with important lessons on academia although many are relevant in large private groups as well.  Key thoughts like 'Academic institutions don't love you back'. As alwa...

Episode 47.  Chuck and Chris continue our discussion of distal radius fractures.  This is part 3 of 3- we discuss fractures that may not be ideally treated with a standard volar locking plate- including radial styloid fractures, volar- ulnar facet, dorsal ulnar facet, and die punch fractures.  We discuss our preferences and strategies. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduct...

Episode 46.  Chuck and Chris continue our discussion of distal radius fractures.  This is part 2 of 2- we discuss in the volar approach include our techniques as well as tips and pearls.  We discuss anatomical risks, plate choice, and other issue. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. theupperhandpodcast.wustl.edu.  And thanks to Eric Zhu, aspiring...

Episode 45.  Chuck and Chris discuss distal radius fractures.  This is part 1 of 2- we discuss in clinic management and general principles.  We discuss surgical indications and criteria.  As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. theupperhandpodcast.wustl.edu.  And thanks to Eric Zhu, aspiring physician and podcast intern. Survey Link: H elp Chuck and...

Episode 44.  Chuck and Chris discuss leadership during the COVID 19 pandemic.  Maintaining positivity may be challenging and patience is also challenging.  We discuss the importance of being a patient leader during these difficult times. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. theupperhandpodcast.wustl.edu.  And thanks to Eric Zhu, aspiring physician...

Episode 43.  Chuck and Chris discuss a challenging topic- complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).  We share how we approach patients with this potential diagnosis and strategies to help patients- under our care or through referral. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. theupperhandpodcast.wustl.edu Article referenced: Jeffrey D Placzek , Martin I Bo...

Episode 42.  Chuck and Chris welcome guest Ben Nwachukua to talk about his experience in the NBA Bubble.  Ben shares his thoughts on the success of the process but also on what it took to make it happen.  If you like sports,  like the NBA, or just like an old fashioned success story, you will enjoy Ben's description based on his experience of living in the bubble for the month of August.   We...

Episode 41.  Chuck and Chris recap highlights of the ASSH Annual Meeting.  The ASSH pulled off a great meeting.  We run through our favorite parts, what we learned, and highlight 5 of the award winning papers. We also start a new feature- mail grab bag.  In this short segment, we will share a reader question and our response.  Hope you like it! As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing...

Episode 39.  Chuck and Chris talk to again with Amy Lake from Dallas about a passion project- Hand Camp.  These camps are amazing experiences in which children with hand differences spent time with other kids and other families to learn from one another (and teach us).  Amy has been inspirational in building these camps in Dallas and inspiring others, like us in St Louis, to do the same.  We promi...

Episode 40.  Chuck and Chris talk ASSH Annual Meeting.  We got together just after the meeting started to share our thoughts and plans around this virtual meeting.  While this year is very different, many people did much work to make this happen.  Thank you and this will be a great meeting! As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music.  theupperhandpodcast...

Episode 38.  Chuck and Chris talk to hand therapy geniuses Amy Lake from Dallas and Macy Stonner from St Louis. We talk about the vital therapist- surgeon relationship and all things related.  Fun, engaged conversation with deep insights on what makes these relationships so important. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. And thanks to Eric Zhu, th...

Episode 37.  Chuck and Chris have an in depth conversation with Steve Moran of the Mayo Clinic to learn more about his approach in the treatment of Kienbocks disease.  Interesting conversation as while all of us consider multiple options for treatment, Steve and his Mayo Clinic colleagues favor treatment of avascular necrosis of the lunate with vascularized bone grafts while our team, for many pat...

Episode 36.  Chuck and Chris talk about their medical careers, the impact of their fathers (both surgeons), and how they talk to their kids about medical careers.    We share various stories and opinions. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. theupperhandpodcast.wustl.edu

Episode 35.  Chuck and Chris talk efficiency.  We meander through practice building to start the podcast and the discuss a recent HBR article by Peter Bregman, "Your To Do List is, in fact, too long."   We discuss why 'trying harder is not the answer'.  We share our efficiency tips, our variable successes and discuss Bregman's suggestion.  Join us and then share your ideas...

Episode 34.  Chuck and Chris continue to talk Dupuytrens Disease, this time with a special guest Charlie Eaton.  Charlie shares his vast experience with Dupuytrens, beginning with his popularization of the needle aponeurotomy procedure and continuing to the current day research program he oversees at dupuytrens.org, the Dupuytrens Foundation and Dupuytrens Research Group.  This is longer than our...

Episode 33.  Chuck and Chris continue to talk Dupuytrens Disease. This is the second of 3 episodes on Dupuytrens.  Here we discuss collagenase, the literature, and open fasciectomy.  We also discuss therapy and its role in all interventions. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. theupperhandpodcast.wustl.edu

Episode 32.  Chuck and Chris talk Dupuytrens Disease. This is the first of 3 episodes on Dupuytrens.  Here we introduce the topic and discuss our patient approach including the increasing role of needle aponeurotomy. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. theupperhandpodcast.wustl.edu

Episode 31.  Chuck and Chris talk radial sided wrist pain.  Last time we focused on De Quervains tenosynovitis in Part 1 and for this episode we focus on less common topics like intersection syndrome, Wartenbergs syndrome, FCR tendonitis, and a few others. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. theupperhandpodcast.wustl.edu

Episode 30.  Chuck and Chris talk radial sided wrist pain.  We discuss the pertinent features of the history and the physical examination including key differential diagnoses.  We focus on De Quervains tenosynovitis in Part 1 of radial sided wrist pain. A few digressions including anti inflammatory medications and general surgical principles around keeping nearby neurovascular structures safe. As...

Episode 29.  Chuck and Chris talk about the concept of microstresses and how these impact our daily lives.  We discuss common examples in our lives and how we attempt to address these.  This discussion is based on the work in HBR by Cross, Singer and Dillon, "Don't Let Microstresses Burn You Out'.  We hope for feedback from listeners. As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the ama...

Episode 28.  Chuck and Chris talk tennis elbow.  We discuss the our beliefs on effective treatment including therapy, orthoses, injection, and surgery.  Sure to be controversial! As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and conclusion music. theupperhandpodcast.wustl.edu