Video highlights hand and wrist physical exam techniques to help practitioners identify frequently misdiagnosed issues and injuries, and also includes treatment recommendations

BRIGHTON, MA –  Pediatric, internal medicine, family medicine, and emergency medicine practitioners often do not have the advantage of advanced training on hand and wrist diagnoses. As a result, evaluating hand and wrist injuries can be challenging. Identifying common injuries beyond using an x-ray can help patients access more effective treatment and follow-up care. A video in the March 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, (NEJM) titled "Examination of the Hand and Wrist," authored by hand surgeon Charles Day, MD, MBA and Khare Wilson, PA, provides a detailed overview of several common pathologies, how to diagnose them, appropriate treatment and when to refer. These diagnoses include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Trigger Finger
• Flexor tendon injuries
• DeQuervain's tendonitis (Mommy’s thumb)
• Base of thumb arthritis
• Distal radius fracture
• Scaphoid fractures
• Wrist tendonitis
• Wrist ligament injuries

According to Dr. Day, his experience across several hospital systems over the last two decades has highlighted a clear need for a go-to resource to help providers identify common hand and wrist problems. “The anatomy of the hand and wrist is complex because there are so many structures that pass through a relatively small area, and injury to any one of these structures can be the cause of a patient’s hand pain.  This video provides an overview of hand and wrist issues and how to identify them. My hope is that this video will be a clear and straightforward guide that will assist practitioners in making the right diagnosis.”

Dr. Day is the Chief of Hand Surgery and the Director of the Boston Orthopedic Hand Center at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center.  The Hand Center is a highly-integrated multidisciplinary program with numerous physicians focused on the treatment of simple and complex issues associated with hand, wrist and elbow problems. The Center’s experts include physicians and staff who provide compassionate and expedient care for all conditions of the upper extremity. The Center can be reached at www.semc.org/hand or at 844-798-HAND.

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About St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center
St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center is a major academic medical center affiliated with Tufts University School of Medicine.  Areas of medical excellence include liver and pancreas surgery, vascular and endovascular surgery, cardiology, neurosciences, general and robotic surgery, bariatric surgery, women’s health, high-risk obstetrics, bone and joint health, hematology/oncology, pulmonary medicine and emergency medicine.  St. Elizabeth’s is a member of Steward Health Care. Visit St. Elizabeth’s online at www.semc.org.