The Role of Hand Therapy in Restoring Upper Limb Function After Trauma and Surgery
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Hand therapy is much more than splinting. This lecture explains how hand therapists fit into the surgical team, from postoperative wound care and patient education to orthotic management, activity modification and functional rehabilitation.
The main focus is edema—and why it should not be dismissed as a normal postoperative inconvenience. The speaker breaks down its pathophysiology and demonstrates practical strategies including elevation, compression, retrograde massage, kinesiotaping, tendon-gliding exercises and positioning in the safe position of the hand. The session also highlights the difference between ordinary traumatic edema and lymphedema, and why seemingly simple decisions can influence stiffness, adhesions and long-term function.
The discussion becomes especially practical with a live case of a complex hand injury, where the timing and limits of hand therapy are debated alongside the potential role of surgical mobilization. Useful patient-education tools, international hand-therapy resources and everyday techniques for compression are also shared.
The main focus is edema—and why it should not be dismissed as a normal postoperative inconvenience. The speaker breaks down its pathophysiology and demonstrates practical strategies including elevation, compression, retrograde massage, kinesiotaping, tendon-gliding exercises and positioning in the safe position of the hand. The session also highlights the difference between ordinary traumatic edema and lymphedema, and why seemingly simple decisions can influence stiffness, adhesions and long-term function.
The discussion becomes especially practical with a live case of a complex hand injury, where the timing and limits of hand therapy are debated alongside the potential role of surgical mobilization. Useful patient-education tools, international hand-therapy resources and everyday techniques for compression are also shared.
PRAS-04
Course
Upper Extremity and Hand Reconstruction: From Congenital Anomalies to Complex Trauma
01
45:14
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02
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Basic Principles of Surgical Treatment and Postoperative Management of SyndactylyA practical overview of syndactyly surgery, from timing and incision design to full-thickness skin grafting and the often underestimated challenge of postoperative immobilization in young children.
03
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04
1:03:36
Replantation Surgery: Experience, Decision-Making and Practical AlgorithmsA practical look at replantation surgery built around real clinical cases, from patient selection and correct transport of amputated segments to microsurgical reconstruction, salvage strategies and staged rehabilitation.
05
1:42:12
Microsurgical Reconstruction of the Upper Extremity in a Level 1 Trauma CenterA practical look at complex upper-extremity trauma reconstruction, from aggressive debridement and limb-salvage decisions to free flaps, nerve grafts, flow-through flaps and functional rehabilitation.
06
1:40:27 Now playing
The Role of Hand Therapy in Restoring Upper Limb Function After Trauma and SurgeryA practical introduction to hand therapy and the often underestimated role of edema management in protecting motion, preventing stiffness, and improving recovery after hand trauma and surgery.
07
1:05:39
Spaghetti Wrist Injury: Repair Strategy, Microsurgery and RehabilitationA practical lecture on complex volar forearm injuries involving multiple tendons, nerves and arteries—from injury mechanism and operative sequencing to microsurgical repair, immobilization and long-term hand rehabilitation.
08
1:31:56
Toe Transfer for Thumb and Finger ReconstructionAn advanced lecture by Prof. Fu-Chan Wei on toe-to-thumb and toe-to-finger transfer in complex hand reconstruction, including indications, surgical planning, technique selection, functional outcomes, donor-site considerations, and rehabilitation.
09
1:32:17
Management of Gunshot Injuries to Peripheral NervesAn evidence-informed lecture on diagnosing and reconstructing gunshot peripheral nerve injuries in polystructural limb trauma. Andrii Vysak combines a treatment algorithm, clinical cases, and practical decisions on timing, ultrasound, EMG, nerve grafting, and tendon transfers.
The Role of Hand Therapy in Restoring Upper Limb Function After Trauma and Surgery