CHAT

Friday, September 30, 2016

Dr. Martin leaves hand surgery

   Dr. Martin   no longer be sees patients at the Hand Center of Western Massachusetts.  If  you are a patient of the Hand Center, we would like to assure you that your  will continue to receive the utmost level of care and attention to detail that you have come to expect. 

Our plan is to offer continuity of care for all patients at the Hand Center.


Dr. Wint and Dr. Wintman are available to answer questions regarding your   current treatment or to schedule new or follow-up appointments.  We will continue to be on call for the office and its patients. When you call after hours, no matter what the situation is, you will get one of them to answer your questions. 

 Our office structure is something that we have developed over many years and we feel it is our attention to detail that allows us to offer care at the highest level.  In addition we are always looking for ways to improve so please let us know how we can better help you  in the future.


If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the office.
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Monday, August 22, 2016

SCAPHOID FRACTURES OF THE WRIST

SCAPHOID FRACTURES of the WRIST

Scaphoid Fractures



What are scaphoid fractures?
The scaphoid bone is one of the eight small bones that make up the “carpal bones” of the wrist. There are two rows of bones, one closer to the forearm (proximal row) and the other closer to the hand (distal row). The scaphoid bone is unique in that it links the two rows together (see Figure 1). This puts it at extra risk for injury, which accounts for it being the most commonly fractured carpal bone.
How do scaphoid fractures occur?
Fractures of the scaphoid occur most commonly from a fall on the outstretched hand. Usually it hurts at first, but the pain may improve quickly, over the course of days or weeks. Bruising is rare, and there is usually no visible deformity and only minimal swelling. Since there is no deformity, many people with this injury mistakenly assume that they have just sprained their wrist, leading to a delay in seeking evaluation. It is common for people who have fractured this bone to not become aware of it until months or years after the event.
Diagnosis of scaphoid fractures
Scaphoid fractures are most commonly diagnosed by x-rays of the wrist. However, when the fracture is not displaced, x-rays taken early (first week) may appear negative.  A non-displaced scaphoid fracture could thus be incorrectly diagnosed as a “sprain.” Therefore a patient who has significant tenderness directly over the scaphoid bone (which is located in the hollow at the thumb side of the wrist, or “snuffbox”) should be suspected of having a scaphoid fracture and be splinted (see Figure 2).  An X-ray a couple of weeks later may then more clearly reveal the fracture.  In questionable cases, MRI scan, CT scan, or bone scan may be used to help diagnose an acute scaphoid fracture.  CT scan and/or MRI are also used to assess fracture displacement and configuration. Until a definitive diagnosis is made, the patient should remain splinted to prevent movement of a possible fracture.
Treatment of scaphoid fractures
If the fracture is non-displaced, it can be treated by immobilization in a cast that usually covers the forearm, hand, and thumb, and sometimes includes the elbow for the first phase of immobilization. Healing time in a cast can range from 6- 10 weeks and even longer. This is because the blood supply to the bone is variable and can be disrupted by the fracture, impairing bony healing. Part of the bone might even die after fracture due to loss of its blood supply, particularly in the proximal third of the bone, the part closest to the forearm. If the fracture is in this zone, or if it is at all displaced, surgery is more likely to be recommended. With surgery, a screw or pins are inserted to stabilize the fracture, sometimes with a bone graft to help heal the bone (see Figure 3a,3b).  Surgery to place a screw may also be recommended in non-displaced cases to avoid prolonged casting.
Complications of scaphoid fractures
Non-union: If a scaphoid fracture goes unrecognized, it often will not heal. Sometimes, even with treatment, it may not heal because of poor blood supply(seeFigure 3c). Over time, the abnormal motion and collapse of the bone fragments may lead to mal-alignment within the wrist and subsequent arthritis. If caught before arthritis has developed, surgery may be performed to try to get the scaphoid to heal.

Avascular necrosis:  A portion of the scaphoid may die because of lack of blood supply, leading to collapse of the bone and later arthritis.  Fractures in the proximal one third of the bone, the part closest to the forearm, are more vulnerable to this complication.  Again, if arthritis has not developed, surgery to try to stabilize the fracture and restore circulation to the bone may be attempted. (see.Figure 4)

Post-traumatic arthritis: If arthritis has already developed, salvage-type procedures may be considered, such as removal of degenerated bone or partial or complete fusion of the wrist joint.




Figure 1:  The scaphoid bone is unique in that it spans the two rows of wrist bones making it more prone to injury from a fall in full extension








Figure 2:  Significant tenderness directly over the scaphoid bone (which is located in the hollow at the thumb side of the wrist).








Figure 3a,3b:  A screw or pins are placed to stabilize the fracture.

Figure 3c.  The scaphoid has a variable pattern of blood supply that may predispose it to AVN and delayed healing

Figure 4. An MRI may be used to diagnose Avascular Necrosis (AVN) after a scaphoid fracture has not healed


parts © 2011 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Developed by the ASSH Public Education Committee and Modified and supplemented for this blog by www.handcttr.com
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Thursday, July 14, 2016

DUPUYTRENS CORD BREAKS WITH XIAFLEX

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Saturday, July 2, 2016

#fireworkshurts keep safe this july 4th

A sobering story forgotten too fast. The Consumer Product Safety commission can issue reports such as the 2014 fireworks injury statistics, but most will never read this or see it and it will just be attributed to another tragedy that occurred to someone else. No one ever thinks they or their loved ones will have this happen to them. But it does.

 Here are some of the more well publicized injuries from fireworks recentl.





Watch: Jason Pierre-Paul Appears in Fireworks PSA 
Heavy.com

The video also shows still frames of Pierre-Paul's injured hand and anxious family, ... Fortunetly for Pierre-Paul, the injuries were not life threatening.
Pierre-Paul makes public service announcement on fireworks  - Columbia Missourian
Jason Pierre-Paul makes public service announcement on fireworks  - The Denver Post
Watch: Jason Pierre-Paul shows off mangled hand in fireworks PSA  - Sporting News 


The bloody Fourth of July weekend that led to N.J.'s fireworks ban 
NJ.com

Over at Hazard Hospital Long Branch, still more accidents were logged: a 9-year-old boy from Long Branch has burns his right hand from a firecracker.

Warning from teen who lost hand to firework 
KXAN.com

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (WOOD) — A Benton Harbor teen who lost much of his left handto a fireworks accident last year is warning others of the ...


 NEWS
 NEWS



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