How many times have we, as therapists, prosthetists, and rehabilitation nurses, encountered a traumatic hand injury where the heroic efforts of a skilled microvascular hand surgeon saved the hand? Yet what does it mean to “save” a hand following many months of reconstructive procedures that may include replantation, deepening a web space, a free flap, pedicle flap, debulking, or toe-to-hand transfer? In the end, what is the status of sensation, adequate range of motion, opposition, and functional grasp restoration? And is the appearance acceptable to the individual with partial hand loss?
It is difficult for many in hand therapy and prosthetics to keep up with these advances, and even more so for hand surgeons, as the options and advances are not taught or included in hand surgery texts.
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