History: 44 year old female with a chronic mass at her fingernail. The mass had been present for many months and would occasionally become infected and drain. It was also causing a depression in her nail and quite uncomfortable and unsightly. Diagnosis: Left ring finger mucous cyst Treatment: Mucous cyst excision with bilobed advancement flap Outcome: She healed the…
History: 37 year old gentleman was in a motorcycle accident where he sustained a severe trauma and crush to his middle and ring fingers. I met him in the trauma bay where he had significant crushed finger tips and open wounds. Based on the amount of injury, I recommended revising the amputated digit tips to regain…
History: 61 year old female sustained an injury to her right wrist resulting in complete loss of skin over a large area measuring 10 x 6 cm. The existing skin had previously become infected and required debridement. I recommended a skin graft to provide coverage to the area. Diagnosis: Dorsal wrist large skin defect Treatment: Full thickness skin…
History: 21 year old male presented as a trauma patient after a motorcycle accident with injuries to his bilateral forearms. He was found to have a fracture radius on both side with a ligament injury at the wrist. He was initially splinted with recommendations for surgery. Diagnosis: Bilateral radial shaft (Galeazzi) fractures Treatment: Bilateral radial shaft ORIF Outcome: At…
History: 51 year old female with right thumb pain that had been present for over a year. Although it began after a fall, x-rays showed arthritis at the base of the thumb (CMC joint arthritis). After trying splinting, a steroid injection, and anti-inflammatory medication, she elected for surgery to alleviate her pain. Diagnosis: Right thumb CMC arthritis…
History: 40 year-old male school principal came to my office after injuring his finger playing basketball and jamming the finger. He had significant pain and swelling and was unable to make a fist. X-rays showed a fracture of the proximal phalanx with displacement and rotation. Diagnosis: Left 5th proximal phalanx oblique fracture Treatment: Proximal phalanx closed reduction…
History: 23 year-old male who injured his shoulder and collar bone while trying to jump over a fence. He had sustained a comminuted, displaced clavicle fracture. Diagnosis: Left clavicle fracture Treatment: Left clavicle open reduction internal fixation Outcome: Within 1 week he had already regained nearly all motion without any pain. The photos below demonstrate his first post-operative visit….
History: 28 year-old male injured his thumb in an automobile accident when the airbag deployed. He sustained a fracture of the thumb metacarpal base (Bennett fracture). Based on the best evidence available, he elected for percutaneous surgical treatment. Diagnosis: Right thumb Bennett fracture Treatment: Right thumb percutaneous pinning and cast Outcome: After completing the cast and having the…
History: 31 year-old male had a crush injury to his right middle finger. He worked as a registered dental assistant and it was important that he could return to wearing gloves and working as quickly as possible. X-rays showed a comminuted fracture of the proximal phalanx (finger) with more than 25 degrees of angulation in the…
History: 51 year-old male cyclist who was hit by a car and came to the hospital as a trauma. He was found to have a severe elbow injury consisting of a comminuted intra-articular fracture of the distal humerus at the elbow. Based on the severe injury I recommended fixation. Diagnosis: Right complex intra-articular distal humerus fracture…
History: 62 year-old male fell in his backyard injuring his right wrist. X-rays showed a wrist fracture with displacement and angulation resulting in severe pain, swelling, and deformity. Diagnosis: Right distal radius fracture Treatment: Open reduction and internal fixation with plates and screws Outcome: At 6 weeks after surgery he had regained nearly all motion, was still working on increasing…
History: 20 year-old male punched a wall with his right fist and had immediate pain and swelling over the the dorsal and ulnar aspect of the hand and wrist. X-rays demonstrated a fracture of the hamate bone with the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones dislocated dorsally. Live flouroscopic imaging in the office demonstrated that they…
