Nerve Conference, B-School, and Complex CMC Arthritis

Chuck and Chris catch up on nerve conferences, business school, and review a difficult CMC arthritis case.  Join us!

Please complete our survey:  https://bit.ly/3iHGFpD

See www.practicelink.com/theupperhand for more information from our partner on job search and career opportunities.

The Upper Hand Podcast is sponsored by Checkpoint Surgical, a provider of innovative solutions for peripheral serve surgery. To learn more, visit https://checkpointsurgical.com/.

 
Subscribe to our newsletter: bit.ly/3X0Gq89

As always, thanks to @iampetermartin for the amazing introduction and concluding music.

For additional links, the catalog.  Please see https://www.ortho.wustl.edu/content/Podcast-Listings/8280/The-Upper-Hand-Podcast.aspx

Transcript

Professional Development and Nerve Research
Charles and Christopher discuss their recent professional activities and educational experiences. Christopher attended a Global Nerve Foundation course on brachial plexus care in New York, which featured presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with international experts. Charles recently completed a 20-month MBA program, which he found valuable and applicable to his leadership roles. They also mention an upcoming conference at Washington University focused on setting priorities for nerve research. The conversation highlights the importance of continuous learning and professional development in their field.

AI's Impact on Education and Medicine
Charles and Christopher discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on education and professional development. They compare their experiences growing up with encyclopedias to the current ease of accessing information through smartphones and AI tools. Charles mentions the importance of engaging with AI daily, while Christopher expresses uncertainty about how he feels about his children using these technologies. They also discuss how medical students and residents are using AI tools like ChatGPT for case preparation and research presentations, noting the efficiency and effectiveness of these methods while acknowledging the need to ensure deep understanding of the subject matter.

Nerve Cutting Techniques in Hand Surgery
Christopher and Charles discuss the future of automation in hand surgery, agreeing that it will likely be one of the last surgical specialties to adopt AI and robotics. Christopher shares an interesting case of thoracic outlet decompression using thoracoscopic technique and robotics, which allows patients to fly home the next day. They then discuss nerve cutting techniques, with Christopher preferring the traditional method using a tongue depressor and scalpel blade, while acknowledging newer tools like the checkpoint edge nerve cutting kit. Christopher describes his preferred technique for cutting nerves.

Thumb Surgery Case Discussion
The discussion focuses on a complex thumb surgery case involving a patient with severe deformity of the carpometacarpal (CMC) and metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints. Christopher and Charles discuss their approaches to addressing both joints, including fusion of the MP joint and arthroplasty of the CMC joint. They compare techniques for MP joint fusion, with Charles preferring tension band wiring and Christopher using plates or headless compression screws. They also discuss methods for controlling the base of the metacarpal during CMC arthroplasty, with Charles describing a suture tape technique and Christopher using a split FCR tendon. The conversation highlights the challenges of such cases and the importance of preoperative planning and intraoperative decision-making