Chuck and Chris discuss JBJS What's New in Hand Surgery

Chuck and Chris catch up and discuss the new JBJS 'What's New in Hand Surgery', written by Eric Wagner and Nina Suh.  This takes us through 2025 and highlights new and impactful scientific articles on our field. 

Wagner ER, Suh N. What's New in Hand and Wrist Surgery. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2026 Mar 18;108(6):401-409. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.25.01568. Epub 2026 Feb 3. PMID: 41632853.


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Transcript

Christopher and Charles conducted a comprehensive review of "What's New in Hand Surgery" based on a recent JBJS article edited by Eric Wagner and Nina Suh from Emory. They discussed various topics including robotic-assisted scaphoid fracture guidewire placement, vascularized bone grafts for scaphoid non-unions, carpal instability treatments, wrist arthroscopy for Kienbock's disease and TFCC tears, thumb CMC arthritis management, and cubital tunnel syndrome diagnosis and treatment. The conversation also covered distal radius fracture fixation techniques, wrist arthritis treatment criteria for referring patients for arthroplasty, brachial plexus injury management and free-functioning muscle transfers, and Dupuytren's disease treatment options comparing needle fasciotomy, collagenase, and open surgery. Throughout the discussion, they shared personal experiences and preferences while acknowledging the varying approaches and outcomes reported in the literature.
Summary
WashU Nerve Meeting Discussion
Christopher and Charles had an informal conversation about personal activities before discussing the WashU nerve meeting. Christopher shared details about the recent nerve meeting which included participants from nine countries and featured engaging formats with debates, panels, and cases. The meeting was well-attended, with plans to edit lab videos for educational purposes, though the dissemination method was not yet determined.
Hand Surgery AI and Robotics
Christopher and Charles discussed recent developments in hand surgery, focusing on artificial intelligence and robotics in orthopedics. They highlighted a study by Yi et al on robotic-assisted scaphoid fracture guidewire placement, which achieved a 97% success rate. The conversation also touched on the potential use of AI tools for non-specialist settings and patient education, though they noted that current AI applications for diagnosing fractures may not offer significant practical benefits at this time.
Hand Surgery Treatment Updates
Charles and Christopher discussed recent developments in hand surgery, covering topics including vascularized bone grafts for scaphoid non-unions, arthroscopic treatment approaches, and wrist arthroscopy techniques. They examined various treatment options for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, distal radius fractures, and wrist arthritis, with both surgeons sharing their experiences and preferences for different techniques. The discussion highlighted ongoing debates about optimal treatments, particularly regarding surgical approaches and the role of new technologies like dual mobility CMC implants and collagenase for Dupuytren's disease.