Initially, all surgeons in Australia were generalists and those with an interest in the anatomy of the hand performed hand surgery. Early hand surgeons, such as Benjamin Rank, excelled and Rank and Wakefield's Textbook of Hand Surgery was widely used throughout the world. Eventually, groups of like-minded surgeons formed the Australian Hand Club in 1972, which subsequently became formalised as The Australian Hand Surgery Society (AHSS), in 2001. A very high standard of hand surgery has been achieved in Australia, with most hand surgeons having trained in either plastic surgery or orthopaedic surgery, and then further trained in Fellowships in Europe or North America. Bernard O'Brien and John Hueston achieved international recognition in the field of microsurgery and Dupuytren's surgery. Wayne Morrison has been responsible for pioneering work in toe–to–hand transfer and basic research. Tim Herbert changed the way fractures of the scaphoid are managed throughout the world. In 2007 the AHSS commenced a Travelling Fellowship Programme to facilitate an increased involvement in Australia in academic hand surgery and to foster contacts between hand surgeons of the future. At the present time, the AHSS is concentrating on education and training in order to raise the overall standard of management of hand surgery, particularly in relation to after hours' trauma. This is particularly necessary in rural and regional areas where hand surgery has traditionally been treated by occasional practitioners. There is a risk that hand surgery falls between the two stools of plastic surgery and orthopaedic surgery and the AHSS wishes to further formalise training and education within the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) as a single training stream in the future. There are potential threats both within and without, with safe working hours a particular threat in relation to reducing both the quantity and quality of training. The future will almost certainly involve greater emphasis on biomaterials and prosthetic compounds, but trying to ensure a uniformly high standard of hand surgery management throughout the country will remain as a primary focus

This study aims to determine the incidence of surgical site infection leading to reoperation for sepsis following minor hand procedures performed outside the main operating room using field sterility in the South African setting. The investigators retrospectively reviewed the records of 485 patients who had WALANT-assisted minor hand surgery outside a main operating theatre, a field sterility setting between March 2019 and April 2023. The primary outcome was the presence or absence of deep surgical site infection that required reoperation within four weeks. Cases included where elective WALANT minor hand procedures, a minimum age of 18 with complete clinical records. The patients were mostly female (54.8%), with a mean age of 56.35 years. The majority of cases were trigger finger and carpal tunnel release. An overall 485 cases were reviewed, the deep surgical site infection rate resulting in reoperation within 4 weeks post-operatively was 1.24% ((95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.0034 to 0.0237); p = 0.009). Minor hand procedures performed under field sterility using WALANT have a low surgical site infection rate. The current study's infection rates are comparable to international surgical site infection rates for similar surgeries performed in main operating rooms using standard sterilisation procedures. Field sterility is a safe and acceptable clinical practice that may improve work efficiency in public sector

Pediatric hand surgery in general requires special considerations and this is even more true when planning surgery in children with CP. It is important for the surgeon to realize that the functional problems these children exhibit have their cause in a brain damage which is not amenable to hand surgical treatment. Therefore it is crucial to carefully analyze each child’s impairment including the voluntary motor control and the child’s specific needs before endeavoring into surgery. Associated impairments, such as mental retardation, nutritional problems, epilepsy, dystonia or severe sensory deficits may influence decision-making, but the crucial factor is often the child’s own wish for an improved function. A child that completely neglects his or her extremity is usually not helped by surgery, at least not in an attempt to get a better hand function. Hand surgery in CP mainly comes down to three techniques: 1. Reducing strength in spastic muscles by release operation, either at the origin of the muscle, at the insertion or as a fractional lengthening at the musculo-tendinous junction, 2. Increasing strength in weak antagonists by tendon transfer or 3. Stabilizing joints through an arthrodesis or a tenodesis. Most often a combination of these techniques is used. Almost all hand surgeons in this field have acquired their personal choice of procedures and scientific support for the benefits of the different techniques is scarce. My personal arsenal will be described in the panel but includes biceps-brachialis muscle release at the elbow, pronator teres rerouting, flexor carpi ulnaris to extensor carpi radialis brevis (Green’s) transfer and adductor pollicis muscle release in the palm combined with extensor pollicis longus rerouting for the thumb-in-palm deformity. In my mind, it is not most important which tendon transfer that is selected, but the choice of which child to operate and at what age. It is also important to tension the tendon transfers exactly right and to plan the postoperative treatment properly. The surgeon should, of course, also make sure that the child’s and the parent’s expectations on the results are realistic. Botulinum toxin A has now been used for several years in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy and the drug has been shown to be safe and effective in reducing muscle tone both in the lower and the upper extremities. It has been more difficult to show effects on hand function especially in the long-term perspective. I will present our treatment protocol for botulinum toxin injections. In 1994, a population-based health care program for children with CP was started in Lund in southern Sweden. All children in our region with a diagnosis of CP, born after Jan 1st 1990 are invited to follow the program which includes regular measurements of range of motion in extremity joints, standardized radiographic examinations of the hip joints and registration of surgery and spasticity treatments. The program, called CPUP has been very successful in the prevention of spastic hip dislocation, wind swept position and contractures. Some early results from the upper extremity part of CPUP will be presented. We believe that the program in time will give us valuable information on the natural course of joint motion and impairment of hand function in children with CP

The use of regional anaesthesia for upper limb surgery has been increasing in popularity recently. It is safe, effective and has financial benefits. We report the activity in a tertiary hand surgery unit over one year. This department performs elective and trauma surgery between 8am and 7pm. Out of hours surgery is performed in main theatres. A total of 3335 cases were performed in Hand Surgery theatres between 1st August 2008 and 1st August 2009. Of these, 1791 had a regional block. The ages of these patients ranged from 13 to 92 years (Median = 46 years, Mean = 47 years). 1030 were male and 761 were female. 1011 regional block procedures were performed by a Consultant Anaesthetist, with 266 performed by a trainee and 472 by non-career grade. 646 procedures were for trauma surgery with 1145 for elective surgery. 87 procedures were arthroscopic. A vast range of surgery was safely performed under regional block. There were no significant complications. All regional nerve blocks were performed with the aid of ultrasound. Training of junior anaesthetists was benefited by performing the nerve blocks. Patients required very little time to recover following nerve block when compared to recovery after general anaesthesia, with resultant reduction in resource requirements. We conclude that the use of regional nerve block anaesthesia for hand surgery benefits both the patient and the hospital

Aims. Hand trauma, consisting of injuries to both the hand and the wrist, are a common injury seen worldwide. The global age-standardized incidence of hand trauma exceeds 179 per 100,000. Hand trauma may require surgical management and therefore result in significant costs to both healthcare systems and society. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common following all surgical interventions, and within hand surgery the risk of SSI is at least 5%. SSI following hand trauma surgery results in significant costs to healthcare systems with estimations of over £450 per patient. The World Health Organization (WHO) have produced international guidelines to help prevent SSIs. However, it is unclear what variability exists in the adherence to these guidelines within hand trauma. The aim is to assess compliance to the WHO global guidelines in prevention of SSI in hand trauma. Methods. This will be an international, multicentre audit comparing antimicrobial practices in hand trauma to the standards outlined by WHO. Through the Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network (RSTN), hand surgeons across the globe will be invited to participate in the study. Consultant surgeons/associate specialists managing hand trauma and members of the multidisciplinary team will be identified at participating sites. Teams will be asked to collect data prospectively on a minimum of 20 consecutive patients. The audit will run for eight months. Data collected will include injury details, initial management, hand trauma team management, operation details, postoperative care, and antimicrobial techniques used throughout. Adherence to WHO global guidelines for SSI will be summarized using descriptive statistics across each criteria. Discussion. The Hand and Wrist trauma: Antimicrobials and Infection Audit of Clinical Practice (HAWAII ACP) will provide an understanding of the current antimicrobial practice in hand trauma surgery. This will then provide a basis to guide further research in the field. The findings of this study will be disseminated via conference presentations and a peer-reviewed publication. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(4):361–366

Compared with general anaesthesia, brachial plexus (BP) anaesthesia improves patient satisfaction and accelerates hospital discharge after ambulatory hand surgery; however, variable success rates and typical onset times up to 30 minutes have limited its widespread use. Increasing availability of high-resolution portable ultrasound has renewed interest in more proximal approaches to the BP, previously thought to carry unacceptable risk. The aim of this study was to compare the onset times of ultrasound guided supraclavicular and infraclavicular BP block in patients undergoing ambulatory hand surgery. With ethics committee approval, patients presenting for hand surgery were prospectively randomised to either supraclavicular (trunks/divisions) or infraclavicular (cords) BP block. A single experienced operator (MF) placed all blocks using ultrasound only guidance. A blinded observer (AP, SY) assessed pinprick sensory and motor block on 3-point scale (normal=2, reduced=1, absent=0) in the median, ulnar, radial and musculocutaneous nerve territories every five minutes, or until blocks were complete. A single general anaesthesia without influence from the unblended anaesthetist. Of the first 27 patients recruited, block placement details and Intraoperative data are presented in There was a trend to faster onset times and higher success in group infraclavicular, however, this did not reach statistical significance. Interim results are so far inconclusive for the superiority of one approach. Both techniques were well tolerated and had a high success rate for surgical anaesthesia

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the haemo-dynamic and blockade effects of 25 μg and of 200 μg adrenaline adding to 1.5% lidocaine under axillary brachial plexus blockade. Methods: Fifty patients presenting for hand surgery were randomly divided into two groups. Patients were received either 5 ml saline containing 25 μg adrenaline firstly and thereafter 35 ml 1.5% plain lidocaine in Group 1, and 5 ml saline alone firstly and thereafter 200 μg adrenaline adding to 35 ml 1.5% lidocaine in Group 2. Haemodynamic data were measured from 1st to 10th minute after axillary injection at 1 minute interval. After operation, time to first sensation of pain related to the surgical site and clinical recovery of motor block were recorded. Results: Complete anaesthesia in three nerves was achieved 85% of patients in Group 1 and 90% in Group 2. First analgesic request time was not different between the groups. Motor blockade duration time in Group 1 (124.6±12.1min) was significantly shorter than that of Group 2 (140.4±19.0 min) (p< 0.05). Conclusions: We consider that the lower of adrenaline added to 1.5% lidocaine technique offers better haemodynamy, and blockade properties. We suggest that the technique using lower adrenalin doses may be useful for especially cardiac patients if they need for forearm and hand surgery

Wrist fusion, ulna head resection and fusion of the MP or PIP joints are not anymore the only operations that can be offered to patients with RA. The modern medical treatment has changed the course of the disease and we are not anymore in front of patients with major joint destruction, very bad hand function and low demands. Young ladies with well controlled disease expect surgery to result in restitution of function which allows a life close to normal in terms of work and leisure time activities. If pain relief remains the main indication it has to be associated with reconstruction of function, preserving mobility and increasing grip strength. For these reasons it appears necessary to limit fusions and increase the use of joint implants. Accurate evaluation of the patients’ need and expectations will help in the choice of the appropriate surgical procedure to achieve the treatment goal.

Aims

Hand trauma accounts for one in five of emergency department attendances, with a UK incidence of over five million injuries/year and 250,000 operations/year. Surgical site infection (SSI) in hand trauma surgery leads to further interventions, poor outcomes, and prolonged recovery, but has been poorly researched. Antimicrobial sutures have been recognized by both the World Health Organization and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as potentially effective for reducing SSI. They have never been studied in hand trauma surgery: a completely different patient group and clinical pathway to previous randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of these sutures. Antimicrobial sutures are expensive, and further research in hand trauma is warranted before they become standard of care. The aim of this protocol is to conduct a feasibility study of antimicrobial sutures in patients undergoing hand trauma surgery to establish acceptability, compliance, and retention for a definitive trial.

Introduction: Common pathologies seen in hand clinics include Dupuytren’s contracture, ganglia and trigger digits. Some patients can be treated in the out patient department by percutaneous fasciotomy, aspiration, or percutaneous A1 pulley release. The effectiveness and safety of these procedures has been documented in the literature. There are no studies investigating the cost effectiveness these of treatments.

Aim: Our aim was to compare the cost of treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture, ganglia and trigger digits in the out-patient department with the operating theatre.

Methods: All patients seen in a new patient hand clinic with a diagnosis of Dupuytren’s contracture, trigger digit or ganglion of the wrist or hand were prospectively identified over a 6 month period.. The number undergoing a procedure in the out-patient clinic or theatre was recorded.

Costings of theatre time and out-patient time were obtained from the hospital management.

Results: 80, 26, and 52 patients were treated with regard to Dupuytrens contracture, ganglia, and trigger digits respectively over the 6-month period. Of these, 37, 23, and 44 were treated by an out patient procedure, and 43, 3 and 8 underwent a formal operation.

Based on a cost of £216 per out-patient clinic session, the cost of the out-patient procedures was calculated at £1872 over 6 months, or £3744 per annum. Based on a theatre cost of £1785 per session, to perform all the clinic procedures as formal operations would have cost £60,690 over 6 months, or £121380 per annum. The cost savings were therefore £117636 per annum.

Discussion: We conclude that outpatient interventions for dupuytrens disease, ganglions and trigger digits results in significant cost savings over formal surgical treatment.

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of different treatment options for wrist ganglia.

METHODS AND RESULTS: 1700 cases were reviewed retrospectively. Of the respondents to the questionnaire, 457 (65%) patients had dorsal, 255 patients (35%) volar wrist ganglia.

Dorsal ganglia had been treated by observation in 99 (22.4%), aspiration in 57 (12.9%), aspiration plus injection in 37 (8.4%) or surgery in 249 (56.3%) of the cases. The analysis showed that the recurrence rates were 39%, 74.5%, 28.5%, and 35% respectively for each type of treatment. Scar tenderness was present in more than half of surgically treated patients. Repeat surgery was performed in 20 out of 70 (28.5%) recurrent cases. The satisfaction rate did not correlate with the recurrence rate.

For volar ganglia, treatment had been observation in 49 (19.2%), aspiration in 13 (5%), aspiration plus injection in 12 (4.7%) or surgery in 153 (60%) of the cases. The analysis showed that the recurrence rates were 28.5%, 92%, 25.5%, and 33.3% respectively. Scar tenderness was present in 67% and sensory loss in 32% of surgically treated patients. Repeat surgery was only performed in 18 out of 52 (34.6%) recurrences. The satisfaction rate was highest in the aspiration and injection group, which had the lowest recurrence rate among all treatment modalities.

CONCLUSION: The treatment of wrist ganglia needs a rethink in the light of the current findings as the complications may be difficult to justify in such a self-limiting condition.

Aims. Wrist arthroscopy is a standard procedure in hand surgery for diagnosis and treatment of wrist injuries. Even though not generally recommended for similar procedures, general administration of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) is still widely used in wrist arthroscopy. Methods. A clinical ambispective dual-centre study was performed to determine whether PAP reduces postoperative infection rates after soft tissue-only wrist arthroscopies. Retrospective and prospective data was collected at two hospitals with departments specialized in hand surgery. During the study period, 464 wrist arthroscopies were performed, of these 178 soft-tissue-only interventions met the study criteria and were included. Signs of postoperative infection and possible adverse drug effects (ADEs) of PAP were monitored. Additionally, risk factors for surgical site infection (SSIs), such as diabetes mellitus and BMI, were obtained. Results. The overall infection rate of SSI was zero. Neither in the PAP group (n = 69) nor in the control group (n = 109) were signs of postoperative infection observed. Observed symptoms of ADEs were three-times higher in the PAP group when compared to the control-group (16.3 vs 5.5%; p = 0.043). No major ADEs were observed, but one in ten patients in the PAP group reported mild to severe intestinal or hypersensitivity symptoms. Conclusion. We demonstrate that the number needed to treat (NNT) with PAP to prevent one postoperative infection in soft-tissue arthroscopies of the wrist is > 109. Conversely, symptoms of ADEs were reported by one out of ten patients given PAP. Considering the high NNT to prevent postoperative infection and the large number of ADEs caused by PAP, we recommend not to use PAP routinely in soft-tissue arthroscopies of the wrist. Subsequent large-scale studies should be conducted to substantiate these results. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(4):219–225

In the field of hand surgery, physicians are working to improve patient satisfaction by offering several minor procedures in the physician's office via the WALANT method. We seek to investigate the degree of patient satisfaction, out of pocket cost, convenience and comfort experienced with in-office hand procedures. A ten question survey consisting of a ten-point Likert scale of agreement and questions asking for a numerical answer was administered via phone call to 33 patients treated with minor hand operations in the office setting in the United States. There were 18 male and 15 female respondents with an average age of 65.59±12.64 years. Respondents underwent procedures including trigger finger release (18), needle aponeurotomy (7), and other minor hand operations. Survey responses indicated strong agreement with questions 1-3 and 6–8, with responses averaging 9.60±0.23 in these positive metrics. Questions 4 and 5, which asked whether the surgery and recovery period were painful, respectively, averaged 2.65±0.49, indicating a mild level of disagreement that either was “painful”. Additionally, most patients responded that they did not take time off work (12) or are not currently employed (11). Other respondents (3) reported taking between one to five days off work post-operatively. 27 respondents also reported an out of pocket cost averaging $382±$976, depending on insurance coverage. Patients reported a small degree of pain in the operative and post-operative period, a high degree of comfort and convenience and a high degree of satisfaction. Likewise, the patient-reported out of pocket cost was far lower than comparable surgical costs in alternate settings. These results support the use of in-office procedures for minor hand surgeries from a patient perspective and indicate a nearly universal intent to repeat any future hand operations in the office setting

In-office surgeries have the potential to offer high quality medical care in a more efficient, cost-effective setting than outpatient surgical centers for certain procedures. The primary concerns with operating on patients in the office setting are insufficient sterility and lack of appropriate resources in case of excessive bleeding or other surgical complications. This study serves to investigate these concerns and determine whether in-office hand surgeries are safe and clinically effective. A retrospective review of patients who underwent minor hand operations in the office setting between December 2020 and December 2021 was performed. The surgical procedures included in this analysis are needle aponeurotomy, trigger finger release, mass/foreign body removal and reduction of hand/wrist fracture with or without percutaneous pinning. No major complications requiring extended observation or hospital admission occurred. 122 of the 132 patients (92.4%) were successfully treated with no complications and only mild symptoms within one month of surgery. Five patients (3.8%) returned to the office for pain, inflammation and/or stiffness of the affected finger, with two of the five returning due to osteoarthritis and/or pseudogout flare-ups. Five additional patients returned due to incomplete treatment with continued presence of Dupuytren's contracture (3), trigger finger (1) or infected foreign body (1). One patient (0.8%) developed infection, due to incomplete removal of an infected foreign body, which was subsequently treated with antibiotics and complete foreign body removal. The absence of major complications and high success rate for minor hand procedures shows the high degree of safety and efficacy which can be achieved via the in-office setting for select procedures. While proper patient selection is key, our result shows the in-office procedure room setting can offer the necessary elements of sterility and hemostatic support for several common hand surgeries

Aims. Orthopaedic surgery requires grafts with sufficient mechanical strength. For this purpose, decellularized tissue is an available option that lacks the complications of autologous tissue. However, it is not widely used in orthopaedic surgeries. This study investigated clinical trials of the use of decellularized tissue grafts in orthopaedic surgery. Methods. Using the ClinicalTrials.gov (CTG) and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) databases, we comprehensively surveyed clinical trials of decellularized tissue use in orthopaedic surgeries registered before 1 September 2022. We evaluated the clinical results, tissue processing methods, and commercial availability of the identified products using academic literature databases and manufacturers’ websites. Results. We initially identified 4,402 clinical trials, 27 of which were eligible for inclusion and analysis, including nine shoulder surgery trials, eight knee surgery trials, two ankle surgery trials, two hand surgery trials, and six peripheral nerve graft trials. Nine of the trials were completed. We identified only one product that will be commercially available for use in knee surgery with significant mechanical load resistance. Peracetic acid and gamma irradiation were frequently used for sterilization. Conclusion. Despite the demand for decellularized tissue, few decellularized tissue products are currently commercially available, particularly for the knee joint. To be viable in orthopaedic surgery, decellularized tissue must exhibit biocompatibility and mechanical strength, and these requirements are challenging for the clinical application of decellularized tissue. However, the variety of available decellularized products has recently increased. Therefore, decellularized grafts may become a promising option in orthopaedic surgery. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(3):179–188

The second wave of COVID-19 infections in 2021 resulting from the delta strain had a significantly larger impact on the state of New South Wales, Australia and with it the government implemented harsher restrictions. This retrospective cohort study aims to explore how the increased restrictions affected hand trauma presentations and their treatment. Retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent hand surgery from the period of June 23 – August 31 in 2020 and 2021 at a level one trauma centre in Western Sydney. During the second-wave lockdown there was an 18.9% decrease in all hand trauma presentations. Despite widespread restrictions placed on the manufacturing, wholesale, retail and construction industries, there was an insignificant difference in work injuries. Stay-at-home orders and reduced availability of professional tradespersons likely contributed to an increase in DIY injuries. Significant reductions in metacarpal and phalangeal fractures coincided with significantly curtailed sporting seasons. The findings from this study can assist in predicting the case-mix of hand trauma presentations and resource allocation in the setting of future waves of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted all segments of daily life, with the healthcare sector being at the forefront of this upheaval. Unprecedented efforts have been taken worldwide to curb this ongoing global catastrophe that has already resulted in many fatalities. One of the areas that has received little attention amid this turmoil is the disruption to trainee education, particularly in specialties that involve acquisition of procedural skills. Hand surgery in Singapore is a standalone combined programme that relies heavily on dedicated cross-hospital rotations, an extensive didactic curriculum and supervised hands-on training of increasing complexity. All aspects of this training programme have been affected because of the cancellation of elective surgical procedures, suspension of cross-hospital rotations, redeployment of residents, and an unsustainable duty roster. There is a real concern that trainees will not be able to meet their training requirements and suffer serious issues like burnout and depression. The long-term impact of suspending training indefinitely is a severe disruption of essential medical services. This article examines the impact of a global pandemic on trainee education in a demanding surgical speciality. We have outlined strategies to maintain trainee competencies based on the following considerations: 1) the safety and wellbeing of trainees is paramount; 2) resource utilization must be thoroughly rationalized; 3) technology and innovative learning methods must supplant traditional teaching methods; and 4) the changes implemented must be sustainable. We hope that these lessons will be valuable to other training programs struggling to deliver quality education to their trainees, even as we work together to battle this global catastrophe

To compare 24-month patient-reported outcomes after surgical treatment or casting in patients age 60 years of age or older with unstable distal radius fractures (DRF's). The Wrist and Radius Injury Surgical Trial (WRIST), is the largest randomized, multicenter trial in Hand Surgery, which enrolled 304 adults with isolated, unstable DRF's at 24 institutions. WRIST participants were followed for 24 months- longest follow-up among prospective studies comparing four treatment methods. Patients who agreed to surgical treatment (n=187) were randomized to internal fixation with volar plate (VLPS), external fixation, or percutaneous pinning; patients who preferred conservative management (n=117) received casting. The primary outcome was 24-month Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) Summary score. Secondary outcomes were MHQ Domain scores. At 24-month assessment, participants' mean MHQ Summary score was 86 (95% CI: 83,88), representing good hand function. Participants reported good return of their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) with a mean MHQ ADL score of 88 (95% CI: 85,91). Finally, participants were satisfied, with a mean MHQ Satisfaction score of 84 (95% CI: 80,88). There were no significant differences in score by treatment group in any MHQ domain at 24 months. Six weeks after surgery, VLPS participants scored significantly higher than the other three groups on (ADLs) and Satisfaction (both p<0.0001), whereas participants who received external fixation scored significantly lower than the casting and VLPS groups on the same domains. By the 3-month assessment, the gap between VLPS and casting had disappeared but external fixation participants continued to report significantly worse scores. External fixation participants did not report comparable ADL scores to the other three groups until 12 months after surgery. Participants reported good outcomes 24 months after DRF regardless of treatment. Casting and VLPS are both acceptable treatments for older adults. The decision between the two treatments should be made considering patient goals regarding recovery speed and desire to avoid surgical risks. External fixation should be avoided because of worse outcomes in the year after surgery and the risk of pin site infections

Aims

The aim of this study was to develop a core outcome set of what to measure in all future clinical research on hand fractures and joint injuries in adults.

It has been shown that extremity injuries form a large proportion of the operative surgical workload in conflict situations. Injuries to the hands are an important subgroup and hand surgery has a long association with military surgery. While most hand injuries do not require surgical intervention, those that do, require that military surgeons should be well versed in the principles of hand surgery. The concepts of staging and/or damage control surgery are well applied to this region. The nature of military medical support necessarily changes in the transition from war fighting to a post-conflict phase. We examine the activity in the sole British Military Hospital serving a multi-national divisional area in Iraq over 2004. During this post conflict phase, the spectrum of hand trauma is characterised. The overwhelming majority of hand trauma resulted in soft tissue injury. There was a clear predisposition to hand trauma for males, manual workers, combat soldiers and engineers/mechanics. X-ray imaging is heavily used in this environment. Even where soldiers are returned to duty they are often restricted in the duties that they can perform. The results of this study reinforce the relevance of basic principles of hand trauma management, particularly in challenging environments. These knowledge and skill requirements should be emphasised for the war surgeon and the emergency physician. Hand surgery is an evolving speciality that continues to find clear and direct applications for the military surgeon