Misericordia Community Hospital and Health Centre

Hand Program

It has long been recognized that an integral part of any surgery is the therapeutic follow-up and postoperative management of the patient. The hand program consists of an occupational therapist and a physical therapist who see the patients who have had hand injuries. They treat patients who have undergone surgical hand repairs, traumatic hand injuries, burns, repetitive strain injuries, or patients requiring wound care and scar management. Patients are often first seen in one of the doctor's plastics or hand clinics in consultation with the doctor. This interdisciplinary approach provides early intervention, patient education, and minimization of complications due to a delay in treatment.
At the plastics/hands clinics, services from the occupational therapist and physical therapist include:
  1. Consultation and communication between physician and rehabilitation staff
    • patients requiring therapeutic intervention are identified and seen at the clinic for treatment
  2. Arranging follow-up treatment for patients requiring more intensive or frequent therapy
    • patients who need to receive further therapy can be scheduled for regular therapy sessions at the rehabilitation department, which avoids any delays
  3. Early intervention post injury/surgery
    • includes education about home management of condition and splinting for support and protection
  4. Progression of treatment or monitoring of status at subsequent clinics
    • this is especially useful for patients from out of town who may not have access to rehabilitation services in their community.
Anyone who has a hand problem can come in for an assessment by a physical therapist, whether they have a doctor's referral or not. At that time it will be decided if there is anything that therapy can offer the patient. If a splint is needed, then the patient does need to have a referral by a doctor. On the patient's initial visit to the rehabilitation department, they will be assessed and their therapy program will be decided on. Their program could include:
  • splinting - for protection and support or dynamic splints to try and increase range of motion
  • education about condition and home exercise program
  • edema control
  • pain management
  • scar management
  • range of motion exercises and mobilizations to improve movement
  • hand strengthening exercises

| Physiotherapy Services | Rehab Medicine Misericordia |