Faculty Bibliography

Intensive postoperative rehabilitation therapy is associated with positive functional recovery in hand transplants (HTs). Our goal is to share the hand therapy protocol developed for our patient who underwent a combined face and bilateral HT. The patient is a 23-year-old right-hand-dominant male with a history of third-degree burns to 80% of his body following a motor vehicle accident. A multidisciplinary evaluation established his candidacy for a combined face and bilateral HT, and surgery took place in August 2020. Our individualized hand therapy protocol consisted of 4 phases. The pre-surgery phase focused on planning the orthotics and patient/caregivers' education on the rehabilitation process. The intensive care unit (ICU)/acute care phase involved hand allograft protection and positioning via orthotic fabrication, safe limb handling, and edema/wound management. The inpatient rehabilitation phase aimed to prepare the patient for independent living via neuromuscular and sensory re-education, improvement of upper extremities strength/flexibility, training basic activities of daily living, and providing a home exercise program (HEP). Finally, the outpatient phase aimed to maximize our patient's range of motion and independency in performing his routine activities and HEP. The patient's post-transplant functional outcomes showed a significant improvement compared to the pre-operative baseline. We hope this report sheds light on a comprehensive hand therapy program in HT.

Background: There is poor consensus in the literature regarding associated functional limitation and the preferred wrist position for total wrist arthrodesis. The purpose of the current investigation was twofold: (1) to assess the functional limitations of wrist arthrodesis and (2) to determine the optimal position for wrist arthrodesis using a simulated wrist fusion model. Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers underwent simulated wrist arthrodesis in 6 different positions using custom-molded wrist splints: 15 degrees extension with 0 degrees radio-ulnar deviation, 15 degrees extension with 10 degrees ulnar deviation, 15 degrees extension with 10 degrees radial deviation, 0 degrees extension with 0 degrees radio-ulnar deviation, 0 degrees extension with 10 degrees ulnar deviation, and 0 degrees extension with 10 degrees radial deviation. Each volunteer was independently assessed for wrist function using the Jebsen-Taylor hand function test, grip strength, and satisfaction in the simulated wrist fusion positions. Comparisons between all simulated fusion wrists and the baseline unsplinted wrist as well as among the 6 simulated fusion positions were performed. Results: Turning over a card (5.1 vs 4.3 seconds), picking up small objects (7.1 vs 5.8 seconds), and simulated feeding (8.3 vs 7.1 seconds) as well as total Jebsen-Taylor test duration (41.8 vs 37.9 seconds) was significantly longer in simulated fusion wrists. Both grip strength (55.9 vs 80.7 kg) and satisfaction scores (6.4 vs 9.6) were lower in simulated fusion wrists. Wrists in 0 degrees extension also demonstrated significantly shorter durations in stacking checkers than wrists in 15 degrees extension. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that wrist arthrodesis may only compromise select wrist functions. Among the tested wrist fusion positions, wrists fused in neutral may demonstrate better function than wrist fused in slight extension. However, grip strength and satisfaction seem to be unaffected by wrist fusion position.

Intrinsic muscle dysfunction can be devastating. Patients often have difficulty using the affected hand for most daily activities. Physicians, occupational therapists, and patients have to work together to enable the patient to regain functional use of the hand to perform activities that are a part of their life roles. Occupational therapists play an important role in the rehabilitation process to regain motion, strength, and dexterity so that patients can use the hand more functionally. Patient education and active participation in their therapy is also essential in the functional recovery of the hand.