HANDS UNITED: Shaping the Future of Hand Health

The Big Hand Event 2024 opens with a welcome and introduction by Henk Coert. The first session focuses on tendons, featuring Jin Bo Tang discussing the state of the art in flexor tendon repair and Emma Bamford providing an update on the FIRST trial, and their experience with splints following zone I/II finger flexor tendon injuries. Jin Bo Tang will also talk about rehabilitation after flexor tendon repair. 

The second session, introduced by Willem Rinkel, centres on nerves. Lars B. Dahlin will address nerve entrapments, followed by Ronald Bleys presenting on the anatomy of the median nerve. Lars B. Dahlin will return to discuss nerve injuries, covering diagnosis, surgery, and successful rehabilitation. This session ends with a discussion and lunch break.

In the third session on spasticity, introduced by Peter Hoogvliet, Caroline Leclercq will discuss nerve procedures in managing upper limb spasticity. A therapist (to be announced) will cover the rehabilitation of surgical procedures for upper limb spasticity. Caroline Leclercq will then explain how paralyzed arm function can be reconstructed in patients with hemiplegia through contralateral cervical nerve transfer. The session wraps up with a discussion and break.

The final session includes various topics, introduced by Joost and Ton. Emma Bamford will share the Pulvertaft Hand Unit’s experience with the relative motion flexion splint for zone I/II flexor tendon repairs. Mel Eissens will discuss the challenges of rowing the Atlantic solo and the associated condition known as oarsman’s wrist. The conference concludes with a discussion, followed by drinks and informal talks.