The Centre for Working Hands

EVADO™ LLLT Reduces Chronic Pain and Inflammation - Friday, October 14, 2011

If you suffer from chronic pain or inflammation in your joints, you have likely tried everything to get relief, probably with little success. Now, though, relief from your chronic pain may be as simple as turning on a light. Or three.

EVADO™ is a new form of phototherapy for joint and neurologic problems that has been clinically proven to reduce the incidence of pain and inflammation in your joints. By combining the power and efficiency of three LEDs, each emitting light at a specific, targeted wavelength, EVADO™ is able to treat a broad spectrum of disorders, injuries, and natural consequences of aging.

EVADO™ is capable of this tremendous range of treatment because it focuses on a central mechanism of the body: its ability to heal itself. This helps to reduce the inflammation and chronic pain that come with repetitive strain (including carpal tunnel), arthritis, and neuropathy.

EVADO™ is so effective at stimulating healing; we also use it to assist in fracture healing and any type of surgical recovery. Using EVADO™ can decrease your recovery time and your postsurgical discomfort. It can also reduce the amount of scar formation, which can increase your final mobility, not to mention the appearance of the surgery site. We also use the Dynatron XP™, a similar tool that has a focusing lens that increases concentration on small surgical sites, such as the fingers or joints, and dense scars.

To learn more about the clinical benefits of EVADO and Dynatron XP™, please schedule a consultation at The Centre for Working Hands in Elkhart or Mishawaka.

Types of Congenital Hand Abnormalities - Monday, September 26, 2011

Congenital hand abnormalities can be emotionally difficult for parents and functionally challenging for children. Ideally, early surgery for congenital hand abnormalities can help children to acquire normal function of their hands at an early age so that other aspects of their development are not affected. Congenital hand abnormalities are typically divided into several categories.

• Failure of Formation is when parts of the hand fail to develop. In the most extreme case, this means the hand may completely fail to form. In less extreme cases, it may be missing fingers, either on one or both hands, or in cleft hand.
• Failure of Differentiation is when tissues fail to divide. The most common form is syndactyly, when two fingers are connected by soft tissue, but sometimes it may include fused bones as well.
• Duplication can affect the limb, hand (mirror hand), or finger (polydactyly).
• Overgrowth may affect parts of the hand, such as in macrodactyly(enlarged fingers) or as part of hemihypertrophy (where one half of the body is larger than the other).
• Undergrowth may impact all or part of the hand, including radial hypoplasia in which the radius is unformed or underformed, brachysyndactyly in which fingers are short and webbed, and brachydactyly in which fingers are short.
• Constriction Band Syndrome is when fibrous bands of the amniotic sac become entangled around the limb or fingers of a fetus, resulting in severe constrictions and deformation.

Most of these congenital hand abnormalities can be corrected with hand surgery, resulting in a normal appearance and function for your child.

To learn more about correction of congenital hand abnormalities, please schedule a consultation with The Centre for Working Hands at either our Elkhart or Mishawaka office.

What Is the Graston Technique®? - Wednesday, August 3, 2011

If you are suffering from chronic or acute joint disorders on your arms or hands, you have probably considered a number of treatment options. If you have not tried the Graston Technique®, you may be missing one of the most effective treatments available for your condition. When used on conditions such as these, the Graston Technique has a high success rate, from 70-90%. Though the Graston Technique is non-surgical and involves no drugs, it is often used in combination with other therapies to give you the best possible results.

So what is the Graston Technique? The Graston Technique is aimed at breaking down scar tissue to mobilize soft tissue and improve joint function. Using special massage techniques, the goal is to break up dense, constricting scar tissue and increase the blood flow and healing response in the massaged area. The result is increased mobility and reduced pain. You don't have to take time off work, and through treatment you will likely increase your productivity and reduce your dependence on splints and braces. You may be able to get off limited duty and return to your previous full work status.

At The Centre for Working Hands, we have personally helped people achieve better recovery from acute and chronic hand injuries using the Graston Technique. We have treated people for:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Rotator cuff tendonitis
• Trigger finger
• Plantar fasciitis

If you suffer from any of these conditions or many others, don't resign yourself to your current condition, please contact The Centre for Working Hands today to schedule an evaluation at our Elkhart or Mishawaka office today.

Tips for a Safe 4th of July - Friday, July 1, 2011

Many of us enjoy celebrating Independence Day with fireworks we purchase and set off at home, but this can also be very dangerous. In June and July, an estimated 6,000 people will show up at the emergency room. About a quarter of these injuries are to the fingers and hands, most often burns, but also lacerations and even lost fingers or limbs. As many as ten people may die this year from fireworks-related injuries.

Here are some tips to help you avoid having to make a trip to your local emergency room while enjoying fireworks this holiday:

Never use illegal or homemade fireworks. Homemade fireworks are the most likely to result in injuries and death.
Do not let young children play with or ignite fireworks.
Remember that sparklers are dangerous: they burn at about 2,000 degrees and can cause serious burns even after they have gone out.
Never drink and light fireworks. Have a "designated lighter."
Never try to re-light or pick up dud or partially ignited fireworks.
Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
Never set off fireworks in a metal or glass container.
Douse fireworks with water before disposing of in a trash can.

And remember to check on local laws about fireworks in your area to be sure that the kind you are purchasing are legal to own and use.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious hand injury as a result of fireworks, the Centre for Working Hands can help you complete your recovery. To talk to us about hand surgery or rehabilitation, please contact our Elkhart or Mishawaka office today.

Advantages of Early Hand Surgery - Thursday, June 23, 2011

If your child was born with a congenital hand deformity, you may want to consider surgery sooner rather than later. The most common congenital hand defects are syndactyly and polydactyly. In syndactyly, two or more fingers are fused together. Sometimes the fingers are joined simply by the skin, and other times the bones themselves are fused.

In polydactyly, a child is born with an extra finger or fingers. Treatment involves not only removing the extra fingers, but also balancing the action of the tendons and muscles.

In all cases, the goal of surgery for congenital hand deformities is to make help your child have the best hand function possible. Early reconstructive surgery helps with this. By age four or five, a child is learning pre-academic skills that include grasping a pen, pencil, or crayon to ensure maximum control and mobility. A child's ability to learn and retain this skill depends on having the same physical structure prior to and after learning this skill. Thus, if a child is to undergo surgery for polydactyly or syndactyly, it is best performed prior to this crucial time.

If your child was born with a congenital hand deformity and you want to learn more about your surgical options, please schedule a consultation at The Centre for Working Hands today.

Prevent Hand Injuries this Summer - Thursday, May 19, 2011

In the summertime the weather is warm and we all love to get outside to work in the yard. What better way to put the troubles of the workday world behind and experience the timeless beauties of nature than to work your own plot of land, no matter how big or how small.

Unfortunately, it's also easy to suffer hand injuries when working in the yard. Here are a few tips to help you avoid potentially serious injuries when working outside this summer:

Warm-ups and breaks: If the hardest work you typically do all winter is lifting a cup of coffee, getting out in the yard to do some landscaping can put a serious strain on you. Even something as seemingly minor as pulling weeds in your flower bed can actually put a surprising amount of strain on your hands and wrist. You can reduce your risk for strains by properly warming up before working and remembering to take a break every hour or so to help prevent repetitive motion injuries.

Task-appropriate gloves: Whether you're digging in the garden, cutting back a rose bush, or putting in a fence, there are many opportunities for injuries when working in the yard. Sturdy, well-fitted gloves give your hands an extra layer of protection for that surprising moment when they need it.

Invest in quality tools: "Let the tool do the work" is the mantra of every professional, from carpenters to plumbers. Getting the right tool for the right job can save you a tremendous amount of work and potential injury. Remember to use a tool only for its intended purpose. Trying to use a tool for a job it isn’t designed for can lead to excessive strain and other injuries.

Read the instructions before using a tool: Each year thousands of people are injured because they don't know the proper way to use a tool. This is especially true of power tools. For example, many lawnmower injuries can be avoided simply by reading the instruction manual and understanding its dangers. Never try to clear an obstruction or blockage of the lawnmower blade with your hand. And always read the instruction manual before using a new power tool.

If you suffer a hand injury in the garden, you may need hand surgery and months of physical therapy. Even then, you might recover only a fraction of your current hand strength and dexterity. For this reason, take extra care this summer when working in your yard.

If you have suffered a hand injury and want the best care available, please contact The Centre for Working Hands today.

A New, Non-Surgical Treatment for Dupuytren's Disease - Monday, April 25, 2011

Dupuytren's disease is caused by an abnormal thickening in the connective tissue between the tendons and the skin in a person’s hand, which causes the fingers to bend toward the palm, without an ability to straighten them. The disease may begin subtly, as a slight bump or pit in the palm of the hand, often near the crease between the ring and small finger. As the tissue grows, however, it can begin to look like a cord below the skin, separating the palm from the fingers.

There are several simple treatments for Dupuytren's disease, including splints, occupational therapy, and steroid injections. These tend to slow the progression of Dupuytren's, but cannot reverse the condition. When the disease reaches the point that it limits hand functions, a patient must undergo surgery, which involves removal of the fibrous cord. In some cases, this cord has become connected to the skin, which may be cause for removal of this skin as well. If this happens, a skin graft is used to cover the exposed area of the palm.

Last year, however, the FDA approved a new injectable treatment to soften the cord and improve the range of motion in fingers of Dupuytren's sufferers. Studies have shown that this new injection, Xiaflex, can significantly reduce the amount of contracture in a person’s hands and restore function. Although this may reduce the need for surgery, it is likely not a replacement for surgery in all cases.

If you suffer from Dupuytren's disease and are looking for the best care, schedule an appointment with The Centre for Working Hands today. Our experienced hand surgeons will work with you to determine the right treatment.

The Centre for Working Hands offers the latest reconstructive hand surgery procedures to patients in Elkhart and South Bend, Indiana, Michiana and the Southern Michigan area.

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