Handbook of Upper Extremity Examination: A Practical Guide

Handbook of Upper Extremity Examination: A Practical Guide

In addition to complementary radiographic imaging, the physical exam is an essential diagnostic element for the orthopedic surgeon. As such, learning to perform this exam thoroughly is of utmost importance to medical students, residents and interns on an orthopedic rotation and in later practice. This practical text succinctly presents all of the necessary information regarding the physical examination of the upper extremity. The hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder are discussed in dedicated thematic sections, with each section comprised of three main chapters. The initial chapter describes the musculoskeletal anatomy and function of the joint, presenting the tests themselves along with the rationale for performing them. The second chapter presents the systematic examinations carried out in every case, and the third chapter describes examinations for specific conditions relating to the joint, including tendinopathies, osteoarthritis, neurological conditions, deformities, and more. Plentiful bullet points and color images throughout the text describe and illustrate each test and physical sign. Convenient and user-friendly, Handbook of Upper Extremity Examination is a valuable, portable guide to this all-important diagnostic tool for students and practitioners alike. “This excellent handbook published by Springer, came to my attention last year when Dr Roger Pillemer was mentoring me into my new role as a medicolegal expert assessor. I have found this handbook to be invaluable in my early weeks of learning the art and science of medicolegal assessment for impairment after traumatic injury and surgery. Furthermore, I am also highly recommending this as a resource for the final year trainees in plastic surgery here in Sydney, Australia, some of whom I am coaching for their final professional exams with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in April / May 2024. I would go so far as to recommend that every plastic surgeon trainee should read this handbook three times from cover to cover. It is so much more than an informative guide to medical students and students of hand therapy, because it clearly and intuitively explains the pathophysiology of hand dysfunction following various mechanisms of injury.” (Michael F. Klaassen, ONZM FRACS) In addition to complementary radiographic imaging, the physical exam is an essential diagnostic element for the orthopedic surgeon. As such, learning to perform this exam thoroughly is of utmost importance to medical students, residents and interns on an orthopedic rotation and in later practice. This practical text succinctly presents all of the necessary information regarding the physical examination of the upper extremity. The hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder are discussed in dedicated thematic sections, with each section comprised of three main chapters. The initial chapter describes the musculoskeletal anatomy and function of the joint, presenting the tests themselves along with the rationale for performing them. The second chapter presents the systematic examinations carried out in every case, and the third chapter describes examinations for specific conditions relating to the joint, including tendinopathies, osteoarthritis, neurological conditions, deformities, and more. Plentiful bullet points and color images throughout the text describe and illustrate each test and physical sign. Convenient and user-friendly, Handbook of Upper Extremity Examination is a valuable, portable guide to this all-important diagnostic tool for students and practitioners alike. Dr. Roger Pillemer, OAM, MBBCh (Rand), FRCS (Ed), FRACS, FAOrthA, private practice, New South Wales, Australia