Overview
The Secret to Success is in the Preparation
When we asked the team at CHARMS, “Is there a secret recipe for successful outcomes for your patients”, the confident reply was “The secret to success is careful and meticulous preparation”.
From thorough diagnosis, thoughtful examination, and discussion of personalised treatment options to careful and meticulous preparation, all steps are taken to maximize success and minimize complications.
Greatly Improve Outcomes by Following Instructions
We asked the Surgical Team at CHARMS, “What would you like your pre-surgical patients to know to help them increase their postsurgical success?” They let us know that most patients who undergo surgery in the hand and wrist will need to engage in a period of hand therapy.
In their words, “To greatly improve the outcome of any surgery, being compliant to the protocols and instructions from the hand therapist is crucial.” By attending every session, wearing the splints or orthotics properly, and following the specially catered home exercise programme, you can increase your postsurgical success.
Pre-operative Planning with MRI Scan
Not only does an MRI scan serve to clinch the diagnosis for many patients, but it also helps the surgeon make very detailed pre-operative plans.
CHARMS Hand Surgeon states, “The MRI scan also allows the surgeon to make very detailed pre-operative planning to maximize success whilst minimizing complications.”
Poor Outcomes from Poor Post-operative Care
While asking the hand surgeons at CHARMS, “Does postoperative care and patient rehabilitation influence successful outcomes after surgery?” Resoundingly, they replied, “Most certainly so”.
In fact, they described their experience. “Absent or inadequate post-operative care and therapy rehabilitation are the most common causes of poor outcome for patients”. Another motivating factor to engage in the extensive post-operative therapeutic and rehabilitation services provided at CHARMS.
A Positive Mindset for a Smooth Recovery
On a more holistic approach, we asked the surgeons at CHARMS, “Do you think mindset is a factor in a patient’s surgical outcome?”
They let us know, “Very much so. A positive mindset sets the patient up for a smooth recovery after surgery.”
Careful and Meticulous Preparation
Going beyond diagnosis, the surgical team at CHARMS prepare for any treatment with detailed history-taking, physical examination, and ordering the appropriate investigations. Gathering all the information for a fully explored diagnosis may include further investigations such as blood tests, X-rays, and special scans like CT or MRI. The dedicated team is subsequently able to formulate all the treatment options available for the patient.
Personalised treatment options may include non-surgical and surgical measures. Each of the treatment options, as well as their pros and cons, will be discussed in detail with the patient. Once the course of treatment has been chosen, meticulous planning begins. Our team will focus on maximizing success and minimizing complications.
For surgical interventions, preparation begins way before the actual operation. To make a detailed and comprehensive surgical plan, each case is studied thoroughly. For example, scans and X-rays are reviewed, accurate measurements are taken, and precise sizing of all medical tools and devices evaluated. Furthermore, any possible complications are assessed before the procedure.
Maximize Success with MRI
The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an important tool to influence positive patient outcomes. This technology has made diagnosis of soft-tissue and musculoskeletal conditions much more accurate. It is also non-radiating and non-invasive. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons are seen much more clearly with MRI compared to images from CT or X-ray.
Investigation with MRI scan, in addition to complete history-taking and full physical examination by the hand surgeon, serves to clinch the diagnosis for many patients. MRI also provide invaluable information to the surgeon for making very detailed pre-operative plans to maximise success whilst minimizing complications.
Rehabilitation and Hand Therapy Greatly Improves Surgical Outcomes
What your hand surgeon would like you to know is how important your post-surgical care will be on your surgical outcome. In fact, most patients who undergo surgery in the hand and wrist will need to engage in a period of hand therapy. This rehabilitation is designed to greatly improve function and strength in the limb after surgery. The inspirational surgeons at CHARMS, with their years of expertise, share their top tip to help you increase your postsurgical success. They state, “To greatly improve the outcome of any surgery, being compliant to the protocols and instructions from the hand therapist is crucial”.
They recommend attending every session that is arranged and to wear the splints or orthotics properly and for the appropriate amount of time each day. Your dedicated therapist will provide a specially catered home exercise programme with specific practices designed to help you regain function and strength after undergoing surgery. To assist you, the hand therapists at CHARMS employ special equipment such as warm wax, ultrasound waves, exercise bars and putties to rehabilitate and condition the hand and wrist back to form.
Inadequate Post-operative Care Has Poor Outcomes for Patients
The other side of post-operative rehabilitation is that when it is avoided or inadequate it has a negative influence on a surgery’s success. Experience through patients who have come to CHARMS for a 2nd opinion oftentimes show inadequate post-operative care. The surgeons at CHARMS recognise that absent or inadequate post-operative care and therapy rehabilitation are the most common causes of poor outcome for patients.
A Patients’ Positive Mindset
A thorough body of evidence shows a positive mental attitude contributes to healing and recovery after surgery. A positive mindset helps to reduce stress which can lower inflammation, enabling the body to heal faster. Staying positive helps us focus on the long-term goals of regaining function. This motivates us to follow rehabilitation protocols to maximize surgical outcomes.
Another attribute of positively minded patients is their confidence in their health professionals. CHARMS reinforces this confidence with their exceptional team of health care professionals, inspirational surgeons, and rehabilitation therapists.
To this end, we asked the surgeons at CHARMS if they think mindset is a factor in a patient’s surgical outcome? They let us know, “Very much so. A positive mindset sets the patient up for a smooth recovery after surgery.”
How CHARMS Can Help – Wrap Up
The Hand Care Team at CHARMS provides excellent clinical outcomes through caring, efficient, and personalized treatment for simple to complicated hand conditions. Our Hand Care Team of medical professionals has extensive knowledge and experience to give you the highest level of service and care. The team performs hand surgery, congenital surgery, reconstructive surgery, microsurgery as well as, wrist arthroscopic service, and upper-limb prosthetic service. Our post-operative care team of nurses, hand therapists, and splint fabrication specialists are available to help maximize clinical outcomes for all our patients.