Orthopedic Mentorship Series: Wrist and Fingers

Video Runtime: 69 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 27 Minutes

Clinicians often find the hand and wrist's complex anatomy challenging to navigate, which can lead to uncertainty in differentiating arthritic conditions from ligamentous instability. This course provides structured mentorship to strengthen clinical reasoning for the distal upper extremity by linking subjective history with specific objective tests. By analyzing two distinct patient cases—one involving chronic finger stiffness and another centered on acute ulnar-sided wrist pain—participants will learn to identify structural sources of restriction and apply evidence-based intervention frameworks. By the end of this program, providers will be better equipped to decide when to use conservative management strategies, such as unloading and mobility exercises, and when to refer to a certified hand therapist for specialized care.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify strategies for gathering a detailed patient history during a subjective examination
• Recognize effective objective exam techniques and measures used to identify physical impairments and functional limitations
• Outline treatment strategies observed during interventions that aim to increase patient participation in daily activities
• Infer methods for synthesizing subjective, objective, and intervention data to support clinical decision-making
• Match evidence-based research findings to specific patient cases observed in clinical practice