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Tag Archives: trauma

Non-urgent private elective surgery put on hold

Due to the worsening case numbers, NSW Health has requested all non-urgent elective surgery in the private sector be put on hold starting Monday 23rd August. This is in conjunction with public hospitals ceasing elective surgery 4 weeks ago. This means that only Category 1 patients such as fractures or other emergency operations can still continue. All other elective operations will now have to be deferred, with no end date set at this stage. The reason for this move is to free up general ... Read More
August 18, 2021 By Jai Sungaran in

Why are my hands always cold?

If your hands are always cold, it is due to reduced blood flow. For some people it may be physiological (normal), and resolves with an increase in core temperature. However sometimes chronic poor circulation can result in skin changes that are permanent. Our bodies keep our hands warm primarily by regulating the blood flow that travels from the heart, down the arm, all the way to our fingertips. More blood to the hands means pink, warmer hands; less blood flow means colder and sometimes ... Read More
June 4, 2021 By Jai Sungaran in

How much does it cost to have my hand or wrist operation?

Estimating the cost of hand and wrist surgery is a difficult question to answer without a proper clinical assessment. The item numbers used depend on the specifics of a patient's condition and presentation. It also depends on the approach. For example, an open operation may use a different item number to an arthroscopic or “key-hole” operation. However every patient should be aware that there is no hand or wrist operation that you have to pay for in Australia, if you have a Medicare ... Read More
March 6, 2021 By Jai Sungaran in

Surgery for a wrist fracture is not always necessary

It is important to constantly evaluate our treatment options of even the most common injuries, like a wrist fracture. Surgery, while important for many injuries, is not always necessary to achieve a good outcome. This was the rationale behind Dr. Sungaran’s research work that has now been published in JAMA Surgery, the highest ranking surgical journal in the world. This collaboration of highly trained and well respected Surgeons from Australia have shown that for a wrist fracture in our older ... Read More
January 14, 2021 By Jai Sungaran in , ,

Nerve transfer surgery

Dr Sungaran is looking forward to presenting his research on nerve transfer surgery at the upcoming Australian Orthopaedic Association conference in Canberra this year. The moderators for this session are such experienced Surgeons, it will be exciting to receive their feedback. Nerve injuries can have devastating consequences to function. If left untreated the chance of recovery can be poor and time is crucial to prevent further muscle damage and weakness. Nerve transfer surgery is at ... Read More
September 18, 2019 By Jai Sungaran in , ,

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should…

As Surgeons we are trained to "fix" a problem. If a bone is broken we can use plates and screws to realign it and relieve pain. If someone cuts their finger, we can repair their nerves, tendons, and arteries to restore its appearance and function. If you have an arthritic joint, chances are we have a replacement that we can implant to improve your motion. But one of the hardest things to do as a Surgeon, is to tell a patient that you cannot help them with an operation. Just think about ... Read More

Hand exercises while in a cast can improve grip strength

During this morning's first session at the Australian Hand Surgery Society annual meeting, Dr. Sungaran presented his study on grip strength in older patients treated for a wrist fracture with a cast. This was a prospective, randomised controlled trial (PRCT) which is regarded as high level evidence that the outcomes are of clinical significance. The main finding of this study was that grip strength was noticeably better in patients who had a hand exercise program even while they were in ... Read More
April 4, 2019 By Jai Sungaran in , , , ,

What is your motivation to get well?

A chronic injury to your hand can be overwhelming. The immediate pain and disability with the acute injury can be explained, but what if it is ongoing. This is a difficult problem to treat, and even harder to live with. Chronic pain, complex regional pain syndrome, CRPS, RSI, reflex sympathetic dystrophy are all different names for the same problem. There are multiple causes and risk factors for developing chronic pain, and we are becoming better at identifying these early. The adage ... Read More

What type of anaesthetic should I have for my hand surgery?

Anaesthesia was a major advancement for surgery as it conquered the fear of pain during procedures. General anaesthesia was first used successfully in 1846 and has come a long way since. It is a safe and reliable option for many operations. However, there are multiple different options for anaesthesia during surgery including local anaesthesia, regional blocks and conscious sedation. Currently there is even a push in some centres for WALANT or Wide Awake Local Anaesthesia with No Tourniquet ... Read More

I think I’ve just “jammed” my finger…

Finger injuries are common in sport, especially ball sports. One pattern of injury is the direct blow to the tip of the finger by a ball. As the joint is hyperextended the force goes through the volar plate. This is a thick ligament that prevents further hyperextension at the PIP joint (proximal interphalangeal joint). It is also common for a part of the bone to be torn off by the volar plate. This is called an avulsion fracture. Often these injuries can be managed with a custom made ... Read More
August 14, 2018 By Jai Sungaran in , , , ,

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