Target Audience

Healthcare providers of all specialties may benefit from the information presented.

Goals and Objectives

After we see the face of a new patient or if we are introduced to someone for the first time, the next thing we see is probably the hand. We can learn so much from simple inspection of the hand. However, mention the examination of the hand to a clinician and the eyes glaze over because one is faced with a dizzying array of seemingly illogically named nerves and muscles and confusion reigns.

Examination of the hand is not unique to the subspecialist hand and orthopedic surgeons. Emergency room physicians, physiatrists, neurologists and rheumatologists all need a working knowledge of hand examination. Hand conditions are very common such as carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and tendonitis, fingertip injuries and fractures and they often present first to the primary care physician. At the conclusion of this activity, the attendee should be able to:

1. Understand terminology and surface anatomy
2. Identify what can be learned by clinical inspection and assessment of nails, skin, muscles, position of fingers, muscle atrophy.
3. Recognize components of the hand assessment, including flexor/extensor tendons, intrinsic muscles, nerve evaluation, vascular examination, and ligaments and joints. 

Course Information

CME Release Date:  1/4/2022
Valid for credit through:  1/3/2025
Course type: Enduring Material
Estimated time of completion: 45 minutes

Credits Available

Southern Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Southern Medical Association designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of .75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAPA: AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. 

AANPCP: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Healthcare Professionals
For information on applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.  All healthcare professionals who are not MDs or DOs will receive a certificate of participation.

Instructions for Participation and Credit

This activity is designed to be completed within the time designated; learners should claim only those credits that reflect the time actually spent in the activity. To successfully earn credit, participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period noted, following these steps:

• Read the goals and objectives, accreditation information, and author disclosures.
• Login in below to study the educational content and references.
• Complete the attestation, post-test (if applicable), and evaluation.

Upon successful completion of these components, your certificate will be processed and emailed from customerservice@sma.org within approximately 1 hour. Credits will be archived for 6 years; at any point within this time period you may login to your account to print a duplicate copy of your certificate.

Disclosures of Conflicts of Interest

Southern Medical Association (SMA) requires instructors, planners, managers, and all other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose conflicts of interest (COI) with ineligible entities within the last 24 months of the development of this activity. All identified COIs are thoroughly vetted and mitigated prior to the release of the activity. SMA is committed to providing its learners with high quality activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

The following individuals have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Speaker

David Netscher, MD
Dr. David Netscher practices plastic surgery and hand surgery. He is board certified in plastic surgery and hand surgery, and is clinical professor at Baylor College of Medicine in the Division of Plastic Surgery and Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Netscher is a current Director of both American Board of Plastic Surgery and American Board of Surgery and sits on the Conjoint Board of Hand Surgery. He is actively involved in teaching and on national plastic and hand surgery societies. He sees patients who have hand and upper extremity problems, to include arthritis, tendon and nerve injuries, and birth defects. He also sees plastic surgery patients for reconstruction and aesthetic purposes.

Dr. Charles Rodriguez-Feo
Dr. Charles Rodriguez-Feo is a fellow in training at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.