Acute and Chronic Finger Injuries in Ball Sports

Dr Chick is Consultant hand surgeon in Latour Hospital, in Geneva, Switzerland.

• Introduction.- Ball sports injuries – epidemiology.- Ball sports : definition and types.- Epidemiology of finger injuries.- Functional anatomy.- Hand functional anatomy.- Surgical approaches of the hand and digits.- Hand morphology and ball sports.- Examination of the injured hand.- Radiological investigations.- When to order plain radiographs and what to look for in each type of injury.- When to order specific radiological investigations.- Severe Hand Injuries.- Management of hand and finger injuries.- Equipment of Hand Therapist (primary care and after care).- The role of the sports physician.- When to Seek The Advice of a Hand Surgeon?.- Regional versus general anesthesia.- Acute finger injuries.- Fractures.- Dislocations.- Tendon injuries.- Fingernails and ball sports.- Nerve injuries in continuity, transected or lacerated.- Laceration and infections in the fingers.- The athlete with a single swollen joint finger after a trauma: clinical perspective.- Chronic finger injuries.- Stiffness in the hand.- Old tendon injuries.- Chronic Instability.- Fracture's sequelae.- Post traumatic osteoarthritis.- Complications associated with hand surgery.- Overuse conditions of the hand and fingers in ball sport.- Rehabilitation and principles of injury prevention in ball sports.- Rehabilitation for hand injuries in athletes.- Orthopedic taping, bracing, wrapping, padding.- Protective equipment.- Appropriate training and prevention after injury.- The disabled athlete in ball sports.- Opinions: Optimizing the management of hand injuries in top athletes: the benefit of a specific medico-surgical coordination.- Who decides and guides the athlete?.- The top level athlete and the surgeon.- Interviews.