Australian Hand Therapy Association Inc.

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AHTA Certificate Course in Hand Trauma (Levels 1 & 2)

Course Description

These workshops, run over four days (Level 1,  2 days and Level 2, 2 days) will take a problem solving/ clinical reasoning approach to the management of acute hand trauma. They will be run separately to ensure that all participants have the opportunity to attend a Level 1 and a Level 2. This format allows participants the choice to attend the two courses consecutively over 4 days, or mix and match the level 1 and level 2 over a weekend or weekdays.

A dynamic format using lectures, case studies, demonstrations and hands on practical activities will assist you in understanding the impact of hand trauma.  It will build on existing knowledge of human structure and function and tissue injury and repair to enable therapists to identify appropriate therapeutic strategies, depending on the patient’s stage in recovery from injury.

Therapists should be able to identify the anatomical structures of the upper limb, and describe their specific functions, healing rates and complications to healing following an acute trauma. Therapists will develop clinical reasoning skills appropriate to complex clinical scenarios including tendon repair, amputation, replants, avulsion, peripheral nerve trauma/repair, burns, skin grafts/flaps and fractures.

What You Will Learn/Course Objectives

At the completion of these workshops, therapists will:

-  Perform accurate, reliable and valid assessment of a patient’s hand injury and assess their current level of function.

-  Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the complex anatomy, biomechanics and pathophysiology that is involved in multi trauma.

-  Describe the pathology and healing process in hand trauma and differentiate between complex and common hand injuries.

-  Develop and describe intervention strategies (which may include an orthotic device/splint) for clients with specific hand trauma, supported with sound clinical reasoning.

-  Analyse and interpret information gained from assessment, other investigations (eg X ray) and from knowledge of the pathophysiology of the hand injury in order to identify the precise nature of the patients presenting problem and the clinical reasoning required to solve that problem at differing intervals across the healing cycle.

-  Plan short and long term goals for a patient including the treating surgeon and other members of the health care team.  These goals should be realistic and consider the patients physical and psychological state and their current level of functioning.

-  Select and implement appropriate intervention strategies while clinically reasoning what effect such interventions will have on the patients level of function throughout the treatment process.

-  Encourage patients to accept appropriate responsibility for their ongoing treatment and the outcome of that treatment through education and goal setting.

-  Understand when referral to other health care professionals is appropriate and refer accordingly based on the presenting symptoms.

-  Evaluate the effect of intervention throughout the treatment process and vary it according to clinical signs and symptoms and also changes in relevant literature.

Pre-requisites for this Course

All participants will have completed an undergraduate occupational therapy or physiotherapy degree.  No previous hand therapy experience is required.  A solid understanding of upper limb anatomy, including the brachial plexus and tissue injury and repair is expected. Therapists should be familiar with the basic splinting for common conditions in the upper limb. Participants will be advised of the pre reading and the relevant text.

To participate in the level 2, participants must have completed the level 1 workshop or have previously completed a Masters or post graduate degree in Hand Therapy-Physiotherapy/OT.

Course Schedule

Pre reading and a participant workbook will be forwarded to each participant 4 weeks prior to the commencement of the course.  The course will run from 9am to 5pm each day.

Level 1

Using lectures, case studies, demonstrations and hands on practical activities level I will build on current knowledge and expand your understanding of the following important aspects of hand trauma.

Level 2

Following completion of level 1 training the level 2 workshop will specifically work through conditions in a problem solving clinical reasoning environment. There will also be splinting demonstrations for the given conditions.  The focus of the level 2 will be on these conditions and their relationship with each other.

The level 2 will have a high participant involvement and require you to present findings to the group.

Professional Development Credit

Full Course (Levels 1 & 2)

Level 1 only

Completion of the 4 day course including levels 1 and 2 will qualify as a subject towards a masters degree at LaTrobe University.

Investment & Registration

Registration fees include lunch, morning & afternoon tea, course manual and splinting materials.

About The Presenter

Ben Cunningham

Ben has over 10 years of experience treating trauma 3 years working in the United Kingdom at the McIndoe Unit, Queen Victoria Hospital and 8 years as the Senior Clinician at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Since graduation in 1996 Ben has been working in the specialist area of Hand Therapy and completed his Masters of Clinical Science (Hand & Upper Limb) through Curtin University in 2006. Ben’s special interest is hand trauma and he has led the way in the treatment of complex intra-articular fractures in the hand, presenting at national and international conferences. Ben teaches at both an undergraduate and post-graduate level through Monash University.

A co-founder of Resolve Hand Therapy Specialists, Ben now specialises in the treatment of Brachial Plexus and complex wrist trauma

Location

© 2010 Australian Hand Therapy Association Inc.    Last modified: 25 February 2010