Three Ways to Begin a Health Care Career

Helge: Mediracer is a Point of Care Device for fast and accurate diagnosis of CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The innovation with mediracing is that diagnosis of CTS doesn't need to be waiting for an appointment by an neurophysilogist.

This hand-held and battery operated device is easy to use and can be employed by an occupational health nurse. No need for equipments of the size of and Icebox and with a price tag of 40 000 - 50 000 USD. Mediracer only costs $ 5 000.

Three Ways to Begin a Health Care Career: "The growing population and Baby Boomer exodus are making health care a fast-growing field.

Comprising 15% of the gross national product (GNP) in 2005, health care is opening the floodgates for entry-level health care practitioners -- as well as mid-career professionals looking to update their skills and stay ahead of the curve. With the rise of online education in health-care programs, there is no need to quit your day job.

In fact, learning the new skills may improve your current work performance. Earning an online degree is an increasingly popular avenue for you to boost your skills, career, earnings and ultimately your job satisfaction.

Health Care Administrators Description: Keen awareness of regulatory, business, and management affairs are hallmarks of health care administrators.

Modern-day medicine is equipped with new tools, drugs, and surgical methods. But it is the administrator who understands behind-the-scenes regulatory affairs.

Few medical advances happen without managing intense scrutiny, organizational politics, fraud, and liability suits. That's where health care administrators come in."

British Orthopaedic Association

British Orthopaedic Association: "Welcome to the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) website, which was re-launched in June 2006.

The BOA was founded in 1918 and is the professional association for over 4000 surgeons and training surgeons treating injuries and disorders of bones, joints and their associated tissues."

Welcome to the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA)
The BOA is the professional association for orthopaedic and trauma surgeons in the United Kingdom and those abroad who have had orthopaedic training in the UK or who show a continuing interest in the affairs of the Association.

The Objects of the BOA
These are the advancement for the public benefit of the Science, Art and Practice of Orthopaedic Surgery with the aim of bringing relief to patients of all ages suffering from the effects of injury or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

BOA Membership
The BOA currently has about 4000 members in the UK and overseas, who enjoy a range of membership benefits. The majority of these are UK consultant and trainee orthopaedic surgeons. For more information on how to join the BOA, click here.

Burden of Disease

Soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, and cartilage, can be injured in any violence, road accidents, work accidents, sports, repeated overuse, and normal everyday activities.

Soft tissue injuries include sprains, strains, contusions, tendonopathy, bursitis, lacerations, ruptures, crushing, and compression injuries.

In the UK, soft tissue injuries and conditions have been estimated to account, annually, for:

• 1/3 million hospitalisations, 1.5 million bed days,
• 1 million outpatient visits,
• 3 million emergency room visits, and

There are an estimated 2 million sports injuries per year in the UK; 95% involve soft tissues.

• More than 50% of knee injuries result from sports.

The leading work injuries causing lost productivity include:

• Sprains to the low back, knee, and upper arm;
• Amputation or crushed cuts of fingers.

Cumulative trauma disorders, possibly including carpal tunnel syndrome, synovitis, tendonitis tenosynovitis and bursitis, account for 64% of all occupational illnesses.

Directions for Future Research

1. To explore the link between pain and soft tissue disorders.
   
   
2. Develop improved methods of nerve repair.
   
   
3. Develop synthetic replacements for muscle, ligament, tendon, and cartilage using tissue engineering or gene therapy.
   
   
4. Understand the fitness requirements for men and women, for different age groups and for people with physical disabilities.
   
   
5. Develop training programs that improve muscle performance.
   
   
6. Study how joint injury occurs to help prevention and development of more effective protective devices for particular sports and jobs.

Chihuahua - Wikipedia, wants to know about CTS

Helge: Visitor statistics and the Live Traffic Map evoke my curiosity. Chihuahua played a pivotal role in the Mexican Revolution and was a battleground between revolutionary forces led by Pancho Villa and federal forces. The agriculture and high-tech industries might be an explanation why we have a search result for CTS and Mediracer Point of Care Instruments. Is this caused by occupational health problems?

• Agriculture, live-stock and the butchers having CTS
• Electronics assembly and female employees with CTS
• Garment manufacturing and female employees with CTS

Chihuahua - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Chihuahua is the largest state in Mexico, with a mainland area of 244,938 square kilometers (94,571.1 sq mi), slightly bigger than the United Kingdom, is in the northwest surrounded by the Mexican states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Durango and Coahuila and the U.S. states of Texas and New Mexico.

Although Chihuahua is primarily identified with its namesake, the Chihuahuan Desert, it has more forests than any other Mexican state. On the slope of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains (around the regions of Casas Grandes, Cuauhtémoc and Parral), there are vast prairies of short yellow grass, the source of the bulk of the state's agricultural production.

• Take a look at photos from the area
  

As of 2005, there were 3.2 million inhabitants of the state. The largest city is the U.S.-border city of Ciudad Juárez, which has 1,301,452 residents (2005 census). The capital, Chihuahua, has 748,518 inhabitants. The state also has a large service sector: tourism, banking and high-tech enterprises. One of the most notable features of Chihuahua is the Barranca del Cobre, or Copper Canyon, a spectacular canyon system larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon."

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Massage Magazine

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Massage Magazine: "

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most frequently studied upper-extremity nerve-entrapment condition. As a result, a comprehensive understanding and definition of this problem has developed.

Unfortunately, because CTS is well known, it has become a very popular diagnosis. There is a tendency to immediately conclude the presence of CTS when someone complains of pain or paresthesia in the hand or forearm region.

CTS is common as a work-related, repetitive-motion injury. It occurs more often in women than in men, though there is no evidence that it is gender-specific.

Rather, the incidence of the condition correlates to certain occupations. People who work on factory assembly lines, with computers, or in other jobs that require repetitive motion are more prone to CTS. Women are more highly represented in these types of positions than are men, which may be why CTS is more common among women.

Effective solutions to treatment and prevention of CTS are sorely needed. Accurate diagnosis of the condition is critical, as other nerve entrapment syndromes are also able to produce some of the symptoms noted in CTS.

For example, thoracic outlet syndrome may create paresthesia in the hand similar to CTS. Massage performed by a knowledgeable and skilled massage therapist may be an affordable and effective alternative to traditional approaches that have proven unsuccessful. At the least, most CTS cases will benefit greatly from treatment strategies that incorporate soft-tissue therapy."

Helge: Mediracer is a tool for Accurate Diagnosis!

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Helge: The cost of $2bn a year for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in US.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME: "CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the name for a group of problems that includes swelling, pain, tingling, and loss of strength in your wrist and hand. Your wrist is made of small bones that form a narrow groove or carpal tunnel.

Tendons and a nerve called the median nerve must pass through this tunnel from your forearm into your hand. The median nerve controls the feelings and sensations in the palm side of your thumb and fingers. Sometimes swelling and irritation of the tendons can put pressure on the wrist nerve causing the symptoms of CTS.

A person’s dominant hand is the one that is usually affected. However, nearly half of CTS sufferers have symptoms in both hands. Carpal tunnel syndrome has become more common in the U.S. and is quite costly in terms of time lost from work and expensive medical treatment.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported that in 2003 the average number of missed days of work due to CTS was 23 days, costing over $2 billion a year. It is thought that about 3.7 percent of the general public in this country suffer from CTS."

Massage by Jan » Need a massage?

Helge: Wanted to write about massage therapy in the context of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, diagnostics, operation, healing and treatment.

I will also talk with a local occupational health nurse that works in Loviisa. Trying to figure out the need for Mediracer in a small town with a surrounding 20 000 population.

Massage by Jan is following me on Twitter and I'd like to ask if she came in contact with CTS-patients or clients in her work. She is recently graduated and might give an insight to how she as a therapist faces people with potential CTS.

I'll write more to this post when I've twittered about it with her. Congratulations for the massage license.

Massage by Jan » Need a massage?: "Jan: Licensed Massage Therapist 5:18 am It’s official! After waiting four long weeks, I received my New York State Massage Therapy Licensure Examination results yesterday in the mail.

I actually scored higher than I predicted as well, which was a pleasant surprise. I called all my friends and relatives to tell them the good news and got in touch with a few of my classmates who passed as well.

It’s a very exciting time for everyone, especially those of us who’ve been waiting to get our massage licenses since we graduated back in January.

Jan Wopperer, LMT.
I’m so proud."

• Name Jan Wopperer
• Location Buffalo, NY
• Web http://www.jannyg...
• Bio I'm a licensed massage therapist with a BA in Print Journalism. I drive a WRX when I feel like an American. Life is good.

She writes, "Many massage therapists bring their chairs into businesses and give massages for a morning or afternoon because it’s a good hands-on way to advertise themselves. Chair massage is a great way to introduce and educate people about massage, and it’s ideal for those who just need to relax and get some quick pain relief in their necks, backs, shoulders and arms. People who are uncomfortable with table massage often enjoy chair massage- it really is a treat, especially at the office!"

Helge: We've a friend in Rovaniemi who is doing this. I've to call him about work related muscle tension and how a therapist might spot a carpal tunnel syndrome.

Massage Techniques

Massage therapy can be a safe and highly beneficial approach for clients with CTS. At the least, massage is an excellent preventive measure that could reduce the advancement of CTS to a more severe stage.

Greetings! My name is Jan Wopperer, and I’m a Licensed Massage Therapist.

My schedule is very flexible. I’m available for massage appointments seven days a week between the hours of 8am and 8pm.

Please complete a client form and I will contact you.

My Training

I received my training at The New York Institute of Massage
in Williamsville, NY.

Courses Taken
Swedish Massage: 108.0 hours
Medical Massage: 108.0 hours
Modalities: 108.0 hours
Shiatsu: 108.0 hours
Anatomy & Physiology: 153.0 hours
Business Management: 18.0 hours
NY State Law: 4.5 hours
Heath & Hygiene: 76.5 hours
Upper Myology: 99.0 hours
Lower Myology: 99.0 hours
Neurology: 54.0 hours
Pathology 1: 54.0 hours
Pathology 2: 54.0 hours
Clinic Terms 1-4: 64 massages, 60 hours awarded

Overall Average: 95.353

Helge: I like the idea of Massage by Jan promoting her new practice with her own blog, using Twitter, Facebook and many other modern and interactive Social Media tools. How about therapists and private clinics in Finland? Scandinavia? Europe?

Her response: Hi this is an automatic email from TwitterMail with some new replies: @digitalvillages of course I'm familiar with CTS. I love to help people who have it as well- it's actually a very simple to treat with MT. jannygirl at 24-10-2007 23:56

Another response: wow, thanks for blogging about my blog! :c ) looks great on there too. my mom is so proud. Jan Wopperer / jannygirl.

Mediracer HospiMedica 2007, Poland

Veijo Lesonen, thanks for the Mediracer ad for Medica 2007 exhibition in Düsseldorf 14 - 17.11.2007. Hall 16, stand A72. More information at www.medica.de.

This week in POLAND...

HospiMedica 2007 International Fair of Medical Technology, Rehabilitation and Healthcare "HospiMedica 2007" will be held at Brno Fairground on Ocotber 16-19, 2007.

HOSPIMedica – an international forum for specialist healthcare public, a show of perspective medical fields, offer of new business opportunities, possible professional discussions and social
contacts.

The HOSPIMedica 2006 Fair was a continuation of its successful premiere in 2005. It has considertably extended its international scope and strengthened its position No. 1 in the area of Central Europe.

The largest Central-European presentation of compensation, prosthetic and rehabilitation equipment (Rehaprotex), a meeting place of the handicapped with the representatives of nonprofit organizations and other specialists.

Specialist accompanying programs have been regularly attended by more than 2000 top consultants from Czechia and abroad.

International character of the show: exhibitors represented a record-breaking number of 32 countries, for the first time firms from Croatia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore,
Thailand and Taiwan came to Brno. Foreign firms occupied by 1.000 m2 more exhibition space
than in 2005.

Also the number of foreign visitors has increased and the structure of visitors improved. The
proportion of foreign visitors in the total number of visitors was 7.5%.

The show was attended by altogether 1.369 people from abroad. Foreign business missions from Hungary, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, China, Korea, India, Malaysia, Mongolia and Pakistan came to Brno.

Emphasized topics of the HOSPIMedica 2007 Fair: HOSPIMedica 2007 will keep on being aimed at the technologies of the future.

• HI-TEC
• Biotechnology, nanotechnology
• Components

Nanotechnology and components will be new show topics.

Contact Information:
Organizer: Trade Fairs Brno
Location: Brno, Brno Fairground
Region: Southern Moravian Region
E-mail: hospimedica@bvv.cz
Phone: +420 541 152 818
URL: http://www.bvv.cz/hospimedica-gb

Mediracer in Düsseldorf 14 - 17.11.2007

Veijo Lesonen, thanks for the Mediracer ad for Medica 2007 exhibition in Düsseldorf 14 - 17.11.2007. Hall 16, stand A72. More information at www.medica.de.

Veijo Lesonen, are you also presenting Mediracer Point of Care Diagnotic Testing at HospiMedia 2007 while in Poland? .

Mediracer - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Test Device - Golden Standard Test for CTS

Patients suspected of having carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) have traditionally been sent to a specialist for NCS (nerve conduction study) and nEMG (needle electromyography).

Now Mediracer can assist physicians in their clinical work. We have a new hand held test device that accelerates the electro-diagnostic confirmation of CTS. It is easy to use, and the examination can be carried out by a nurse or a technician in any out-patient department.

It takes only a few minutes to have reliable results. These properties make this instrument an efficient tool for occupational health, GPs, hand surgeons, orthopaedics and other health care professionals (Acta Neurol Scand 2007: 115: 390-397).

For more information, please contact; info@mediracer.com

VISIT US AT MEDICA 2007: HALL 16 STAND A72

Tervehdys Helge, lähden aamulla Puolaan, päivän kokous Varsovassa. Lähes 40 miljoonaa puolalaista odottelee.... Liitteenä pari HospiMedica 2007 julkaisun ad-infoa.

Terveisin Veijo

HOSPIMedica 2007, Poland

HOSPIMedica 2007 of a broader international scope

16 October 2007 Press Center BVV – Brno will become, for four days, a crossroad of medical business of Central and Eastern Europe.

The HOSPIMedica Fair has increased its international clientele, collective participations from Russia and Pakistan are new foreign exhibitors. Altogether more than 600 firms from 31 countries attend the fair.

Important domestic producers aimed in particular at exports present their top exhibits on the new stand INOVATEC, where they want to address customers from foreign countries. “We expect more foreign professionals than in the past years.

In cooperation with the Agency CzechTrade and our foreign representatives, we have prepared bus excursions for visitors from Central- and East-European countries,” says Director of the HOSPIMedica Fair Mrs. Věra Menšíková.

Twenty buses shall arrive from Slovakia, some more then from Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine or Russia.

“Decision makers from medical fields including senior consultants and hospital directors, businessmen in medical technology as well as other specialists are involved,” specified Manageress.

The commercial character of the fair shall be also supported by the new project BUSINESS POINT which will be staged on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Business Center in Hall E and the conference room Morava in Hall A “It will be an international workshop of an exact time schedule of business meetings.

Some vacant terms have been reserved for those who still hesitate, whether to come or not,” informed V. Menšíková. In addition to a high international character, this year’s HOSPIMedica also features an emphasized hi-tec of the contemporary healthcare.

Project BIOTEC is the only biotechnological show and conference in Central Europe, for the first time medical applications of nanotechnologies will be presented, and following last year’s success the 2nd International Congress of Robotic Surgery will be held.

For professional public altogether forty international congresses, conferences and seminars will be on the program – most in the history of the Brno Fair.

CTS-Blog/PodCamp

Home PodCamp is a FREE new media UnConference that helps connect people interested in:

• social networking
• emerging technologies
• creative convergent media (music, photography, art, video)
• newmedia development and startups - podcasting and blogging

Helge: I got the idea that a CTS-Camp could be a great idea. I will work more with the idea and we can do some testing during the EMG 1987 - 2007 Anniversery in Oulu.

Everyone is welcome, regardless of your involvement in new media, as long as you want to learn, share, and grow your knowledge!

1. WHEN: (open)
2. WHERE: (open)
3. COST: CTS-Camp is free to attend
4. REGISTER: at the CTS-Camp Wiki or email us your information

We look forward to meeting new people, seeing old friends, and exploring the world of social media for Point of Care, CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnostics and Mediracing together.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed?

Early diagnosis and treatment are important to avoid permanent damage to the median nerve. A physical examination of the hands, arms, shoulders, and neck can help determine if the patient's complaints are related to daily activities or to an underlying disorder, and can rule out other painful conditions that mimic carpal tunnel syndrome.

The wrist is examined for tenderness, swelling, warmth, and discoloration. Each finger should be tested for sensation, and the muscles at the base of the hand should be examined for strength and signs of atrophy. Routine laboratory tests and X-rays can reveal diabetes, arthritis, and fractures.

Physicians can use specific tests to try to produce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. In the Tinel test, the doctor taps on or presses on the median nerve in the patient's wrist. The test is positive when tingling in the fingers or a resultant shock-like sensation occurs.

The Phalen, or wrist-flexion, test involves having the patient hold his or her forearms upright by pointing the fingers down and pressing the backs of the hands together. The presence of carpal tunnel syndrome is suggested if one or more symptoms, such as tingling or increasing numbness, is felt in the fingers within 1 minute. Doctors may also ask patients to try to make a movement that brings on symptoms.

Often it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis by use of electrodiagnostic tests. In a nerve conduction study, electrodes are placed on the hand and wrist. Small electric shocks are applied and the speed with which nerves transmit impulses is measured.

In electromyography, a fine needle is inserted into a muscle; electrical activity viewed on a screen can determine the severity of damage to the median nerve.

Ultrasound imaging can show impaired movement of the median nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show the anatomy of the wrist but to date has not been especially useful in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Healthcare News

Helge: I got this mail today. Need to do the registration.

Hello, Today is the last day for you to activate your free trial to Healthcare Industry Today. To activate your free trial, please go to:

http://health.einnews.com/users/register.php

Thousands of leading companies, institutions and professionals make Healthcare Industry Today an essential part of their day. Healthcare Industry Today allows you to read news online and/or have it delivered daily to your email inbox, making your online research more convenient, rapid and affordable.

Do not miss the opportunity to test our monitoring service for free. Activate your free trial now and get immediate access to all the news you need. If you have any questions or need further assistance please contact me.

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Customer Support

IPD Group, Inc.
www.ipdgroup.com

We provide ready-made news content channels, newsletter delivery, editorial tools, news feeds for integration services, and a variety of effective marketing opportunities.

Pasi about CISM in Italy

"Hi Helge. Now I'm back...actually I was a bit lost in this virtual world. And as mentioned I'm back from Italy as well. The Italian Hand Surgeon Society's (CISM) 45th Annual congress was held last week in Naples and I was there with our local dealer Lanzoni s.r.l. ," writes Pasi.

"I have to tell you that the people were very interested about Mediracer and we got some very good discussions with local surgeons."

Helge: "Pasi, that didn't take many minutes...I mean lost in the virtual translation...We now have the Jaiku channel working and can invite other people to our open mediracing discussion. It's a convenient way to communicate and interact and I get specific information for the blogs."

Pasi: "Lanzoni has their own homepage www.lanzoni.net I will mail you some photos but now I have to dash off... Need to act as a chauffor for my daughter, she needs to go to her cheerleading dance training. I'll be back on Monday. Have a nice weekend."

LANZONI s.r.l.

Forniture di strumenti scientifici, apparecchi e articoli sanitari, medicali ed elettromedicali.

Sede amministrativa:
Via Michelino 93
40127 Bologna
Tel. 051/ 50.48.10 - 50.13.34
Fax 051/ 63.31.892

Sede legale:
Via Zamboni 6
40126 Bologna
Tel. 051/ 22.24.56 - 23.89.00
Fax. 051/ 23.94.82

L'azienda, fondata nel 1932, commercia in attrezzature, impianti e strumenti per la medicina e la chirurgia con particolare attenzione all'area Eniliano-Romagnola. E' fornitrice di tutte le Aziende Sanitarie Locali e Case di Cura del territorio nonche di poliambulatori e centri di cura della Regione.

E' esclusivista regionale delle pi_ importanti Case produttrici del settore. Distribuisce a livello mondiale i campionatori per pollini e spore fungine VPPS 1000 e VPPS 2000.

Gebruder Martin, Argus Medical, British Indicators, FASET, Bird Products Co., Bradwest LTD, Cardiac Science, Hawo, Hebu Medical, Liarre, Lina Medical, Nopa, Nuova BN, Mediracer, Practical Metrology, PDC, Sometech, Telic, V.B. de Reus, Vitalograph LTD.

European Commission: eHealth Newsletter - 11/10/2007

Gmail - eHealth Newsletter - 11/10/2007: "NEWS ARTICLE Telemedicine and innovative technologies for chronic disease management's public consultation (11 October 2007)The Commission plans to publish in September 2008 a communication on 'telemedicine and innovative technologies for chronic disease management'.

This communication will be the culmination of a process starting with the current consultation aiming at gathering expertise in all Member States. The questionnaire responses will condition the structure of the TeleHealth 2007 conference (11th December 2007)

Contact: infso-teleHealth2007@ec.europa.eu

NEWS ARTICLE eHealth topic of the Month - The largest eHealth Market in Europe, Middle East and Africa (1 October 2007)22-25/10 The European Commission, together with 7 organisations in EU, WHO and HIMSS are once more putting the World of Health IT event together for accelerating the deployment of eHealth solutions, creating conditions for innovation, friendly and sustainable eHealth market.

Contact: eHealth@ec.europa.eu See also: Register to the World of Health IT conference."

CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Diabetes

CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: "The researchers found that people who had been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome were 36% more likely to later be diagnosed with diabetes, regardless of other diabetes risk factors.

Carpal Tunnel May Predict Diabetes Certainly, having carpal tunnel syndrome does not ensure a diagnosis of diabetes.

But it can be a heads-up to have your blood sugar checked. High blood sugars, even in the pre-diabetes state, can have a damaging impact on nerves.'"

CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Helge: The slideshow below contains a lot of information. Big posts doesn't work. I need to split down to essential information packages.

Wrote about the occupational health service program in Nurmo, Finland, on Mediracers Finnisgh blog. The importance of good ergonomics and work site and methods planning was underlined.

Problems occure if we don't take care of our workforce. Big advances could be made through changes in processes and work practices. Doctors and engineers should get together to design better working conditions.

CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

• Occurs with repetitive motion of hands & wrists--especially with high force levels.
  
  
• Incidence up to 15% in certain industries.
  
  
• A “natural” keyboard and good wrist support can help most PC users avoid problems.
  

GOOD NEWS:

• Have dropped over 30% since 1992--which most attribute to strong workplace ergonomics programs.

CTD RISK CONTROL: REPETITION

1. Use automatic tools for repetitive tasks (screw and bolt tightening).
   
   
2. Eliminate unnecessary tasks / movements by redesigning maintenance procedures and workstations.
   
   
3. Take short, frequent breaks.
   
   
4. Alternate tasks and processes to use different muscle groups Slide
   

ERGONOMICS SUMMARY

• Good ergonomic design of tools, processes and furniture DOES improve personnel comfort, health, morale, productivity and readiness.
  
  
• Individual effort as part of a workshop team is the greatest means of identifying / improving workplace ergonomic issues.
  
  
• It’s critical to seek prompt medical aid for symptoms of ergonomic stress / CTDs

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Mediracer

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is probably the most common upper extremity problem with 3 - 5 % prevalence in the adult population.

In addition about 15 % of the population suffer from occasional CTS symptoms; numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand. Undiagnosed and untreated CTS may have long-lasting ill-effects.

Whether the treatment is non-surgical or surgical, an early diagnosis is crucial.

Wit the Mediracer CTS Test Device you [GP, nurse] will be able to confirm CTS fast, cost-effectively, and reliably; sensitivity 94 % and specificity 98 %.

Official Google Blog: Avoiding RSI and CTS

Digital Villages: Google takes RSI and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome seriously. It's a potential occupational health issue for companies where people do a lot of keyboard related tasks.

1. Programmers
2. Call Center personnel
3. Office personnel
4. Designers and innovators
5. Bloggers and Social Media users
6. Digital and Print Journalists
7. You name it...
   

Official Google Blog: Avoiding RSI: "Avoiding RSI 4/21/2006 02:05:00 PM Posted by Dr. Taraneh Razavi, M.D., Staff Doctor From time to time, a resident physician at Google headquarters weighs in with her thoughts on healthy living.

This is not medical advice, and you should check with your own doctor before pursuing any particular course of action. There is a Chinese saying that 'To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.' In other words, how long can you tap on that keyboard or sit in that chair before you hurt yourself.

We’re not designed to remain as sedentary or perform the fine motor movements for the long uninterrupted hours that we have to do in so many of our jobs.

Evidence suggests that prolonged abnormal posture and repetitive movements contribute to neck, limb and back pain. These conditions are collectively known as overuse syndromes, or repetitive stress injury (RSI). RSI is no small matter.

It accounts for 34% of all lost-workday injury and illness — and costs almost $20 billion annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The National Academy of Sciences has concluded that an estimated $50 billion is lost by businesses every year from sick leave, decreased productivity and medical costs linked to repetitive stress disorders.

The Academy has published two reports since 1998 which directly link repetitive motion to workplace injury.

The damage sustained from RSI is due to structural changes in the muscle fiber as well as due to decreased blood flow. Nerves can also be involved.

The immobile tissue and surrounding inflammation compress the nerve which can cause numbness or tingling and eventually weakness if the nerve is damaged severely.

For those of you who need evidence, see this study on "Overuse Syndrome." In this study, biopsies were taken from hand muscles of injured and normal subjects, which demonstrated the structural damage in the muscle fibers and correlated the damage with the severity of the injury.

In another study, biopsies were taken from neck muscles, and reduced local blood flow was found in the injured areas. The greater the pain difference, the greater the reduction in blood flow.

Some of the most common RSI injuries are tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome now accounts for more than 41% of all repetitive motion disorders in the United States, says this study. And here's a telling title: "Hard work never hurt anyone: or did it?" -- it's a review of occupational associations with soft tissue musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and upper limb.

So what should you do? The key to treatment is prevention. Research shows that injuries decrease and productivity increases when employers encourage stretch breaks and stress the importance of ergonomics. See for example this one at at Ergonomics Now.

Here are a few tips:

1. Breaks should be taken every 30-45 minutes for at least 5 minutes. If you need assistance there are free downloadable timers that will help remind you to do so.
   
   
2. Stretch your arms, hands, neck, and back during breaks. This yoga site demonstrates some exercises. Other sites are listed below.
   
   
3. Maintain posture alignment. Don't slouch on the couch with the laptop.
   
   
4. Work stations should be reviewed initially and with each office move. Adjust your chair, monitor, keyboard, mouse, laptop. Alternate keyboards and mice periodically.
   
   
5. Shift your gaze from the computer screen to the distance. And don't forget to blink!
   
   
6. Limit non-essential computer use. This may be heresy -- but do give the surfing, gaming, emailing, and text messaging a rest.
   
   
7. If pain occurs or persists, see your doctor, who may recommend wrist brace, ice packs, anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen, cortisone injections, physical therapy, and most importantly, rest to allow healing. Don't procrastinate in addressing your symptoms -- the sooner you tend to them, the better off you are.

And finally, here are more sites that may be helpful:

• Safe Computing Tips
• Alternative Pointing Devices
• Alternative and Ergonomic Keyboards
• Harvard RSI Action
• RSI exercises
• RSI Page

Update: One more: Boston U.'s Ergonomics Self-Help Guide (Flash)."

Digital Villages: How are other high-tech and keyboard intensive companies viewing CTS? Do you know about:

1. Nokia
2. Microsoft
3. Yahoo
4. Forrester Research
5. SonyEricsson
6. Samsung
7. Apple
8. Cisco
9. And all the big Call Centers
10. Just to mention a few...
    

Customer relationships with blogs and Web 2.0 tools

Sales Director Andrew Larwood, Product Manager Pasi Karsikas, Companies are leveraging Web 2.0 technologies like Wikis, Blogs and Discussion Boards to have meaningful conversations with their customers.

We're looking into new ways of digital storytelling. Our message is related to how to manage complex communication tasks, build global relationships and find new partners.

We are innovating and creating services that are truly centred around the user and would like to build a dialogue with doctors, nurses, patients and people who like to know more about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Point of Care solutions from Mediracer.

We've (Olli Kallion, Irja Kallio and Helge Keitel) been working with Veijo Lesonen to create and launch Mediracer blogs in English, Swedish and Finnish. The basic blogs already up and running. The idea with the blogs is to get the mediracer message out to the world.

The blogs are about medical electronics, CTS, Carpal Tunnel, Point of Care, Medical Innovations, The future of health care and they are written in three languages.

• SWEDISH http://mediracer.blogspot.com/
  
• ENGLISH http://carpal-tunnel-syndrome-cts.blogspot.com/
• FINNISH http://point-of-care.blogspot.com/

This email is to make you aware about the existence of the mediracing blogs. We're three weeks into experimenting with the content and are closely following how the surfers are approaching the blogs.

It takes some time to create an individual voice in a new field, but we're already experiencing a healthy increase of visitors to the blogs.

• http://feedjit.com/stats/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-cts.blogspot.com/map/ (this map shows daily traffic of the English site)
  

• We would like to interview you and blog about your experiences with Mediracer, the market, users
• The blogs are providing a continuous news stream about cts, poc, mediracer, diagnostics, hand surgery
  

Are you using Skype? It would be easier to use skype for the interviews while then we can also chat and write down names and specific things to get them right.

My Skype ID is " visualradio "

The blogs are personal reflections and written in three languages. The language content is personalised to attract readers from respective areas. The names have been selected to hijack important keywords that people use when googling for CTS, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Point of Care and Mediracer.

Important features for the writers and sales people are the statistics, maps that are showing locations of visitors and the routes the surfers used to enter the mediracing blog. Please, let me have your skype ID to get started with interviews.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome costs a lot of Money

Slide 1: COMPUTER ERGONOMICS • US. NAVAL HOSPITAL ROTA SPAIN • INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DEPT. • Revised March 2006

Slide 2: COURSE OBJECTIVES • Understand the definition of ergonomics • Understand Primary Causes of Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs). • Understand ways to prevent CTDs • Learn about PC workstation accessories to reduce computer work stress • Basic exercises to reduce / relieve ergo- stress.

Slide 3: DEFINITION • ERGONOMICS is a way to work smarter--not harder by designing of tools, equipment, work stations and tasks to fit the job to the worker--NOT the worker to the job: – Layout / type of controls & displays – Lighting & Temperature – Process (Heights, reaches, weights)

Slide 4: WHY WORRY ? • Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) declined from 784,100 to 582,300 annual lost workday cases from 1992 to 1997(OSHA) thanks to workplace ergonomic programs • Minimum $120 to 240 billion total costs / year & average $29 K / case compensation claim cost • More lost workdays for RSIs (ave. = 30 days for a Carpal Tunnel injury)

Slide 5: MSD INJURY DATA • ~600,000 MSDs require time off from work. • Older, out-of-shape workers much more vulnerable. • Women suffer more ergonomic injuries due: – to having jobs requiring more heavy lifting, repetitive tasks and awkward postures – 70% of Carpal Tunnel – 62% of Tendonitis

Slide 6: CAR COST IS (PARTIALLY)--A PAIN IN THE BACK !! • According to Dr. E.W. Simmons, president of the American Back Society, medical costs related to back injury can add up to $3000 to the price of every car made in Detroit !!

Slide 7: CTD INJURY FACTORS • Lesions to tendons of the neck, back, shoulders, arms, wrists or hands • Primary causes: – Repetitive movements over long periods of time – Awkward postures – Use of excessive forces

Slide 8: CTD RISK CONTROL: POSTURE • NEUTRAL & COMFORTABLE: – Wrists straight – Shoulders relaxed with elbows close to body – head / shoulders & back in vertical alignment – Frequent breaks when bent postures can’t be avoided

Slide 9: ERGONOMIC ALIGNMENT

Slide 10: CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME • Occurs with repetitive motion of hands & wrists--especially with high force levels. • Incidence up to 15% in certain industries. • A “natural” keyboard and good wrist support can help most PC users avoid problems • GOOD NEWS: Have dropped over 30% since 1992--which most attribute to strong workplace ergonomics programs

Slide 11: CTD RISK CONTROL: REPETITION • Use automatic tools for repetitive tasks (screw and bolt tightening) • Eliminate unnecessary tasks / movements by redesigning maintenance procedures and workstations • Take short, frequent breaks • Alternate tasks and processes to use different muscle groups

Slide 12: ERGONOMICS SUMMARY • Good ergonomic design of tools, processes and furniture DOES improve personnel comfort, health, morale, productivity and readiness. • Individual effort as part of a workshop team is the greatest means of identifying / improving workplace ergonomic issues. • It’s critical to seek prompt medical aid for symptoms of ergonomic stress / CTDs

Slide 13: Computer Ergonomics • Routine PC user defined as spending 20 hours or more per week working at a computer. • Studies of PC users have not shown a risk of eye damage...although fatigue very possible. • NIOSH studies have not indicated a radiation hazard nor pregnancy risk from PC usage. • Workers using bi/tri-focal glasses before beginning PC use may need special purpose glasses for computer work.

Slide 14: “NATURAL” KEYBOARDS • Three types: Fixed split, Adjustable split & “Sculptured” • Awkward wrist postures minimized with 15 to 25 horizontal degree key split AND 8 to 66 degree vertical incline. • Key Layout Design Changes Have: – increased comfort (81% of users) – improved postures – reduced muscle activity – lowered carpal tunnel pressure in lab settings • Unfortunately obtained oftentimes to alleviate an injury after-the-fact

Slide 15: WRIST RESTS • No medical evidence that they reduce RSI injuries...As they work for some, but not for others • Usage Guidelines: – Buy rest that is even with top of keyboard – Material should be “medium-soft” (foam--gel mix) so foam doesn’t break down. AVOID hard plastic types – DON’T leave wrists on rest...which compresses carpal tunnel. Palm rest instead. – Changing typing habits more critical than wrist support – MOST APPROPRIATELY USED TO REST HANDS DURING PAUSE IN TYPING • LEARN TO TYPE CORRECTLY WITH “FLOATING WRISTS” FIRST!!!

Slide 16: Ergonomic chairs • Adjustable back height • Adjustable arm rests • Required by OPNAV 5100 Safety Instruction • **Chair on left NOT ergonomically designed

Slide 17: Alternative Pointing Devices • Track-balls • “Scrolling” Mouse

Slide 18: Other Ergonomic PC Accessories • Height-adjustable articulating keyboard tray • **Basic units start at $20, and occasionally stocked in the NEX Depot or Sight & Sound stores for $19.99 !

Slide 19: UNSAT PC Work Station “Design”

Slide 20: UNSAT PC Work Station “Design”

Slide 21: MODEL COMPUTER WORKSTATION • --Keyboard trays WITH wrist support. • --Split \"Natural\" keyboards to facilitate neutral wrist angle • --Fully adjustable ergonomic chair • --Document holder to minimize head / eye & neck movements • --Corner desk units to position monitor directly in front of employee • --Foot rest where requested. • --Re-organization of

Slide 22: Questions ??... Contact Data • NAVHOSP Rota IH Dept. (x2783 / 2315) • Dave Hiipakka: email:dwhiipakka@rota.med.navy.mil • Kevin Dyrdahl (2315): ksdyrdahl@rota.med.navy.mil • COMNAVACTS Ergonomics Team: – ergoteam@navsta.rota.navy.mil

Hand disorders

Slide 1: Common Hand and Foot Disorders

Slide 2: Common hand problems

Slide 3: Function of the hand Motor grasp pinch - tip pressure - pulp pressure - lateral pressure hook

Slide 4: Function of hand sensory „ stereognosis (position ,size, shape,etc.) „ Pinprick „ light touch

Slide 5: Rapid assessment of hand function „ space and stability „ open and close „ pinch and touch

Slide 6: Muscles of the hand Three group of muscles act on the fingers „ long flexors „ long extensors „ intrinsic muscles

Slide 7: Ganglion cystic swelling in the neighbourhood of tendon or joint

Slide 8: Ganglion pathology wall „ lining „ content „ uni.. or multilocular cyst „

Slide 9: Ganglion formation „ large no. of closely packed cells „ formation of cavity „ mucoid degeneration ? ischemia

Slide 10: Ganglion site „ 60-70% dorsal wrist ganglion (scapholunate joint) „ 18 -20% volar ganglion „ 10 - 20% in the flexor sheath

Slide 11: Ganglion treatment „ conservative „ surgical

Slide 12: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) The entrapment of the median nerve at the fibro osseous tunnel of the carpus.

Slide 13: CTS Aetiology Decrease in the size of the canal „ osteoarthritis „ trauma „ acromegaly

Slide 14: CTS Aetiology 2 increase in the size of its contents „ pregnancy „ rheumatoid arthritis „ alcoholism „ tumour „ idiopathic

Slide 15: CTS Clinical Picture patients in their 40s „ female > male „ pain (nocturnal) „ numbness „ clumsiness „

Slide 16: CTS signs wasting of thener eminence „ numbness „ weakness „ Tinnel sign „ Phalen sign „

Slide 17: CTS Treatment „ non operative splint steroid injection „ surgical decompression arthroscopic open

Slide 18: De Quervains Disease Stenosing tenovaginitis of the first dorsal extensor compartment

Slide 19: De Quervain’s Treatment „ non operative rest steroid injection anti-inflamatory „ operative

Slide 20: Trigger Fingers stenosing tenovaginitis of the flexor tendon sheath(A1 pulley)

Slide 21: Trigger Finger aetiology „ congenital (thumb) ‚ often not recognised until toddlers ‚ 30% resolve spontaneously „ acquired (middle aged) idiopathic ‚ traumatic ‚ diabetes ‚ rheumatoid ‚

Slide 22: Trigger Finger treatment „ non operative ‚ steroid injection „ operative ‚ release of A1 pulley

Slide 23: Dupuytren’s Contracture nodular hypertrophy and contracture of the palmar fascia

Slide 24: Dupuytren’s Contracture aetiology genetic „ geographical „ smoking „ alcohol „ epilepsy „

Slide 25: Dupuytren’s Contracture clinical middle aged „ male 10 x female „ nodular thickening in the palm „ contracture of the ring and little finger „ MCPJ and/or IPJ not DIPJ „

Slide 26: Dupuytren’s Contracture treatment Surgery if:- ‚ rapidly progressive contracture ‚ inconvenience „ fasciotomy „ fasciectomy „ amputation

Slide 27: Foot Disorders „ deformities „ arthritis „ pain

Slide 28: Deformities Pes Planus physiological „ congenital (vertical talus) „ joint hypermobility „ paralytic „ compensatory „ spasmodic (peroneal muscle spasm) „

Slide 29: Pes Planus Peroneal muscle spasm tarsal coalition ‚ infection ‚ inflammatory arthritis ‚ fractures ‚

Slide 30: Deformities Pes Cavus „ idiopathic „ neurological abnormality eg • spinal dysraphism • peroneal muscular atrophy • Friedrich’s ataxia

Slide 31: Deformities Hallux Valgus „ female > male „ adolescent (familial) „ middle aged

Slide 32: Hallux Valgus symptoms „ deformity „ pain pbunion o metatarsalgia nMT-P OA mhammer toe

Slide 33: Hallux Valgus treatment Soft tissue balancing „ distal osteotomy „ proximal osteotomy „ excision „ fusion „

Slide 34: Deformities Lesser toes curly toes „ claw toes (neurological) „ hammer toes „ mallet toes „ overlapping „

Slide 35: Lesser toe deformities treatment „ modify footwear „ tendon release / transfer „ excision „ arthrodesis

Slide 36: Osteoarthritis Hallux Rigidus „ male > female „ repeated trauma „ loss of dorsiflexion

Slide 37: Hallux Rigidus treatment rocker sole „ dorsal cheilectomy „ extension osteotomy „ arthrodesis „ excision „ replacement „

Slide 38: Rheumatoid arthritis hindfoot „ Ankle pain and swelling ‚ tenosynovitis ‚ ankle or sub-talar joint „ Ankle and tarsal joint erosion and deformity

Slide 39: Rheumatoid arthritis forefoot „ hallux valgus „ claw toes „ MT-P dislocation

Slide 40: Foot pain „ Mechanical pressure • foot-shoe mismatch joint inflammation „ bone lesion „ peripheral vascular disease „ muscle strain „

Slide 41: Heel pain Sever’s disease „ heel bumps „ peritendonitis „ plantar fasciitis „ • idiopathic • ankylosing spondylitis • Reiter’s disease • gonorrhoea

Slide 42: Midfoot pain „ Köhler’s disease „ tarsal boss „ osteoarthritis „ tarsal tunnel syndrome

Slide 43: Forefoot pain hallux valgus „ hammer toe „ Freiberg’s disease „ stress fracture „ Morton’s neuroma „

Mindtrek and Crowd-Sharing

This is just to remind how Jaiku can be used to distribute seminar information. I´ll write more about this in relation to the EMG 1987 - 2007 seminar in Oulu.

• Flickr pics from Mindtrek

Moi Helge V.,

Kari A. Hintikka has posted a comment to presence update "Thee Great Conclusions - did we learn something about this multijaikuing at Mindtrek? How to do better nxt time? How readers felt it? Every kind of comments and reactions here, pls. ->":

Overall, this was a great experience about self-organizing collaborative work on the net in mini-scale. I'm making my PhD about this topic, large-scale self-organizing on the net.

My motives: I like share information, because I think it should be free - or released. :-) I also like to try to bend soft-, hard- and wetware for seeing novel ways how to use it.

With multijaikuing, there is an obvious need to coordinate who's jaikuing what topic. Think about possible situatiton where there might be 100's of jaikuers (?) around the ongoing situation (not necessarily the conference). Traditional coordination with physical meetings is out of question.

I suggest some preliminary 'protocols' for further online multijaikuing sessions. Criticize freely. :-)

1. for usability reasons, everyone could start new thread for new topic, with clear indication to that topic.
   
   
2. others should follow that thread and comment there - both actual jaikuers and commentative readers
   
   
3. there could be microchannel FAQ about 1 & 2 for new users who just have joiden to the microchannel. Due to Jaiku flow, this FAQ will drop quickly to the bottom of the screen and
   
   
4. it should be posted again and again depending on the interval of the wholeness of the messages of the channel. Obviously new members start to comment to the main microchannel - as in traditional jaikuing. But human learns fast.
   
   
5. messages of routine jaikuers could be copied, deleted and pasted to the thread they belong to, if possible The basic idea in this 'protocol' is to spare the microchannel itself for old and new readers and members of the channel.
   

As we saw second day, today, the reports were much more organised and structured than the * positive * chaos and flood of the fisrt day.

Sad to admit, but even the most valuable information is easily skipped if the context of it is a mess or has poor usability. Multijaikuing a new kind of journalism and naturally we all like to have readers and maybe more jaikuers.

So the more we think about a new reader and his/her first glance to the main microchannel, the more we get readers - if they get any sense from the flood. :-)

Biomarkers warn of impending injury from repetitive motion | Huliq

Helge: We speak about CTS over the Skype with the Chief Editor and owner of the Citizen Journalist site Huliq. I check, what is written about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on Huliq. Here is one example:

Biomarkers warn of impending injury from repetitive motion | Huliq: "The new study from Temple University senior researchers Ann Barr and Mary Barbe and their doctoral student, Stephen Carp, in the March issue of Clinical Science, found that the immune system pumps out biomarkers (different kinds of chemicals) as the body begins to become injured by repetitive motions.

These biomarkers warn of an underlying problem. 'While not a diagnostic test, because the biomarkers could also indicate another type of injury, they do provide a red flag where before there was none,' said Barr, associate professor of physical therapy at Temple's College of Health Professions.

Currently, healthcare providers can diagnose repetitive motion injuries (RMI) based only on physical examination findings and the symptoms reported by the patient. Typically, RMI sufferers don't experience symptoms of pain until the damage has begun.

So the researchers' main goal has been finding a means to detect the problem before the damage starts. That way, conservative intervention - ibuprofen, rest breaks at work, exercise - can be evaluated as to their effectiveness in preventing the development of chronic work-related conditions and, consequently, the need for more serious measures such as surgery."

Helge: What are your opinion about biomarkers?

Emax Helth and Story about CTS

I'm Skyping with my "emaxhealth1973" friend from US. I've written Citizen Journalism stories into Huliq. He has another CJ site about Health. Promised to write about mediracing and CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

We talked about:

• Fun
• Learning
• Community
  
• Reputation

And how social media is moving from "content wasteland" to "content jungle" and what motivates people to participate on social media sites.

• It's a game, play
• Intrinsic motivation
  

[17:27:52] emaxhealth1973: http://carpal-tunnel-syndrome-cts.blogspot.com/ is very interesting and nicely done. News about health can go under health category. We also publish www.eMaxHealth.com which is all about health news.


ABOUT HIGH POINT

We have a visitor from High-Point.

[18:06:57] Helge Keitel: High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina -- the 36th largest metro area in the United States with a population of 1.5 million. As of the 2005 the city had a total population of 101,852 according to the US Census Bureau.(2007 estimates place the city's population at around 105,000).

High Point is known for its furniture, textiles, and bus manufacturing. It is generally regarded as the "Furniture Capital of the World" and "North Carolina's International City" due to the semi-annual High Point Market that attracts 100,000 exhibitors and buyers from around the world. The area code is 336.

It is home to High Point University, a private Methodist-affiliated institution founded in 1924. The city also has one of the few Bentley dealerships in the southeast.

Most of the city is located in Guilford County, with portions spilling into neighboring Randolph, Davidson, and Forsyth counties. High Point is North Carolina's only city that extends into four counties.


HICKORY

[18:07:50] emaxhealth1973: Hight point is close, it's about 1 hour and 45 minutes drive from my home town. We are in Hickory, North Carolina.


Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. It is the economic, social, and cultural center of the Catawba River Valley.

As of the 2000 census, the city had a Metropolitan Combined Statistical Area population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The 2000 U.S. Census gave Hickory a population of 37,222, but the city has enjoyed rapid growth since 2000, and its population is currently estimated at 40,212.

The CSA, which includes Catawba, Caldwell, Burke, and Alexander Counties is often referred to as the "Unifour," although this name is largely unknown outside the region. Hickory is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 1998 Money Magazine's "most livable place to live" (ranked 16th among medium-sized Southern cities) and being named an All-America City three times (1967, 1987, 2007).

CTS in the Content Jungle

I'm planning to use Jaiku as a interview media. We tested it with Olli yesterday. Skype can be used as well but Jaiku leaves a tail in the cyberspace.

CTS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a public service blog. Our intrinsic motivation is to get the message out to potential users and patients as well.

Mediracer is an innovation changing the process of diagnosis compared to ENMG. How well are potential users aware about the cost-benefits?

I'll speak with Pasi Karsikas, Product Manager and Mediracer UK Sales Director Andrew Larwood about their insights and opinion.

Some blogger theoreticians mean that everything that doesn't involve non-disclosure content can be discussed in the blogosphere. An open attitude invites to dialogue.

European Federation of National Associations of Orthopedics and Traumatology

Welcome to our global orthopaedic network. The EFORT Portal is a milestone in developing the EFORT idea as started by Prof. M. Freeman and Prof. J. Duparc.

Nowadays technology allows us to eliminate borders and distances. Every one of the 35'000 orthopaedic surgeons from all 37 European National Orthopaedic Associations will be able to communicate online.

Members of our 18 Speciality Societies can also develop their own programmes when associated with EFORT.

BACKGROUND

M.A.R. Freeman

(Bulletin of EFORT, Issue No. 1, November 1994)

The idea of creating an organisation to link all the national orthopaedic associations in Europe began life in a Committee the primary function of which was to organise a single Combined Meeting of these associations to mark the creation of the European Single Market in 1993.

The concept of such a Combined European Meeting can be traced back to a meeting of the International Hip Society in New York in April 1989 when the idea was discussed with a number of French surgeons who were also members of this society.

Later that year, at a Course held at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Michael Freeman and Jacques Duparc had more discussions to develop this further. In the fist instance the forum moved to COCOMAC, an organisation which linked a number of European national associations to provide instructional opportunities where it was quickly decided to hold a Combined Meeting early in 1993 in Paris. Happily, SOFCOT agreed to underwrite the costs of the Meeting.

Accordingly, a Steering Committee composed of the Presidents of all the west European (not just European Union) national associations of orthopaedics and traumatology was set up under my chairmanship. It appointed a Programme Chairman and co-operated with SOFCOT which provided the local organisation. It soon emerged, however, that in this Committee there was support for the creation of a continuing organisation which might arrange subsequent meetings and carry out various other functions.

The Steering Committee met in Northern Italy in early 1992 and again in Munich in May 1992. At these meetings, the Statutes for a possible organisation were evolved and broad decisions were taken as to its nature and its objectives.

Consideration was given to the possibility of creating an organisation modelled on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; individual orthopaedic surgeons in Europe would have the opportunity of joining the new organisation if they wished, in addition to membership of their national associations.

It was felt however, that an entirely new organisation on those lines would not be wholly appropriate since it might conflict with the activities of the national associations and would create considerable administrative burdens on the organisers.

The alternative was preferred therefore of linking the national associations into a co-operative entity to be called a "Federation". The title of this organisation was eventually agreed as "The European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology" (EFORT).

More about it here...

Italian Society for Surgery of the Hand - SICM - Società Italiana di Chirurgia della Mano

Italian Society for Surgery of the Hand - SICM - Società Italiana di Chirurgia della Mano: "Italian Society for Surgery of the Hand Naples, 3 - 6 October 2007 Royal Continental Hotel I TRAUMI COMPLESSI DELLA MANO CLINICAL GOVERNANCE ED INNOVAZIONI CHIRURGICHE visit the official website: www.mediacongress.it/sicm2007."

• 45th SICM National Congress

Pasi is in Napoli this week. He will take photographs. We try to get together over the Skype next week and discuss the Italian Society for Surgery of Hand - SICM.