AUSTRALIAN HAND THERAPY ASSOCIATION

15-17 October 2010

Hyatt Regency Hotel

PERTH, Western Australia

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preconference workshop 13-14 October 2010
AHTA Certificate Course in Hand Trauma, Level 1

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This workshop, run over two days will take a problem solving/clinical reasoning approach to the management of acute hand trauma.

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 this workshop, 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.

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, 13th and 14th of October 2010.

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.

• Anatomy

• Biomechanics

• Tissue injury and repair

• Differential Diagnosis

• Short written exam

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDIT

Level 1 only

• 50 hours credit for completing one level of the certificate course (2 days) including assessment

• 16 hours credit for completing one level of the course only (no assessment)

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

AHTA Member/Associate - Level 1: $535.00 for two days

Non AHTA member OTs & PTs - Level 1 $645.00 for two days

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.

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