What to expect at a hand surgery consultation
Dr. Avery Arora, MD discusses what a hand surgeon may ask you if you are considering surgery and what questions you should ask your hand surgeon.
When you go in for a hand surgery consultation, it is extremely important for the patient to be honest and open with the doctor regarding their health. While the exact questions may differ depending on the type of procedure and the reason for the procedure, the types of questions will generally have a number of similarities.
What types of questions will the doctor ask?
For example, the doctor will want to know if you have any other medical conditions, if you are going through any other medical treatments at the time, and if you have ever had any other surgeries. They want to know if you have any known drug allergies, as well as what medications you may be taking currently. They need to make sure that there is nothing that will interfere with the surgery. In addition to prescription and over the counter drugs, you need to let them know about tobacco use, alcohol and other drugs, as these could have an effect on whether you are a good candidate for surgery or not.
The doctor will need to know as much about your hand problem as possible, so be prepared to answer. They may require images of the hand, such as x-rays, to get a better idea of the problem. Again, it will depend on the type of hand condition.
During the consultation, the doctors will determine your overall health status and whether you have any risk factors or conditions that may prevent you from being a good candidate for surgery.
They will discuss the available options you have that will give you the best chance of restoring function of your hand, and then you can determine what you want to do next. After you decide on a procedure, the doctor will explain what happens from start to finish, and will let you know of any potential risks involved.
You should ask questions, too
While it might seem as though the doctor will be asking all of the questions during the consultation, patients need to make their voices heard as well. You probably have quite a few questions for the doctor, even after they’ve gone over the procedure with you. What could the potential complications mean for you? How long will it typically take someone to recover from this particular type of surgery? What type of therapy would be useful to help recover faster?
During the hand surgery consultation, it is your chance to ask the doctor as many questions as you have, and to make sure that he or she really is the best suited person for the job. If you have any reservations about the doctor you’ve chosen, do not feel as though you are “locked in.” You can always talk with other specialists to get their opinion about your potential hand surgery.
Your hand surgery consultation is the chance to learn everything you need to know about the procedures that could help improve or restore function to your hand. Pay attention, ask questions, and get peace of mind before your surgery.
Learn more about hand surgery at www.HandCare.org.
Dr. Avery Arora is a hand surgeon in Livonia, Michigan and has been considered to be a “top doctor” in his field as selected by other medical doctors and surgeons. He specializes in the care and rehabilitation of medical problems related to the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow and is affiliated with multiple hospitals, including Botsford Hospital and Oakland Regional Hospital.