Microaggressions and Implicit Bias in Hand Surgery.

Implicit bias and microaggressions are well-known phenomenon and have recently been acknowledged as contributing to health care disparities. Within Hand Surgery, implicit bias and microaggressions occur in patient-surgeon, surgeon-peer, surgeon-staff, and training environment interactions. Although racial and gender biases are well studied, biases can also be based on age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and/or hierarchal rank.

Common Hand Conditions: A Review.

Importance: Carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, de Quervain tenosynovitis, and basilar (carpometacarpal) joint arthritis of the thumb can be associated with significant disability.

Observations: Carpal tunnel syndrome is characterized by numbness and tingling in the thumb and the index, middle, and radial ring fingers and by weakness of thumb opposition when severe. It is more common in women and people who are obese, have diabetes, and work in occupations involving use of keyboards, computer mouse, heavy machinery, or vibrating manual tools.