National Hand Surgery Day: Experts Advocate for Enhanced Awareness to Avoid Disability from Serious Hand Injuries

• Emergence of Hand Surgery as a Subspecialty or Super specialty
• Surgeons urge early intervention and public awareness, especially for industrial accident-related injuries
• Managing the wrist injuries by wrist arthroscopy

Bengaluru, 23rd August 2025: Dr. Darshan A Jain, an expert in Hand and Upper Limb Surgery, opined that growing incidents of sports related wrist and hand injuries across India, particularly in amateurs, gym goers, professionals and also the everyday road accidents necessitate immediate public awareness about hand surgery and post-injury care. He emphasized that India is well-equipped with the latest microsurgical technologies, minimally invasive  making it fully self-reliant in managing even the most complex hand surgery cases efficiently. However, there is a significant gap in the number of trained experts to deal with the increasing number of serious hand injuries.

“Every year, thousands of individuals experience hand injuries that are either under-treated or handled incorrectly due to lack of awareness. Hands are vital for every aspect of our daily functioning from eating and dressing to working and writing. Yet, they are often taken for granted until injury strikes. With today’s advancements in microsurgery, wrist arthroscopy, nerve reconstruction, and joint replacements, we can restore significant function even in severe cases, provided patients seek timely help,” says Dr. Darshan Kumar A Jain, Consultant Hand & Upper Limb Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram.

Hand surgery in India has evolved over the past five decades, integrating disciplines like orthopaedics, plastic surgery, and peripheral nerve surgery. Today, trained hand surgeons are equipped to treat a wide range of conditions—from tendon inflammations, nerve compressions, and ligament injuries to more complex scenarios involving microsurgical replantation, vessel repairs, and total joint replacements. Despite these capabilities, timely care remains the biggest challenge.

Recent cases handled at Apollo Hospitals show the importance of expert care and swift action. In one instance, a 35-year-old worker suffered a severe crush injury when his hand was caught in heavy machinery. Immediate microvascular surgery was performed, saving the limb and restoring his function within two months. Another example involved a factory technician who experienced partial amputation of three fingers due to a conveyor belt accident prompt surgical reattachment ensured near-normal hand function, avoiding lifelong disability. In another case a 25 year old techie lost his right thumb and index finger in a cracker blast injury and was devastated with the disability, as the loss of thumb could lead to significant disability.  He underwent 3 surgeries and one of which involved transfer of the toe from the foot as substitute to the thumb. This enabled him to perform all the activities like a normal individual.

Lot of work is being done in the field of wrist arthroscopy which helps quick return to work after two wheeler accidents and also sports related injury. Here the surgery is performed by multiple 2 mm incisions, which leads to minimal pain and morbidity.

These cases highlight the urgent need for the public to recognize signs of serious hand or upper limb injuries and act quickly. Following an injury, it’s essential to gently immobilize the hand and seek immediate medical care, especially if there’s numbness, heavy bleeding, or restricted movement. Wounds should be rinsed with clean water and covered with sterile gauze until proper care is provided.

We also come across patient being treated by traditional bone setters and non-specialized doctors which make the situation even more difficult to handle. The delays in reaching specialist centres lead to complications that could otherwise have been avoided with timely treatment. Increasing awareness among the population and even doctors remains the mainstay in managing these situations and get these patients treated by appropriate specialists.

“We at Apollo Hospitals have been at the forefront of advanced upper limb surgery, having performed over 1,000 successful hand, wrist, and elbow surgeries. Many of these procedures are short-stay and done under regional anaesthesia, which reduces risk and recovery time. Our dedicated team, supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure and expert rehabilitation services, delivers high-quality outcomes across a wide range of hand conditions. We urge the public to be more aware of hand health and the importance of early treatment—often what appears to be a minor injury can have long-term consequences if left untreated. With timely care and the right expertise, patients can regain function, independence, and an improved quality of life,” concludes Dr. Jain.