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Mending a Broken Wrist
Author: | Tuesday March 02, 2010
David Blum, M.D. loves what he does as specialist in upper extremity orthopaedic care. He repaired Pat Uber's dominant left wrist allowing her to return to her work and activities with flexibility and without pain.
Mending a Broken Wrist
Sometimes You Just Have to Start All Over
There are many demands for space on the desk of David A. Blum M.D. Notes, reports and files compete for his attention, but every once in a while he picks up a Christmas card sent this last December from one of his patients. The card is from Pat Uber of Margate who included a heartfelt note thanking Dr. Blum for his medical care and helping her get her "life back".
"I keep it on my desk. It reminds me of why I do what I do," said the physician who specializes in surgical and non-surgical upper extremity care. Uber came to him because of pain and lack of flexibility in her left wrist which she had broken in a fall a year earlier.
Following the injury, the wrist had been treated non-surgically and Uber went through extensive rehabilitation to try and regain her former strength and flexibility. As a practitioner of the martial art, Taekwondo, and an accomplished guitar player, she found herself unable to pursue either avocation.
Referred to Dr. Blum, Uber, a code enforcement officer for the City of Coral Springs knew right away that she had made a good decision. "When I sat down with Dr. Blum the first time, he gave me his undivided attention," Uber recalled. "I felt he really wanted to understand my needs." After a thorough exam it was time for a recommendation. "I asked Dr. Blum, what do you want from me?, Uber said. "He said he wanted to break my wrist and put it back together and I said okay."
Uber had fallen during a karate session and sustained what is called a distal radius fracture of her dominant left hand. This type of fracture is painful and impacts the movement of the wrist because it occurs very close to the wrist joint. The treatment decision is complex and proper diagnosis is critical to a good outcome.
Although Uber was a highly motivated patient and worked hard on her physical therapy, the bones in her wrist needed to be properly aligned if she was to regain her former strength and flexibility. "I broke the radius bone outside of the joint and then made the bone longer through adjustment and the use of a bone graft," Dr. Blum stated. A plate and screws completed the restoration.
Following the surgery Uber returned to her occupational therapy regime. "It is important to get the wrist in motion as soon as possible," Dr. Blum pointed out. That wasn't difficult for Uber who was soon back to playing guitar in her church and returning to martial arts classes.
More importantly she could enjoy her family. Uber smiled as she recalled her five-year-old granddaughter's observation that her grandmother was "back to normal".
Dr. Blum likes to hear positive stories. "This is one of my favorite surgical procedures. It is technically challenging and rewarding because it helps patients return to their lives," he stated.
"I needed to have my hand back, and Dr. Blum did that for me. I love the office and the staff," Uber added. "He did a world of good for me and that is why I sent the card."
Ed. Note: David A. Blum, M.D. is Board Certified, American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and Fellowship Trained, Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hand Surgery. His office located at 301 N.W. 84th Av., in Plantation, FL. He can be reached at 954-888-1400.
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