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Rehabilitation Following Tendon and Nerve Transfers of the Upper Extremity

On-Demand

Learn at your own pace

$69 per participant

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Course Description

While tendon transfer surgeries have existed for decades, nerve transfers are relatively recent with emerging evidence for their use. This two hour course will review indications for both tendon and nerve transfers and evaluate the literature to support both methods based on patient demands and their occupational profiles. Learners will then understand the amplitude and power of available donor tendons when patients are considering a tendon transfer as well as possible donor nerves when patients are considering a nerve transfer. Pre and post-operative protocols and rational will be discussed as well as orthosis fabrication and therapeutic exercise application. The learner will feel fully equipped to treat this complicated population and have the tools for greater resources as needed. The education level of this course is advanced.

Course Instructor
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April O’Connell, OTR/L, CHT, ACSM is the Clinical Specialist in the Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy Department at NYU Langone Health and has been practicing for 15 years. She earned her Occupational Therapy degree at Boston University, is a Certified Hand Therapist and is certified by the American Council of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Clinical Exercise Specialist. She has lectured to orthopedic surgeons and therapists nationally and internationally in current concepts of orthopedic rehabilitation of the upper extremity. Some of her most recent lectures include being a guest speaker for Dr. Radio on Sirius Satellite on topics for rehabilitation of the hand and upper extremity as well as injuries to the overhead athlete. In addition, she has presented on Flexor Tendon Repair Advancement at AAOS in 2015 and was later asked to speak at ASSH national conference in 2016 and ASHT in 2017. She recently presented her latest research at ASHT National Conference on flexor tendon rehabilitation in 2019. She also lectures at Touro College in NY on various topics including tendon injuries, splinting, and research. April is a founding member of the NYU Langone Golf and Pitching Labs.

There are no financial or non-financial disclosures to report.

Course Outline

  • Why do a tendon transfer: indications for surgery

  • Understanding anatomy, amplitude and power of available tendons to transfer

  • Functional implications of denervated muscles

  • Descriptive detail of tendon transfer surgery and pre and post-operative protocols described

  • Orthosis fabrication s/p tendon transfer

  • Indications of nerve transfers and current research description to support it’s use over tendon transfers as well as it’s limitations

  • Description of nerve transfers for the brachial plexus and lower upper limb

  • Donor activation focused rehabilitation approach (DAFRA)

Continuing Education Credit

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold Standard Seminars, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID# 11249. This distance learning-independent activity is offered at 0.2 CEUs intermediate, OT service delivery. AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.

 

This course offers 2.0 contact hours of category A, formal courses with direct upper extremity content for OT or PT towards the Certified Hand Therapists (CHT) recertification.

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This course meets the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Standards of Quality for Continuing Education Offerings (BOD G11-03-22-69). Please save your course certificate and outline to submit for CE credit to your state and/or local licensing board.

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For other professions, this course counts as 2.0 contact hours of professional development. Please save your certificate and course outline to submit to your national, state or local agency for continuing educating credit. 

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Course Locations
Learning Outcomes

  • Identify amplitude and power of each tendon when a tendon transfer may be indicated

  • Explain rationale for performing tendon vs a nerve transfer

  • Design a standard treatment protocol after tendon or nerve transfers and identify what type of orthosis would be fabricated if needed

  • Detail the outcomes expected after tendon transfer and how this can affect patient outcomes and satisfaction

Recommended Course Participants

  • Occupational Therapists

  • Physical Therapists

  • Occupational Therapy Assistants

  • Physical Therapy Assistants

  • Physicians

  • Physicians Assistants

  • Nurse Practitioners

  • Chiropractors

ADA and Special Requests

Please contact Gold Standard Seminars  prior to purchase to discuss any particular needs and/or requests.

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