The Musician’s Hand

Abstract

Care of the painful or injured hand or arm in a musician requires time, great patience, sophisticated knowledge and analysis of both the musician and their instrument, and in most cases a non-surgical approach. This is a tall order for the busy hand surgeon. Close collaboration between interested specialized physicians and the hand surgeon facilitates care of these patients. Additional help from music teachers, specialized instrumentalists, psychologists, arts therapists and family may be vital. Nevertheless, nothing short of a comprehensive approach will be successful and a limited approach may be functionally damaging if not disastrous. If an operation is necessary, provided surgery is performed with careful planning and skill, the results need not be as unsatisfactory as previously believed and indeed can in certain circumstances salvage a musician’s career.