Dr. Burgess Speaks to Fellow Hand Surgeons!

Dr. Burgess Speaks to Fellow Hand Surgeons! 

Dr. Kraig Burgess, one of the hand and upper extremity specialists here at TOCA recently delivered a talk to area hand surgeons, physician assistants and orthopedic residents on an exciting new form of treatment for scaphoid nonunions. “A scaphoid nonunion is a difficult to treat broken bone in the wrist that fails to heal and has continued to challenge hand surgeons for decades,” said Dr. Burgess. Current treatment has been placement of bone graft and a central screw. “This new treatment involves placement of a highly specialized plate and the early results have been very encouraging,” said Dr. Burgess. Dr. Burgess is coordinating efforts with two other valley hand surgeons to investigate the biomechanical properties of the device and they also intend to publish there results upon completion of the data collection. “This is something that could revolutionize the care of these injuries and create a complete paradigm shift for the future,” commented Dr. Burgess. Dr. Burgess is one of three hand surgeons here at TOCA specializing in the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of disorders affecting the hand, wrist and elbow. Visit our webpage at www.tocamd.com to learn more about the hand surgeons at TOCA serving your community.

#RESULTS.RECOVERY.RELIEF.

TOCA
602-277-6211
www.tocamd.com

Dr. Burgess and Lisa Babel, PA-C, returned to El Fuerte in Sinaloa Mexico for another LIGA trip in early March

Dr. Burgess and Lisa Babel, PA-C, returned to El Fuerte and the clinic of San Blas in Sinaloa Mexico for another LIGA trip in early March.  Each trip back to Mexico has allowed this team to reconnect with staff and gain continued familiarity with their surroundings.  As always, the complexity and great need for care humbles and overwhelms those medical personnel who travel from different parts of the country to treat these patients.

This trip brought along some new volunteers from the Phoenix area.  An anesthesiologist and surgical nurse from the valley added to the San Blas team and were a great help to Dr. Burgess and Lisa.

Dr. Burgess was able to follow up with some of his previous surgical patients and was kept busy with surgeries his first evening in clinic and throughout the day on Saturday.  “It’s always a thrill to see previous patients and how they are progressing.  I was especially excited to see the patient I treated last fall who was highlighted in the MundoFox video segment.  He has been able to recover good finger and thumb movement despite not having access to a therapist,” said Dr Burgess.

Their first patient, Carmen, is a 53 year old female who had an explosive detonate in her hand in 2012.  As a result of this injury she lost her ring and small fingers while deforming the other remaining digits on her dominant right hand.  She is a florist and has to work in order to provide food for her family.  One of the local translators who assists with the clinic watched as she arranged flowers with her hand and was able to hear her story.  Carmen struggled with scar tissue in her hand making it difficult for her to reach or grasp objects.  Dr. Burgess was able to help her by surgically releasing the contractures giving her more space between her thumb and index finger improving pinch, grasp and grip. Carmen is recovering well and the translator was able to pass on she is pleased with her recovery and early outcome.

Carlos is a 3 year old male who suffered a high voltage cable accident in 2013 that left him with a contracted long finger in his right hand.  The initial treatment he received simply sewed the finger down onto itself rendering it useless and also preventing normal use of the rest of his hand.  As it turned out, do to his initial tendon, nerve and vessel injury, the only option was to remove the contracted segment of the digit.  He is now able to fully open and close the rest of his hand significantly improving his function. 

Edwin is a 7 year old male patient with Down’s syndrome.  He sustained burns to his hand after picking up a red hot coal from a fire when he was 3 years old.  As a result he had scars throughout his hands that prevented him from being able to flex or extend his fingers.  The fingers were stuck together creating a webbed hand which continued to progress as his hand tried to grow with his advancing age.  His surgical challenge was to separate the digits from one another and then lengthen scar in the palm in an effort to allow him to extend his fingers.  He has a very complex condition and Dr. Burgess expects to see and treat him in the future as his condition required progressively staged operations.

Roberto is a 44 year old male who suffered a severely broken wrist and severed tendons when he came upon thieves trying to steal his electrical tools.  He was beaten with a machete.  As a result, he has lost the use of his hand due to the severed tendons, he has developed contractures and scar to the hand and he has poorly aligned bone healing restricting joint movement.  The injury changed his life and has prevented him from doing his job.  Dr. Burgess operated on Roberto to release the scar tissue and to try and improve the tendon function of his wrist and hand.  His next procedure in the fall will be to release more of the joints in his hand and possibly transfer more tendons to increase strength.  Eventually he will require work on the bone to correct the joint destruction.  Dr. Burgess was deeply moved by Roberto.  “Roberto is a man of faith.  He harbors no resentment to those who harmed him and he has accepted his disability.  He was grateful I was willing to try anything to help him and said he accepted the outcome, good or bad, as God’s will,” said Dr. Burgess.  “You hear those words and it makes you want more than anything to make a positive difference in this man’s life,” reflected Dr. Burgess.

The total number of patients treated at the San Blas clinic in March for the weekend was 234.  These included specialties in general medicine, podiatry, plastic and general surgery, and hand surgery.  Dr. Burgess and Lisa are looking forward to returning again in the future.

You can learn more about LIGA on their website, at www.ligainternational.org.

#RESULTS.RECOVERY.RELIEF.

TOCA

602-277-6211

www.tocamd.com

Dr. Burgess on the Bunker to Bunker show!

Dr. Burgess was a guest on the Bunker to Bunker radio program (AZ Sports 620 KTAR) on March 29th, 2014. We invite you to take a few minutes and listen to his interview by clicking the link below! 

http://tocamd.com/Burgess%20Interview.mp3?_subject_uid=142280683&w=AAC1WnBT5mt9Zc7JvrmRJd33u6KdVxFeaZ7SderlyDcnVQ


TOCA
602-277-6211
www.tocamd.com

Liga International, The Flying Doctors of Mercy (Dr. Burgess)

(click above to view the video)

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving; a big thank you to Dr. Burgess, PA-C Lisa Babel and all the volunteers who contribute their time and talents to Liga International, The Flying Doctors of Mercy.

Below is a link from MudoFox, the Spanish version of FOX News. This second part of the special series "I Want to be a Better Person.", is the story of Dr. Burgess Phoenix Arizona, who makes magic with his hands. He is one of the league volunteers flying doctors who volunteer on medical missions down to El Fuerte, Mexico

The LIGA is still in great need help getting supplies and those supplies into Mexico. There will be 12 segments airing every night for the next several days. This broadcast is out of LA and will be converted to English for the sister networks sometime in the future. Click the link to learn more about Liga International, The Flying Doctors of Mercy.

Serie especial: I Want To Be a Better Person [Parte II]
http://www.noticiasmundofox.com/node/6429


TOCA
602-277-6211
www.tocamd.com

LIGA trip November 2013 (Dr. Burgess & PA-C Lisa Babel)

LIGA trip Nov 2013

This November Dr. Burgess and his Physician Assistant Lisa Babel returned to the state of Sinaloa Mexico to continue their work with LIGA International.  They, along with 107 volunteers from around the United States, were able to touch the lives of hundreds of patients in the cities of El Fuerte and San Blas. Traveling with them and helping to provide much needed equipment to treat the patients was a local orthopedic representative, Jarred Martincic.  This November clinic was a busy one, treating 640 patients including adults and children.  Several specialty areas were represented including podiatry, neurology, ophthalmology, ENT, dentistry and orthopedic hand surgery.

Traveling back to El Fuerte was something Dr. Burgess and Lisa had been looking forward to since their last visit back in April.  They were able to connect with some of the patients they had surgically treated and follow-up on their progress. Going back also meant familiarity; having their prior experience allowed them to dive back in and get right to work.  “Knowing what you have, but also knowing what you need makes a big difference in how affective you can be in the time you are there.  I was able to prioritize patients and provide surgery to all we could, but also plan for future trips where I hope to secure much needed orthopedic implants,” said Dr. Burgess. 

“Without question, the hardest part of the trip is the look of disappointment in the eyes of a patient when I have to tell them there is nothing I can do, or at least until I get the proper equipment.  These people come to you with hope.  Many of them are suffering from chronic conditions from injuries sustained years ago.  That painful look of disappointment is contrary to the look of joy and appreciation when they feel their hope turn to reality.  It’s contagious and it keeps me going back.  Even my wife is planning to help on the next trip.  There is no question, it can be an emotional experience with many ups and downs,” reflected Dr. Burgess. 

Unique to this trip was a news team capturing the story of LIGA.  Rolando Nichols, lead news anchor and reporter for MundoFox, the Spanish-language broadcast network and sister station to Fox News, along with his cameraman and pilot traveled from California down to El Fuerte.  They highlighted both El Fuerte and San Blas clinics, and hope to help spread the news about what the volunteers are accomplishing, along with the tremendous need for more help and equipment that still exists.  Dr. Burgess notes, “One of the more frustrating roadblocks to our success can be the very Government of the people we are trying to serve.  We have philanthropic companies and organizations here in the States willing to donate equipment but when it gets confiscated at the border or fined so heavily you have no choice but to turn back, it’s deflating.”  Dr. Burgess is hopeful the awareness MundoFox brings, may help pry some of these “closed political doors” open and allow LIGA to fulfill its mission.

Dr. Burgess says he is commonly asked how safe it is in this region of Mexico.  “I can say so far, I have felt completely safe.  You can’t be naïve and you have to take precautions.  The people of Mexico have opened their hearts with thanks and many local women will cook for hours on end to keep us fed while we work.  Admittedly, it was strange to see DEA agents in small squads loaded into the back of pick-up trucks carrying automatic weapons, all dressed in black and wearing ski masks to protect their identity from drug cartel soldiers.  It was another sobering reminder how lucky we are to live in the United States of America.”   

For more information on how you can become involved, please go to www.ligainternational.org
For more photos go to: www.facebook.com/TOCAMD

Hand Surgeon Provides Simple Tips to Avoid Spoiling Your Family’s Halloween - Dr. Burgess

Hand Surgeon Provides Simple Tips to Avoid Spoiling Your Family’s Halloween

Excitement looms around the corner for many families as we begin to pick and choose our favorite Halloween costumes, dig up the ghoulish decorations, and of course, carve our pumpkins. As a Board Certified Fellowship Trained Hand Surgeon at TOCA, I can tell you this holiday brings with it some degree of trepidation.  I have seen year after year devastating injuries as a result of improper safety precautions when it comes to carving pumpkins.  A hand slipping down the blade of a knife too many times results in more than just a cut in the skin. 

These injuries are even more common in kids and adolescents.  As much as a family affair as this may be, the carving should be left up to the adults or at most, adolescents under supervision.  Pumpkin carving parties can have a number of distractions and someone should always be designated to oversee the safety of these young adults to make sure safe and proper technique is being utilized.  For young children, I would recommend you engage them more in cleaning out the pumpkin seeds and the actual design work for your unique pumpkin ideas.  Drawing your ideas onto the pumpkin or tracing them from paper drawings still allows them to be a part of the process.

Many of these accidents can be avoidable by taking simple precautions and using the right tools.  There are many commercially available pumpkin carving kits with specific tools which lessen the risk of injury and if injury does occur, it is often less severe.  The use of typical kitchen knives for pumpkin carving typically leads to the most common and most devastating injuries.  Here is a list of probably the most common causes of injury I see as a hand surgeon:

1.       Sharp knives get easily lodged into the tough pulp of the pumpkin.  When someone tries to push or pull the knife further, the hand can slide down the very slippery blade resulting in injury. 

2.       While trying to pull the knife out, I see injuries to the non-dominant hand which is used for counter force to dislodge the knife.

3.       The non-dominant hand is also frequently injured along the web space of the hand between the thumb and pointer finger when the knife is being used to make a cross cut through the pumpkin.

4.       Stabbing injuries are also encountered when one hand is used to support the back of the pumpkin and the knife penetrates through the back side or the pumpkin slips and rolls from being poorly stabilized. 

The more severe injuries most commonly result in damage to the tendons of the hand, the small sensation or movement (motor) nerves and also the arteries that supply the critical blood supply to the fingers.  Injury to the nerves will always result in some degree of lost, altered sensation, or even increased painful sensitivity.  Repair of these complex injuries can require months of healing and rehabilitation.

Although it is impossible to completely avoid injury, following these simple tips can help avoid or lessen the severity of these injuries.  Here is a list of recommendations you can follow to keep this holiday safe and fun for everyone in your family. 

1.       Get the right equipment.  Sharp ordinary kitchen knives are dangerous.  There are many commercially available pumpkin carving kits on the market.  Make them an investment in your family’s safety.  The Journal of Preventative Medicine has shown these kits to be effective in lowering the number and severity of carving related injuries. 

2.       Make smaller and more controlled cuts with the right instrument.  Avoid using a tool which has the capability of passing through the entire pumpkin which can injure the hand in back providing support.

3.       Prepare your workstation.  The work surface you choose to use can decrease your risk of injury.  Choose a surface which will decrease the risk of the pumpkin sliding around as you apply pressure with carving tools.  This also lessens the risk to your non-dominant hand by allowing the work station to steady the pumpkin while keeping your hand out of the path of the blade.  Commercially available bases are also available.

4.       Dry your hands, your tools and your pumpkin thoroughly and frequently.  The pulp of a pumpkin is extremely slippery so anytime you handle sharp instruments with a compromised grip, you are asking for injury.

5.       Control your distractions.  This is especially true for those pumpkin carving parties with multiple people, multiple age ranges and levels of experience.  Use the chaperone method where one person watches for sharp tools lying dangerously around, corrects dangerous technique, and assists in drying the carver’s hands and tools frequently.

6.       Avoid alcohol.  This may seem obvious but I can’t tell you how many times I see avoidable injuries caused by poor judgment, diminished coordination, and a lack of focus.  Leave the libations for afterwards when everyone can enjoy each other’s creations without someone sitting in the Emergency Department.

Should you or your family happen to be injured from a cut or stabbing wound, apply direct pressure to the injury.  This is usually the most affective and quickest way to control bleeding.  Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water or other equivalent disinfectant.  Apply a topical antibiotic and appropriate sized bandage.  More severe injuries will require medical attention.  If 15 minutes of pressure to the injury does not stop the bleeding, if you notice discoloration to the hand, if you notice an immediate or later change in the sensation to your hand or finger, or if you find you cannot move any of the joints of your hand normally, you should seek medical attention immediately.  Urgent Care facilities and Emergency Departments are a good place to start.  They can often evaluate the wound for more significant injuries and provide stich closure to wounds.  I can’t emphasize enough; however, how important it is to make sure you receive appropriate follow up with one of the board certified hand surgeons here at TOCA if there is any question at all regarding the possibility of further injury.  Although these injuries almost never require hospital admission and emergency surgery, timely follow up as an outpatient in our office can make a world of difference if surgery is found to be necessary.

I do hope you find this information helpful in avoiding potential injury to you and your family during this and future Halloween seasons.  

 - Dr. Burgess

TOCA

602-277-6211

www.tocamd.com

Meet Dr. Burgess!

Meet Dr. Kraig Burgess

 

 TOCA would like to introduce you to Dr. Kraig M. Burgess. Dr. Burgess has distinguished himself as an expert in the field of Orthopedic Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. Dr. Burgess received his Bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University. His medical school training was completed at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens, Ohio. 

Upon completion of his Internship and Residency in General Orthopedics, Dr. Burgess performed an additional year of Fellowship Training. This fellowship specific training in hand and upper extremity surgery included an enormous variety of reconstructive procedures and extensive trauma training at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. U.S. News and World Report consistently rank The Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best overall hospitals and the Orthopedic Surgery Department is among the top 5 year after year. Dr. Burgess has also successfully completed a Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery.



TOCA
602-277-6211
www.tocamd.com
https://www.facebook.com/TOCAMD

TOCA Physician Gives Back: Flying Doctors of Mercy

Dr. Kraig Burgess and his Physician Assistant, Lisa Babel traveled to the state of Sinaloa Mexico with LIGA International this April to serve the communities of San Blas and El Fuerte on a medical mission’s trip.  Dr. Burgess and Lisa are members of LIGA International, “Flying Doctors of Mercy”, an organization providing medical and surgical care to the under-served communities of rural Mexico since 1934.  LIGA mission trips occur the first weekend of each month from October through June.  On average 15-20 pilots donate their time and 4-6 passenger planes to transport the Doctors and other health care providers with donated medical equipment to a remote single runway airfield in El Fuerte.

The April trip provided Dr. Burgess a unique opportunity to care for patients in his area of expertise, hand and upper extremity surgery.  The trip includes screening surgical candidates and treating nonsurgical patients in a clinic setting.  Once screened, the remaining time is spent performing the surgical reconstructions. “I was immediately overwhelmed by the need these people have for health care.  Many of the patient conditions have progressed to levels you would never see here in the States where treatment would have been performed much earlier,” said Dr. Burgess. 

This particular trip over 340 patients were treated, including surgeries performed in general, orthopedic hand, podiatry, ophthalmology, OB/GYN, and cardiology.  Dr. Burgess and Lisa were able to see dozens of clinic patients and treat conditions varying from pediatric congenital abnormalities, traumatic injuries, tumors, tendinitis, arthritis and nerve injuries.  These surgeries included a 19 month old boy with a condition called syndactyly, which presents with a webbed hand appearance.  They also cared for a young girl who had been badly burned and developed an infection, resulting in a partial amputation and scar contractures to her hand.  Another gentleman had been injured by a machete, resulting in multiple tendon lacerations and permanent nerve deficits.  Dr. Burgess recalls, “You have to get pretty creative and be willing to adapt to the supply limitations in order to get things done.  It’s pretty much self-service when it comes to finding equipment, prepping the rooms and setting up for surgery.  I could not have imagined accomplishing what we did without my PA, Lisa’s help.”

As they recall the trip, what stood out more than anything was how grateful the patients were and how accommodating the local people were to the volunteers.   “Patients traveled for hours, many by bus, to sit and wait for hours just for hope, hope that something could be done to help them.  It was heartbreaking to not have the equipment and time to help everyone,” Dr. Burgess said.  Through the generosity of companies Dr. Burgess works with; he has been able to obtain supplies which will allow him to care for some of these patients on his next trip.  Dr. Burgess and Lisa are planning their next trip for this fall.  To learn more about this incredible organization, “Flying Doctors of Mercy”  go to www.ligainternational.org.  

Lisa Babel, PA-C

Dr. Burgess

Dr. Burgess scrubbing up

Dr. Burgess & Lisa Babel, PA-C operating 

“Patients traveled for hours, many by bus, to sit and wait for hours just for hope, hope that something could be done to help them...,” - - Dr. Burgess

TOCA

612-277-6211

www.TOCAMD.com