Manual Dexterity

[jthomp2649]

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Hello,

How much manual dexterity do anesthesiologists need? I ask because I had the ulnar and median nerve severed in my right arm, and my right hand isn’t 100%.

I can grip and do basic things, but I just wondered how much an anesthesiologist really needs two fully functioning hands?

 

[narcusprince]

Hello,

How much manual dexterity do anesthesiologists need? I ask because I had the ulnar and median nerve severed in my right arm, and my right hand isn’t 100%.

I can grip and do basic things, but I just wondered how much an anesthesiologist really needs two fully functioning hands?

Try a different field. You need to have fully functioning hands in this field.

 

[AdmiralChz]

Hello,

How much manual dexterity do anesthesiologists need? I ask because I had the ulnar and median nerve severed in my right arm, and my right hand isn’t 100%.

I can grip and do basic things, but I just wondered how much an anesthesiologist really needs two fully functioning hands?

Yeah that's tough, since Anesthesiology is very procedural-based. Obviously doesn't require as much finesse as surgery, but if you aren't able to perform laryngoscopy or perform ultrasound-guided procedure (blocks, central lines) it's unlikely to work out. Both require a reasonable amount of manual dexterity.

 

[Iso4ane]

How noticeable is to other people in regular life? My left hand is imperfect (definitely not 100%), but my functionality remained reasonably high (at least 90-95%). Granted it affects a single digit, I have made some mild modifications to how I do certain things, but even then it's not so out of the ordinary that people can immediately notice.

 

[Orin]

It's more of a left handed specialty if I had to decide which hand to have nerve damage in, but it'll be an uphill climb both ways.

What else is on your short list?

 

[agammaglobulin]

I'd go through the motions on a LMA, ETT, central line, peripheral IV and then guide a needle under an U/S probe. If you can do all those things, I think you'll be fine. Then, just narrow your area of practice based on your strengths. Not the fastest/proficient at blocks? Go into a practice or fellowship that doesn't do as many blocks...

 

[MoMoGesiologist]

Well he mentioned his median and ulnar nerve are severed... can't really imagine holding an ETT or IV or US with only radial nerve function. But then again, I don't think a physical disability should deter you from following your dreams!

 

[dchz]

From what i see, plenty of people with two left hands in this field so it's not as demanding as surgery (though i've seen plenty of bad surgeons but that's another thread).

I would say you need at least wrist flexion/extension, opposition, and passable fine motor controls. I personally don't think one needs as much manual dexterity as most people in this thread make it out to be... but it is easy for me to say that behind a computer screen and i have complete use of my hands and play video games every day...

I had an attending in med school that was a paraplegic, his wheel chair has this lever that stood him up and allowed him to intubate at a certain height. He is still a practicing anes last i checked.

I think the best advice so far has been to try the diff procedures and make sure you can do them without any mechanical limitations, if you have physical limitations in doing those things then this is probably not a good fit.

 

[jthomp2649]

It's more of a left handed specialty if I had to decide which hand to have nerve damage in, but it'll be an uphill climb both ways.

What else is on your short list?

That is a good question. I have just started to explore the medical field. I had been on the dental school path, but the hand injury has ruled that out. I'm just trying to explore the options in the MD path that would somewhat match my passions for dentistry.

There are a lot of things that attracted me to dentistry... I've always wanted to be my own boss and run my own business. I've also always been interested in biology and medicine, and I need to help people. I need to fix things (people/teeth?), make them better. I will go crazy if I'm in a lab or behind a desk all day, every day. I need to be moving. I love having knowledge that people need... even though I never went to dental school, my family still calls me to ask me about tooth problems haha... I don't know why. I tell them what I can from my limited knowledge, but I just have to tell them to call their dentist, and it kills me every time. That should be me fixing their pain.

Medicine also fits that mold almost entirely, but what led me to dentistry over medicine in the first place was the work life balance. Every dentist I know well (10 or so?) is in private practice, and most of them are single doctor practices. I love the natural progression dentistry has towards private practice. At this point, I'm mostly trying to figure out if there are any medical fields that still fit my goals.... but I'm just starting to explore the possibilities.

I think that nearly any medical field will satisfy the majority of things I loved about dentistry. What I'm trying to figure out is if there anything that tends toward private practice (or contract work like anesthesiology seems to offer). I want the freedom to make choices on when I work. I really don't care about the money, I'm willing to make $100,000 in exchange for being able to coach my kids soccer team, never miss a football game, and take a couple of nice vacations, whenever I want to.

I will also post this in a more appropriate forum... thanks for taking the time to reply!

 

[deleted162650]

I've always wanted to be my own boss and run my own business.

This field isn't for you then. Even in PP, you are a servant of the OR. You do not control your daily schedule the way your could as dentist, or surgeon, or derm, or even FP.

 

[jthomp2649]

This field isn't for you then. Even in PP, you are a servant of the OR. You do not control your daily schedule the way your could as dentist, or surgeon, or derm, or even FP.

That shows how much I don't know. I thought surgeons were on the completely opposite side of the "choose your own hours" spectrum?

 

[deleted162650]

That shows how much I don't know. I thought surgeons were on the completely opposite side of the "choose your own hours" spectrum?

It varies. If you're a general surgeon doing acute care type work, then yeah - it's gonna be unpredictable. But if you're a hand guy or a sports guy or an ophthalmologist, then it's pretty much up to you.

 

[nimbus]

That shows how much I don't know. I thought surgeons were on the completely opposite side of the "choose your own hours" spectrum?

Nope, if a surgeon wants to wait until the game is over to book a case, he does. Which is exactly what happened last night.

 

[Moose A Moose]

Nope, if a surgeon wants to wait until the game is over to book a case, he does. Which is exactly what happened last night.

Many, many years down the road, OP.

 

[Orin]

There are a lot of things that attracted me to dentistry... I've always wanted to be my own boss and run my own business. I've also always been interested in biology and medicine, and I need to help people. I need to fix things (people/teeth?), make them better. I will go crazy if I'm in a lab or behind a desk all day, every day. I need to be moving. I love having knowledge that people need... even though I never went to dental school, my family still calls me to ask me about tooth problems haha... I don't know why. I tell them what I can from my limited knowledge, but I just have to tell them to call their dentist, and it kills me every time.

You might want to look into support for industry or dentists. Talk to some of the dentists you've shadowed. You'll never get to be the star QB, but you could be part of a team that supports them. While significant manual dexterity might be a failing, if you've got a good head, are organized, don't mind multi-tasking, are charismatic, you could make a great dental device/services rep or help manage a dental practice. You won't get to fix tangible things, but processes, practices, etc. It might be fun for you and you've got an affinity for enamel, so stick with it.

 

[leaverus]

not sure what you mean by being able to do "basic things" but you need GOOD manual dexterity. maybe not all the time but even for the occasional emergency where things are moving fast and you're the only one there and have to intubate, start another PIV, get an aline in and maybe a central line you can't be fumbling around. and epidurals/pnbs you really need to have fine motor control and good sensitivity in your hands. of course all that is assuming you want to be a good anesthesiologist; if you want to be a crappy one then it doesn't matter

 

[pjl]

I think your injuries would qualify you as disabled from the specific anesthesiologist specialty if they occurred while working.
You should choose a different thinking based specialty with only minor nonlife threatening procedures, unless your injury is not as bad as I am imagining.

 

[deleted697535]

I think you could tailor your practice to be a competent and solidly safe anesthetist with your injuries.

I worked with a now retired anesthetic who had severe RA affecting both hands and she was very good.

Regional shouldn't be much more difficult. You could learn to do things left handed. Central lines and art lines the same. I'd say epidurals could be trickyish but I'd say the hanging drop technique would suit you perfectly

Every skill is hard for all residents at the start but a few years down the line I'm sure there will be no fear of you!

At the end of the day, if you can place a 16guage iv and get a 7 et tube in safely then you can do 99% of our work. Use the glidescope every time if you have to. Who cares...

2 handed bvm every patient with an oral airway and flip on the ventilator to move air... Again who cares...

Good luck!!

 

[anbuitachi]

I think you will have some issue (like getting IVs into small veins, getting arterial lines in small arteries..), babies might be challenging. Other than that it should be ok..

 

[deleted697535]

I think you will have some issue (like getting IVs into small veins, getting arterial lines in small arteries..), babies might be challenging. Other than that it should be ok..

Sounds familiar!! Happens me every day

 

[woopedazz]

Sounds familiar!! Happens me every day

Mmm... I think I might have a severed ulnar and median nerve too

 

[deleted59964]

if the OP is interested in the field I'd suggest getting some advice face to face from someone who can assess your level of function