Paraplegic/Amputee Surgeon?

[biologic_width]

Does anyone know if you can still be a surgeon if you are in a wheelchair or are missing a limb?

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[Sohalia]

I know of people doing surgery rotations in standing wheelchairs, but I don't know of anyone who has gone through a whole surgery residency in a wheelchair.

 

[bigtimesmally]

Does anyone know if you can still be a surgeon if you are in a wheelchair or are missing a limb?

One of my attendings had lost his leg in a hunting accident at a young age. He was a combined vascular, thoracic surgeons. HIGHLY respected in the field.

Also, once saw a dwarf as a surgeon on a documentary. Used stools to get up high enough.

Never seen one in a wheelchair, but doesn't mean they don't exist nor that it can't be done.

 

[fishmonger69]

we have an ortho faculty in a wheel chair. good guy that residents love. as the old saying goes...you can do anything......

 

[cdql]

What's with all the questions about limited surgeons?

Let me try my hand:

Are there any one armed, one legged, one eyed, one eared, and one fingered surgeons out there?

 

[Apollyon]

What's with all the questions about limited surgeons?

Let me try my hand:

Are there any one armed, one legged, one eyed, one eared, and one fingered surgeons out there?

Yeah - didn't you hear about him on the "funny names" thread? His name is Dr. Lucky.

 

[garo]

Yeah - didn't you hear about him on the "funny names" thread? His name is Dr. Lucky.

I am looking for the information on deaf being surgeon.

 

[neutropeniaboy]

Also, once saw a dwarf as a surgeon...

A dwarf?

Did he carry an axe and mine precious stones outside of the O.R.?

 

[theman1990]

There is a one armed surgeon in Gadsden, Alabama. I myself am missing a hand and am working on designing my own surgical prosthetic.

 

[Hampster10]

.

 

[Winged Scapula]

There is a one armed surgeon in Gadsden, Alabama. I myself am missing a hand and am working on designing my own surgical prosthetic.

I believe Dr. Newman lost his arm after being in practice for a few years.

 

[theman1990]

in all things, I'd like to think we consider what's best for the patient and not what best strokes our ego, ie becoming a surgeon...

Yet another wonderfully ignorant reply. Perhaps only tall men with thin fingers and classical piano training should be surgeons, as they MIGHT be even better for the patient!

In fact! Every year we should just fire any surgeon who falls below the 50th % of 'favorable outcomes' b/c those ABOVE that number are obviously better for the patient...

I just tire of hearing comments from people who feel that b/c THEY can't do something, neither can I...

 

[JackADeli]

in all things, I'd like to think we consider what's best for the patient and not what best strokes our ego, ie becoming a surgeon...

Yet another wonderfully ignorant reply...

...I just tire of hearing comments from people...

While I appreciate the sentiment, I am not so sure it is an ignorant response. I am ever more concerned in general (not just in medicine) as to how "we" in the USA increasingly seek to enable folks to do this or that with potentially physical limitations. I remember all the autistic kids supposedly "graduating from college" with so called interpreters..... There were oh so many plans for grad schools for those folks. Now, we will proceed with training single armed surgeons with assistants? There is something to be said for being a "two handed surgeon".

Lacking an operative limb is a disadvantage. I believe having opposing limbs does in fact provide certain tactile feedback if in nothing else then traction-counter traction. This disadvantage thus extends to the patient/s. Can one perform cases with an assistant serving as your other limb.... probably. Is it a disadvantage? I think so. While, the judgement of the case will be primarily that of the surgeon guiding the case/s, the assistant does move further from the operative role of assistant and closer to that of the surgeon.

I think the ultimate question one must ask is are you a competent surgeon unto yourself and trained to that degree with you completing ALL the required surgical experience during training? IMHO, I am not sure you can be if you only have a single operative limb. I was just thinking of placement of a central line or chest tube.... would be very difficult to safely perform these basic procedures during an emergency with a single limb.


JAD

 

[theman1990]

Fortunately I have a fully functional prosthetic that enables use of my right arm. Also, since I've had it longer than most people took to try to imagine what it would be like, I have a finely developed sense of feeling in the stump to allow me to gauge just HOW much pressure I'm applying... At this point, it would be like arguing that laparoscopic procedures are a bad idea b/c you are removed from the actual instruments by the long rod that controls them.... Anyhow, it's easy to argue this on the internet where we are all experts and able to say whatever, so unless anyone has USEFUL feedback, i'll be going...

 

[JackADeli]

... I myself am missing a hand and am working on designing my own surgical prosthetic.

...I have a fully functional prosthetic that enables use of my right arm. ...I've had it longer than ...I have a finely developed sense of feeling in the stump to allow me to gauge just HOW much pressure I'm applying...

Interesting string of posts. Best of luck.... But, accepting I may be wrong, my understanding of anatomy and physiology lead me to believe there is in no way a "finely developed sense of feeling in the stump" will come close to the abilities (motor & tactile) of a functioning hand.

...Lacking an operative limb is a disadvantage. I believe having opposing limbs does in fact provide certain tactile feedback if in nothing else then traction-counter traction. This disadvantage thus extends to the patient/s...
...just thinking of placement of a central line or chest tube...would be very difficult to safely perform these basic procedures during an emergency with a single limb.

Do you disagree? Do you believe sensation in a stump is adequate replacement for a functioning pair of hands? Do you not perceive at all any possibility that a lack of two functional hands may pose some additional risks to your patients?

JAD

 

[MossPoh]

Hey,

The def leppard drummer only has one arm and he is still rockin hard. (Sorry, all this one armed talk made me think of that)

 

[ParamedicMan]

lest we forget the greatest one armed surgeon of them all...

 

[Lynybyny]

There is a one armed surgeon in Gadsden, Alabama. I myself am missing a hand and am working on designing my own surgical prosthetic.

Hello, I have been I certified surgical technologist for 20 years. I and i am a left hand amputee and for the first time am facing discrimination. I was hired as such and moved to a small town in Arizona. I have heard such negative comments such as you know I can't do this with 3 hands. I have tried taking to my director about this and she is just pacifying. Would anyone know of someone I could talk e to regarding a amputees that scrub either surgeon or tech?

 

[BruceWilly]

I'm a blind surgeon and recently had the brakes removed from my car. It was a personal decision, and I wasn't about to take any sass from "the man." #momsforequalrightsforprisoners

 

[BruceWilly]

You are a tool.