Hand Surgery Day in India

We all remember and celebrate the special days in our life, be it a birthday or anniversary or special occasions related to our loved ones. In our profession, we remember Doctor’s Day, and we celebrate it throughouet the country in various ways with programs dedicated to patient care and wellbeing. For a long time, though, as hand surgeons in India, we had no special day to celebrate the specialty close to our heart.

The Indian Society for Surgery of the Hand (ISSH) started as a Hand Club and, on August 15, 1973, it was formally named the Indian Society for Surgery of the Hand. The society was registered in Mumbai on August 23, 1973. Subsequently, the members of the society formed a trust on November 24, 2000.

The executive council of ISSH In July 2021, under President Dr. Ravi Mahajan, confirmed August 23, 1973, as the first foundation day of ISSH and announced that 23rd August every year shall be celebrated as Hand Surgery Day in India. On this day, each member of the society was requested to carry out an IEC program (information, education, and communication) in their area of influence to propagate the presidential theme—2021, which is “Prevention of Disability after Hand Surgery.”

To commemorate the day, the ISSH members, who are also trained hand surgeons, hold seminars, symposia, press conferences, and other activities across the country to educate the primary health caregivers about the simple measures of decontamination, splinting, and prevention of edema, before a patient is referred to a hand surgery center. It also includes awareness programs about the special day and various aspects of hand injury management, press releases, flyers on first aid in hand surgery, brochures about the red flags in hand injuries, and videos demonstrating the basic surgical steps in managing hand injuries. In addition, they also spread the word about the management of simple hand injuries and how to preserve an amputated part for transportation to a hand surgery center for replantation.

Indian insurance cover for health care has made significant strides toward universal health coverage to become the world’s largest government-subsidized health care provider to its 1.3 billion population. Despite this progress, 30% of the population still lacks financial protection in health care.[2] The ISSH felt the need to mitigate the social and economic burdens, especially in managing hand injuries in the country, strive hard for our patients’ betterment, and provide the best possible surgical methods. To raise the bar to a high level and show gratitude, we operated on patients free of cost on hand surgery day. This was a small voluntary step spurred to contribute towards the health care challenges in India and a way to give back to our brothers and sisters who sometimes cannot afford the surgical cost.

This year the ISSH president Dr. Mukund R Thatte decided on the theme of “Indian Normative Data.” At the same time, the ISSH research wing was created in August 2021, with Professor Dr. Anil K Bhat as the chief of the research wing.[3] The wing took up the president’s theme as its first project and various other projects, including normative data on motion sequence, nail growth, static 2PD in pediatric and adults hand, electrophysiological measurements in upper limb nerves, ulnar length in pediatrics, normative data of carpal and metacarpal bones, radiographic scaphoid measurements, normal thumb lengths, grip and pinch strength, and hand dominance. It will be a great research study, and the implications have enormous benefits for Indian hand surgery. Hand surgery day can also help this project celebrate the theme innovatively.

Mainly orthopaedic surgeons and plastic surgeons practiced hand surgery and a new generation of surgeons being trained in the subject of hand surgery at reputed institutes in India practice hand surgery in India. This day is a source of inspiration and serves as a guiding light for the entire fraternity of hand surgeons in India. It also reminds us of the significant contributions of yesteryear pioneers and inspires us to carry out their legacy with great responsibility.

Be the change you wish to see in the world, said Mahatma Gandhi. Hand surgery day is the change and dream we want to see in the world to prevent hand injuries and long-lasting disabilities. It will be a day well spent to become a cherished memory for everyone.

Publication History

Article published online:
20 August 2022

• References

• 1 https://issh.org/hand-surgery-day-2021.php. Accessed July 27, 2022
• 2 https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-10/HealthInsurance-forIndiasMissingMiddle_28-10-2021.pdf. Accessed July 27, 2022
• 3 https://issh.org/upper-limb-project.php. Accessed July 27, 2022