(i) Assessment of the acutely injured hand

An acutely injured hand presents a diagnostic challenge to the treating clinician. A comprehensive history with a detailed understanding of the mechanism of injury and a thorough knowledge of underlying patho-anatomy forms a keystone to the systematic assessment of the injured hand. This is followed by a logical sequence of physical examination which includes ‘look’, ‘feel’, ‘move’ and special tests.This article aims to present a system for assessment of an acutely injured hand to help the treating doctor plan further management.