Hand

Disorders of the hand, wrist and forearm can lead to a considerable impairment of quality of life. Therefore, our scientific focus is to optimize diagnostic steps, treatment, patient education and aftercare. In order to achieve continuous technical innovation, material enhancement and improvement of overall treatment, we conduct research in all relevant aspects of hand surgery: scientific activities range from basic research, retrospective as well as prospective clinical studies, translational studies, biomechanics, surgical technique innovation, radiodiagnostics, anatomical studies, mobile application use in rehabilitation, osteoporotic fractures, comparison of surgical techniques, to fracture classification and evaluation of established treatment concepts. We constantly evaluate clinical outcomes, assess novel diagnostic steps and therapeutic tools. In addition we introduce, validate and implement innovative surgical techniques.

Members of the research cluster “hand” are involved in academic teaching, student mentoring, extracurricular activities and the supervision of master as well as diploma theses.

If you are interested in becoming part of our team please do not hesitate to contact the cluster coordinator or one of the principal investigators.

Principal investigators

• Priv.-Doz.Dr. Thomas Haider, PhD, MBA
  (distal radial fractures)
  ORCID: 0000-0003-3192-8453)
  thomas.a.haider@meduniwien.ac.at
• DDr. Gabriel Halát
  (jersey finger, flexor tendon injuries, pulley lesions)
  ORCID: 0000-0002-2480-7381
  gabriel.halat@meduniwien.ac.at
• Dr. Irena Krusche-Mand
  (scaphoid fractures, scaphoid non-unions, perilunate fracture dislocations, HR-PQCT)
  irena.krusche-mandl@meduniwien.ac.at
• Dr. Roberta Laggner 
  (mobile application use in rehabilitation, wrist arthroscopy)
  ORCID: 0000-0001-7822-7529
  roberta.laggner@meduniwien.ac.at
• Dr. Arastoo Nia
  (HR-PQCT, distal radius fractures)
  ORCID: 0000-0002-9001-7732
  arastoo.nia@meduniwien.ac.at
• Dr. Valerie Weihs
  (carpal alignment, radial fractures, wrist arthroscopy)
  ORCID: 0000-0003-1697-1381
  valerie.weihs@meduniwien.ac.at
• DDr. Stephan Frenzel
  (extensor tendon injuries)
  ORCID: 0000-0003-1835-1477
  stephan.frenzel@meduniwien.ac.at
• Dr. Gerhild Thalhammer
  (wrist arthroscopy, distal radioulnar joint instabilities, distal radius fractures)
  ORCID: 0000-0003-3354-5579
  gerhild.thalhammer@meduniwien.ac.at

Important publications

• Thalhammer, G., Haider, T., Lauffer, M. & Tunnerhoff, H. G. Mid- and Long-Term Outcome After Arthroscopically Assisted Transosseous Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Refixation-Good to Excellent Results in Spite of Some Loss of Stability of the Distal Radioulnar Joint. Arthroscopy 37, 1458-1466, doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2021.01.056 (2021).
• Halat, G. et al. Introduction of a new repair technique in bony avulsion of the FDP tendon: A biomechanical study. Sci Rep 8, 9906, doi:10.1038/s41598-018-28250-y (2018).
• Krusche-Mandl, I. et al. Seymour fractures: retrospective analysis and therapeutic considerations. J Hand Surg Am 38, 258-264, doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2012.11.015 (2013).
• Halat, G. et al. Treatment options and outcome after bony avulsion of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon: a review of 29 cases. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 137, 285-292, doi:10.1007/s00402-016-2619-1 (2017).
• Hruby, L. A. et al.  Standard radiographic assessments of distal radius fractures miss involvement of the distal radioulnar joint: a diagnostic study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 142, 1075-1082, doi:10.1007/s00402-021-03801-7 (2022).
• Halat, G. et al. Biomechanical characteristics of suture anchor implants for flexor digitorum profundus repair. J Hand Surg Am 39, 256-261, doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2013.11.023 (2014).
• Haider, T. et al.  Multiple drill-hole osteotomy in hand surgery - description of a novel application and proof of feasibility. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 18, 529, doi:10.1186/s12891-017-1895-4 (2017).