Examination of a Middle Aged Female Patient with Hand Symptoms course for GPs

This session uses a video clip to demonstrate how to carry out a focused, problem-based physical examination on a patient presenting with hand pain in primary care.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in September 2018.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Assess and demonstrate an appropriate physical examination with a patient
• Conduct a focused history attempting to elicit the potential diagnosis whilst trying to exclude more serious pathology
• Conduct a physical examination in a patient-centred way explaining the process and excluding potentially serious problems
• Arrange an appropriate management plan in a Primary Care setting
• Recognise when to refer to secondary or other specialist services

Hand symptoms and signs are a relatively common occurrence. They can reveal local disease or more generalised systemic disease. Pathology can vary from nail and skin changes to pain, numbness, burning, loss of sensation and muscle wasting.