Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre (HULC)
We provide quality specialized orthopedic and plastic medical and surgical care for our community and region with a focus on disorders of the upper extremities and we train future medical professionals, including orthopedic and plastic surgeons, emergency room and other physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Who we are
Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre is a respected, world renowned centre of excellence in education, research, and the diagnosis, care and treatment of patients with complex conditions affecting hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders, complex wound care and numerous other conditions requiring specialized care.
Who we serve
Our patients come to us through referrals from around the world.
We are the largest centre of our kind in Canada and serve more than 40,000 patients per year.
All patients must be referred for an appointment through a family doctor or other physician, through a walk in clinic, emergency department or urgent care centre.
What we do
We provide quality specialized orthopedic and plastic medical and surgical care for our community and region with a focus on disorders of the upper extremities.
We train future medical professionals; including orthopedic and plastic surgeons, emergency room and other physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
We share our knowledge and understanding with our patients, students and colleagues.
We carry out research to advance the treatment and management of disorders and disease affecting our patients.
Hand therapy
We provide rehabilitation of the upper limb for patients from across Ontario following trauma, repetitive strain and surgery.
Education
The Hand Therapy team is dedicated to teaching health care professionals. As part of this on-going commitment we host an annual symposium which attracts delegates from across Canada and the United States. Our symposium provides health care professionals with an up-to-date review of cutting edge rehabilitation techniques.
We also have established a fellowship program, active in teaching occupational and physical therapists, hand therapists, residents and medical students.
Our therapists provide clinical teaching around the world at various international conferences. Some of our hand therapists also have academic appointments at Western University.
Meeting the specific needs of each HULC patient
Patients in our hand therapy clinic are seen by either an occupational therapist or physiotherapist. Each therapist is a registered member with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario or the College of Physical Therapists of Ontario.
Each therapy program is individualized and custom tailored to meet the specific needs of the patient.
We provide:
- Advanced orthosis (splint) design and fabrication*
- Thermal and electro-physical modalities
- Continuous passive motion device applications to the elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand
- Swelling control techniques
- Wound and scar management
- Myofascial release – soft tissue therapy
- Acupuncture
- Desensitization
- Evaluation/assessment of range of pain, sensibility, strength, and function
- Pain management
- Work hardening
- Activities of daily living (ADL) re-training
* These devices are used post-trauma for pain control and positioning. Also, they can be applied as a means to increase range of motion and function. Functional splints may be used to optimize a patient’s ability to manage activities of daily living.