Examination and interface with the musician.

Abstract

Musicians are special patients and this fact has to find expression in the history taking and examination of musicians. The consulting hand surgeon has to develop a consistent concept of history taking and examination that respects all the specific facets of the musician's environment and techniques, besides and beyond the usual hand surgical standards. There has to be an emphasis on exhaustive examination of subtle technical and ergonomic details, which in many cases reveals the pathogenic origin or source of the musician's complaint. From this can be delivered the clues for establishing the specific solutions and therapy concepts, whereas the standard hand surgical concepts might be misleading.