Psychosocial consequences of upper limb injury

Upper limb surgeons have little in the way of training in the identification or management of the psychological aspects of limb injury. Surgeons in training tend to see their specialty in technical terms, only slowly appreciating that the psychological state of the patient profoundly affects outcome in many cases. The case report that follows charts the psychological progress of a patient following severe upper limb injury. Surgeons usually view rehabilitation in physical terms. This report emphasizes the psychological aspects of a major limb injury to a policeman (MP) who subsequently studied psychology at PhD level.