Over 680,000 patient visits, Over 90,000 surgeries, 350 fingers reattached
The bedrock of any clinical program is dedication and ambition. For the past 25 years the Roth|McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre (HULC) has been advancing care for patients with upper limb injuries and disorders in Southwestern Ontario - and around the world.
Founded at St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1992 by doctors James Roth and Robert McFarlane, HULC has grown to become the largest upper limb centre in Canada. HULC is now recognized as a 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.
In partnership with Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute, HULC’s accomplishments in the past 25 years have been ground-breaking influencing patient care locally, regionally, nationally and around the world. “One of our biggest achievements includes the design and implementation of new joint replacements for the shoulder, elbow and wrist. These replacements were designed by HULC surgeons and are used globally,” says Dr. Graham King, HULC Medical Director and St. Joseph’s Hospital Site Chief of Surgery. Other developments include patient assessment tools to evaluate treatment outcomes for upper limb conditions that are used worldwide and have been translated into multiple languages; an award winning rapid detection system for prosthetic joint infections and the development of new techniques to improve upper limb function for patients with spinal cord injuries through our Peripheral Nerve Clinic, states Dr. King.
“It’s clear that this pivotal program has made a significant impact for those living with upper extremity injuries and disorders,” says Dr. Gillian Kernaghan, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Care London. “We watched this burgeoning program grow over the last 25 years to the superb service it is today. We are very grateful to have this cornerstone program as part of the expert care St. Joseph’s can offer patients.”
25 years - by the numbers:
- Over $26 million dollars in research funding
- Over 850 articles published in medical journals
- Over 680,000 patient visits
- Over 200,000 therapy visits
- Over 700 medical professionals trained (orthopedic and plastic surgeons, emergency room and other physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists)
- Over 90,000 surgeries
- 350 fingers reattached
- Seven arms reattached
Media Contact:
Amanda Jackman
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519.646.6100 ext.47155