Hand and wrist injury claims are often underestimated early, particularly where initial imaging or treatment appears relatively straightforward. In practice, however, ongoing pain, reduced grip strength, stiffness, nerve symptoms and loss of dexterity can have a significant impact on employment, daily activity and long term future loss.

For solicitors, these cases frequently turn on prognosis. Questions around recovery, functional limitation, future treatment and long term impairment can materially influence both valuation and settlement strategy, particularly where expert opinion differs.

In this webinar, Consultant Hand & Wrist Surgeon Mr Rupert Wharton explored how orthopaedic experts assess hand and wrist injuries in practice, what factors commonly drive long term disability, and why apparently minor injuries can sometimes result in disproportionately significant functional loss.

About the Speaker

Mr Rupert Wharton is a Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising exclusively in hand and wrist surgery. He practises at Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and privately across several leading London hospitals, including The New Victoria Hospital and Princess Grace Hospital.

Alongside his clinical practice, Mr Wharton provides medico legal opinion in personal injury matters involving complex hand, wrist, tendon and nerve injuries. His work focuses on prognosis, residual functional limitation, future treatment recommendations and long term outcome following traumatic injury.

Key Findings from the Webinar

During the session, Mr Wharton highlighted several important issues that can materially affect causation arguments, valuation and future loss assessment in hand and wrist injury claims, including:

• Why functional loss often matters more than the diagnosis itself

• How seemingly minor injuries can result in significant long term disability

• Why imaging findings do not always reflect real world impairment

• The difficulty of predicting recovery following wrist and nerve injuries

• How grip strength, dexterity and endurance influence valuation discussions

• Why ongoing pain, stiffness and cold intolerance are often underestimated

• The importance of timing when obtaining expert evidence

• How psychological impact following hand trauma can affect long term outcome

Mr Wharton also explored a series of practical case examples involving amputations, tendon injuries, nerve damage, wrist fractures and joint instability, demonstrating how orthopaedic expert evidence can directly shape quantum assessment, future treatment recommendations and long term loss claims.

Read the full medico-legal article here >