Upper Extremity Surgery in Tetraplegia and the Online Information Void

This study investigates the availability and quality of online information regarding upper extremity surgery for tetraplegia, from a patient's perspective. The research highlights a gap in easily accessible online resources that discuss surgical options for improving upper limb function in individuals with tetraplegia. General online searches often exclude discussions of upper limb reconstruction, meaning that patients and caregivers may not be aware of these surgical options. Unless patients have baseline knowledge of tendon or nerve transfers, they are unlikely to find information through self-initiated searches. The study suggests that improving the online dialogue to include upper extremity surgery as a fundamental part of tetraplegia care is crucial. By making online content more available, visible, and readable, patients can be better informed and participate more actively in their care.

• 1
  General online searches for spinal cord injury treatment yield very few articles that mention upper extremity surgery.
• 2
  Using more specific keywords, such as "hand surgery tetraplegia," significantly increases the number of relevant articles discussing tendon/nerve transfers.
• 3
  Many of the articles found through specific searches are scholarly articles intended for professional audiences, limiting their accessibility to the average patient.