Local hand surgeon discusses three bone-chilling cases

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – In his years spent as a preeminent hand surgeon, Dr. Mark Ciaglia of Woodlands Center for Special Surgery has handled cases involving sprained pinkies to total hand reconstruction. Recently, he discussed three instances in particular where he succeeded in helping people get a grasp on their lives after horrifying incidents.

The Case of the Flying Gunman

“Last year, I was called in to examine someone who had inadvertently shot himself in the hand while cleaning his gun,” said Ciaglia. “What makes this case stand out is that he was a commercial pilot; he flew jumbo jets for a major airline.”

A pilot himself, Ciaglia knew without hesitation how vital it is to have complete hand function control. Examining his patient, he knew he had his work cut out for him.

“It wasn’t just a gunshot; it was a .40-caliber gunshot,” he said. “My patient blew out every bone, ligament and nerve at the base of his ring and little fingers.”

Ciaglia set about performing a complete reconstruction on the damaged hand in a six-hour surgery. “It took bone grafts, titanium plates, nerve reconstruction and stem cell therapy, but we were successful in keeping his hand function – and his career – intact.” Ciaglia is so confident in the surgical results that he has offered to go flying with his former patient any time.

The Case of a Wristed Development

“The instance where the airline pilot injured his hand involved an immediate trauma and an immediate surgical response,” said Ciaglia. “But sometimes I get a patient who comes to me who has been suffering from hand and wrist issues for years. I make it my personal goal to get rid of those issues as quickly as possible.”

One such instance was when a female auto mechanic came to the clinic. The woman, who was in her 30s, had been involved in a motorcycle accident over a decade before. The diagnosis Ciaglia made was for a “chronically painful non-functional wrist.” The damage was so severe that the woman had zero range of motion in that wrist; she couldn’t even throw a Nerf ball, let alone be able to competently complete her mechanic duties.

“What blew me away was that over those ten years she had already undergone multiple wrist surgeries with various doctors, and they had all failed, every single one,” said Ciaglia. “I was determined to ease her pain and restore her mobility.”

Ciaglia conducted a total wrist joint replacement surgery, which is an extraordinarily rare procedure due to its complexity and for somebody so young. Ciaglia, however, was undeterred by the challenge, and the surgery was a complete success.

“Today, she has full – and I mean 100 percent – motion range in that wrist,” he said. “I wouldn’t hesitate taking my car in to her shop to have her work on it.”

The Case of the Disappearing / Reappearing Finger

One case in particular that Ciaglia relates about an incident in 2001 frequently has his listeners squirming in their seats as they wring their hands.

“This one definitely sticks out in my memory,” he said. “It’s the story of a young paramedic who completely de-gloved one of her fingers.”

For those not up on the latest hand healthcare terminology, “de-gloving” means the complete stripping and removal of the finger of all its skin and musculature, frequently leaving only bone behind. Such as what happened to the paramedic responding to a middle-of-the-night emergency call.

Within minutes of the incident, Ciaglia himself was answering his own 3:00 a.m. emergency call; only this time, the rescuer involved needed to be rescued by him.

“When I got the call, I was just getting home from a midnight emergency surgery,” he said. “I turned around and returned to the same hospital. Examining C, I discovered that the de-gloving occurred when she jumped out of her ambulance. The ring on her middle finger got caught in the door, but her body kept moving. What resulted was that her skin, nerves and blood vessels were completely peeled off.”

A multiple-hour surgery ensued where Ciaglia completely restored the finger, ensuring every nerve and vessel was properly connected and functioning. After several skin grafts and two subsequent surgeries, he is proud to point out – and, yes, he has photos ready to show at the slightest provocation – that it is nearly impossible to today see which finger was restored.

When relating his horror stories, Ciaglia is thrilled to end each one with a happy ending. “These aren’t just patients; they’re people, they’re individuals, with their own jobs and lives and needs. And it’s my job to make sure they can keep a grip on their lives.”

Dr. Ciaglia is currently offering free hand screenings to new patients. To make an appointment, please call 936-242-1437 or visit www.wcfspecialsurgery.com.

If you have concerns about an injury or questions regarding injury prevention, speak with Board-certified surgeon and hand specialist Dr. Mark Ciaglia at The Woodlands Center for Special Surgery, located at 17450 St. Luke’s Way, Suite 390, in The Woodlands.