One of the things I enjoy about Family Medicine is the variety. There is always something new to see, do, or learn. In PNG this is very true. Most days I see something that I have rarely dealt with or is completely new. I have learned to adopt a “can-do” attitude.

I was working in the outpatient department (OPD) when a middle aged male came in. He had fallen two days before and had pain over his thumb. His thumb was deformed and he could not flex it. I sent him for an X-ray and he came back with a film showing dislocation of his distal phalangy. Well, I’ve never fixed one of these before but thought it should be simple enough. I injected lidocaine around the base of his finger (digital block) making his thumb numb. As I held his hand in place, I gave the tip of his thumb a firm, steady pull. Pop! Like magic his thumb popped back in place, looked normal and was moving normally. Post procedure film was normal as well.

Nice work!!
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Great job Dr Mason! I always enjoy the adventures of the Mason family in PNG. God is using you to change lives there. I believe perhaps our greatest reward in heaven will be people we have helped telling us that some little thing we did for them was a step toward their belief in Christ. God works in mysterious ways, even with dislocated fingers.
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Thank you Ed!
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I guess you thumbed your way through that one! I appreciate your work/ministry in PNG…friend of your mom!
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Haha! Yes he did. 🙂
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