Surgeon's Skill, Patient's Determination Led to Remarkable Recovery from Complex Hand Trauma

Cathy Viscounte knows firsthand how quickly life can change.

On March 7, 2024, Cathy’s life took a dramatic turn when a car abruptly pulled in front of her, causing her to hit it broadside. “I slammed on the brakes, but the force of the impact caused all the airbags to deploy,” she recalls. 

When EMS arrived, Cathy’s left arm was pinned tightly against her stomach.

“I knew it was bad when the paramedic asked if I was squeamish and told me not to look,” she says.

Cathy’s husband, Tom, was also told to brace himself when he arrived at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital’s emergency department. “It looked like her hand was resting on her arm sideways, almost like her hand was broken off,” he says.

Dr. Andrew Esterle, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hands and wrists, was on call that day. “The ER doctor called and described Cathy’s injury to me,” he says. “They had irrigated and temporarily closed the large laceration at the base of her thumb, but despite their efforts to realign the fracture, it remained grossly unstable.”

Cathy worked with occupational therapist, Kaelyn (Katie) Cantrell, who was instrumental in helping Cathy regain fine motor skills. (Photo Courtesy: Cleveland Clinic)

Logging in from home to review Cathy’s images, Dr. Esterle saw for himself the extent of the damage. “Everything between the small joint segment and the radius was in many small pieces,” he says. “There was also a fracture of the ulna (the long bone between the elbow and wrist).”

Due to the severity of Cathy’s injury, Dr. Esterle decided immediate surgery was the best option. “Stabilizing the fracture would not only alleviate her pain, but I was concerned that swelling and blistering could develop over the next few days, which would make a delayed surgery more complex and increase the risk of wound complication,” he says.

Meeting Dr. Esterle that day gave Tom and Cathy the reassurance they needed. “He told us it was one of the worst breaks he had ever seen,” Tom remembers. “But he was confident he could help, even if he wasn’t sure how much he could fix.”

For Dr. Esterle, the first step was to address the laceration on Cathy’s thumb which extended several inches. After repairing the wound, he focused on stabilizing Cathy’s wrist. He inserted a plate to stabilize the joint and carefully realigned the radius, bringing it back to its natural position. Because of the severe swelling, he opted to leave the ulna fracture alone to avoid further complications from additional incisions.

Following surgery, Cathy was placed in a cast that stretched all the way to her armpit. “I had to hold my arm at a 90-degree angle for the first three weeks,” she recalls.

Due to the significant trauma to her soft tissues, including swelling and blistering, Cathy’s recovery deviated from the typical postoperative plan. "Her case was unique," Dr. Esterle says. "I saw her weekly to monitor and manage the hemorrhagic blisters, ensuring her healing stayed on track."

Despite the overwhelming nature of her injuries, Cathy remained determined to regain her strength and mobility. “I knew I had to keep pushing,” she says.

Cathy and her husband, Tom, whose unwavering support made a huge difference in her recovery. (Photo Courtesy: Cleveland Clinic)

By April, she was ready to begin occupational therapy with Kaelyn Cantrell at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Health and Wellness Center in Green. “We worked together twice a week from April through July,” Cathy says. “It’s been six months since the accident, and I’ve made significant progress—I can now make a fist, touch my fingers together and lift 3 to 5 pounds.”

Although she still has some limited range of motion that prevents her from doing pushups or planks on her hands, she’s thankful for the things she can do. “My life changed in the blink of an eye, but I’ve made significant improvements,” she says. “As a Mercy Hospital employee, I expected great care, but my expectations were exceeded by everyone involved.”

Tom also shared his appreciation for his wife’s care, especially from Dr. Esterle. “His bedside manner, clear explanations and skillfulness gave us peace of mind,” Tom says. “He was the right surgeon for us.” 

Dr. Esterle remains impressed by Cathy’s recovery, noting that her positive attitude and determination were critical to her progress.

“Despite the severity of her injury, Cathy never gave up,” he says. “She pushed herself in therapy and stayed focused. Tom’s unwavering support also made a huge difference. It’s been a privilege to care for them—they’ve left a lasting impression on me.”