Communication is a crucial part of our society. Communication may be oral and/or written. Communication is necessary to satisfy us in both work and recreation needs. Communication plays an important role in expressing ourselves and interacting with friends, groups, and organizations. Hand surgeons have the direct ability to influence a person's ability to communicate, especially those with impairment.

The written word is a principal from of communication. Writing shapes society, establishes fundamentals, provides written history, and forms a basis for theology. The surgeon often influences the way a person writes. The goal is to achieve penmanship via unilateral or bilateral handwriting. Children and adults with impairment often have difficulty writing and thus communicating. A portion of the lecture discussed various ways that the hand surgeon affects communication and writing. Surgical methods were discussed including osteotomy, distraction lengthening, tendon transfers, and pollicization. The details and outcomes of these procedures were also discussed in detail.

Extensive impairment requires alternate ways of writing such as using the feet or adaptive equipment. The advent of advanced technology to better provide communication has directly influenced those impaired. There are many assisted technologies that are used by the impaired person and these technologies were discussed with an emphasis on independence.

Most importantly, the many contributions and tales of Howard Halderman Steel were also discussed throughout the lecture. The discrimination between fact and fiction will be left to the participant.