Oh Neil, your poor father-in-law! I'm so glad to read he's going to a specialist though since hands can be such delicate things and so easily messed up. Having gone through a delicate thumb reconstruction with one of my kids (a sports injury), I know that seeking a good specialist is the only way to go if you want to have full use and range of that hand again.

Best wishes and prayers that they will get it all sorted out for him as quickly and painlessly as possible.