Journal of Hand and Microsurgery最新文献

Background  Spastic joint contractures remain a complex and challenging condition. For patients with upper extremity spastic dysfunction, improving the muscle balance is essential to maximize their hand function. Multiple procedures, including proximal row carpectomy (PRC) and wrist arthrodesis (WA), are considered among the different surgical alternatives. However, the biomechanical consequences of these two procedures have not been well described in current literature. Hence, the objective of our study is to assess the change in the extrinsic digit flexor tendon resting length after proximal row carpectomy and wrist arthrodesis. Methods  Six fresh-frozen cadaver upper extremities (four females and two males) with no obvious deformity underwent dissection, PRC, and WA. All the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), and flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendons were marked proximally 1-cm distal to their respective myotendinous junction and cut distally at the marked point. The overlapping segment of each distal flexor tendon from its proximal mark was considered the amount of flexor tendon resting length change after PRC and WA. A descriptive evaluation was performed to assess the increment in tendon resting length. Additionally, a regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relation between the tendon resting length and the proximal carpal row height. Results  Following PRC and WA, the mean digit flexor tendon resting length increment achieved across all tendons was 1.88 cm (standard deviation [SD] = 0.45; range: 1.00-3.00 cm). A weak direct relationship ( R  = 0.0334) between the increment in tendon resting length and proximal carpal row height was initially suggested, although no statistical significance was demonstrated ( p  = 0.811). Conclusion  This study provides an anatomic description of the increased extrinsic digit flexor tendon resting length after PRC and WA in cadaveric specimens. Findings provide a useful framework to estimate the amount of extrinsic digit flexor resting length increment achieved after wrist fusion and the proximal carpal row removal.

Background  The clinical results of replantation for an amputated distal finger are functionally acceptable. However, few reports exist regarding sequential clinical postoperative recovery. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical recovery at every 3 months up to 1 year postoperatively. Methods  Nineteen patients (16 patients were men), representing 19 fingers with complete amputation at Tamai's zone 1 and replanted successfully, were included in this study. Total active motion (TAM), grip strength (GS), Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SW) test result, static two-point discrimination (s2PD), and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score questionnaire results were obtained postoperatively at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Pulp atrophy and nail deformity were assessed at 12 months postoperatively. Results  The postoperative %TAM (compared to the uninjured side, 81.8 ± 18.1 at 3 months vs. 91.5 ± 11.9 at 6 months, p  < 0.01), %GS (compared with the uninjured side, 61.3 ± 25.9 at 3 months vs. 78.3 ± 20.4 at 6 months, p  = 0.02), s2PD (excellent and good/poor; 7/12 at 3 months vs. 18/1 at 6 months, p  < 0.01), and DASH scores (26.1 ± 23.1 at 3 months vs. 12.0 ± 12.9 at 6 months, p  < 0.01) recovered significantly from 3 to 6 months but did not change significantly from 6 months onward. The SW test results showed a significant recovery between 3 and 12 months postoperatively (2.83 and 3.61/4.31, 6.65, and undetectable, 1/18 at 3 months vs. 7/12 at 12 months, p  = 0.04). The DASH score at 12 months postoperatively was significantly associated with %TAM ( r  = -0.64, p  < 0.01) and %GS ( r  = -0.58, p  < 0.01) at 12 months postoperatively and age ( r  = 0.52, p  = 0.02). Five fingers had pulp atrophy and four fingers had nail deformity. Conclusion  This 1-year follow-up study showed the sequential clinical recovery after replantation for complete amputation in Tamai zone 1. Postoperative %TAM, %GS, and the DASH score recovered significantly between 3 and 6 months but significant recovery up to 1 year was not observed.

The advent of hand surgery in India reads like a fortuitous saga, a continuum of the hand deformity correction on leprosy patients pioneered by Dr. Paul Wilson Brand at the Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, Madras State (Tamil Nadu [TN]), in 1948. The "Hand Research Unit," established in 1951, became the largest repository for hand reconstructive surgeries and with its head-start drew in most hand dysfunctions in the country. Early industrialization and disorderly road traffic generated hand injuries that threatened workforce in India. Propitiously, a hand injury service was opened in 1971 at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, Chennai. The inexorable growth of hand surgery continued and incorporated the gamut of conditions that required hand care and rehabilitation, including brachial plexus injuries. Continuing Medical Education programs, Hand Surgery workshops, Indian Society for Surgery of the Hand meetings, Hand Fellowships, etc., increased the number of "hand surgery" practitioners, which drew the attention of the Medical Council of India to commence a postgraduate Hand Surgery program that it eventually gazetted. The sagacity of the members of the Board of Studies of TN Medical University honored the historical role of CMC Vellore in hand surgery and allowed it to commence the first Master of Chirurgiae Hand Surgery course in India in 2015. An intuitive understanding of 70 years of hand surgery accomplishments that redesigned and restored deformed and injured hands and protected livelihoods have made young surgeons increasingly take hand surgery as a career.

Background  Free vascularized ulnar nerve flaps (VUNF) are effective method for long nerve defects reconstruction. However, the monitorization of its microvascular circulation and the nerve regrowth can be challenging since it is usually designed as a buried flap. We designed a skin paddle based on a septocutaneous perforator from the ulnar artery that can be dissected and raised in conjunction with the vascularized ulnar nerve flap, which aims to improve postoperative monitorization to optimizing the clinical results. Methods  We retrospectively reviewed 10 cases with long nerve defects who underwent reconstruction using VUNF between June 2018 and June 2019, including eight acute brachial plexus injuries, 1 multiple nerve injury due to a rolling machine accident, and 1 sequalae of nerve injury after arm replantation. All the demographic data, surgical details, outcomes, and perioperative complications were recorded. Results  We evaluated 10 male patients, with a mean age of 34 ± 16 years. Cases included 5 antegrade, 4 retrograde, and 1 U-shaped VUNF. All chimeric skin paddles survived, and all of the underlying nerves presented with adequate circulation and functional improvement. There were no intraoperative or microvascular complications. One skin paddle had a transitory postoperative circulation compromise due to external compression (bandage) which resolved spontaneously after pressure release. Conclusion  VUNF chimerization of a septocutaneous perforator skin flap is a relatively easy and efficient method for postoperative monitorization of the nerve's microvascular circulation as well as beneficial for postoperative Tinel's sign checkup to confirm the success of the nerve coaptation. The outcome is potentially improved.

Introduction  Elbow flexion is indispensable for both functioning and nonfunctioning hands. It is well perceived that restoration of elbow function is the first reconstructive priority in cases of brachial plexus injuries. The authors assessed the impact of associated distal humeral fractures on the functional outcome after unipolar latissimus dorsi transfer (ULDT) for restoration of elbow flexion in patients with residual brachial plexus palsy (BPP). Patients and Methods  Twenty-three patients operated for restoring elbow flexion after residual post-traumatic BPP (with or without distal humeral fracture) by unipolar latissimus dorsi transfer (ULDT) were reviewed for a retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups; associated distal humeral fracture group (HF-group; 10 patients) and non-associated distal humeral fracture group (NHF-group; 13 patients). Elbow flexion active range of motion (AROM), flexion deformity in addition to Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) were assessed. Results  In both groups there were statistically better postoperative MEPS grading ( p  = 0.007, p  = 0.001 , respectively) and scoring with a mean of 81 ± 16.1 and 90 ± 4.6, respectively ( p < 0.001). The mean postoperative elbow flexion AROM was statistically better in both groups. The mean supination AROM was better in NHF group ( p  = 0.057). Conclusion  The use of ULDT in residual post-traumatic BPP is an efficient procedure in regaining functional flexion and supination. An associated distal humeral fracture does not significantly affect the final functional outcome. Level of Evidence  Level IV.

Aim  A rare complication following volar plate fixation of a distal radius fracture is flexor pollicis longus (FPL) rupture. This study aims primarily to analyze the radiographic features and secondly to report the patient-reported outcomes of FPL reconstruction after volar plate fixation. Methods  Ten patients were retrospectively identified and contacted for follow-up. Seven patients participated in the study and completed the numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain, patient-reported outcome measurement information system-upper extremity (PROMIS-UE), and quick disability of arm, shoulder, and hand (QuickDASH) questionnaires at a median of 3.4 years following FPL reconstruction. Soong grade was determined on preoperative radiographs. Results  Six patients were classified as Soong grade 1 and two patients had a screw or wire protruding volarly. The median time to tendon rupture was 21.6 months. At final follow-up, the median NRS pain score was 0 (range: 0-7); the median PROMIS-UE score was 47.1 (range: 25.9-61); and the median QuickDASH-score was 12.5 (range: 4.5-75). Conclusions  The outcome of FPL reconstruction after volar plate fixation is highly variable. All ruptures in our cohort occurred in patients with plate positioning classified as Soong grade 1 and occurred at up to 3 years following distal radius fixation.

Background  There has been an increasing utilization of end-to-end (ETE) and reverse "supercharged" end-to-side (SETS) anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) to ulnar nerve transfers (NTs) for treatment of high ulnar nerve injury. This study aimed to review the potential indications for, and outcomes of, ETE and SETS AIN-ulnar NT. Methods  A literature review was performed, and 10 articles with 156 patients who had sufficient follow-up to evaluate functional outcomes were included. English studies were included if they reported the outcome of patients with ulnar nerve injuries treated with AIN to ulnar motor NT. Outcomes were analyzed based on the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire scores, grip and key pinch strength, and interosseous Medical Research Council-graded motor strength. Comparisons were made using the independent t -test and the chi-square test. No nerve graft control group was required for eligibility. Ulnar nerve injury types varied. Results  NT resulted in 77% of patients achieving M3+ recovery, 53.7 ± 19.8 lb grip strength recovery, 61 ± 21% key pinch recovery, and a mean DASH score of 33.4 ± 16. In this diverse group, NT resulted in significantly greater M3+ recovery and grip strength recovery measured in pounds than in the nerve graft/conventional treatment group, and ETE repairs had significantly better outcomes compared with SETS repairs for grip strength, key pinch strength, and DASH scores, but heterogeneity limits interpretation. Conclusion  ETE and SETS AIN-ulnar NTs produce significant restoration of ulnar nerve motor function for high ulnar nerve injuries. For ulnar nerve transection injuries at or above the elbow, ETE NT results in superior motor recovery compared with nerve grafting/conventional repair. However, further research is needed to determine the best treatment for other types of ulnar nerve injury and the role of SETS NT.

Background  Higher rates of prolonged opioid use have been reported in patients who undergo thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthroplasty compared with other hand procedures. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the risk factors associated with prolonged postoperative opioid use after CMC arthroplasty, along with reporting the number of patients who filled an opioid prescription more than 30 days postoperatively. Materials and Methods  Retrospectively, 563 opioid-naïve patients who underwent CMC arthroplasty were included. A manual chart review was performed to collect patient characteristics, and opioid use was determined based on opioid prescription by a physician. Prolonged opioid use was defined as an opioid prescription at 90 to 180 days postoperatively. A multivariable analysis was performed to identify independent factors associated with an opioid prescription at 90 to 180 days postoperatively. Patients had a median age of 60.4 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 55.5-66.9) and had a median follow-up of 7.6 years (IQR: 4.3-12.0). Results  The rates of postoperative opioid use ranged from 6.2% (53 out of 563 patients) at 30 to 59 days postoperatively to 3.9% (22 out of 563 patients) at 150 to 180 days postoperatively. In total, 17.1% (96 out of 563 patients) received a second opioid prescription more than 30 days following surgery, of which 10.8% (61 out of 563 patients) were between 90 and 180 days postoperatively. Older age, defined as a median of 63 years (IQR: 57.10-69.88) ( p  = 0.027, odds ratio [OR] = 1.04) and a history of psychiatric disease ( p  = 0.049, OR = 1.86) were independently associated with prolonged opioid use. Conclusion  A prolonged opioid use rate of roughly 11% was found in opioid-naïve patients who underwent CMC arthroplasty. In patients at risk (older patients or psychiatric history) of prolonged opioid use, careful postoperative pain management is recommended.

We report a case of a missed wooden foreign body in the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint of the right little finger following a workplace injury. The patient presented to our institution with a persisted pain and limited range of motion of the MP joint 1 week following the injury. Plain radiographs detected no foreign body or fractures. However, detailed examination as ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography revealed the presence of a foreign body of 10 × 1.5 mm size in the MP joint capsule. The excision of the radiolucent foreign body was performed arthroscopically and was confirmed successful removal using intraoperative USG. The foreign body was recognized as a wooden piece. The patient was immediately pain free postoperatively and regained full range of motion. Arthroscopy can be a practical, reliable method to remove a radiolucent foreign body located in a small joint in a minimally invasive manner, and USG can help surgeons confirm no remnants left.