Hand Surgery

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate pain levels, range of motion, patient activity and satisfaction after radioscapholunate (RSL) arthrodesis. This was in association with distal scaphoid excision and complete resection of the triquetrum. The non-union rate for radioscapholunate arthrodesis was examined and the results compared with previous studies.

Twenty-three patients (14 males and nine females) with an average age of 47 (range 26–73) years underwent RSL fusion for post-traumatic osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and Kienböck's disease of the lunate with a mean follow-up of 32 (range 13–70) months. The absolute prerequisite for any of these groups of patients was a functional midcarpal joint which was assessed pre-operatively with radiographs and intra-operatively prior to RSL fusion.

The average flexion to extension motion changed from 66° to 57°. The ulnoradial range of motion also increased to 43° from a pre-operative value of 22°. The patients visual analogue pain scores reduced from an average of 64 to 28 (p = 0.01). Nineteen patients had no restriction in activity and all but one was satisfied with the outcome. All patients remained in full time employment with ten returning to some form of sport.

RSL fusion with excision of the distal pole of the scaphoid and the entire triquetrum led to minimal reduction in the flexion-extension arc of motion and an increase in the ulnoradial arc. There was also good pain relief and maintenance of a patient's function. Memory staples are also an effective method of securing fusion in the wrist obtaining similar results to that seen in forefoot surgery.

We performed a retrospective review of 22 thumbs in 22 Chinese patients attending for the basal joint arthritis of the thumb over the last 14 years. There were 16 women and six men with a mean age of 50 years old. All were treated surgically by partial trapeziectomy and volar oblique ligament reconstruction with flexor carpi radialis tendon and interpositional arthroplasty with a free palmaris longus tendon ball after failure of conservative treatment. The mean follow-up time was 48 months. Radiographs did not show any differences in the arthroplasty space index, arthroplasty space, trapezial space ratio and scaphoid-thumb metacarpal distance at the pre-operative evaluation and at the final follow-up evaluation. There was significant difference in the pain score, grip strength, Kapandji score and functional status before and after surgery at final follow-up period. One patient had complex regional pain syndrome which was resolved after receiving a course of anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy. The authors suggest that the modified technique of partial trapeziectomy with tendon interpositional arthroplasty is a safe and effective method in treating basal joint arthritis of the thumb with good short term functional and radiological outcomes and minimal complication.

Thirty-nine consecutive patients with little finger Dupuytren's contracture underwent open fasciectomy. Diseased abductor digiti minimi (ADM) pretendinous (PT) cords were identified. The mean pre-operative PIPJ contracture was 77° in the PT group and 66° in the ADM group. Mean residual deformity was 12° in the PT group and 9° in the ADM group. At six months, ten out of 27 patients had developed a recurrent deformity in the PT group (mean 24°) and seven out of 11 in the ADM group (mean 18°). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at any stage. Dupuytren's contracture of the little finger is as a result of an ADM cord in 29% of cases. In this series it led to an isolated contracture of the PIPJ in the majority of cases and rarely affected the MCPJ. Disease of the ADM cord was not associated with a difference in contracture or prognosis compared to a PT cord.

Our purposes were to report the radiographic outcomes and complications of patients with Colles' fracture treated with the Nakashima locking volar plate system (variable angled distal screw locking mechanism) prospectively and to report the results of objective clinical variables such as grip strength and range of motion of the wrist prospectively at up to one year. This study consisted of eight men and 32 women for analysis of radiographic parameters (volar tilt, radial inclination and radial length) and complications. Radiographic parameters were measured pre-operatively, immediately post-operatively and at final follow-up visit. The average age at operation was 60.3 years old. Among them, we selected 25 cases (6 men and 19 women) whom we followed up at six weeks, three months, six months and one year post-operatively. The average age at operation in this group was 62 years old. We measured objective clinical variables (grip strength, forearm rotation, wrist extension/flexion) at each visit. Except for volar tilt, radiographic parameters revealed no significant changes between immediately post-operative radiographs and radiographs at final follow-up visit. Complications included loss of reduction in two cases. Objective clinical variables other than pronation measurement showed significant increase at each visit up to one year post-operatively. Satisfactory clinical and radiographic results were obtained by using this system. The variable angled distal fragment plating system appears to be a reliable construct for rigid fixation of Colles' fractures; however, technical errors can occur, as with other fixation systems. We demonstrated that the follow-up of Colles' fracture treated by our volar locking plate less than one year post-operative may be insufficient.

First carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis (1^st CMCJ OA) is a common condition with variable results reported from local corticosteroid injection. This study aims to explore the medium-term outcome with respect to pain relief, patient satisfaction and the need for subsequent surgical intervention. A prospective review was performed of patients undergoing fluoroscopically guided corticosteroid injection by one surgeon, with postal questionnaires for medium-term follow-up. Forty-one patients were included. Thirty-one were female and ten male, with a mean age of 60 years. In the short term 76% of patients reported pain relief with an average duration of four weeks and 69% of the patients reported benefit from injection. After a median follow-up of 36 months 76% of patients reported continuing pain but 59% reported satisfaction with the outcome. Twenty-eight per cent of the patients had undergone surgery. Local corticosteroid injection of the CMCJ provides only short-term pain relief, but few patients go on to surgical intervention.

As the distal radius fracture is one of the most commonly encountered upper limb injuries, the aim of this study was to provide a quick and easy method to aid in the assessment of fractured wrists, both pre- and post-fixation, by utilising the relationship of the radial shaft and the lunate.

A retrospective analysis on 100 consecutive patients with normal wrist radiographs was performed. The results demonstrated that the variations of radiolunate anatomy followed a normal distribution. The normal anatomical relationship was then described.

A second part to the study consisted of reviewing our method of radiocarpal analysis on a cohort of patients who had sustained a distal radius fracture. Carpal alignment pre- and post-fixation was measured, with the results demonstrating that by using this assessment method, it was possible with a quick glance of the radiograph, to determine whether satisfactory correction of the fracture had been achieved.

The use of operative or non-operative techniques in the treatment of a volar plate avulsion fracture of the PIP joint has remained controversial. In this study, we describe the use of percutaneous K-wire fixation in 15 patients with a displaced and rotated large fragment of this injury. All processes of the technique, including reduction and interfragmental fixation, were performed with percutaneous K-wires. Mean follow-up was 14.2 months. All patients achieved bony union. Mean active motion was -1.3°/86.2° for the PIP joint and 0°/77.5° for the DIP joint and mean %TAIM was 94.6%. There were no complications. No patients complained of pain and all were able to return to their previous activity. Although this procedure is technically demanding, it reconstructs a rotated or displaced large volar plate avulsion with a low level of invasion, and achieves a satisfactory functional recovery.

Wrist glomus tumours are extremely rare. We report a case of an unusually large wrist glomus tumour with atypical presentation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings correlated well to those previously described for digital glomus tumours. This rare differential should be considered when evaluating lesions around the wrist.

The authors present the clinical outcomes of nine zone 2 flexor tendon repairs using a locking loop technique (i.e. the Modified Pennington technique). The locking loops were located approximately 10 mm away from the lacerated tendon ends to "lengthen" the locking loop repair, as experimentally and clinically recommended. The partial lateral release of the tendon sheath, including the A2 and/or A4 pulley, was performed not only to locate the sutures but also to allow a full range of motion of the repair without catching on the tendon sheath, as clinically recommended. All the patients were followed up for six months or more except for one. All digits were evaluated as excellent or good at the final follow-up by the original Strickland criteria. No rupture occurred and no bowstring of the flexor tendon was observed. The clinical outcomes of the current study indicate that "lengthening" the locking loop repair is effective for zone 2 flexor tendon repair and that the partial lateral release of the tendon sheath, including the A2 and/or A4 pulley, does not result in the bowstring of the flexor tendon.

Infective tenosynovitis is an uncommon cause of a common condition namely carpal tunnel syndrome. Following an extensive review of the literature, we report what we understand to be the first published case of Mycobacterium kansasii (M. kansasii) causing tenosynovitis of flexor tendons resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome in Australia. Our case highlights the need for a high level of suspension, histology and appropriate culture with specific microbiological tests for atypical mycobacteria where tenosynovitis is present at carpal tunnel surgery, even in patients who do not appear to have risk factors.

We present a rare case of bilateral extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture in a professional football goalkeeper following steroid injection for extensor tenosynovitis. The potential pathogenesis mechanisms are discussed.

Closed flexor pulley rupture of the thumb is extremely rare. We report a case with this condition. The anatomic and biomechanical studies, clinical and operative finding as well as the management of the closed flexor pulley rupture of the thumb are discussed.

The mallet finger is a common hand injury in sports with ball use. Here, we present the case of a goalkeeper with simultaneous bilateral mallet fingers in the third and fourth ray, successfully treated with splinting. Origin and treatment options are discussed.

We report a case of carpal instability complex, which presented apparent volar intercalated segmental instability (VISI) caused by acute injury. Proper diagnosis and treatment by ligament repair and Kirschner wire fixation yielded good clinical results.

Dislocation of the trapeziometacarpal joint is a rare injury. We report an unusual pattern of dorsal dislocation of the trapeziometacarpal joint with an avulsion fracture of the dorsoradial tubercle of the trapezium. Simultaneous ligament rupture with an avulsion fracture of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint was associated. The trapeziometacarpal joint was reduced and disrupted ligaments with avulsed fragments of both joints were surgically repaired.