Hand Surgery

Robotically assisted telemanipulators are often criticised for their lack of direct haptic feedback. However, robotically assisted microsurgical sutures have already been achieved successfully. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that haptic feedback is not necessary in microsurgery.

Our series included 24 surgeons of whom 14 were micro-surgeons. Each of them had to tighten a 9/0 and a 10/0 pre-tied nylon thread until getting the sensation of optimal knot tying. The procedure was performed four times, with open and closed eyes. The quality of knot tying was evaluated (fully tied, fairly or incompletely tied, or broken thread).

The results obtained with the eyes open were significantly better. Neither the material size, nor the surgeon's expertise was shown to have an impact on knot tying quality.

Our results demonstrate the uselessness of haptic feedback in microsurgery.

Skin complications have been reported to be associated with tourniquet use. The UK Medical Devices Agency (MDA) recommends the use of a limb drape to act as underpadding to reduce these complications. Our hospital had traditionally used Velbands as an underpadding, but changed to limb drapes on the advice of the MDA. The purpose of this study is to establish whether Velbands are still a safe and cost-effective tourniquet underpadding.

A prospective clinical study was performed on consecutive patients undergoing hand surgery over a four-month period. Patients were randomly allocated into one of two treatment groups. Group 1 using Velband as tourniquet underpadding and Group 2 using limb drapes as underpadding. All patients had identical tourniquets, tourniquet pressure and skin preparation agents. After surgery, the tourniquet was removed and the skin beneath the tourniquet was inspected for any skin reaction or damage.

Each group included 50 patients. Skin was normal after tourniquet use in all cases and there was no difference between the two groups.

Velband is still a safe and cost-effective tourniquet underpadding in hand surgery.

The purpose of this study was to assess vascularity of the lunate by number of foramina and radiography of vessels of the wrist. The genesis of lunatomalacia requires some vascular risk and mechanical predisposition. The findings were correlated with the cause of Kienböck's disease. The vascular foramina were more than two in 91.33% of the lunate. The lunate had consistent dorsal and palmar branches from radial artery. The additional branches from anterior interosseous artery in 72.22% and a branch of palmar inter carpal arch in 69.44% cases contributed in arterial anastomosis on palmar aspect of lunate. The dorsal blood supply was found by anterior interosseous artery in 85.71% of specimens and dorsal branch from dorsal intercarpal arch in 50% of specimens. The blood supply of lunate comes along with various ligaments which may be disrupted due to trauma or strain leading to avascular necrosis. The present observations are suggestive of rich blood supply of lunate in comparison of other investigations. Therefore Kienböck's disease is less common in northern India.

Purpose: The objective of this research was to investigate the reliability of Lichtman's classification for Kienböck's disease.

Methods: Interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility were investigated by interpreting both anteroposterior and lateral X-rays of the wrist joint twice in 99 patients with Kienböck's disease using the modified Lichtman's classification system. Observers comprised three orthopaedic surgeons, and no information was exchanged between observers either before or during the study.

Results: Intraobserver reliability was moderate (0.313–0.628), and interobserver reliability was fair (Siegel's kappa = 0.228).

Conclusion: Low values were obtained regarding interobserver reliability for the modified Lichtman's classification of Kienböck's disease. This classification is thus inadequate for use in clinical settings. A new classification should be established.

The purpose of the series is to describe the management of tubercular osteomyelitis of metacarpals and phalanges in 11 children (range, 3–12 years) and to retrospectively analyse the relationship between radiological staging and clinical outcome following treatment. The available literature on the clinical and radiological manifestations of tubercular osteomyelitis of the hand (excluding wrist) was also reviewed. Follow-up averaged 17.7 months following completion of treatment. The different radiological descriptions of the condition could be grouped into three stages: Stage 1 (stage of soft tissue swelling and no bony changes), Stage 2 (stage of bony expansion) and Stage 3 (stage of destruction). The previously described different radiological entities of tubercular osteomyelitis of metacarpals and phalanges appear to be a sequential manifestation of the disease spectrum. Healing with non-operative treatment is excellent provided the diagnosis is made when tuberculosis presents with soft tissue swelling alone and before bony destruction occurs.

Treatment of distal radius fractures with a volar fixed angle plate achieves sufficient stabilisation and permits early physical exercise. However, secondary displacement after surgery sometimes occurs in elderly patients with a metaphyseal comminution and/or cases in which the subchondral support pegs were not placed immediately below the subchondral zone.

We treated elderly patients suffering from distal radius fractures with metaphyseal comminution, using both volar fixed angle plate with or without augmentation with a hydroxyapatite bone graft substitute to investigate the benefit of augmentation for maintaining a fracture reduction. We evaluated the differences among radiographic parameters including palmar tilt, radial inclination, and ulnar variance on immediate postoperative and final follow-up radiographs to analyse the maintenance of the initial reduction.

There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of palmar tilt (P = 0.80) and radial inclination (P = 0.17); however, ulnar variance increased significantly in the group treated with a volar fixed angle plate without augmentation (P < 0.05).

It might be useful to use a combination technique of a locking plate system and the hydroxyapatite bone graft substitute as augmentation to treat distal radius comminuted fractures in elderly patients.

We performed a study to determine whether the results of a questionnaire could be used to predict the results of nerve conduction tests in patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome. Two hundred and eleven consecutive patients underwent electrophysiological testing, and completed the questionnaire designed by Kamath and Stothard. Two questionnaire threshold scores were identified, which classified with high sensitivity and high specificity those patients who had normal, and abnormal nerve conduction tests respectively. Patients who scored greater than 6 on the questionnaire could be classified with 87% specificity as having abnormal tests, and patients scoring below 3 on the questionnaire could be classified with 87% sensitivity as having normal studies. We suggest therefore that patients who score above 6, or below 3 on this questionnaire may not need to be referred for nerve conduction tests, as the result can be predicted with adequate accuracy.

Purpose: To identify the wrist tendon most effectively maintaining the trapezial space in interpositional arthroplasty in osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.

Methods: The morphometrics of the os trapezium and the tendons of the flexor carpi radialis, extensor carpi radialis longus, and abductor pollicis longus were determined. The stiffness and compressive loading characteristics of the rolled-up tendons were compared to the os trapezium.

Results: No significant morphometric differences between the three tendons were found. The mass and volume of the trapezium was significantly larger when compared to the tendon balls. No significant differences in the compressive loading resistance were found between the tendons, but the mean stiffness was 85% lower when compared to the os trapezium.

Conclusions: Neither tendon material approached the volume nor the stiffness provided by the os trapezium. Any tendon is considered to insufficiently maintain the trapezial space following trapeziectomy.

We performed a prospective cohort comparative analysis of simple trapezectomy and trapezectomy with pyrocarbon interposition in 38 consecutive patients with trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthrosis. Patients were assessed preoperatively, at six and 12 months postoperatively using subjective and objective tools. Subjective assessment was performed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire and the visual analogue score. Objective assessment was performed with grip strength measurements. At each time interval, statistical differences were sought between the two subgroups. No significant difference between the two subgroups was noted at any time interval on subjective or objective assessment. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was found on comparing the respective preoperative and 12-month subjective scores in both subgroups. Of the pyrocarbon subgroup seven had related complications. We suggest that pyrocarbon interposition does not significantly improve postoperative function, requires a longer operation with a high postoperative risk of pyrocarbon displacement and need for revision surgery.

A restrospective study identified 47 thumb MP joints in 41 patients who underwent arthrodeses using cup and cone osteotomy secured with Kirschner-wire fixation and augmented with local bone graft from the thumb metacarpal. Union rate was 96% averaging 6.8 weeks. Two patients had nonunion; 6.3 year follow-up of 15 thumbs showed improvement of or no pain. MHQ scores were 56.5 in the operative hand and 66.7 in the contralateral hand. Thumb MP arthrodesis augmented with local bone graft negates the morbidity of obtaining distant graft. It is a safe and effective technique that provides excellent pain relief with an acceptable union rate.

Reconstruction of the first web is an important technique for thumb adduction contracture accompanying congenital anomalies. Our previous cases have been reviewed here to evaluate and compare the indications, results, and problems for these two techniques. The angle formed by the first and second metacarpals (first-second metacarpal angle; 1–2 MCA) on the anterio-posterior (AP) view of the hand, with the thumb in maximum radial abduction, was measured from X-ray.

There were 37 patients (43 hands: 27 males, ten females). The average age at the time of surgery was 6.6 years (range, two to 22 years). The five-flap Z-plasty was performed on 20 hands. The spinner flap was performed on 23 hands. The Spinner flap is indicated when contractures are severe or when the preoperative 1–2 MCA is <20°. The five-flap Z-plasty is indicated when contractures are mild or when the preoperative 1–2 MCA is ≥20°.

Elastic stable intramedullary nail fixation has become established as an acceptable method of treatment for diaphyseal fractures of both forearm bones in the paediatric population. It is considered safe, minimally invasive and does not compromise physeal growth. We report a case of delayed rupture of extensor pollicis longus due to attrition over the sharp edges of a protruding nail end after elastic stable intramedullary nailing of a paediatric radial diaphyseal fracture.

Isolated radial styloid fractures occur relatively infrequently, with non-union of such fractures, especially when undisplaced, being highly unusual. Smoking of tobacco, a common habit which is decreasing in prevalence in the developed world, has been proven to exert many adverse effects on tissue healing including bone union. We present a case of non-union of an undisplaced radial styloid fracture in the dominant hand of a young and healthy heavy smoker, emphasising the negative impact of tobacco smoke and its association with bone repair. We suggest that heavy tobacco users should also be followed up more vigilantly with this complication in mind, with smoking cessation modalities being offered on presentation.

Congenital hypoplasia of the extensor tendons, which is defined as a congenital anomaly of the hand involving the extensor mechanism, is a rare condition and there are few previous reports in literature. We reported a case of bilateral congenital hypoplasia of the extensor tendons in a 12-year-old boy who presented with inability to extend his middle and ring fingers treated by the flexor carpi radialis tendon transfers.

Severe pain in the finger caused by an abnormal Pacinian corpuscle is a rare condition. We have recently encountered three patients diagnosed with a heterotopic Pacinian corpuscle, based on histopathological findings. When making a differential diagnosis of unexplained severe pain in the finger, abnormal Pacinian corpuscles must be taken into account in addition to glomus tumour and other types of painful soft-tissue tumour.

Intravenous pyogenic granuloma represents a variant of the common pyogenic granuloma in which the capillary proliferation is entirely confined to the lumen of a vein. To our knowledge, this entity is rare and only a few cases have been reported before in the hand. We present a case of intravenous pyogenic granuloma of the hand and a review of this entity from previous published cases.

Here we presented the first case of pacifier type thumb duplication. A newborn Japanese girl with no family history had a duplicated thumb on her left hand. The duplicated thumb showed a very large, oedematous soft-tissue nubbin in its appearance and was resected on the fifth day after birth. X-ray showed hypoplastic phalanx bone, suggesting type II polydactyly. Histology of the resected thumb showed enormous oedema in its connective tissue with cartilaginous and neural elements. This case was quite similar to literary reported cases of pacifier polydactyly in post-axial polydactyly, and its pathological condition seemed to be distinctly different from floating type or rudimentary type thumb duplication. We considered this type of thumb duplication as pacifier type thumb duplication, rather than floating or rudimentary type, in order to understand its underlying pathophysiology and to avoid confusion in further discussions.

Trigger digit release is a common surgical procedure with a low complication rate. One of the potential complications is digital nerve injury. Though uncommon, digital nerve injury can be significantly symptomatic to the patient. We report a case of radial digital nerve neuroma formation following trigger release of the middle finger, which is considered to be safe, in terms of risk of digital nerve injury. We discuss our management of the complication, possible pitfalls which may have resulted in the complication in our case and offer possible means of overcoming these pitfalls.

When tendons, bones or joints are exposed in infected digits, functional and cosmetic sequelae are frequent. We propose continuous negative pressure therapy with irrigation (NPI) for an infected digit with an open wound. Continuous NPI was evaluated in vitro and subsequently applied to a clinical case. Acceptable functional and cosmetic results were obtained without any problems when continuous NPI was performed in the clinical case. Continuous NPI may be a useful alternative for treatment of an infected digit with an open wound.