Hand Surgery

We have retrospectively reviewed the clinical, preoperative ultrasonographic, and operative findings of eight patients who had tardy ulnar nerve palsy caused by a cubitus varus deformity. The mean varus angle on the affected side was 23°. With preoperative ultrasonography, the anterior dislocation of the ulnar nerve from the medial epicondyle was detected in dynamic scanning of short-axis images, and long-axis images revealed nerve compression and kinking in the proximal border of the flexor carpi ulnaris. Operative findings revealed compression of the ulnar nerve by a fibrous band, which was released in all cases. The cause of the tardy ulnar nerve palsy in this series of patients was constriction by a fibrous band and kinking in the proximal border of the flexor carpi ulnaris due to ulnar nerve dislocation from compression resulting from the forward movement of the medial head of the triceps brachii muscle.

We studied the use of a continuous peripheral nerve block (CPNB) in the distal forearm and wrist immediately after emergent surgery for severe hand trauma in 22 hands. After emergent surgery, a 2–3 cm longitudinal incision was made at the distal forearm and an 18-gauge catheter was inserted along the peripheral nerves. All patients received postoperative analgesia by continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine at 2 ml/h for seven to 21 days. Pain score remained low during postoperative period and only a small number of analgesic rescues were needed. There were no major complications related to the CPNB and one patient showed mild superficial infection at the insertion site that immediately recovered after catheter removal. This method provides good postoperative analgesia without loss of motor function in extrinsic hand muscles and should be considered as a postoperative pain management for severe hand trauma.

The volar approach to the distal radius is an increasingly popular method of exposing fractures of the distal radius for purposes of reduction and internal fixation. We present five clinical cases and one cadaveric case of an incidental finding of an aberrant flexor of the forearm. A literature review undertaken showed few previous case reports of this relatively uncommon anatomic variant. The possibility of seeing the flexor carpi radialis brevis muscle during a volar approach to the distal radius should be made known to all orthopedic and hand surgeons.

Surgical wrist denervation involves division of the anterior and posterior interosseous nerves and articular branches of the superficial radial nerve. In this outcome study, 37 patients were individually assessed and deemed suitable for denervation surgery due to appreciable symptom resolution following a local anesthetic wrist block. At a mean of 18 months following denervation surgery, median activity pain scores had decreased by 60% (p < 0.001) from initial assessment levels, and more than three quarters (30/37) of patients reported continued improvement in their activity pain (p < 0.001). More than two thirds of patients had a satisfaction VAS of greater than 50, with less postoperative resting pain and a greater reduction in postoperative activity pain as the important predictors of patient satisfaction. Thirty-one out of the 37 patients had not represented to our department for revision wrist surgery by a mean of 10.3 years follow-up. We have found this procedure useful in ameliorating symptoms for some patients who would conventionally have required partial or total wrist fusions with greater residual functional limitation.

Both wrists in 189 patients who had been treated for dorsally displaced distal radius fracture were X-rayed with both right angle and 15° tilted lateral views. Two investigators measured the radial tilt. The mean difference in the angles recorded by the two investigators was 2.5° for the tilted and 3.7° for the right angle projections (p = 4.7 × 10^-8). The precision of the method was 2.6° for the tilted and 3.5° for right angle projection. The mean angle measured on the tilted views was 3° more dorsal than on the right angle views for wrists with a volar tilt between 10° and 15°, and 0° to 2° for wrists with less volar tilt or dorsal displacement.

Lateral projections tilted 15° allow more precise measurements than right angle views. Correction is not necessary when comparing to right angle views, as long as there is displacement in a dorsal direction of the distal fragment.

We reviewed a series of 62 consecutive patients with dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius, including 20 extra-articular and 42 intra-articular fractures. All patients were treated with palmar locking plate systems at our institution between 2002 and 2006. After a minimum follow-up time of 12 weeks, the fractures had healed with satisfactory radiographic and functional results. According to the demerit point system of Gartland and Werley, 35 patients were rated excellent, 26 good, and one fair. In the good and fair groups, the demerit points were almost all for ulnar wrist pain. Our results suggest that palmar locking plate systems enable early functional mobilization with good reproducible radiographic and clinical outcomes. Since nine out of 62 patients had residual ulnar wrist pain at the final follow-up evaluation, further investigation of the pathogenesis of ulnar wrist pain is necessary to obtain better functional outcomes.

We evaluated the presence of "tendon irritation" of flexor pollicis longus (FPL) for cases of distal radius fracture treated with volar plates to prevent FPL tendon rupture. This report details cases of 24 patients. The presence of pain or a sense of incompatibility and subdermal crepitus around the wrist with an active thumb motion were defined as symptoms of FPL tendon irritation. Twelve of 24 patients complained of FPL tendon irritation. The plates were removed in nine of these 12 patients, while tendon injury was found in three cases. The other 12 patients did not complain of FPL tendon irritation. Four of these 12 patients underwent plate removal, and tendon injury was not detected. The results of this study indicate that FPL tendon irritation is likely to appear before tendon rupture. Therefore, FPL tendon rupture might be prevented by plate removal in patients who complained of tendon irritation.

We have carried out a replacement of the lunate in 12 patients with advanced Kienböck's disease, with excision of the lunate and insertion of an iliac bone flap wrapped into palmaris longus. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of this procedure for advanced Kienböck's disease. At a mean follow-up period of 45.3 months, the mean clinical score was excellent in all cases. Radiographically, progression of osteoarthritis (OA) in the radiocarpal joint was found in two patients. At follow-up, the X-ray findings indicated a reduced of osseous core in four patients. On the other hand, carpal height ratio showed no significant change at follow-up. Excision arthroplasty using a tendon ball with osseous core for advanced Kienböck's disease leads to OA progression in some cases. However, clinical results were excellent in all cases. Therefore, this current study provides effective therapeutic procedure for advanced Kienböck's disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in a cohort of women with macromastia and to assess the evolution of the CTS signs and symptoms after breast surgery.

Population: A series of 123 women was evaluated. CTS was defined by co-existence of symptoms, two physical findings and electrophysiological evaluation. One year after reduction mammaplasty, the 22 patients who had been diagnosed CTS were re-evaluated.

Results: CTS group of women had a mean age of 38.8 years, mean body mass index of 28.5 kg/m² and mean breast size of 35.9 cm. Age and nipple-to-sternal notch distance were statistically significantly associated with CTS (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). A year after surgery 15 patients were re-assessed: nine patients reported absence or improvement of CTS symptoms while six patients reported symptoms persistence or worsening.

Conclusion: Age, breast size, but not body mass index, have a positive correlation with the CTS.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve entrapment in the upper limb and carpal tunnel release (CTR) provides the most predictable outcome and relief of symptoms. Incomplete carpal tunnel releases are uncommon, however, in the event of incomplete surgical releases, symptoms following such incomplete releases tend to be more severe than the symptoms presented at the initial complaint. We present our experience in utilizing high definition ultrasound to reliably and accurately localize the anatomical cause to aid focused revision CTR.

Opponoplasty using tendon transfer is a useful reconstructive procedure that restores lost thenar muscle function. Tendon transfers, however, require postoperative immobilization periods of up to four weeks before the sutured tendons reach required strength. We developed an opponoplasty procedure using α-TCP (alpha-tricalcium phosphate) cement that does not require postoperative immobilization and was applied to nine hands out of nine cases. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia without a pneumatic tourniquet and on an outpatient basis.

In this procedure, the flexor digitorum superficialis of the ring finger is used as the donor tendon and the palmaris longus tendon is used as a dynamic pulley. The distal end of the transferred tendon is anchored to the inside of a newly formed bone hole in the thumb's proximal phalanx using α-TCP cement.

Our opponoplasty procedure was uneventful postoperatively and produced satisfactory results in all nine cases. The α-TCP cement procedure shows potential for other tendon transfer applications.

Trapezio-metacarpal joint arthritis is common, affecting 7% of men and 15% of women. Numerous surgical techniques are described for this condition but it is not clear which is best. Eighty-six silicone trapezium replacements were assessed at an average of 46 months (six to 156 months) postoperatively for patient satisfaction, pain, key and power grip strength, range of motion, complications and disability with DASH score. Patient satisfaction was 92%. There was excellent pain reduction from 4.2 to 0.6 on a scale of 0 to 5. Strength was 72% and 84% of age-sex-matched normal data for key and power grips, respectively. The complication rate was low, with two cases of persistent pain. One resolved spontaneously, the other resolved following revision of the silicone implant. The average DASH score was 30. Silicone trapezium replacement is an effective operation that offers the patient good pain relief, strength and good function with few complications.

The diabetic hand infection is less reported in the literature. Therefore, it is easily ignored and underestimated resulting in increased morbidity among the diabetic population. Diabetic hand is a rapid in progression, extensive and severe tissue destruction. We analyze the clinical course and outcome of hand infection in diabetic patients. We reviewed all the admissions with hand infection from January 2006–April 2010. Thirty-seven patients were found with associated diabetes mellitus. The demographic data, culture report, number of operations and management, hospital stay and outcome-like amputation were recorded. The average age was 62 years. Pain and swelling were the chief complaints. The cause of infection was varied. The infection was superficial in 13 and deep in 24 patients. Forty-one percent of culture report revealed polymicrobial organism. The increased length of hospital stay, reoperations and amputation were associated with deep infection and polymicrobial organism.

Prompt medical and surgical attentions are the most important factors. A proper glycemic control, elevation of the affected extremity, thorough and adequate surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotics are the important considerations when dealing with diabetic hand infection.

Trigger finger is one of the most common upper extremity problems in the outpatient department. Conservative treatment is the mainstay for management of trigger digits especially steroid injection with highly satisfactory outcome and minimal complication. Conventional injection technique (CI) that approaches flexor tendon sheath over metacarpal head directly causes pain for most patients. The proximal phalanx injection technique (P1I) at palmar surface of midproximal phalanx is simple and less painful for the patients. We compared pain result and effectiveness between these two methods. Forty patients with primary trigger fingers were placed in a prospective randomized study to receive steroid injection with either the CI or P1I techniques. Demographic data were recorded. Immediately after the injection, pain score was recorded for each patient using the pain visual analog scale. The patients were followed every month for three months to determine recurrent symptoms. Student's t-test, chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used for data analysis. The mean pain VAS scores immediately post-injection were 7.3 ± 1.3 and 3.2 ± 2.2 in the CI and P1I techniques, respectively. The P1I technique group had a significantly lower pain score than CI technique group (p < 0.001). The recurrence rate was 15% in the CI technique when compared to 25% in the P1I technique which was not significant (p = 0.685). We concluded that the P1I technique is less painful than the CI technique without any significant difference in recurrence rate between the two groups at three months follow-up.

Os acromiale is an unfused epiphysis of the anterior part of the acromion occurring in approximately 8% of the population. Infection of this joint has not been previously described in the literature. We report such a case in a 59-year-old woman presenting with shoulder pain. A high index of clinical suspicion, with early imaging of the shoulder leading to prompt and definitive diagnosis, can lead to appropriate treatment and produce a favorable outcome.

Pathological lesions of long bones increase the morbidity of many common cancers. The orthopedic management of metastatic skeletal lesions can be challenging. The ultimate aim is to provide patients with a painless, functional limb. We present a report of two cases were a novel minimally invasive long bone nailing technique has been utilized to achieve skeletal stability and alleviation of symptoms.

Bone adaptation after excision arthroplasty of distal radioulnar joint in an acute traumatic distal ulna fracture has never been reported. A case of irreparable and comminuted distal ulnar head fracture was managed by excising the ulna head and repairing the fovea (deep ligament) attachments of distal radioulnar ligaments, and then an unexpected remodeling of the distal ulna with the shape of pole and seat was noted. The anatomy of deep fibers of distal radioulnar ligament is important not only in biomechanics about the stability of distal radioulnar joint but it is also possible in the morphology about the shape of the distal radioulnar joint.

A 62-year-old woman visited our hospital one year after a motor vehicle accident complaining of ulnar wrist pain and restricted pronation and supination. Radiographs showed a 35° angular deformity at the ulnar neck. Closing wedge osteotomy was performed using two plates for stabilization. Twenty-four months postoperatively, the osteotomy site united without correction loss and the patient gained adequate pronation and supination. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first report of corrective osteotomy for the treatment of malunited ulnar neck fracture. Although salvage operations such as ulnar head resection and the Sauvé-Kapandji procedure may provide reasonable results, anatomical repair can be considered as an option.

Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by a ganglion is a rare condition. We report a case which presented with a rapidly progressive onset of symptoms and subsequent thenar palsy.

The patient, an 83-year-old male with ischemic cardiac disease, was examined using a periodical left brachial artery cardiac catheterization. Six hours after the examination, complete median nerve palsy appeared. Four months later, the median nerve was explored and found to be compressed by a hematoma in the brachial artery. The location of the hematoma was at 6 cm proximal to the puncturing point, because the catheter may have penetrated the brachial artery from the lumen. The median nerve was released and the hematoma removed. One year after surgery, the median nerve palsy had disappeared.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical outcome of closed radial wedge osteotomy (CRWO) for Preiser's disease.

Methods: CRWO was performed for four patients with Preiser's disease between 2000 and 2005. All patients were diagnosed by X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Separation gaps in the radioscaphoid joint were observed to evaluate the decompression in the area. Clinical evaluation was performed using Cooney's scoring system.

Results: Although wrist pain persisted in patients with radioscaphoid arthritis change, marked mitigation of wrist pain was confirmed in three patients. The average clinical score was 66, with good in one, fair in two, and poor in one. Restriction of wrist movement by CRWO caused lower clinical scores. No patients had wrist arthrodesis at the last follow-up evaluation.

Conclusions: Short-term observation showed disappointing clinical results; however, for relief of wrist pain, this method is a potential surgical procedure for Preiser's disease under limited conditions.

Total dislocation of the capitate is an extremely rare event. We report on one such unusual case. The complete expulsion of the capitate from its physiological position is difficult to diagnose. Standard parameters of the antero-posterior and lateral radiological do not head to a definite diagnosis.

In our patient, the only real diagnostic tool was the clinical assessment and the Gilula arches alteration to the standard antero-posterior projection. In the period following trauma, the patient reported a very high level of pain in the wrist. Since this could not be correlated to the lesions that had been diagnosed, we hypothesized the presence of any carpal bones damage. A definite diagnosis was obtained at CT scan, which also revealed the absence of any fractures.

Chondrosarcoma is most frequently present in the pelvis and long bones and rarely seen in the bones of the hand. Traditionally the treatment of choice for involvment of the hand is ray amputation, however this causes significant functional deficit if there is thumb involvement. There are limited cases in literature of resection of thumb chondrosarcoma with restoration of function. We present a case of high grade chondrosarcoma of the first metacarpal treated with resection and free fibular graft reconstruction. We report excellent functional outcome with this procedure.

Thalassemia is a congenital hemolytic disorder caused by a partial or complete deficiency of α- or β-globin chain synthesis. It has been seen that thalassemic patients exhibit an increased frequency of thrombotic events. The article presents the first case of thumb reconstruction with a modified wrap-around flap in a patient suffering from β-thalassemia minor.

Introduction Giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath (GCTTS) are very common. More recently, a small number of case reports have identified the presence of multifocal GCTTS in the hand. These case reports have identified the presence of a maximum of two simultaneous lesions of a giant cell tumor affecting the same tendon sheath. We present an exceptionally rare case of simultaneous multiple localized GCTTS in which five lesions were identified on a single tendon simultaneously. This number of lesions on a single tendon has never been previously reported.

Case: A 37-year-old tree surgeon initially complained of pain in the region of the base of the ring and little fingers. A month later, he developed multiple soft tissue swellings at these sites and a soft tissue mass in the center of the palm relating to the left ring finger. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan suggested multiple GCTTS. These masses were excised completely without MRI evidence of a recurrence. Multiple GCTTS should be a differential diagnosis of multiple soft tissue swellings in the hand with an MRI scan and complete excision being the appropriate imaging and treatment modality respectively.

The patient with closed traumatic rupture of both extensor tendons of the index finger in zone VI was described.

Intraosseous epidermoid cyst of the finger phalanx is rare. We report a case of postoperative recurrent intraosseous epidermoid cyst of the distal phalanx of the ring finger. To prevent further recurrence while maintaining morphology and function, the distal half of the distal phalanx that included the epidermoid cyst was resected to completely remove the lesion. The distal phalanx was then reconstructed by grafting corticocancellous bone from the ilium and shaped into a distal phalanx. The operation was performed using a through-the-nail approach, temporarily removing the nail and placing a longitudinal incision in the nail bed to approach the phalanx. Postoperatively, bone fusion was achieved without recurrence and the shape of the distal phalanx was normal. Distal phalangeal hypertrophy and nail plate deformity also normalized and excellent results were obtained.

The coverage of volar digital defects can be achieved by a variety of surgical options. Although frequently used and reliable, these procedures entail the need for a second stage for flap release, meticulous dissection, sacrifice of a digital artery of the uninvolved digit, or delayed mobilization resulting in digital stiffness. The ideal surgical procedure for such defects should be a simple, single-stage surgery that allows early mobilization and return to function and at the same time avoiding unnecessary donor site morbidity from an uninvolved digit. The "local dorsal adipofascial flap" is a simple procedure that does not need a secondary procedure for flap release and affords early range of motion and return to function. We used this new flap technique in two digits with volar defects in a single patient. At ten months after flap coverage, the fingers were fully functional with good healing of the "local dorsal adipofascial flap."

The authors present a case that developed acute painful nail hypertrophy of the ipsilateral four fingers which resembled finger clubbing after undergoing elective hand surgery on the little finger. The patient was diagnosed as having complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and the nail hypertrophy subsided gradually on pain control, and completely normalized one year after onset. Recognizing this phenomenon may help initiate early treatment for CRPS and avoid unnecessary antibiotic or antifungal medications for postoperative infection.

Congenital constriction ring syndrome (CCRS) is a congenital anomaly with a wide spectrum of clinical presentation. The accepted method of correcting a circular constriction is to excise the deep part of the constriction, and break the line of the circular scar with multiple Z- or W-plasties. Specific correction of soft tissue is recommended concurrently, to better correct the "sandglass" deformity. Here we describe a new technique using triangular advancement flaps to correct the deformity in eight patients with constriction ring syndrome, involving either the upper or lower limbs. In this technique, triangular flaps can be introduced either proximal or distal to the ring, depending on the limb circumference, to correct the contour deformity. In all eight patients, a normal extremity contour was obtained, with complete elimination of the deformity caused by the constriction ring. A mean follow-up of 43 months revealed an aesthetically acceptable scar, with no case of recurrence. Triangular flaps designed either proximal or distal to the constriction ring is able to correct the contour deformity of the limbs with great versatility and acceptable aesthetic results.

A case of 40-year-old female with melanoma in situ on her left index finger is presented. When treating melanoma in situ, it is recommended to have 3 mm margin and to include subcutaneous fat layer for resection of the tumor. To reconstruct the fingertip with the exposed distal phalanx, we used digital artery perforator flap. Since the resection of melanoma in situ in the appropriate manner would result in low risk of recurrence of the tumor, unlike melanoma of more deeply infiltrating types, it is important to use flaps which are easy to raise, functionally superior, and cosmetically excellent, The drawbacks of using digital artery perforator flap is that the operator is not able to tell if the flap includes the perforator until the flap is raised, since there is a risk of damaging the perforator when trying to expose it to visually confirm that it is included in the flap.