[Hybrid diagnosis-related groups-The challenge].

The introduction of hybrid diagnosis-related groups (DRG) presents new challenges for healthcare providers and health insurances. The same applied in 2023 to the institute designated by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) to extract medical procedures and calculate remuneration levels for the first hybrid DRGs. A responsible calculation methodology and a realistic data basis are required as the result of the calculation can lead to controversy, even to a splitting among specialist groups and constructs.

[The complexity of hand-surgical procedures in the context of cross-sector care concepts: a consensus recommendation of the German Society of Hand Surgery].

Overboarding politcal influence in Germany concerning medical issues has come to a new peak. The report by the IGES Institute published in 2022 made an important contribution in this regard. Unfortunately, only that part of the recommendations of this report were implemented in a new version of the contract for outpatient surgery according to Section 115b SGB V (AOP contract), that called for an expansion of outpatient surgery.

Dupuytren Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing Collagenase Injection and Percutaneous Needle Fasciotomy.

Unlabelled: Collagenase (CCH) injection and percutaneous needle fasciotomy (PNF) are minimally invasive procedures aiming to relieve Dupuytren disease (DD) by disrupting the cord and restoring the normal functionality of the hand. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes and recurrence rates for treatment of DD in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints with either collagenase or percutaneous needle at 3-year follow-up. Moreover, we aim to determine the role of these therapeutic modalities and their impact on hand functionality and quality of life.

Reduction of Phantom Limb Pain and Improved Proprioception through a TSR-Based Surgical Technique: A Case Series of Four Patients with Lower Limb Amputation.

Four patients underwent targeted sensory reinnervation (TSR), a surgical technique in which a defined skin area is first selectively denervated and then surgically reinnervated by another sensory nerve. In our case, either the area of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve or the saphenous nerve was reinnervated by the sural nerve. Patients were then fitted with a special prosthetic device capable of transferring the sense of pressure from the sole of the prosthesis to the newly wired skin area.

Three-dimensional CT angiography for surgical planning in congenital hand malformations: a case series presentation.

Between January 2000 and December 2019, three-dimensional computer tomographic (CT) angiography was used in a total of 140 hands (116 patients, mean age 6.8 years) with congenital hand malformation to assess the vascular and bony structures. Analysis showed overall satisfactory three-dimensional CT images for operative planning, including detailed abnormal vascular patterns and bony malformations.

Treatment of Severe Ulnar Instability of the MCP Joint Improves Function in LRTI Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis of the Thumb CMC Joint.

 Comorbidity in the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPj) of the thumb, i.e., hyperextension or ulnar collateral instability, could affect the outcome of arthroplasty in the thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMCj).

STAT3/5 Inhibitors Suppress Proliferation in Bladder Cancer and Enhance Oncolytic Adenovirus Therapy.

The JAK-STAT signalling pathway regulates cellular processes like cell division, cell death and immune regulation. Dysregulation has been identified in solid tumours and STAT3 activation is a marker for poor outcome. The aim of this study was to explore potential therapeutic strategies by targeting this pathway in bladder cancer (BC).

Skin grafting after paediatric palmar burns: an analysis of 82 patients.

Contact burn injuries to the palm are common in toddlers. We report a case series of 82 paediatric patients (age 7-48 months) with contact burn injury of the palm. We share our experience and outcomes of using plantar split-thickness skin grafts for resurfacing of the paediatric palm.

[Therapy of Dupuytren's contracture with collagenase - Evidence-based Consensus Statement of Austrian Surgical Societies].

Dupuytren's contracture (DC) or Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a progressive fibro-proliferative disease of palmoplantar connective tissue, resulting in characteristic nodal and/or cord formation from collagen disposition. When the disease progresses, the thickening and shortening of the cords eventually leads the affected fingers to being pulled into flexion, which may be associated with marked disability, especially with bilateral disease. DD is relatively common in Europe, with the highest prevalence in Nordic countries.

[Concerning the Wrist-to-Forearm-Ratio of the Median nerve ultrasound is not a suitable method for assessing the success of a carpal tunnel release].

Purpose: The primary aim of the study was to analyze whether there is and - if so - how far a correlation between the clinical findings after carpal tunnel release (CTR) for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and the Wrist-to-Forearm-Ratio (WFR) of the median nerve in ultrasound to answer is question whether the WFR can be used in controlling the operative result.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective study the clinical, electrophysiological, and sonographic data of 40 patients with CTR for CTS were collected preoperative and 3 and 9 months postoperative. The data of 21 patients with 23 operated hands completing the study were analyzed.

Arthroscopic Synovectomy Combined with Autologous Fat Grafting in Early Stages of CMC Osteoarthritis of the Thumb.

 Minimal invasive treatments such as arthroscopic techniques may be adequate to restore the anatomy and functional integrity of the thumb CMC (carpometacarpal) joint. In this paper, we reported the interposition of autologous fat tissue in combination with arthroscopic synovectomy/debridement for early stage of the thumb CMC joint osteoarthritis.  Twelve patients with a mean age of 46 years with early radiological stages of thumb CMC joint osteoarthritis were included.

Arthroscopic-Assisted Partial Wrist Arthrodesis.

Partial wrist arthrodesis (PWA) is a well-known procedure for treating degenerative or posttraumatic wrist conditions. Four-corner fusion (4CF) is mostly used for scapholunate advanced collapse and scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse. The author performed 39 procedures, including 4CFs, 2-corner fusions, 3-corner fusions, scaphoid-capitate/scaphoid-capitate-lunate fusions, scaphoid-trapezium-trapezoid arthrodeses, and radioscapholunate arthroscopic PWAs (A-PWAs).

Memory Effect of the Median Nerve: Can Ultrasound Reliably Depict Carpal Tunnel Release Success?

 To evaluate whether ultrasound findings of the median nerve cross-section area (CSA) and wrist-to-forearm ratio (WFR) correlate with neurophysiological and patient-reported outcome after surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).  Subjective pain, CSA, WFR, postoperative scar tissue formation and nerve conduction velocity in 21 hands of 20 patients with clinically confirmed CTS were examined before and after carpal tunnel release surgery. Group differences were compared via a 2-sided ratio paired t-test or one-way ANOVA, and correlations were calculated using a linear regression model.

Triple hourglass-like fascicular constriction of the posterior interosseous nerve: a rare cause of PIN syndrome.

Supinator syndrome or posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) syndrome is a compression neuropathy of the deep branch of the radial nerve in the region of the Arcade of Frohse. An extremely rare cause of an acute onset supinator syndrome is the hourglass-like fascicular constriction of the posterior interosseous nerve due to torsion. To our knowledge, only a limited number of cases which describe the sonographic appearance of fascicular torsions are known in the literature.

Pollicization of the index finger in hypoplasia of the thumb. Experience with the method of Buck-Gramcko and retrospective analysis of the clinical outcome in a series of 19 pollicizations.

Background: In congenital malformation of the thumb index finger pollicization is a proven method for constructing a new thumb all over the world.

Methods: A series of 19 pollicizations in 15 patients is presented. In all cases of index finger pollicization the method of Buck-Gramcko is used and the functional outcome is evaluated after Percival's method.