The Role of Dynamic Ultrasound in the Immediate Conservative Treatment of Volar Plate Injuries of the PIP Joint: A Series of 78 Patients.

Introduction: The management of volar plate avulsion fractures in the context of a stable joint and a bony fragment of less than 30% has traditionally been conservative. This study was performed to assess volar plate healing with high-resolution ultrasound in order to provide early full mobilization.

Material And Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2013, 78 patients with volar plate injuries of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints (42 distortions and 36 dislocations) were treated conservatively in our department for volar plate avulsion fracture associated with stable joint and bony fragment inferior to 30% of the intra-articular surface assessed both by radiography and ultrasound.

The impact of anxiety and depressive symptoms on chronic pain in conservatively and operatively treated hand surgery patients.

The aim of this prospective study was to examine to what extent anxiety and depressive symptoms predict the level of pain at 4-month follow-up in hand surgery patients. A total of 132 consecutive patients (mean age: 51.5±17.

Correlation Between Sonographic and In Vivo Measurement of A1 Pulleys in Trigger Fingers.

The thickness of 210 A1 pulleys of 21 male and female healthy volunteers in two different age groups (20-35 y and 50-70 y) were measured by ultrasound. In a second group, the thickness of 15 diseased A1 pulleys and 15 A1 pulleys of the corresponding other hand of 10 patients with the clinical diagnosis of trigger finger were measured by ultrasound. During open trigger finger release, a strip of A1 pulley was excised and immediately measured using an electronic caliper.

A comparison of complications in 400 patients after native nail versus silicone nail splints for fingernail splinting after injuries.

Background: The fingertip is the most commonly injured part of the hand and is an important aesthetic part of the hand.

Methods: In this retrospective study we analyzed data from 700 patients operated on between 1997 and 2008 for complications after nail splinting with native nail or silicone nail. Inclusion criteria were patients living in Bern/Berner Land, complete documentation, same surgical team, standard antibiotics, acute trauma, no nail bed transplantation, and no systemic diseases.

Treatment of open hand injuries: does timing of surgery matter? A single-centre prospective analysis.

The 6-hour paradigm for surgical treatment of open injuries should be re-evaluated in the era of systematic use of antiseptic solutions and systemic antibiotics. The current study investigates prospectively the impact of timing of surgery on the outcome of open hand injuries. The prospective evaluation included adult patients presenting with open hand injuries between 1 September 2009 and 30 June 2010 to the emergency department of the University Hospital of Berne, Switzerland.

Macroreplantations of the upper extremity: a series of 11 patients.

Introduction: Micro- or macroreplantation is classified depending on the level of amputation, distal or proximal to the wrist. This study was performed to review our experience in macroreplantation of the upper extremity with special attention to technical considerations and outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Between January 1990 and December 2010, 11 patients with a complete amputation of the upper extremity proximal to the wrist were referred for replantations to our department.

Assessment of endothelium and inflammatory response at the onset of reperfusion injury in hand surgery.

Background: Activation of the endothelium, complement activation and generation of cytokines are known events during ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) that mediate tissue injury. Our aim was to elucidate their respective participation at the onset of the reperfusion phase. Tourniquet application in hand surgery causes short-term ischemia, followed by reperfusion and was therefore used as the model in this study.

Early versus delayed surgical treatment in open hand injuries: a paradigm revisited.

Background: To date it remains unclear if a delayed surgical treatment of open hand injuries after more than 6 h may be detrimental to outcome. Previous investigations by McLain et al. (J Hand Surg Am 16:108-112, 1980 9), Nylen and Carlsson (Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg 14:185-189, 1991 10) could not find statistical proof of correlation between infection rate and delayed surgical treatment after open hand injuries up to 18 h.