Removal of locked volar plates after distal radius fractures.

Purpose: We present our experience with removal of locked volar distal radius plates and screws and note the indications for removal, types of plates removed, completeness of hardware removal, and complications occurring during plate removal.

Methods: We reviewed all distal radial volar locking plates removed at our institution from 2004 to 2009. A total of 28 patients operated on by 5 hand surgeons were identified.

Joint leveling for advanced Kienböck's disease.

Purpose: The use of joint leveling procedures to treat Kienböck's disease have been limited by the degree of disease advancement. This study was designed to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of wrists with more advanced (stage IIIB) Kienböck's disease with those of wrists with less advanced (stage II/IIIA) disease following radius-shortening osteotomy.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 31 adult wrists (30 patients; mean age, 39 y), treated with radius-shortening osteotomy at 2 institutions for either stage IIIB (n = 14) or stage II/IIIA (n = 17) disease.

Foreign body reaction to artelon spacer: case report.

Anecdotal reports of painful synovitis after implantation of the Artelon spacer (Small Bone Innovations, Inc., Morrisville, PA) have emerged. The manufacturer claims that this type of reaction is related to the method of fixation and/or to suture material.

Multiple pulley rupture following corticosteroid injection for trigger digit: case report.

We report a case of pulley rupture following repeated local corticosteroid injections for trigger digit. The treatment involved exploration, tenolysis, and reconstruction using the palmaris longus tendon.

Reliability of navigated lower limb alignment in high tibial osteotomies.

Background: Navigation allows for determination of the mechanical axis of the lower extremity during high tibial osteotomy (HTO) procedures. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the reliability of noninvasive registration with an image-free navigation system for HTO and (2) determine the accuracy of the navigation system to monitor changes in lower limb alignment as compared with alignment measured with a novel 3-dimensional computed tomography method.

Hypothesis: Navigated limb alignment demonstrates good reliability and accuracy in all 3 planes.