Measurement of quality of life among patient undergoing arthroplasty of the thumb to treat CMC arthritis.

Objective: To present the clinical and functional results, including measurement of quality of life, of patients undergoing trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty.

Method: This was a prospective evaluation on 45 patients (53 thumbs) with a diagnosis of idiopathic rhizarthrosis who underwent resection arthroplasty and interposition of an uncemented Ascension(®) implant, made of pyrocarbon. The clinical and functional results were analyzed through radiography, range of motion (ROM) in degrees (°), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the disability of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire for quality of life.

Randomized clinical trial on percutaneous minimally invasive osteosynthesis of fractures of the distal extremity of the radius.

Objectives: the purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative radiological and clinical outcomes with minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis using three implants: volar locking plate, intramedullary nail system and nonbridging external fixator for distal radius fractures.

Methods: forty-eight patients (A group, 16; B group 16; C group 16) underwent minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis of reductible and unstable displaced (Type IIB by Rayhack Classification) distal radius fractures. In B group intramedullary nail system was used, in A group the patients were treated with volar locking plate and in C group the patients were treated by nonbridging external fixator from January 2011 to December 2012.