Publications by authors named "Glenn Gaston"

Purpose: The surgical management of adult traumatic brachial plexus injuries (BPI) is challenging, with no consensus on optimal strategies. This study aimed to gather preferred reconstructive strategies from BPI surgeons for actual cases from a multicenter cohort to identify areas of agreement.

Methods: Four case files (history, physical examination, and imaging and electrodiagnostic testing results) were distributed to eight self-designated Level IV expert BPI surgeons in the United States.

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Case: Vohwinkel syndrome is a rare, inherited condition marked by defective keratinization. The disorder may feature digital constriction bands (pseudoainhum) which can lead to autoamputation. Surgical excision is the only treatment of pseudoainhum; however, it is fraught with recurrence.

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Background: Chronic pain remains a significant challenge for individuals following limb amputation, with incidence of painful neuromas, phantom limb pain (PLP), and residual limb pain (RLP). Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is a surgical technique designed to restore motor control information lost during amputation by redirecting residual nerves to new muscle targets. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare patient-reported and functional outcomes following amputation with either TMR or standard neurological treatment (SNT).

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Background: Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) and regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI) prevent symptomatic neuroma formation in amputees. Forearm-level amputations present multiple muscular targets, making it challenging to determine the ideal treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the best TMR targets, role of RPNI, and appropriate patient-selection criteria in forearm-level amputations.

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Purpose: Wrist arthroscopy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis of intra-articular wrist conditions including triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears; however, the ability to reliably diagnose TFCC pathology during wrist arthroscopy is unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of the diagnosis of TFCC tears on wrist arthroscopy videos.

Methods: Five hand surgeons reviewed 43 cases on a secure web-based platform at two time points separated by 4-6 weeks.

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Health care systems, including operating rooms, are a considerable contributor to environmental waste. Given ongoing concerns regarding water scarcity in the United States and worldwide, action to reduce water utilization should be taken. Traditional water-based hand scrubbing wastes an estimated 11 L of water per scrub.

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Phalangeal fractures are extremely common in the pediatric and adolescent populations. The incidence of phalangeal fractures peaks in children ages 10 to 14 years, corresponding to the age in which children begin contact sports. Younger children are more likely to experience crush injuries, whereas older children often sustain phalangeal fractures during sports.

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Multiple fracture patterns can occur around the proximal interphalangeal joint and require surgeons to have a thorough understanding of the anatomy, clinical and radiographic examination, common fracture patterns, surgical and nonsurgical treatment options, and potential complications. Proximal phalangeal condylar fractures are typically managed surgically, because even nondisplaced fractures have a propensity for displacement. Middle phalangeal base fractures most commonly present as a volar lip fracture with or without dorsal subluxation or dislocation.

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A comprehensive analysis of the assessment, diagnosis, and management of phalangeal fractures and fingertip injuries should emphasize the importance of achieving the right balance between undertreatment and overtreatment. Phalangeal injuries are complex, requiring an in-depth understanding of hand anatomy, fracture patterns, and treatment options to optimize patient outcomes. A thorough examination of proximal and middle phalangeal fractures and fingertip injuries, including those to the nail bed and distal phalanx, is important.

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Metacarpal fractures are among the most common hand fractures. To properly manage these injuries, surgeons must understand the anatomy, biomechanics, clinical assessment, surgical and nonsurgical treatment options, and potential complications. Metacarpal head fractures often require surgical treatment to restore the joint surface by using a variety of techniques.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Amputations have changed little over time, typically involving ligation of blood vessels, shortening of bones, and cutting of nerves, which can lead to significant pain issues for patients.
  • - Targeted muscle reinnervation is a newer surgical technique aimed at enhancing function in prosthetic users and is increasingly used to manage neuropathic pain.
  • - The article serves as a consensus statement from experienced surgeons to provide guidelines and a framework for successful implementation of targeted muscle reinnervation among extremity surgeons.
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  • Conventional teaching in managing partial hand amputations often focuses on maximizing residual limb length through various flap techniques, but only a few flaps effectively mimic the thin and flexible nature of dorsal hand skin.
  • Excessive soft tissue from flap reconstructions can hinder limb function, prosthesis fit, and the efficacy of myoelectric prosthetics.
  • Advancements in prosthetic technology and nerve transfer methods have led to a new reconstruction approach prioritizing minimal tissue coverage, resulting in faster, more secure fittings and enhanced usability of both basic and advanced partial hand prostheses.
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  • Targeted muscle re-innervation (TMR) using the palmaris longus (PL) muscle is explored as a treatment for postamputation pain and to enhance control of myoelectric prostheses after transradial amputation.
  • A study analyzed the median nerve's branching patterns and evaluated patient outcomes after TMR with PL, indicating an average distance of 53 mm from the medial epicondyle to the PL's motor entry point.
  • Results show that PL is a viable target for TMR with satisfactory signal strength for prosthesis control and acceptable clinical outcomes, including low pain levels and minimal complications post-surgery.
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  • Management of partial hand amputations presents significant challenges, particularly due to the limitations of myoelectric prostheses that have traditionally lacked independent digital control, leading to poor user satisfaction.
  • The Starfish Procedure offers a solution by transferring dorsal interosseous muscles to a new location, allowing myoelectric sensors to pick up muscle signals for improved control of prosthetic fingers.
  • The article provides insights into the anatomy, suitable candidates, and procedure specifics, aiming to motivate surgeons to adopt this technique to help patients achieve better functionality with finger prosthetics.
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  • Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) helps manage pain from neuromas, and this study explores how timing of TMR affects pain levels and opioid use after major limb amputation.* -
  • Patients who underwent TMR acutely (within 1 month of surgery) reported significantly lower pain scores on the visual analogue scale (VAS) compared to those who had TMR delayed, at both intermediate and final follow-ups.* -
  • Although a high percentage of patients in both groups were not using opioids at the final follow-up, there was no significant difference in opioid consumption between the acute and delayed TMR groups.*
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  • * A total of 107 patients were analyzed, revealing a 14% overall complication rate and a 13.1% reoperation rate, with most repairs done via bone tunnels.
  • * Factors such as smoking status, gender, and the timing of rehabilitation did not significantly impact the rates of complications or reruptures in these patients.
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  • Upper-extremity limb loss can lead to serious mental health issues, such as depression and PTSD, which are often overlooked despite advances in medical treatments.
  • In a study of 39 adult patients who underwent traumatic upper limb amputations, over half screened positive for depression (51%) and a significant majority for PTSD (69%) the median times being 6.5 and 10 months post-amputation, respectively.
  • The results indicate a strong connection between mental health issues and poorer patient-reported outcomes, highlighting the need for regular mental health screenings and a comprehensive treatment approach for amputees.
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Background: Distal biceps repair is a commonly reported procedure in male patients, with reliable outcomes and minimal long-term complications. Information on female patients, however, is limited, and variation in presentation and clinical outcomes is unknown.

Questions/purpose: We sought to report on the presentation, treatment algorithm, and outcomes of a case series of female patients with distal biceps pathology.

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Purpose: This study investigated metacarpal fracture occurrences, characteristics, treatments, and return-to-play times for National Football League (NFL) athletes.

Methods: NFL players who sustained metacarpal fractures during the 2012 to 2018 seasons were reviewed. All players on the 32 NFL team active rosters with metacarpal fractures recorded through the NFL Injury Database were included.

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  • Hand and digit amputations often lead to neuroma formation, causing pain and possibly requiring revision surgeries; interdigital end-to-end nerve coaptations can help prevent this.
  • A study tracked 289 nerves from 54 patients between 2010 and 2020, comparing neuroma development in those who had coaptations versus those who didn’t; results showed a lower incidence of neuromas (12.8% vs. 22.7%) and less persistent pain in the coaptation group.
  • The findings indicate that end-to-end neurorrhaphy is effective in reducing pain and complications after partial hand amputations, while factors like depression and workers' compensation status were linked to higher rates of symptomatic neurom
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Purpose: The ideal method of central slip reconstruction is difficult to determine due to the multitude of techniques, nonstandardized outcome reporting, and small patient series in the literature. Although most boutonniere deformities may be treated with nonsurgical measures, chronic, subacute, or open injuries may require operative intervention. To aid surgeons in the choice of the ideal central slip reconstruction method, this biomechanical study compared the 3 most common methods performed at our institution: direct repair, lateral band centralization, and distally-based flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) slip repair.

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  • The study aimed to assess whether individuals with unilateral congenital upper limb amputation can control myoelectric prostheses with multiple degrees of freedom using pattern recognition (PR) technology.
  • Seven participants, aged 9 to 62, were tested on their ability to control a virtual prosthesis through electromyographic signals, measuring their proficiency in a game-like testing environment.
  • Results showed that all participants successfully calibrated the prosthesis controls at various degrees of freedom, with no differences in accuracy between their amputated and sound limbs, indicating a promising potential for myoelectric prostheses in this population.
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Background: Nitinol memory compression staples have been proposed as an effective alternative to compression screws for capitolunate arthrodesis (CLA) for scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse (SNAC) and scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) wrist. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of CLA for SNAC or SLAC wrist treatment using either compression screws or nitinol staples.

Methods: In all, 47 patients with CLA for SLAC or SNAC wrist with screws or nitinol staples were retrospectively identified.

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