Hourglass-like constriction of the suprascapular nerve: a contraindication for minimally invasive surgery.

Background: Suprascapular nerve (SSN) entrapment is usually ascribed to static or dynamic compression. When no cause of compression is found, SSN entrapment is defined as idiopathic. Focal hourglass-like constriction (H-LC) of the SSN that results in muscle paralysis represents an unusual condition that may be misinterpreted and erroneously diagnosed as SSN entrapment or as neuralgic amyotrophy.

Repair of collateral ligament ruptures in the metacarpophalangeal joints of the long fingers.

Isolated collateral ligament ruptures in the metacarpophalangeal joints of the fingers seem to be more frequent than described. For ligament repair, dorsal access is generally described, but the proper method by which to proceed inside the joint is unclear and left to the surgeon's discretion and experience. With the technique we propose, it is possible to explore the interior of the joint from the top, allowing an easy and complete examination of the entire length of the ligament.

Muscle-in-vein nerve guide for secondary reconstruction in digital nerve lesions.

Purpose: Although vein conduits filled with fresh skeletal muscle have been used to bridge nerve defects both experimentally and clinically with good results, this approach has never been considered a valuable tool for reconstruction of nerve defects, and the technique has been abandoned. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of muscle-in-vein conduits for secondary digital nerves reconstruction, with particular emphasis on the surgical technique and results.

Methods: We present a retrospectively selected consecutive series of 21 digital nerve defects in 17 patients who were treated with vein conduits filled with fresh skeletal muscle for secondary nerve reconstruction.

Homolateral hourglass-like constrictions of the axillary and suprascapular nerves: case report.

In contrast with previous research, it was recently demonstrated that hourglass-like constriction is not exclusive to the elbow region. We present a report of a patient who had an axillary nerve and a suprascapular nerve hourglass-like constriction, found 7 years apart.

Chapter 14: End-to-side nerve regeneration: from the laboratory bench to clinical applications.

Translation of laboratory results to the patient is a critical step in biomedical research and sometimes promising basic science and preclinical results fail to meet the expectations when translated to the clinics. End-to-side (ETS) nerve regeneration is an example of an innovative neurobiological concept, which, after having generated great expectations in experimental and preclinical studies, provided very conflicting results when applied to clinical case series. A number of basic science studies have shown that ETS neurorrhaphy, in fact, is able to induce collateral sprouting from donor nerve's axons, allowing for massive repopulation of the distal nerve stump.

New tendon transfer for correction of drop-foot in common peroneal nerve palsy.

Unlabelled: Common peroneal nerve palsy has been reported to be the most frequent lower extremity palsy characterized by a supinated equinovarus foot deformity and foot drop. Dynamic tendon transposition represents the gold standard for surgical restoration of dorsiflexion of a permanently paralyzed foot. Between 1998 and 2005, we operated on a selected series of 16 patients with traumatic complete common peroneal nerve palsy.

First web-space reconstruction by the anterolateral thigh flap.

Four patients with severe contracture of the first web space were treated with an anterolateral thigh perforator flap. The flap size ranged from 10 to 13 cm in length and from 7 to 8 cm in width. The donor site was closed directly and thinning of the flap was performed in all cases.

The reverse heterodigital neurovascular island flap for digital pulp reconstruction.

A heterodigital neurovascular reverse-flow flap island flap for extensive pulp defects is described. A dorsolateral flap from the middle phalanx, based on the digital artery, is harvested from the adjacent uninjured finger. The common digital artery between the injured finger and the donor finger is ligated and transected just before its bifurcation.

The aesthetic mini wrap-around technique for thumb reconstruction.

In the past 12 years, 16 thumb defects at, or distal to, the interphalangeal joint were reconstructed using a great toe mini wrap-around flap. A flap including the entire nail and most of the distal phalanx of the great toe was used. Fifteen of the grafts survived.

Hand reconstruction using the thin anterolateral thigh flap.

Background: Perforator flaps have been introduced for various kinds of reconstruction and resurfacing; in particular, the free thin anterolateral thigh flap is becoming one of the most preferred options for reconstruction of soft-tissue defects.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2002, the authors used this flap as a free flap for nine cases for covering hand defects after burn, crushing injuries, or severe scar contracture release. There were eight men and one woman, the mean age of the patients was 31 years, and the size of the flaps ranged from 7 x 3.

Reconstruction of large posttraumatic skeletal defects of the forearm by vascularized free fibular graft.

Vascularized bone graft is most commonly applied for reconstruction of the lower extremity; indications for its use in the reconstruction of the upper extremity have expanded in recent years. Between 1993-2000, 12 patients with segmental bone defects following forearm trauma were managed with vascularized fibular grafts: 6 males and 6 females, aged 39 years on average (range, 16-65 years). The reconstructed site was the radius in 8 patients and the ulna in 4.

Long-term results of replantation for complete ring avulsion amputations.

Ring avulsion injuries have long presented complex management problems. Despite microsurgical advances, it is difficult to achieve good functional results in complete degloving injuries or amputations, and their management remains somewhat controversial. Ten patients with class IV injuries according to Kay's classification were treated from 1986 to 2000.

Nail lengthening and fingertip amputations.

Fingertip injuries can be treated in different ways, including shortening with primary closure, skin grafts, and local or distant flaps. Nail bed involvement complicates fingertip reconstruction and may influence the choice of treatment. Local flaps can usually replace the pulp and provide a satisfactory functional and aesthetic result, whereas reconstruction of the fingernail apparatus is more difficult.

Flap coverage of dorsum of hand associated with extensor tendons injuries: A completely vascularized single-stage reconstruction.

This study reports results in 12 patients treated with "completely vascularized single-stage approaches," so defined because skin, tendon, and nerve are transferred as a compound flap, and all are vascularized. A free dorsalis pedis cutaneotendinous flap was used in 7 patients, while a radial forearm cutaneotendinous island flap was transposed in 5 patients. A dorsalis pedis flap provides four vascularized extensor tendons (extensor digitorum comunis tendons), and the radial artery flap permits the inclusion of one completely vascularized tendon (palmaris longus) and two "strips" of vascularized tendons (flexor carpi radialis and brachioradialis).