Clinical Outcomes of Lunocapitate Arthrodesis: A Retrograde Single-Screw Approach.

Background: A single-site retrospective study was designed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of single-screw lunocapitate arthrodesis (LCA) using a retrograde approach for the treatment of scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) wrist.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 31 patients (33 cases) between September 2010 and December 2019 with SLAC wrist changes who were treated with single-screw LCA. Objective outcomes included time to fusion, union rate, range of motion, and grip and pinch strength recovery.

Effect of a stabilization exercise program versus standard treatment for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: A randomized trial.

Study Design: Randomized, interventional trial with 1 year follow-up.

Introduction: Though recommended, evidence is lacking to support specific exercises to stabilize and strengthen the first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint for cases of osteoarthritis (OA).

Purpose Of The Study: To determine in a naturalistic setting, whether standard treatment plus a home exercise program (ST+HEP) is more effective than standard treatment (ST) alone in improving Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (qDASH) scores, and secondarily, in other patient-centered (pain, function) and clinical outcomes (range of motion, strength).

Fingertip Injuries in Athletes, Musicians, and Other Special Cases.

Management of fingertip injuries in athletes is optimized by consideration of the sport, the playing position, the timing within the season, the level of competition, and the patient's goals. Mallet and jersey fingers are common injuries in athletes and may be treated in several different ways, based on the nature of the injury and the timing of presentation, as well as the athlete's demands. Management of fingertip injuries in musicians is optimized by consideration of how the musician handles his or her instrument and the specific requirements of the injured digit in the context of musical performance.

Survival and Long-Term Outcomes of Thumb Metacarpal Extension Osteotomy for Symptomatic Carpometacarpal Laxity and Early Basal Joint Arthritis.

Purpose: To evaluate the survival and long-term outcomes of thumb metacarpal extension osteotomy for early carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis.

Methods: Patients who underwent a thumb extension osteotomy between years 2000 and 2011 were identified. Patient demographics, complications, and reoperations were recorded.

Treating Unstable Distal Radius Fractures With a Nonspanning External Fixation Device: Comparison With Volar Locking Plates in Historical Control Group.

We conducted a study to compare functional and radiographic outcomes of unstable comminuted intra-articular distal radius fractures (DRFs) treated with a nonspanning external fixation device and outcomes achieved with volar locking plates in a historical control group. Clinical and radiographic data from 25 patients with these fractures, treated with the external fixation device, were compared with outcomes data from historical control matched patients with fracture patterns treated with volar locking plates. There was no statistically significant difference in the measured outcomes for wrist flexion and extension, radial deviation, pronation and supination, volar tilt, radial height, radial inclination, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores between the 2 groups.

Efficacy of 3 therapeutic taping configurations for children with brachial plexus birth palsy.

Study Design: Cross-sectional clinical measurement study.

Introduction: Scapular winging is a frequent complaint among children with brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP). Therapeutic taping for scapular stabilization has been reported to decrease scapular winging.

A review of mallet finger and jersey finger injuries in the athlete.

Purpose Of Review: The purposes of this review are to discuss the diagnosis and management of mallet and jersey finger injuries in athletes and to highlight how treatment impacts return to play.

Recent Findings: Mallet finger: although numerous non-operative and operative techniques have been described, there continues to be little consensus regarding the optimal procedure. Jersey finger: ultrasound appears to be a cost-effective imaging modality that may be useful for preoperative planning.

Hand Surgeon Reporting of Tendon Rupture Following Distal Radius Volar Plating.

Volar plate fixation with locked screws has become the preferred treatment of displaced distal radius fractures that cannot be managed nonoperatively. This treatment, however, is not without complication. The purpose of this study was to determine what percentage of hand surgeons, over a 12-month period, have experienced a tendon complication when using volar plates for the treatment of distal radius fractures.

Enchondroma of the Hand: Evaluation and Management.

Enchondroma is the most common primary bone tumor of the hand. This benign, cartilaginous tumor often presents as a pathologic fracture. When hand enchondroma is suspected, less common conditions, such as multiple enchondromatosis syndromes and benign and malignant lesions, should be ruled out.

Does a Weekly Didactic Conference Improve Resident Performance on the Pediatric Domain of the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination?

Background: Performance on the Orthopaedic In-training Examination (OITE) has been correlated with performance on the written portion of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery examination. Herein we sought to discover whether adding a regular pediatric didactic lecture improved residents' performance on the OITE's pediatric domain.

Methods: In 2012, a didactic lecture series was started in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hamot Orthopaedic Residency Program (Hamot).

The surgical management of hand enchondroma without postcurettage void augmentation: authors' experience and a systematic review.

Background: Postcurettage void augmentation in the management of hand enchondroma is a debated practice. The objectives of this study are to present the outcomes of hand enchondroma treatment by curettage without void augmentation at the authors' institution and to systematically review the literature pertinent to this aspect of management.

Methods: Initially, a retrospective case series of patients treated for hand enchondroma at the authors' institution was conducted to assess postoperative complications and radiographic consolidation.

A brief review of extensor tendon injuries specific to the pediatric patient.

Extensor tendon injuries in the pediatric population require careful evaluation and treatment. This article focuses on the differences in injury type and treatment of pediatric versus adult extensor tendon injuries. A detailed history and physical examination is crucial in the management of extensor tendon injuries of the young patient.

Biomechanical comparison of double grasping repair versus cross-locked cruciate flexor tendon repair.

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare the in vitro biomechanical properties of tensile strength and gap resistance of a double grasping loop (DGL) flexor tendon repair with the established four-strand cross-locked cruciate (CLC) flexor tendon repair, both with an interlocking horizontal mattress (IHM) epitendinous suture. The hypothesis is that the DGL-IHM method which utilizes two looped core sutures, grasping and locking loops, and a single intralesional knot will have greater strength and increased gap resistance than the CLC-IHM method.

Methods: Forty porcine tendons were evenly assigned to either the DGL-IHM or CLC-IHM group.

Patient-related factors influencing ulnar-shortening osteotomy outcomes using the trimed dynamic compression plate.

Ulnocarpal impingement can be surgically managed with various shortening osteotomy techniques. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine the outcomes of the ulnar-shortening osteotomy technique using the Trimed dynamic compression plate (Valencia, California) and to determine whether results vary among patient-related factors, including smoking status, occupation, preoperative diagnosis, and workers' compensation status. Twenty-seven patients (28 wrists) operated by a single surgeon underwent ulnar shortening over a 4-year span.

Ring injuries of the finger: long-term follow-up.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report on the injury patterns and outcomes of a series of patients treated at our institution between the years 1983 and 2010 who were injured by rings worn on their finger. The series included typical ring avulsion injuries as well as all other injuries caused by rings.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted on 33 patients with ring injuries treated by the senior author and colleagues.

Use of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh-BMP-2) in treatment of wrist and hand nonunion with comparison to historical control groups.

The purpose of this study is to report the percentage of patients achieving union, time to union, and complications with the use of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh-BMP-2) in surgical repair of established nonunion in the hand and wrist. Twenty-seven patients with nonunion of the hand and wrist were treated between 2005 and 2011 with surgical repair and augmentation using 4.2 mg of rh-BMP-2.

Role of nonoperative treatment of subacromial impingement.

Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) occurs when the rotator cuff is compressed by the overlying acromion during shoulder flexion resulting in shoulder pain. The objective of this study was to demonstrate significant relief of symptoms and improved function from physical therapy over long-term follow-up. Eighty-one patients were followed.

A systematic review of postoperative hand therapy management of basal joint arthritis.

Background: There are a variety of postoperative immobilization and therapy options for patients with basal joint arthritis. Although prior systematic reviews have compared surgical procedures used to treat basal joint arthritis, none to our knowledge compares therapy protocols for this condition, which are considered an important part of the treatment.

Questions/purposes: (1) We sought to determine whether differences in the length and type of postoperative immobilization affect clinical results after basal joint arthritis surgery.

Minimally invasive endoscopic decompression for anterior interosseous nerve syndrome: technical notes.

Anterior interosseous nerve syndrome (Nevin-Kiloh syndrome) is a rare entity caused by compression of the purely motor anterior interosseous nerve in the forearm. Historically, conventional surgical treatment has consisted of open decompression of the nerve. Unfortunately, open decompression is often complicated by scarring and significant morbidity.