Upper-Extremity Injuries in a Level 1 Trauma Center Following Border Wall Height Increase.

Purpose: From 2018-2019, the height of over 400 miles of southern border wall was raised to 30 feet. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of the increase in border wall height on upper-extremity injuries sustained via barrier fall.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients admitted with upper-extremity injuries sustained via border wall fall between January 2015 and December 2022 at a Level 1 trauma center serving the United States-Mexico border.

Exploring the 6-year Trend in Dedicated Research Years among Integrated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residents.

Background: The plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) match has become more competitive with an emphasis on research productivity. With the transition of the US Medical Licensing Examination step 1 examination to pass-fail grading, alternative evaluation metrics for residency applications are needed. Our study provides a landscape of the incidence of research years amongst integrated PRS residents and the potential impacts of gender and race.

Does Preservation of Metacarpophalangeal Joint Vascularity Protect Against Physeal Arrest in Index Finger Pollicization?

Purpose: To determine whether preservation of blood supply to the index metacarpophalangeal joint decreases the rate of physeal arrest.

Methods: A retrospective review of 41 pollicized digits in 35 patients with 2-year minimum radiographic follow-up was conducted at a single institution. Other complications evaluated included nonunion at the pollicized digit base and clinical instability at the new carpometacarpal joint.

Evaluation and Treatment of Entrapped Peripheral Nerve Catheters: A Case Report and Review.

Methods to remove retained peripheral nerve catheters range from non-invasive techniques to open surgical procedures. This study reviews two cases requiring surgical intervention for catheter remnant removal after catheter breakage and presents a systematic review describing the diagnosis and treatment of retained perineural catheters. While still very rare, our case report and systematic review demonstrate that retained nerve catheters can occur as the result of kinking or knotting, but also from catheter breakage.

Biomechanical Stability of Diaphyseal Ulnar Shaft Fractures and Ulnar Shortening Osteotomies After Fixation.

Background: To determine the amount of micromotion during forearm rotation after diaphyseal ulnar shaft fracture or osteotomy.

Methods: This was a biomechanical study using 7 paired-matched cadavers. The upper extremity was mounted in a custom rig and the forearm brought through full pronation and supination.