Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis and the incidence of surgical site infections in elective clean soft tissue surgery of the hand and upper limb: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) are the most frequent early complications of hand surgeries. However, the indications still remain uncertain for antibiotic prophylaxis in elective clean soft tissue surgeries of the hand and upper limb. Therefore, a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the impact of antibiotic prophylaxis on the prevention of SSI in these types of surgeries.

Screening tool development for hand surgery referrals in systemic sclerosis.

Background: Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients may need hand surgery.

Objective: To develop a screening tool for rheumatologists to identify potential candidates with systemic sclerosis for hand surgery, optimizing referrals.

Methods: A pilot cross-sectional study from January 2015 to December 2016.

Functionality Assessment of Patients With Cleft Hands.

Background: Ectrodactyly, commonly referred to as cleft hand, is a rare pathology characterized by a deficiency and/or complete absence of the central ray in each hand. In order to customize treatment and improve the patient's quality of life, a more detailed functional evaluation is required. Although several studies evaluate functionality in different types of cleft hands, there are only a few studies that show self-reported evaluations.

EVALUATION OF DISTAL FOREARM FRACTURES USING THE AO 2018 CLASSIFICATION.

Objective: Distal forearm fractures are among the most common upper limb fractures in all ages, and many classifications have been proposed to describe them. Recently, a new version of AO/OTA classification was proposed. The aim of this study is to use the AO/OTA 2018 classification to report the epidemiology of distal forearm fractures in adults treated at a single center.

Evaluation of intra- and interobserver reliability of the AO classification for wrist fractures.

Objective: This study evaluated the intraobserver and interobserver reliability of the AO classification for standard radiographs of wrist fractures.

Methods: Thirty observers, divided into three groups (orthopedic surgery senior residents, orthopedic surgeons, and hand surgeons) classified 52 wrist fractures, using only simple radiographs. After a period of four weeks, the same observers evaluated the initial 52 radiographs, in a randomized order.

The evaluation of a home-based program for hands in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Study Design: This study used a quasi-experimental design where patients were evaluated before and after participation in the self-management program.

Introduction: Hands are commonly affected in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Strategies to maintain or improve hand function are indicated upon diagnosis and throughout the course of the disease.