Modifications to the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Predicts Complications after Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Background: Preoperative malnutrition is a known risk factor for postoperative complications following total joint arthroplasty (TJA), however, there is scant literature comparing which nutritional index is best at predicting these outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of the Maastricht Index (MI), Onodera's Prognostic Index (OPNI), the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), and a novel, modified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (mGNRI) in predicting periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), wound complications (WC), readmission, and reoperation rates after TJA.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was performed of patients who underwent primary TJA from January 2016 to December 2021.

Soft Tissue Coverage for Foot and Ankle Trauma.

Lower extremity trauma can result in extensive soft tissue loss, which can require a staged multispecialty approach. Flaps can be an excellent choice for significant soft tissue loss. A variety of variables goes into the selection of a flap including understanding what the recipient site needs, available donor sites, nature of trauma, and utilization of indices to predict limb salvageability in order to strategically select the correct flap option.

Provision of a Home-Based Video-Assisted Therapy Program Is Noninferior to In-Person Hand Therapy After Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty.

Background: In-person hand therapy is commonly prescribed for rehabilitation after thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthroplasty but may be burdensome to patients because of the need to travel to appointments. Asynchronous, video-assisted home therapy is a method of care in which videos containing instructions and exercises are provided to the patient, without the need for in-person or telemedicine visits. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of providing video-only therapy (VOT) as compared with scheduled in-person therapy (IPT) after thumb CMC arthroplasty.

What Is a Surgical Site Infection After Carpal Tunnel Release?

Purpose: Considerable variation exists in the literature on published rates of surgical site infection (SSI) after carpal tunnel release, ranging over 20-fold, from 0.28% to 6.4%.

Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Primer for Hand and Peripheral Nerve Surgeons.

Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome is a complex condition and is commonly misunderstood. Historically, much of this confusion has been because of its grouping with other diagnoses that have little in common other than anatomic location. Modern understanding emphasizes the role of small unmyelinated C type pain and sympathetic fibers.

Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm Flap: Harvest Technique and Prophylactic Volar Locked Plating.

Background: The osteocutaneous radial forearm (OCRF) flap is a variation of the traditional radial forearm flap with incorporation of an anterolateral segment of corticocancellous bone of the radius, periosteum, and overlying skin. The OCRF flap is indicated in traumatic injuries or extirpation defects with segmental bone loss and is well suited to foot and ankle reconstruction due to its thin pliable skin.

Methods: In this single-center case series, a retrospective review was conducted to identify patients who underwent OCRF free flap for foot and ankle reconstruction that required harvest of more than 50% of the cross-sectional area of the radius with prophylactic volar locked plating of the donor site.

Changes in Management at the Postoperative Visit After In-Office Wide Awake Local Anesthetic No Tourniquet Carpal Tunnel Release.

Purpose: Patients are commonly seen for two postoperative visits following carpal tunnel release (CTR), the first visit being at 1-2 weeks and the second at approximately 6 weeks. Our study aimed to determine if these visits led to changes in postoperative medical management.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 748 procedures performed in an in-office procedure room under wide awake local anesthetic no tourniquet between August 2020 and December 2022.

What Factors Influence Variability in Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty Care? A Survey of ASSH Members.

Background: The purpose of this study was to gather information regarding current practices in the care of carpometacarpal (CMC) arthroplasty including the use of hand therapy, immobilization, and surgical technique, and to determine which factors influence these patterns.

Methods: We conducted a survey from February 24, 2022, through March 26, 2022, of 3648 currently practicing members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. We developed an 11-item questionnaire that contained questions about surgical technique, immobilization, and postoperative therapy utilization.

The effect of operative time on surgical-site infection following total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Many factors contribute to the risk of surgical-site infection (SSI) following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Operative time is a modifiable factor that may contribute to SSI occurrence after TSA. This study aimed to determine the correlation between operative time and SSI following TSA.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Distal Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis.

Unlabelled: Prior evidence is clear that in clean, elective soft-tissue hand procedures less than 2 hours, antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the boney procedures of the hand involving implanted hardware. Previous studies reviewing complications after distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint arthrodesis did not analyze whether patients receiving antibiotics before surgery had a significant difference in the infection rate.

Immobilization and Hand Therapy After Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: We provide a systematic review of the current literature regarding best practices in postoperative care following carpometacarpal arthroplasty, and compare these findings to current practices via reported survey data.

Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant studies. English-language articles were included that assessed any aspect of postoperative care, including the immobilization time or rehabilitation strategy.

Patients Who Undergo Rotator Cuff Repair Can Safely Return to Driving at 2 Weeks Postoperatively.

Background: Evidence-based guidelines are lacking for return to driving following rotator cuff repair (RCR). As a result, surgeons are often overly conservative in their recommendations, placing potential undue burden on patients and their families. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to formulate evidence-based return-to-driving guidelines.

Including a Vessel Loop in Wound Closure Facilitates Suture Removal Following Open Carpal Tunnel Release.

Background: Many hand surgeons prefer to close palmar wounds with non-absorbable mattress sutures. Suture removal can be painful and time-consuming. In this study, we investigated if suture removal can be facilitated by including a vessel loop in wound closure following open carpal tunnel release (CTR).

On the Road Again: Return to Driving Following Minor Hand Surgery.

Background: Patient return-to-driving following minor hand surgery is unknown. Through daily text message surveys, we sought to determine return-to-driving after minor hand surgery and the factors that influence return-to-driving.

Methods: One hundred five subjects undergoing minor hand surgery received daily text messaging surveys postoperatively to assess: (1) if they drove the day before and if so; (2) whether they wore a cast, sling, or splint.

An ultrashort video can teach residents to perform a fingertip injury repair.

Background: Acute fingertip injuries are common. Providers in rural and underserved areas often transfer these patients due to lack of comfort and skill with treating these injuries. Current learners prefer short and high-density educational material.

Neonatal Forearm Compartment Syndrome Secondary to Intrauterine Brachiocephalic Arterial Thrombosis: A Case Report.

Case: A newborn presented with necrotic skin lesions and contractures of the right upper extremity. Ultrasonography indicated the presence of a brachiocephalic artery thrombosis, and clinical examination demonstrated a neonatal forearm compartment syndrome. Surgical treatment included decompressive fasciotomy of the right forearm.

Fortuitous Eradication of an Aggressive Basal Cell Carcinoma Via Foreign Body Reaction to a Polyurethane Vacuum-Assisted Closure Sponge.

The foreign body reaction (FBR) is a well-documented immune reaction. Much of the literature on FBRs has focused on minimizing this immune response to mitigate the impact on medical implants. Here, we present a case that illustrates a serendipitous oncologic outcome from an FBR.

Identification of Microsurgical Suture Needles in the Hand Using Plain Radiographs.

Our objective is to determine if radiographs are adequate for identification of retained microsurgical needles. Four microsurgical needles ranging from 3.8 mm to 6.

Modeled Wide-Awake, Local-Anesthetic, No-Tourniquet Surgical Procedures Do Not Impair Driving Fitness: An Experimental On-Road Noninferiority Study.

Background: The use of wide-awake, local-anesthetic, no-tourniquet (WALANT) surgical techniques is increasingly common, and patients commonly ask whether they may drive home following these procedures. The impact of a numb hand and bulky dressing on driving fitness is unknown, and there is no literature to guide surgeons when counseling these patients. Thus, the primary objective of the present study was to determine driving fitness following a modeled-WALANT procedure.

The Utility of Preoperative HbA1c as a Standardized Protocol in Elective Carpal Tunnel Release: A Retrospective Review of Clinical Outcomes.

In an effort to reduce surgical complications, some institutions have implemented universal hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) screening for all preoperative patients. However, the value of HbA1c screening for predicting clinically meaningful complications after elective carpal tunnel release (CTR) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinically meaningful predicative value of HbA1c screening on postoperative complications following elective CTR.

Intraneural Peroneal Ganglion Cyst Excision in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report.

Case: A 14-year-old female presented with a profound foot drop after trauma to the right leg. Clinical examination and electrodiagnostic studies demonstrated a dense palsy of the common peroneal nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intraneural peroneal ganglion cyst at the fibular neck.

New Long-Term Opioid Prescription-Filling Behavior Arising in the 15 Months After Orthopaedic Surgery.

Background: The opioid crisis is a well-known public health issue. The risk of new long-term opioid prescription-filling behavior has been investigated after certain spinal procedures and total knee and hip arthroplasty. However, this has not been examined after many other common orthopaedic procedures.

Effect of Prescription Size on Opioid Use and Patient Satisfaction After Minor Hand Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: To determine the influence of initial prescription size on opioid consumption after minor hand surgeries. Secondary outcomes include efficacy of pain control, patient satisfaction, and refill requests.

Background: Retrospective studies have shown that opioid prescriptions for acute pain after surgical procedures are often excessive in size, which encourages misuse.