The Effect of Metacarpophalangeal Joint Hyperextension on Outcomes in the Surgical Treatment of Carpometacarpal Joint Arthritis.

 In the surgical treatment of thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint arthritis, the effect of mild preoperative metacarpophalangeal (MCP) hyperextension on postoperative functional outcomes is unknown. We sought to examine outcomes after surgical treatment of CMC arthritis in patients with and without mild preexisting MCP deformity.  A retrospective review was conducted to analyze the functional outcomes of patients treated for CMC arthritis at a single institution from March 1998 to May 2009.

Decellularization of a Fasciocutaneous Flap for Use as a Perfusable Scaffold.

Background: The aim of the current study was to determine whether a rat fasciocutaneous flap could be decellularized using detergent perfusion and/or agitation methods while preserving the integrity of the extracellular matrix and circulatory networks.

Methods: Superficial inferior epigastric arterial flaps of 50 rats were randomly divided into the following 5 groups: (1) normal; (2) agitation in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) for 72 hours (72h-AG); (3) perfusion and agitation with SDS for 12 hours (12h-PE-AG); (4) perfusion and agitation with SDS for 24 hours (24h-PE-AG); and (5) perfusion and agitation with SDS for 72 hours (72h-PE-AG). These flaps were evaluated by gross morphology, histology, integrity of the microcirculatory networks, and DNA quantification.