Clinical Outcome of Lateral Wedge Osteotomy of the Radius in Advanced Stages of Kienböck's Disease.

Background: Radius osteotomies showed favorable clinical outcome in Kienböck's disease. However, few articles have been published on the long-term outcome of lateral wedge osteotomy of the radius in patients with advanced stage Kienböck's disease.

Methods: Eleven patients with Lichtman stage IIIB/IV Kienböck's disease (group A; mean follow-up period, 86.

The Effect of Psychological Factors on the Outcomes of Carpal Tunnel Release: A Systematic Review.

Background: Several studies report that psychological factors are associated with outcomes of carpal tunnel release. However, interpretation of the association is difficult as there are diverse outcome parameters and patient expectations are different. We performed a systematic review to assess the relationships between psychological factors and the various outcome parameters.

Evaluation of Radiographic Instability of the Trapeziometacarpal Joint in Women With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Purpose: To determine whether median nerve dysfunction measured by electrophysiologic studies in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is associated with thumb trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint instability.

Methods: We evaluated 71 women with CTS and 31 asymptomatic control women. Patients with generalized laxity or TMC joint osteoarthritis were excluded.

Biomechanical analyses of the human flexor tendon adhesion models in the hand: A cadaveric study.

Patients with longstanding trigger finger may develop flexion contracture at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint that persists even after division of the A1 pulley. The purpose of this study was to explore the hypothesis that flexion deformity of the PIP joint in advanced trigger finger is caused by severe adhesion between the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons. Ten freshly frozen cadaveric hands were used in the experiments.

Korean type distal radius anatomical volar plate system: a preliminary report.

Background: Distal radius fracture is the most common fracture of the upper extremity, and approximately 60,000 distal radius fractures occur annually in Korea. Internal fixation with an anatomical volar locking plate is widely used in the treatment of unstable distal radius fractures. However, most of the currently used distal radius anatomical plate systems were designed based on the anatomical characteristics of Western populations.

Radial collateral ligament injury of the little finger proximal interphalangeal joint in young pianists.

Purpose: To report the features of radial collateral ligament injury of the little finger proximal interphalangeal joint in young piano players.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2012, we treated 6 cases of radial collateral ligament injury of the little finger proximal interphalangeal joint in young piano players at a single referral center. We conducted a retrospective review of charts and radiographs and telephone-interviewed all patients at a mean follow-up of 33 months (range, 12-66 mo) to evaluate features of this injury.

Anatomy of the direct small branches of the proper digital nerve of the fingers: a cadaveric study.

Background And Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomical constancy of the direct small branches of the proper digital nerve.

Methods: A total of 208 digital nerves of the index, long, ring, and little fingers from 13 cadavers were studied. For each digital nerve, the number of direct small branches was counted at the proximal and middle phalanx levels.

Posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow after corrective osteotomy for previously asymptomatic cubitus varus deformity.

Background: We identified a subset of patients who had posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI) following corrective osteotomy for asymptomatic cubitus varus deformity. We aimed to identify risk factors for PLRI in such patients by comparing this subgroup to patients who did not demonstrate PLRI following osteotomy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiographs of 22 patients with cubitus varus that underwent corrective osteotomy at our institution between 2003 and 2010.

The relationship between positive or negative phrasing and patients' coping with lateral epicondylitis.

Background: Research suggests that phrases with negative content can affect patients' response to medical procedures and how they cope with medical illnesses. We hypothesized that patients with lateral epicondylitis who describe their condition in positive phrases cope better than those who do not.

Methods: We prospectively followed up 91 patients with lateral epicondylitis for 12 months.

Is surgery for brachial plexus schwannomas safe and effective?

Background: Schwannomas rarely are found in the brachial plexus, and although they are benign, they present significant challenges to surgical treatment. To our knowledge, there are few studies investigating the surgical outcomes of patients with brachial plexus tumors.

Questions/purposes: We analyzed the outcomes of 19 patients with brachial plexus schwannomas and asked: (1) How do these patients present? (2) Where are the tumors located in the brachial plexus? (3) What are the complications and neurologic results of patients after excision of the tumor?

Methods: From February 2002 to August 2012, one orthopaedic hand surgeon treated 19 patients with schwannomas of the brachial plexus.

The effect of patient involvement in surgical decision making for carpal tunnel release on patient-reported outcome.

Purpose: To investigate whether patient-reported outcomes are different according to patients' preference or experience in surgical decision making for carpal tunnel release.

Methods: We preoperatively surveyed 85 patients who underwent carpal tunnel release regarding their preferred role in the process of surgical decision making and assessed their experienced role in the actual decision making 6 months after surgery using a Control Preference Scale. For patient-reported surgical outcomes, we used the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire.

Role of integrin-linked kinase in osteosarcoma progression.

Although integrin-linked kinase (ILK) has been suggested to play a role in the tumorigenesis of a number of human epithelial carcinomas, little is known of its role in musculoskeletal sarcoma. The authors studied ILK expression by immunohistochemistry using osteosarcoma prechemotherapy specimens from 56 patients, and investigated the prognostic implications of the findings obtained. It was found that ILK overexpression was significantly correlated with the presence of distant metastasis (p = 0.

The effect of buffered lidocaine in local anesthesia: a prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

Purpose: Open carpal tunnel decompression under local anesthesia is routinely done by many surgeons. However, patients complain of pain during the injection of local anesthesia. This prospective, double-blind, randomized study was to compare the pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores of local anesthesia using lidocaine with and without sodium bicarbonate in patients with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

Radial polydactyly: proposal for a new classification system based on the 159 duplicated thumbs.

Background: Polydactyly is one of the most common congenital differences that affect the hand. It has various anatomic and morphologic features. Although the Wassel classification has been used widely for radial polydactyly, it is based on the anatomic level of duplication and has some limitations in describing the concrete morphology of the duplication.

Retrograde intramedullary nailing for distal femur fracture with osteoporosis.

Background: The incidence of distal femur fracture in the elderly has been increasing recently, and commonly occurs with osteoporosis. Retrograde intramedullary nailing has been considered a good surgical option for distal femur fracture. The purpose of the present study was to present our surgical results with retrograde intramedullary nailing for distal femur fractures with osteoporosis.

Early initiation of bisphosphonate does not affect healing and outcomes of volar plate fixation of osteoporotic distal radial fractures.

Background: Bisphosphonates can adversely affect fracture-healing because they inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption. It is unclear whether bisphosphonates can be initiated safely for patients who have sustained an acute distal radial fracture. The purpose of this randomized study was to determine whether the early use of bisphosphonate affects healing and outcomes of osteoporotic distal radial fractures treated with volar locking plate fixation.

The radiologic relationship of the shoulder girdle to the thorax as an aid in diagnosing neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.

Purpose: Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS) is produced by compression of the brachial plexus in the thoracic outlet. The lower position of the shoulder girdle relative to the upper thorax may be related to NTOS. We investigated this hypothesis using plain cervical radiographs.

Prospective multicenter trial of modified retrograde percutaneous intramedullary Kirschner wire fixation for displaced metacarpal neck and shaft fractures.

Background: The purpose of this prospective multicenter study was to assess the clinical and radiographic outcome of a newly devised technique of retrograde intramedullary fixation with multiple Kirschner wires in metacarpal neck and shaft fractures.

Methods: Between May of 2002 and June of 2007, a total of 121 metacarpal fractures in 105 patients that were treated with the authors' modified intramedullary Kirschner wire fixation technique were included in this study. The average follow-up period was 10 months.

Minimal epicondylectomy improves neurologic deficits in moderate to severe cubital tunnel syndrome.

Background: Previous studies of minimal medial epicondylectomy for cubital tunnel syndrome included patients with mild disease, making it difficult to determine how much this procedure improved sensory and motor impairments in patients with moderate to severe disease.

Questions/purposes: We asked if minimal epicondylectomy improved sensory and motor impairments in patients with moderate to severe cubital tunnel syndrome.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 25 patients treated with minimal medial epicondylectomy for advanced cubital tunnel syndrome involving motor weakness between January 2003 and February 2009.

Long-term outcomes of ulnar shortening osteotomy for idiopathic ulnar impaction syndrome: at least 5-years follow-up.

Background: There have been few outcomes studies with follow-up after performing ulnar shortening osteotomy for ulnar impaction syndrome. We investigated the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of ulnar shortening osteotomy for the treatment of idiopathic ulnar impaction syndrome.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 36 patients who had undergone ulnar shortening osteotomy for idiopathic ulnar impaction syndrome for a mean follow-up of 79.

A correlation exists between subchondral bone mineral density of the distal radius and systemic bone mineral density.

Background: Intraarticular distal radius fractures are common and risk articular congruity owing to disruption of the subchondral bone. Studies regarding microstructure and mechanical properties of the distal radius, however, focus only on the cortical and trabecular bones in the metaphysis and not on the subchondral bone.

Questions/purposes: This study was conducted to (1) quantify the regional bone mineral density of the subchondral plate in the distal radius; (2) analyze the topographic distribution pattern of the subchondral bone mineral density; and (3) evaluate the correlation between the subchondral bone mineral density and the potentially related clinical factors of age, height, weight, BMI, systemic bone mineral densities, socio-occupational classification, and hand osteoarthritis grading.

The effect of dividing muscles superficial to the transverse carpal ligament on carpal tunnel release outcomes.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that division of muscle fibers lying over or within the transverse carpal ligament (TCL) in an open carpal tunnel release does not have an effect on outcomes in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Methods: A total of 152 patients with a mean age of 57 years (range, 31-83 y) diagnosed with CTS were enrolled for intraoperative observation of the muscles overlying or within the TCL as seen through a 3-cm incision. These muscles when present were incised layer by layer in line with division of the TCL.

Does platelet-rich plasma accelerate recovery after rotator cuff repair? A prospective cohort study.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been recently used to enhance and accelerate the healing of musculoskeletal injuries and diseases, but evidence is still lacking, especially on its effects after rotator cuff repair.

Hypothesis: Platelet-rich plasma accelerates recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in pain relief, functional outcome, overall satisfaction, and enhanced structural integrity of repaired tendon.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

The effect of multiple channeling on the structural integrity of repaired rotator cuff.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of adding multiple channeling of the greater tuberosity on the structural integrity of the repaired rotator cuff tendon.

Methods: Fifty-six consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and postoperative computed tomography arthrography (CTA) were included in this study; 31 consecutive patients that underwent conventional repair and 25 subsequent patients that underwent conventional repair with multiple channeling. Using CTA, the repaired rotator cuff was evaluated as either intact, incomplete, or complete leakage at the insertion and in the tendon separately.