Addition-subtraction osteotomy without ligamentoplasty for symptomatic trapezial dysplasia with metacarpal instability.

Trapeziometacarpal joint pain is often associated with a dynamic adduction deformity of the thumb metacarpal, combined with radial subluxation at the base of the thumb metacarpal, due to trapeziometacarpal dysplasia. Addition-subtraction osteotomy is a surgical option to correct the bony deformity when conservative treatment fails. Eight patients who underwent surgery with this technique were prospectively evaluated. All patients were female and mean age was 42 (range 27-59) years. Mean follow-up period was 23 (range 10-42) months postoperatively. Seven patients (87.5%) were very satisfied. Joint mobility and strength of the operated thumb was restored to a degree comparable to the contralateral thumb. Overall function according to the Quick-DASH score improved by 75.5% and pain according to the Visual Analogue Scale decreased by 65%. Radiological evaluation showed a decrease of the trapezial slope. Mean angle between the articular surface of the trapezium and the long axis of the second metacarpal measured 1420 preoperatively 1290 and postoperatively. In the present study results of addition-subtraction osteotomy without ligamentoplasty were promising, especially for function and pain. The technique may be a valuable treatment option for trapeziometacarpal dysplasia with metacarpal instability.

Treatment of fractures of the proximal phalanx of long fingers with an isometric traction splint.

Treatment of fractures of the proximal phalanx of the long fingers remains difficult and challenging ; several options have been used. We report our experience with an isometric traction splint, modified from the Southampton design. A cohort of 32 patients with displaced fractures of a proximal phalanx was treated and assessed retrospectively after a short term (9 weeks after splint application). Traction splint was applied to realign the fracture and to control rotation. This construct was used for approximatively 5 weeks (mean: 36 days; range: 21-44 days), considering the usual progression of fracture healing in closed phalangeal fractures and patient tolerance to the splint. Three weeks after splint removal, almost full range of motion was regained in the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints in all patients, except in 3 cases. Two of these three patients had a displaced fracture of the proximal phalanx as a result of a compression trauma. The combination of the trauma type with static traction splint led to a tenodesis effect with a severe active flexion deficit in the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints. Our results suggest that isometric traction splint is a valid treatment option for displaced fractures of the proximal phalanx, however compression type fractures should be excluded.

Reversed arthroscopic subacromial decompression for symptomatic irreparable rotator cuff tears: mid-term follow-up results in 34 shoulders.

BACKGROUND: In the elderly, there is no guideline for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff lesions. The results of open or arthroscopic repair are variable. We hypothesized that the use of a reversed arthroscopic subacromial decompression (RASD) would yield comparable results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2006, thirty-eight patients underwent a RASD for irreparable cuff tears in 39 shoulders. The surgical procedure consisted of a tenotomy of the long head of the biceps tendon, a debridement of the torn rotator cuff and a tuberoplasty, without violation of the coracoacromial arch and the acromion. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (age 69.9 +/- 7.3 years) were available for clinical and radiological evaluation of 34 shoulders (male/female ratio: 11/22), at a mean follow-up of 38 months (range: 21 months-52 months). Two of 33 patients had required revision surgery, and were excluded from further statistical analysis. In the remaining 31 patients (32 shoulders), the modified Constant-Murley score (CMS) improved from 34.9% +/- 11.6 to 84.0% +/- 11.6 (p < 0.0001). The preoperative mobility did not correlate with the final result. Preoperative pain was found to correlate negatively to the modified CMS at follow-up (p= 0.0038). Although the acromiohumeral height decreased with 2.58 mm +/- 1.68 and the severity of glenohumeral osteoarthritis increased with one grade (Samilson-Prieto classification), there was no correlation with the functional outcome. CONCLUSION: We conclude that for irreparable rotator cuff tears in the elderly, excellent mid-term results can be achieved with a RASD.

Surgical Fixation of Metacarpophalangeal Collateral Ligament Rupture of the Fingers.

BACKGROUND: Collateral ligament injury of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the fingers is underreported in the literature and widely underestimated by the medical community. Here, the authors present results from a large series of patients and review factors influencing success of surgery. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective study of 46 patients who underwent surgical fixation of the metacarpophalangeal collateral ligament using bone anchor in an acute or chronic setting. The diagnosis was predominantly clinical, based on laxity testing of the joint. The authors collected demographic data and intraoperative findings and postoperative results. RESULTS: Following surgery, with a median follow-up of 17 months, all patients presented with a stable joint and complete resolution of pain. The mean flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint was 77.11 degrees, and mean extension was 0.84 degrees. The authors measured the injured grip strength at a mean of 88.52 percent of the opposite hand, and the mean Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire score used to evaluate disability was 9.56 on a scale of 100 (with 100 being complete disability). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of metacarpophalangeal collateral ligament rupture of the fingers is a safe technique that gives reproducible positive results in terms of mobility, strength, and disability scale score. The authors' results show that anchoring of the ligament should be performed even with prolonged time from injury to surgery.

Extraarticular variants of the long head of the biceps brachii: a reminder of embryology.

Developmental anomalies of the long head of the biceps tendon are rare and have been described in the literature mainly dealing with anatomy and embryology. Because most basic embryologic research on this topic was conducted before 1966, a literature search was performed from archived anatomy textbooks and manuscript references. These data were compared with the scarce case descriptions of developmental anomalies of the long head of the biceps tendon. An additional case illustration from our own experience was provided. From the literature, it appears that during the embryologic phase of development, a staged migration of the long head of the biceps tendon occurs from a position between the fibrous capsule and synovial layer to an intraarticular position. Recent anatomic and arthroscopic case reports have shown that interruption of this migration can occur in any of these stages. Given the recent increase in arthroscopic shoulder surgery, anomalies of the long head of the biceps tendon will be encountered more frequently. Knowledge of their existence and origin can help in evaluating unexpected anatomic variations or the absence of the biceps tendon in preoperative medical imaging or during an arthroscopic procedure.

Pulley Reconstruction for Symptomatic Instability of the Tendons of the First Extensor Compartment Following de Quervain's Release.

Background Surgical management of de Quervain's tenosynovitis is based on decompression of the first extensor compartment. A simple release of the first compartment can cause instability of the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) and abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendons in zone seven of the extensors. The WHAT test (wrist hyperflexion and abduction of the thumb) is very effective in diagnosing this instability. Patients and Methods In this retrospective monocentric study, we analyzed a case series of 10 patients all of whom underwent a reconstruction of the first extensor compartment using a retinacular graft because of symptomatic instability after decompression surgery. The reconstruction was a modified technique of the sixth compartment. Functional outcome and characteristics of the newly reconstructed pulley were examined by physical examination with the aid of ultrasound and internationally validated questionnaires. Results Four patients had a good-to-excellent functional outcome, all of those had a maximum of two surgical procedures performed on the first extensor compartment. Six patients presented poor functional outcome. In four of them, more than two surgical procedures were performed. Minor residual instability was noted in six cases, found in both the groups. Conclusion The reconstruction procedures on the first compartment seemed to be satisfactory in treating instability of the EPB and APL tendons after primary surgical release for de Quervain's disease. Level of Evidence Level IV, observational study without controls.

Treatment of chronic static scapholunate dissociation with the modified Brunelli technique: preliminary results.

A series of 10 patients with reducible chronic post-traumatic scapholunate dissociation, treated with the modified Brunelli technique, is presented. The general outcome was good with a mean DASH score of 12, a range of motion of 69% and gripping force of 77% compared with the contralateral side.

The Oblique Metaphyseal Shortening Osteotomy of the Distal Ulna: Surgical Technique and Results of Ten Patients.

Background Ulnocarpal abutment is a common condition following distal radius fractures. There are different surgical methods of treatment for this pathology: open and arthroscopic wafer procedure or an ulnar shortening osteotomy. We describe an oblique metaphyseal shortening osteotomy of the distal ulna using two cannulated headless compression screws. We report the results of 10 patients treated with this method. Materials and Methods Out of 17 patients, 10 could be reviewed retrospectively for this study. Patient-rated outcomes were measured using the VAS (visual analogue scale) for pain, PRWHE (patient-rated wrist and hand evaluation) survey, and Quick-DASH (disability of arm, shoulder and hand) survey for functional outcomes. At the review we measured the range of motion (ROM) of the wrist (extension and flexion, ulnar and radial deviation, pronation and supination). Grip strength, pronation, and supination strength of the forearm was measured using a calibrated hydraulic dynamometer. ROM and strength of the affected wrist was compared with ROM and strength of the unaffected wrist. Surgical Procedure Oblique long metaphyseal osteotomy of the distal ulna (from proximal-ulnar to distal-radial), fixed with two cannulated headless compression screws. Results The average postoperative VAS score for pain was 23.71 (standard deviation [SD] of 30.41). The average postoperative PRWHE score was 32.55 (SD of 26.28). The average postoperative Quick-DASH score was 28.65 (SD of 27.21). The majority of patients had a comparable ROM and strength between the operated side and the non-operated side. Conclusion This surgical technique has the advantage of reducing the amount of hardware and to decrease the potential hinder caused by it on medium term. Moreover, the incision remains smaller, and the anatomic metaphyseal localization of the osteotomy potentially allows a better and rapid healing.

Pulley Reconstruction As Part of the Surgical Treatment for de Quervain Disease: Surgical Technique with Medium-Term Results.

Background Simple decompression of the first extensor compartment is commonly used for treating de Quervain disease, with the possible complication of subluxation of the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) over the radial styloid. To prevent this painful subluxation of the tendons, several methods of reconstructing the pulley have been proposed. Questions/Purposes The purpose of our study was to evaluate a new technique for reconstructing the first extensor compartment following a release for de Quervain disease. Patients and Methods A retrospective study (mean length 40.4 months) was performed in 45 patients. The outcome assessment involved two different questionnaires and ultrasound evaluation of any tendon subluxation. Results None of the patients required reoperation for tendon instability or incomplete decompression of the first extensor compartment. Two patients experienced clicking around the radial styloid after surgery. This was not related to the amount of volar migration of the tendons. Conclusions We believe the reconstruction proposed here is an effective method of preventing painful subluxation of the APL and EPB following a release of the first extensor compartment.

De Quervain Tenosynovitis Following Trapeziometacarpal Ball-and-Socket Joint Replacement.

Background One of the surgical treatment options for trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint arthritis is a prosthetic ball-and-socket replacement. One of the complications in the postoperative setting is de Quervain tendinopathy. Purposes Although this complication has been reported following a resection athroplasty, we questioned whether lengthening of the thumb following the Ivory (Memometal, Stryker Corporate, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) ball-and-socket arthroplasty could be a causal factor. Methods In a prospective study regarding the overall outcome of the Ivory prosthesis, we analyzed 96 cases (83 patients; 69 female, 12 male, 8 bilateral) of primary implanted Ivory prosthesis and the incidence of de Quervain disease during the first year following surgery. We found a particularly high incidence (17%) of de Quervain tendinopathy the first year following this ball-and-socket arthroplasty. We measured the lengthening of the thumb radiographically in the group presenting de Quervain and the asymptomatic group and compared this measure between the two groups. Results We did not find any measurable or statistically significant difference between the groups regarding lengthening. Discussion These findings suggest that lengthening of the thumb following ball-and-socket arthroplasty is not a causal factor in the development of de Quervain tendinopathy within one year after surgery.