Nerve transfers in the forearm: potential use in spastic conditions.

PURPOSE: Deformities of the spastic upper limb result frequently from the association of spasticity, muscle contracture and muscle imbalance between strong spastic muscles and weak non-spastic muscles. This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of combining selective neurectomy of the usual spastic and strong muscles together with transfer of their motor nerves to the usual weak muscles, to improve wrist and fingers motion while decreasing spasticity. METHODS: Twenty upper limbs from fresh frozen human cadavers were dissected. All motor branches of the radial and median nerve for the forearm muscles were identified. We attempted all possible end-to-end nerve transfers between the usually strong "donor" motor branches, namely FCR and PT, and the usually weak "recipient" motor branches (ERCL, ECRB, PIN, AIN). RESULTS:  The PT had two nerve branches in 80%, thus allowing selective neurectomy. The proximal PT branch could be anastomosed end-to-end in 45% (AIN) to 85% (ECRL) of cases with the potential recipient branches. The distal PT branch could be anastomosed end to end to all potential recipient nerves. The FCR had a single branch in all cases. End-to-end anastomosis was possible in 90% for the ECRL and in 100% for all other recipient branches, but sacrificed all FCR innervation, ruling out hyperselective neurectomy. CONCLUSION:  Selective neurectomies can be associated with distal nerve transfers at the forearm level in selected cases. The motor nerve to the PT is the best donor for nerve transfer combined with selective neurectomy, transferred to the ECRL, ECRB, PIN or AIN.

Trauma workload during COVID19 lockdown: an analysis of incidence in 4 million people.

BACKGROUND: Aim of this study is to report the trauma workload during COVID19 lockdown in a region of four million people and to compare it with the same period in 2019. METHODS: The regional register for A&E admissions and hospitalizations has been reviewed in order to compare the number of A&D admission, the triage colour codes rates, aetiology of trauma, number of patients hospitalized for trauma, number of fractures that required surgery, type of fractures and injuries and mean patients' age. RESULTS: During lockdown 7314 patients were admitted in A&E, while 22,508 patients were admitted in 2019. In 2020 and 2019 triage codes were respectively distributed as follows: red code 0.1% vs 0.2%, yellow code 8.9% vs 6.3%, green code 84% vs 84.7% and white code 6% vs 8.8%. (p = 0.042). The number of hospitalized patients for trauma was 670 in 2020, while in 2019 was 1774 (p = 0.02). The most common fracture that required surgery was femur fracture (409 in 2020 vs 635 in 2019); fracture subtype distribution and mean age of the patients were significantly different in the two groups (respectively p < 0.01 and p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: One month of lockdown showed a 68% decrease in the number of A&E visits and a 74% decrease of fractures that required surgery. Femur fracture showed the lowest decrease moving from 635 to 409 units but increasing their incidence rate (42 to 61%).

The orthopaedic and traumatology scenario during Covid-19 outbreak in Italy: chronicles of a silent war.

BACKGROUND: From February 21, the day of hospitalisation in ICU of the first diagnosed case of Covid-19, the social situation and the hospitals' organisation throughout Italy dramatically changed. METHODS: The CIO (Club Italiano dell'Osteosintesi) is an Italian society devoted to the study of traumatology that counts members spread in public and private hospitals throughout the country. Fifteen members of the CIO, Chairmen of 15 Orthopaedic and Trauma Units of level 1 or 2 trauma centres in Italy, have been involved in the study. They were asked to record data about surgical, outpatients clinics and ER activity from the 23rd of February to the 4th of April 2020. The data collected were compared with the data of the same timeframe of the previous year (2019). RESULTS: Comparing with last year, overall outpatient activity reduced up to 75%, overall Emergency Room (ER) trauma consultations up to 71%, elective surgical activity reduced up to 100% within two weeks and trauma surgery excluding femoral neck fractures up to 50%. The surgical treatment of femoral neck fractures showed a stable reduction from 15 to 20% without a significant variation during the timeframe. CONCLUSIONS: Covid-19 outbreak showed a tremendous impact on all orthopaedic trauma activities throughout the country except for the surgical treatment of femoral neck fractures, which, although reduced, did not change in percentage within the analysed timeframe.

Anatomical study of the deep branch of the ulnar nerve and application to selective neurectomy in the treatment of spasticity of the first web space.

PURPOSE: Spasticity of the first web space is common in upper limb spasticity. Selective neurectomy is one of the treatments that can reduce spasticity. The purpose of this study was to describe the variations of the deep motor branch of the ulnar nerve for the adductor pollicis (AP) and the first dorsal interosseous muscle (DIO) to assess the feasibility of selective neurectomy and suggest an ideal surgical approach. METHODS: The deep branch of the ulnar nerve (DBUN) was dissected in 21 hands. Measurements included the distance between the point of passage of the DBUN between the two heads of the adductor and three anatomical landmarks: the bi-styloid line, the flexor carpi radialis and the pisiform bone, and the number and mode of divisions of each branch. RESULTS: The point of passage of the DBUN between the two heads of the adductor is very constant respective to the landmarks. The DBUN gives off 1-3 branches each for the oblique head of the AP, the transverse head, and the first DIO. Muscles receive more than one branch in 95% cases for the oblique head and 62% of cases for the transverse head, and 100% for the DIO. CONCLUSIONS: This anatomical study suggests that selective neurectomy is feasible for the AP and first DIO muscles in most cases. An ideal approach for selective neurectomy of these muscles should start from the point of passage of the DBUN between the two heads of the AP. This point is easily identified with the help of the described landmarks.