Foregoing Preoperative Antibiotics in Clean, Implant-Based Hand Surgery Does Not Increase Postoperative Infectious Risks.

Purpose: Although data support foregoing preoperative antibiotics for outpatient, soft-tissue procedures, there is a paucity of evidence regarding antibiotics for implant-based hand procedures. The purpose of this investigation was to assess early postoperative infectious concerns for patients undergoing implant-based hand surgery, regardless of preoperative antibiotic use. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed consisting of all patients undergoing implant-based hand procedures between January 2015 and October 2021. Primary outcomes included antibiotic prescription or reoperation for infection within 90 days of surgery. Demographics (age, gender, body mass index, diabetes, and smoking status) and hand surgery procedure type were recorded. To account for differences in baseline characteristics between patients who did and did not receive preoperative antibiotics, covariate balancing was performed with subsequent weighted logistic regression models constructed to estimate the effect of no receipt of preoperative antibiotics on the need for postoperative antibiotics. In a separate logistic regression analysis, patients' baseline characteristics were evaluated together as predictors of postoperative antibiotic prescription. Results: One thousand eight hundred sixty-two unique procedures were reviewed with 1,394 meeting criteria. Two hundred thirty-six patients (16.9%) were not prescribed preoperative antibiotics. Overall, 54 (3.87%) and 69 (4.95%) patients received antibiotics within 30 and 90 days of surgery, respectively. One patient (0.07%) underwent reoperation. There were no differences in the rates of 30- and 90-day postoperative antibiotic prescriptions between the two groups. After covariant balancing of risk factors, patients not prescribed preoperative antibiotics did not display significantly higher odds of requiring postoperative antibiotics at 30 or 90 days. Logistic regression models showed male gender, temporary Kirschner wire fixation, and elevated body mass index were associated with increased postoperative antibiotics at 30 and 90 days. Conclusions: For implant-based hand procedures, there was no increased risk in postoperative antibiotic prescription or reoperation for patients who did not receive preoperative antibiotics. Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic III.

The Use of Preoperative Antibiotics in Hardware-Based Hand Procedures Is Not Necessary: A Single-Surgeon Experience.

BACKGROUND: A survey to American Society for Surgery of the Hand members by Dunn et al showed that the use of preoperative antibiotics was random and not standardized for all hand procedures (Hand (N Y). 2020;15(4):534-541). Previous publications support that preoperative antibiotics for clean, soft-tissue procedures are not necessary, but there is minimal evidence regarding the need for preoperative antibiotics for hardware-based hand procedures. The purpose of our study is to compare infectious outcomes for patients undergoing hardware-based hand surgery between those who did and those who did not receive preoperative antibiotics. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on hardware-based surgical patients from the senior author's hand practice between January 2015 and October 2021. All patients either received imbedded permanent hardware or temporary percutaneous k-wire fixation. Exclusion criteria included polytrauma patients, patients with open hand wounds, and patients with less than 2 outpatient follow-up visits. Primary outcomes measured were 30- and 90-day postoperative antibiotic prescriptions and need to return to the operating room. Basic demographic information such as age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, and smoking status were recorded and compared. RESULTS: Four hundred seventy-two patients were reviewed, with 365 patients meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two hundred twenty patients did not receive preoperative antibiotics and 145 patients did receive preoperative antibiotics. χ2 tests to analyze for associations between the variables were used. Thirteen patients in the no preoperative antibiotic group (5.9%), compared with 5 patients in the preoperative antibiotic group (3.4%), received a postoperative antibiotic prescription within 30 days (P = 0.288). Sixteen patients in the no preoperative antibiotic group (7.3%), compared with 8 patients in the preoperative antibiotic group (5.5%) received a postoperative antibiotic prescription within 90 days (P = 0.508). One patient in the nonantibiotic group required return to the operating room for irrigation and debridement. CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant differences in the need for 30- and 90-day postoperative antibiotic prescriptions between those who did or did not receive preoperative antibiotics based on this single-surgeon experience.

Re-fracture of Distal Radius and Hardware Repair in the Setting of Trauma.

Distal radius fractures are one of the most common fractures in the elderly. Falls and motor vehicle collisions lead to increased risk for this type of fracture. A seventy-three year-old female had a previous history of distal radius fracture with repair by open reduction and internal fixation. She was involved in a motor vehicle collision that re-fractured the distal radius. The plate was bent and required removal, which is a very rare but potentially serious complication. Surgery was done to fix the open reduction and internal fixation with volar locking plates while removing damaged hardware. Only a select few cases have reported hardware failure as a cause of complications. Among those cases, high-energy activities and maintained stress on the hardware were likely causes. Distal radius fractures are the most common upper extremity fracture in the elderly. We highlight a unique case of re-fracture in the setting of trauma with prior hardware failure and describe the strategy for hardware repair.

Osteonecrosis of Interphalangeal Joint of Thumb Two Months after Rattlesnake Bite.

This case report details the osteonecrosis of the interphalangeal (IP) joint of the thumb two months after a rattlesnake bite. It describes the clinical presentation, imaging studies, histological review, pathology review, and review of literature. Our patient was a fifty-one year-old male who obtained a poisonous snakebite to the thumb. While in the hospital for acute treatment, a blood blister was debrided. He was seen two weeks after discharge for further debridement of epidermolysis. Patient presented one month later with a hand x-ray demonstrating bony erosions, and a bone scan showing active changes in the IP joint of his right thumb. He was taken to the OR for further debridement and definitive diagnosis. Pathology results confirmed osteonecrosis with negative bone cultures. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, and operative management of osteonecrosis offer a unique challenge, especially in a patient presenting with osteonecrosis from a poisonous snakebite.

Repeat emergency room visits for hand and wrist injuries.

PURPOSE: To characterize patients with hand or wrist injuries presenting to our university-based emergency department (ED) after a previous evaluation by an outside ED. We hypothesized that a majority of these patients did not require emergent care, most arrived during working hours, and a disproportionate number were uninsured. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 3,047 orthopedic hand consults from 2002 to 2010. Patients were included if our ED was the patient's second ED evaluation within 30 days for the same complaint. Demographics, diagnosis, referral instructions from the initial institution, date and time of ED visit, treatment received, and insurance status were recorded. Clinical urgency was quantified on an ordinal scale. RESULTS: A total of 325 patients met the inclusion criteria. The most common diagnoses were distal radius and metacarpal fractures. There were 266 (82%) patients with nonurgent diagnoses. A junior-level orthopedic resident treated and discharged 97% of patients from the ED. Sixty-two percent of the patients were uninsured, 32% had Medicaid, and 6% had commercial insurance or Medicare. There was a disproportionate percentage of uninsured and Medicaid patients compared with the payer mix of our state, orthopedic department, and ED. Ninety percent of patients presented on weekdays, and 84% arrived between 6 am and 6 pm. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients who met our inclusion criteria presented to our ED during regular business hours. Most were uninsured and did not have a condition that warranted urgent or emergent evaluation and treatment. With limited resources, it is important that an appropriate follow-up plan from the initial ED be in place so that patients do not have to present to a second ED for the same problem. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic IV.

Subcutaneous anterior transposition versus decompression and medial epicondylectomy for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome.

A review of the literature often fails to uncover the best procedure for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. This article compares 2 frequently used methods (subcutaneous anterior transposition vs decompression and medial epicondylectomy) for their effectiveness in relieving both subjective and objective symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome. Between August 1991 and October 1993, nineteen patients underwent surgical decompression by a single surgeon for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Factors evaluated included upper extremity range of motion, elbow valgus stress, grip strength, pinch, 2-point discrimination, and pre- and postoperative nerve conduction. A standardized questionnaire was administered to assess subjective relief of symptoms.In the transposition group, grip strength averaged 71.2% of normal and pinch strength 86.6% of normal, and 2-point discrimination averaged 8.0 mm. The derived subjective assessment score was 23.2 of a possible 40. The average ulnar motor conduction velocity across the elbow was 50.1 m/sec preoperatively and 56.3 m/sec postoperatively. In the medial epicondylectomy group, grip strength averaged 79.5% of normal and pinch strength 81.7% of normal, and 2-point discrimination averaged 8.0 mm. The average ulnar motor conduction velocity across the elbow was 45.7 m/sec preoperatively and 55.7 m/sec postoperatively. No statistically significant difference existed between the 2 groups for the aforementioned indexes. These results do not indicate a difference between the outcomes of the patients undergoing either of the procedures. Because epicondylectomy is less technically demanding, with less soft tissue dissection of the nerve, it may be preferred over ulnar transposition.