Multiple brain abscesses caused by Nocardia farcinica infection after hand injury: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Nocardia infection is commonly regarded as an opportunistic pulmonary pathogen affecting debilitated or immunocompromised individuals. Brain abscesses caused by Nocardia farcinica are rare and pose a diagnostic challenge. Traditional diagnostic techniques for identifying Nocardia species, such as blood culture, microscopy, and pathology, have shown inadequate performance. In the reported case, we applied metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to diagnose a case of brain abscess due to N. farcinica. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 66-year-old female developed a brain abscess after sustaining a hand injury. The patient exhibited a gradual change in personality and experienced tremors in her right upper limb for a duration of 1 month. DIAGNOSES: The pathogen responsible for the multiple brain abscesses was identified in the cerebrospinal fluid as N. farcinica through mNGS. INTERVENTIONS: Antibiotic treatment included trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, linezolid, amikacin, meropenem, and moxifloxacin. OUTCOMES: The patient's symptoms and signs improved significantly after administration of antibiotics to which the pathogen is known to be sensitive. After 5 months of follow-up, magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed that the abscess was basically cured. The patient lived a normal life with no adverse drug reactions. LESSONS: Nocardia brain infection is characterized by an insidious onset and lacks distinctive clinical and imaging features. mNGS was advantageous for the timely identification and management of Nocardia-associated brain abscess in the present case and obviated the need for invasive brain surgery. Expeditious and precise diagnosis coupled with prompt antibiotic therapy can significantly reduce the mortality rate associated with this condition.

Nonhealing Surgical Wounds in a Patient with Plasminogen Deficiency Type 1 Successfully Treated with Intravenous Plasminogen: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: Intravenous plasminogen replacement therapy for patients with plasminogen deficiency type 1 (hypoplasminogenemia) was recently approved for marketing in the US. In this case report, the authors describe a 33-year-old man with hypoplasminogenemia who developed nonhealing postsurgical wounds following trauma to his right hand despite receiving standard treatment for 4 months. The patient was enrolled in a compassionate-use protocol with intravenous plasminogen replacement therapy and experienced prompt resolution of surgical wounds. He was the first human patient to receive replacement therapy with plasminogen, human-tvmh in the US and first to demonstrate cutaneous wound healing in addition to resolution of ligneous lesions attributable to plasminogen deficiency type 1.

The rate of nonunion in the MRI-detected occult scaphoid fracture.

Aims: There is a lack of published evidence relating to the rate of nonunion seen in occult scaphoid fractures, diagnosed only after MRI. This study reports the rate of delayed union and nonunion in a cohort of patients with MRI-detected acute scaphoid fractures. Methods: This multicentre cohort study at eight centres in the UK included all patients with an acute scaphoid fracture diagnosed on MRI having presented acutely following wrist trauma with normal radiographs. Data were gathered retrospectively for a minimum of 12 months at each centre. The primary outcome measures were the rate of acute surgery, delayed union, and nonunion. Results: A total of 1,989 patients underwent acute MRI for a suspected scaphoid fracture during the study period, of which 256 patients (12.9%) were diagnosed with a previously occult scaphoid fracture. Of the patients with scaphoid fractures, six underwent early surgical fixation (2.3%) and there was a total of 16 cases of delayed or nonunion (6.3%) in the remaining 250 patients treated with cast immobilization. Of the nine nonunions (3.5%), seven underwent surgery (2.7%), one opted for non-surgical treatment, and one failed to attend follow-up. Of the seven delayed unions (2.7%), one (0.4%) was treated with surgery at two months, one (0.4%) did not attend further follow-up, and the remaining five fractures (1.9%) healed after further cast immobilization. All fractures treated with surgery had united at follow-up. There was one complication of surgery (prominent screw requiring removal). Conclusion: MRI-detected scaphoid fractures are not universally benign, with delayed or nonunion of scaphoid fractures diagnosed only after MRI seen in over 6% despite appropriate initial immobilization, with most of these patients with nonunion requiring surgery to achieve union. This study adds weight to the evidence base supporting the use of early MRI for these patients.

Physical Medicine Applications in Hand Burns: Treatment or Rehabilitation.

The aim of this study is to investigate the contribution of concurrent physical therapy to the preservation of hand function in patients with hand burns. This retrospective cohort study included the records of adult patients who presented with hand burns between July 1, 2020, and December 1, 2021. A total of 67 of 1578 burn patients who attended the clinic were included in this study. The patients' age, sex, total BSA with burns, causative agent, depth of burn on the hand, right or left hand, location of the burned area on the hand, treatment applied, healing time of the burn on the hand, limitation of movement, the joint restrictions, contractures, and compliance with physical therapy were assessed and recorded. Among the 67 patients included, 82.1% (n = 55) had no limitation in terms of their joint range of motion, whereas 17.9% (n = 12) had a limitation of movement in their finger joints. When the prevalence of movement limitation was examined by gender, such limitation was found to be more common in females (P = .041). Moreover, contractures were found to occur more frequently in patients with full-thickness burns (P = .032). It was also found that the limitation of movement was more severe in patients with skin grafts (P = .044). In addition, it was observed that the recovery time of the burn area was longer in those patients who had movement limitations (P = .004). In this study, we found that applying early physical therapy to patients after burn injuries facilitated the recovery of hand functions.

Dupuytren contracture after acute traumatic hand injury in an adolescent: A case report.

Dupuytren's disease is a fibroproliferative disease that affects the palmar hand, causing progressive, permanent, and symptomatic flexion contracture of the digits. It is a disorder of polygenetic and multifactorial origin, usually affecting middle-aged males. Dupuytren's disease developing as a result of hand trauma in younger ages is rarely reported. In this case, we present a 14-year-old male patient with Dupuytren's disease following acute traumatic injury. We performed the fasciectomy and Z-plasty with full thickness skin graft. He recovered completely additional injection of triamcinolone for one year.

[Scaphoid fractures : Current diagnostic and treatment concepts]. / Skaphoidfrakturen : Aktuelle diagnostische und therapeutische Konzepte.

Scaphoid fractures are by far the most frequent fractures of the carpal bones of the hand and often lead to problematic healing processes if the diagnostics and treatment are inadequate. The main complication of a scaphoid fracture is pseudarthrosis, which leads to carpal collapse and degenerative arthritis of the wrist if left untreated. Early diagnosis and individualized differentiated treatment aim to achieve bony healing with restoration of the scaphoid shape and preservation of the function of the wrist. The anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of the scaphoid can impede bony healing after a fracture and, in contrast to the diagnostics and treatment, cannot be influenced. A history of trauma and typical clinical signs of a scaphoid fracture should lead to systematic imaging diagnostics with obligatory computed tomography. Only by determining the exact fracture morphology can an appropriate treatment concept be established. Conservative treatment should be restricted to stable fractures without relevant displacement. Fractures of the proximal scaphoid pole are considered unstable even if they are not displaced. Operative treatment is indicated for all unstable fractures. The favored surgical procedure is osteosynthesis with a cannulated double-threaded screw, which can be used in a retrograde or antegrade manner and in a minimally invasive or open technique, depending on the fracture type. Surgical treatment results in earlier bony healing and quicker restoration of function but can be associated with a higher complication rate. Posttraumatic osteoarthritis after healing in malalignment is usually asymptomatic.

Scaphoid and Carpal Bone Fracture: The Difficult Cases and Approach to Management.

Scaphoid and carpal bone fractures are challenging injuries to manage and have significant functional implications. Prompt diagnosis is important and relies on systematic evaluation via history, examination, and imaging. Cross-sectional imaging is often helpful for diagnosis and treatment planning. Treatment for nondisplaced fractures is often closed but these injuries typically require prolonged immobilization and may still result in nonunion or avascular necrosis. Displaced carpal bone fractures, and those associated with carpal instability, typically require open reduction internal fixation.

Which clinical features best predict occult scaphoid fractures? A systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy studies.

BACKGROUND: Plain radiographs cannot identify all scaphoid fractures; thus ED patients with a clinical suspicion of scaphoid injury often undergo immobilisation despite normal imaging. This study determined (1) the prevalence of scaphoid fracture among patients with a clinical suspicion of scaphoid injury with normal radiographs and (2) whether clinical features can identify patients that do not require immobilisation and further imaging. METHODS: This systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy studies included all study designs that evaluated predictors of scaphoid fracture among patients with normal initial radiographs. Quality assessment was undertaken using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. Meta-analyses included all studies. RESULTS: Eight studies reported data on 1685 wrist injuries. The prevalence of scaphoid fracture despite normal radiographs was 9.0%. Most studies were at overall low risk of bias but two were at unclear risk; all eight were at low risk for applicability concerns. The most accurate clinical predictors of occult scaphoid fracture were pain when the examiner moved the wrist from a pronated to a supinated position against resistance (sensitivity 100%, specificity 97.9%, LR+ 45.0, 95% CI 6.5 to 312.5), supination strength <10% of contralateral side (sensitivity 84.6%, specificity 76.9%, LR+ 3.7, 95% CI 2.2 to 6.1), pain on ulnar deviation (sensitivity 55.2%, specificity 76.4%, LR+ 2.3, 95% CI 1.8 to 3.0) and pronation strength <10% of contralateral side (sensitivity 69.2%, specificity 64.6%, LR+ 2.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.2). Absence of anatomical snuffbox tenderness significantly reduced the likelihood of an occult scaphoid fracture (sensitivity 92.1%, specificity 48.4%, LR- 0.2, 95% CI 0.0 to 0.7). CONCLUSION: No single feature satisfactorily excludes an occult scaphoid fracture. Further work should explore whether a combination of clinical features, possibly in conjunction with injury characteristics (such as mechanism) and a normal initial radiograph might exclude fracture. Pain on supination against resistance would benefit from external validation. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021290224.

Trapezial Fractures and Associated Fractures of the Ulnar Carpus: A Ring-Bone Model.

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the trapezium are rare; however, the incidence may be under-reported in the literature. The incidence of ulnar-sided carpal body fractures as a concomitant injury has not been reported. Our study aimed to evaluate the incidence of trapezium fractures in conjunction with ulnar-sided carpal body fractures. METHODS: Over a five-year period, our electronic records were queried and charts reporting carpal bone fractures were reviewed. All cases of trapezium fracture were evaluated further and presented. RESULTS: Eight trapezial fractures were identified, representing 8% of all carpal fractures and 26% of all nonscaphoid carpal fractures. Of the eight trapezium fractures identified, five (62.5%) were associated with Bennett fracture and four (50%) were associated with ulnar-sided carpal fractures. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates a higher incidence of trapezial fractures than previously reported. Previously unreported concomitant ulnar-sided carpal body fractures are reported at a frequency nearly equal to that of concomitant Bennett fractures in our series. We propose a mechanism of injury where the carpal canal and overlying transverse carpal ligament function as a ring-bone construct similar to the pelvis. When a trapezium fracture is identified, we recommend additional evaluation for ulnar-sided injuries of the carpus.

Acute bilateral extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture following bilateral displaced distal radius fracture: A case report.

Extensor pollicis longus tendon ruptures are rarely reported after traumatic events, especially after distal radius fractures. Its classical presentation is a late-onset and unilateral rupture after a non-displaced distal radius fracture. In this case report, we present the treatment of a patient with acute bilateral extensor pollicis longus tendon ruptures after bilateral displaced distal radius fractures. The patient was treated with bilateral open reduction and volar plate fixation via a volar Henry approach for distal radius fractures and bilateral extensor indicis proprius tendon transfer for extensor pollicis longus tendon ruptures. We achieved satisfactory results, and no complications were reported with these treatment approaches. However, this case report demonstrates that extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture may occur at the time of fracture; thus, clinicians should be aware of this issue.

Full thickness skin graft versus split thickness skin graft in paediatric patients with hand burns: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Our objective was to compare the outcomes of full thickness skin grafts versus split thickness skin grafts in paediatric hand burn patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines, and an electronic search was conducted to identify all Randomised Controlled Trials and non-randomised studies comparing the outcomes of full thickness skin grafts versus split thickness skin grafts in paediatric hand burn patients. Primary outcomes included development of post-graft contracture and the necessity for surgical release. Secondary outcomes consisted of evaluation of function, cosmesis and colour, scar and feeling, hair growth, and other complaints. For the analysis, fixed effects modelling was applied. Results: ten non-randomised trials with a total of 532 grafts were found. Full thickness skin grafts exhibited a statistically significant decrease in the development of post-graft contracture (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.35, P = 0.0001) and later surgical releases (OR = 0.06, P = 0.00001). For secondary outcomes, full thickness skin grafts outperformed split thickness skin grafts in post-operative functional ability. However, split thickness skin grafts, showed to be superior in scar, aesthetic, and colour assessments, and less hair growth was observed for split thickness skin grafts. No significant difference was seen in sensation and donor or recipient site complaints. Overall, full thickness skin grafts are a better alternative for paediatric hand burns than split thickness skin transplants because they are linked with reduced post-graft contracture and the requirement for surgical release.

'Hook' Shape Lister Tubercle Is Associated with a Greater Incidence of Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon Rupture after Distal Radius Fracture.

Background: A rupture of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon located close to the Lister tubercle is an uncommon complication of distal radius fractures. This study aimed to determine whether the size and shape of Lister tubercle in patients with EPL rupture differs from a matched group of patients with distal radius fractures without EPL rupture. Methods: We identified 15 patients with EPL rupture (3.5%) out of 426 with distal radius fractures treated conservatively at our hospital over 4 years. Out of the remaining 411 patients with distal radius fractures without EPL rupture, we selected patients using simple random sampling and pseudo-randomised them such that their age, sex and fracture type were matched with patients exhibiting EPL rupture. The size and shape of the Lister tubercle and the size of the EPL groove were measured in both groups using computed tomographic scans and compared. Results: There was no difference in the size of the Lister tubercle or the EPL groove between both groups. A 'hook'-shaped Lister tubercle was noted in 8 out of 15 patients with EPL rupture but in only 1 out of 15 matched patients without EPL rupture. Conclusions: A 'hook'-shaped Lister tubercle was seen more often in patients with EPL rupture following distal radius fracture. Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic).

Pumpkin carving knife injuries: National incidence and trends of hand injury.

INTRODUCTION: Seasonal media reports often describe the dangers of pumpkin carving, yet little data exists regarding the actual incidence of hand injuries resulting from pumpkin carving. The purpose of this study is to describe, quantify, and trend ED encounters associated with pumpkin-related knife injuries. METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for pumpkin-related knife injuries from 2012 to 2021. Patient demographic and injury data was collected and analyzed to describe trends in incidence, patient demographics, and injury patterns associated with an ED encounter for a pumpkin-related knife injury. RESULTS: There were an estimated 20,579 (95% CI: 17,738-23,420) pumpkin-related knife injuries from 2012 to 2021. The incidence of pumpkin-related knife injuries remained stable over time (R2 = 0.195, P = 0.201). Hand injuries comprised 87.6% of all injuries, with the thumb (33.5%) and index finger (25.0%) most commonly affected. Men and women were injured at similar rates (51.6% vs 48.4%). The most common demographic injured were 10 to 19-year olds (31.5%) followed by children <10-years old (19.5%). Women ages 10 to 19-years old were the most commonly injured subgroup (10.0% of all injuries). Most ED presentations occurred on Saturdays (16.5%) or Sundays (23.3%). The large majority occurred during the months of October (83.5%) followed by November (11.2%), with almost half of all cases (45.6%) occurring in the last week of October. Peak incidence of injury occurred on October 30th. CONCLUSION: Pumpkin-related knife injuries are a preventable cause of hand injury with predictably high-incidence in fall months. Additionally, our data suggests further precautions should be taken to prevent injury in pediatric patients. Understanding at-risk populations in addition to implementing public safety initiatives and education on safe pumpkin-carving techniques could prevent serious injuries in the future.

Reliability of a novel technique to assess palmar contracture in young children with unilateral hand injuries.

BACKGROUND: Palmar contracture in young children can have significant developmental consequences. Despite this, objective techniques to measure palmar range of movement and quantify contracture in young children are limited. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of hand span and hand length measures in young children and to establish whether there is any association with age, sex and presence of a palmar burn injury in the reliability of these measures. The study also sought to determine the normative difference and establish a cut off value for the between-hand difference to identify loss of movement in 1 hand. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional METHODS: Forty-four children aged 0 to <5 years were recruited. Twenty-two children had a unilateral palmar burn injury and 22 did not have a palmar burn injury. Each child's hand span and hand length were measured 3 times. This was performed twice by the first assessor and once by the second assessor. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. The largest of the 3 values for both hand span and hand length from the first assessor's first assessment were used to determine the normative between-hand difference. Outliers were removed prior to determining the normative difference. Children were considered outliers if their between-hand difference in hand span and/or hand length was in the top 5% of values. RESULTS: Excellent reliability was established for hand span and hand length measures for the whole group (intra-rater ICC2,1 ≥0.95, inter-rater ICC2,1 ≥0.94). The mean normative between-hand difference for both measures was 2 mm. The cut-off for the normative difference in hand span was <9 mm and hand length was <6 mm. CONCLUSION: This measurement technique has excellent reliability and could be a useful method to quantify palmar range of movement and identify contracture in young children with unilateral hand injuries.

A Rare Presentation of Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon Rupture After Nondisplaced Scaphoid Fracture.

Extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture is a reported complication after nondisplaced distal radius fractures. These are thought to occur secondary to mechanical irritation or compromised blood supply. We present a case of extensor pollicis longus rupture after a healed nondisplaced scaphoid fracture, which may have involved a similar attritional process. We are unaware of any prior reports of extensor pollicis longus rupture after this type of injury.

Hyperpigmented lesion on left palm.

The location of the lesion and an insight into the patient's regular activities revealed the clinical diagnosis.

[Complex regional pain syndrome in hand-wrist injuries]. / El-el bilegi yaralanmalarinda kompleks bölgesel agri sendromu.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following hand/wrist injuries. METHODS: The sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and details regarding the presence of an occupational accident, the type of hand/wrist injury (bone, tendon, nerve, mixed), the Modified Hand Injury Severity Score (MHISS) (minor, moderate, severe, major), and the presence of CRPS were obtained from the hospital information system and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 311 patient files were included in the study. In all, 23.8% of the patients developed CRPS and 49.2% had mixed-type injuries. There was a relationship between the lesion type and the development of CRPS: a mixed type of injury was most common (p=0.015). Isolated nerve injuries were also associated with the development of CRPS (p=0.001). A significant difference was noted in the MHISS and CRPS occurrence in cases of major injury (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: A high MHISS and/or nerve injury in patients with hand/wrist injuries may be a risk factor for the development of CRPS.

[False aneurysm of the palmar arch in a child: a case report]. / Faux anévrysme de l´arcade palmaire chez un enfant: à propos d´un cas.

Superficial pseudoaneurysms of the palmar arch is a rare disorder and only a few cases have been described in the literature. In the majority of cases it develops after artery lesion following penetrating injury, previous surgery or arterial puncture. Diagnosis is based on strong clinical suspicion, especially in patients with pulsatile mass. We here report a case of false aneurysm of the superficial palmar arch following broken glass injury in a 3-year old child.