Arthroscopic Partial Trapeziectomy for Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis: 5-Year Follow-up.

Osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is the most common type of arthritis of the hand. The goal of the study was to evaluate clinical results and radiographic changes after arthroscopic partial trapeziectomy combined with ligament shrinkage and K-wire fixation to treat thumb CMC joint arthritis. From February 2013 to March 2014, 24 patients with thumb CMC joint arthritis received this arthroscopic procedure. We investigated the preoperative and postoperative Modified Mayo Wrist Score (MMWS); Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score; radiographic changes; and associated complications. Sixteen patients completed 5 years of functional score and radiographic follow-up. Comparison of preoperative and postoperative MMWS and DASH scores showed significant improvement after the arthroscopic procedure. Pre-operative and postoperative evaluation of radiographic changes showed significant differences in the CMC joint distance, scaphoid-metacarpal distance, trapezium-metacarpal distance, and metacarpal prominence distance. This arthroscopic procedure is an effective and less invasive method for the treatment of CMC joint arthritis. This procedure can improve clinical function, preserve the mechanical height of the trapezium, and increase CMC joint space. We report our surgical technique and some pitfalls that required attention during the arthroscopic procedure. [Orthopedics. 2022;45(3):e140-e147.].

Functional Recovery Patterns of Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke Patients Under Post-Acute Care Rehabilitation Program.

BACKGROUND: Tailored rehabilitation programs for stroke patients cannot be made without knowledge of their recovery potential. The aim of this study is to characterize the functional recovery patterns of ischemic stroke (IS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients under post-acute care stroke rehabilitation. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the data of patients enrolled in the Post-Acute Care-Cerebrovascular Disease (PAC-CVD) rehabilitation program, which provides an individualized 1- to 3-hour intensive physical, occupational, and speech and language therapy for post-acute stroke patients in Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial hospital in Taiwan. Our primary endpoint measure was Barthel Index (BI), and secondary endpoint measures included other 12 functional measures. RESULTS: A total of 489 patients were included for analysis. Patients with stroke history had less BI improvement than those who suffered their first-ever stroke. In first-ever stroke patients who had completed 6 to 12 weeks of PAC-CVD program, subcortical ICH patients had greater BI, quality of life, sensation, and balance improvements, and had greater late-phase recovery than their IS counterparts. In IS patients, those with age >75 had less BI improvement; those with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 1-5 had greater Motor Activity Log quality of use (MAL-quality) improvement than those with NIHSS score >5; those with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥24 had greater BI and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) improvement. Using the general linear model, previous stroke (ß: -6.148, p=0.01) and subcortical ICH (ß: 5.04, p=0.03) were factors associated with BI improvement. CONCLUSION: Subcortical ICH patients have greater functional improvement and greater late-phase recovery than their IS counterparts following PAC rehabilitation. More studies are needed to validate our findings and unravel the underlying mechanisms of stroke recovery to optimize the treatment strategy following a stroke.