Results of zone I and zone II flexor tendon repairs in children.

In a combined study of three hand surgery practices, 78 patients younger than 16 years who had sustained flexor tendon lacerations in zone I or zone II of 95 digits were available for critical evaluation. The average postrepair follow-up period was 24 months (range, 3-144 months). Patient age was divided into three groups: 0-5 years, 6-10 years, and 11-15 years. Performance of all digits was assessed to determine the percentage return of normal digital function following repair. Data were analyzed to determine the effect of age, the effect of varying periods of postrepair immobilization, and the long-term changes in digital performance resulting from growth. All profundus repairs in zone I returned excellent function. Isolated profundus and combined profundus and superficialis repairs in zone II achieved comparable results when managed with an early passive motion program or following immobilization for 3 or 4 weeks. Immobilization for longer than 4 weeks resulted in an appreciable deterioration of function. Digital motion following zone II flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis injuries treated with less than 4 weeks of immobilization or early motion was not significantly different in the three age groups studied. Digits with associated digital nerve and/or palmar plate lacerations fared less favorably when compared with isolated tendon lacerations. In many digits, a modest improvement in digital motion was found when patients returned after several years of growth.

Effects of the fasciocutaneous radial forearm flap on vascularity of the hand.

Twelve randomly selected fasciocutaneous radial forearm flaps underwent bilateral vascular analysis an average of 26 months following surgery. Digital temperature comparisons revealed an average 2.5% (0.8 degree C) decrease following use of the radial forearm flap. Doppler flow studies performed to determine the digital/brachial pressure indices revealed no significant difference between the donor (1.06) and control (1.08) extremities; however, Doppler pulse-volume recordings performed after cold stress testing revealed an 18% delay in reconstitution of normothermia in the radial forearm flap group compared to controls. Only two patients reported transient mild symptoms of cold intolerance, which resolved over time.

Proximal metatarsal segmental resection: a treatment for intractable plantar keratoses.

For the past 15 years, a procedure the authors have termed proximal metatarsal segmental resection has been used for the treatment of intractable, painful, submetatarsal plantar keratoses which have failed nonoperative treatments. This simple procedure basically is the resection of a cylindrical segment of proximal metatarsal bone approximately 0.5 cm long. Fifty-four patients (70 metatarsals) underwent the procedure and were followed a mean of 6 years. Good to excellent results were reported in 89% of these patients. Transfer lesions occurred in 18% of feet and were responsible for all fair and poor results. When the procedure was carried out in association with a bunion correction, transfer lesions occurred in 23%; whereas when performed as an isolated metatarsal procedure, transfer lesions followed in 12%. Recurrent keratoses developed in 7%. This technically simple procedure is associated with minimal patient morbidity and should be considered an option in the surgical management of metatarsalgia.