Arm impairment and walking speed explain real-life activity of the affected arm and leg after stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To determine to what extent accelerometer-based arm, leg and trunk activity is associated with sensorimotor impairments, walking capacity and other factors in subacute stroke. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PATIENTS: Twenty-six individuals with stroke (mean age 55.4 years, severe to mild motor impairment). METHODS: Data on daytime activity were collected over a period of 4 days from accelerometers placed on the wrists, ankles and trunk. A forward stepwise linear regression was used to determine associations between free-living activity, clinical and demographic variables. RESULTS: Arm motor impairment (Fugl-Meyer Assessment) and walking speed explained more than 60% of the variance in daytime activity of the more-affected arm, while walking speed alone explained 60% of the more-affected leg activity. Activity of the less-affected arm and leg was associated with arm motor impairment (R2 = 0.40) and independence in walking (R2 = 0.59). Arm activity ratio was associated with arm impairment (R2 = 0.63) and leg activity ratio with leg impairment (R2 = 0.38) and walking speed (R2 = 0.27). Walking-related variables explained approximately 30% of the variance in trunk activity. CONCLUSION: Accelerometer-based free-living activity is dependent on motor impairment and walking capacity. The most relevant activity data were obtained from more-affected limbs. Motor impairment and walking speed can provide some information about real-life daytime activity levels.

Hard signs gone soft: A critical evaluation of presenting signs of extremity vascular injury.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in management of extremity vascular injuries, "hard signs" remain the primary criterion to determine need for imaging and urgency of exploration. We propose that hard signs are outdated and that hemorrhagic and ischemic signs of vascular injury may be of greater clinical utility. METHODS: Extremity arterial injuries from the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma PROspective Observational Vascular Injury Treatment registry were analyzed to examine the relationships between hard signs, ischemic signs, and hemorrhagic signs of extremity vascular injury with workup, diagnosis, and management. RESULTS: Of 1,910 cases, 1,108 (58%) had hard signs of vascular injury. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was more commonly used as the diagnostic modality in patients without hard signs, while operative exploration was primarily used for diagnosis in hard signs. Patients undergoing CTA were more likely to undergo endovascular or hybrid repair (EHR) (10.7%) compared with patients who underwent exploration for diagnosis (1.5%). Of 915 patients presenting with hemorrhagic signs, CTA was performed 14.5% of the time and was associated with a higher rate of EHR and observation. Of the 490 patients presenting with ischemic signs, CTA was performed 31.6% of the time and was associated with higher rates of EHR and observation. Hemorrhagic signs were associated with arterial transection, while ischemic signs were associated with arterial occlusion. Patients with ischemic signs undergoing exploration for diagnosis received more units of packed red blood cells during the first 24 hours. There was no difference in amputation rate, reintervention rate, hospital length of stay, or mortality in comparing groups who underwent CTA versus exploration. CONCLUSION: Hard signs have limitations in identification and characterization of extremity arterial injuries. A strategy of using hemorrhagic and ischemic signs of vascular injury is of greater clinical utility. Further prospective study is needed to validate this proposed redefinition of categorization of presentations of extremity arterial injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, level III.

Acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular joint dislocations indicate severe concomitant thoracic and upper extremity injuries in severely injured patients.

Preliminary studies show that clavicle fractures (CF) are known as an indicator in the severely injured for overall injury severity that are associated with relevant concomitant injuries in the thorax and upper extremity. In this regard, little data is available for the rarer injuries of the sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints (SCJ and ACJ, respectively). Our study will answer whether clavicular joint injuries (CJI), by analogy, have a similar relevance for the severely injured. We performed an analysis from the TraumaRegister DGU (TR-DGU). The inclusion criterion was an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of at least 16. In the TR-DGU, the CJI were registered as one entity. The CJI group was compared with the CF and control groups (those without any clavicular injuries). Concomitant injuries were distinguished using the Abbreviated Injury Scale according to their severity. The inclusion criteria were met by n = 114,595 patients. In the case of CJI, n = 1228 patients (1.1%) were found to be less severely injured than the controls in terms of overall injury severity. Compared to the CF group (n = 12,030; 10.5%) with higher ISS than the controls, CJI cannot be assumed as an indicator for a more severe trauma; however, CF can. Concomitant injuries were more common for severe thoracic and moderate upper extremity injuries than other body parts for CJI. This finding confirms our hypothesis that CJI could be an indicator of further specific severe concomitant injuries. Despite the rather lower relevance of the CJI in the cohort of severely injured with regard to the overall injury severity, these injuries have their importance in relation to the indicator effect for thoracic concomitant injuries and concomitant injuries of the upper extremity. A limitation is the collective registration of SCJ and ACJ injuries as one entity in the TR-DGU. A distorted picture of the CJI in favor of ACJ injuries could arise from the significantly higher incidence of the ACJ dislocation compared to the SCJ. Therefore, these two injury entities should be recorded separately in the future, and prospective studies should be carried out in order to derive a standardized treatment strategy for the care of severely injured with the respective CJI.

Misperception of Disease Onset in People with Gradual-Onset Disease of the Upper Extremity.

BACKGROUND: Misperception that an established, gradual-onset disease such as osteoarthritis started when the symptoms were first noticed might lead to testing and treatment choices that are inconsistent with what matters most to a patient. In the present study, the primary null hypothesis was that there are no factors associated with patient-reported symptom duration (in months). The secondary null hypotheses were that there are no factors independently associated with (1) a sudden versus gradual perception of disease onset, (2) an event or injury-related versus age-related perceived cause of disease onset, and (3) the magnitude of physical limitations. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 121 patients with an atraumatic, established, gradual-onset condition of the upper extremity completed a demographic questionnaire, measures of mental health (symptoms of depression and anxiety, worst-case thinking, and self-efficacy [the ability to adapt and continue with daily activity] when in pain), measurement of the magnitude of upper extremity-specific limitations, and questions about the perceived course and cause of the disease. RESULTS: The median patient-reported symptom duration was 12 months (interquartile range, 3 to 36 months). Twenty-two patients (18%) perceived their disease as new, and 29 patients (24%) believed that the condition was related to ≥1 event (injury) rather than being time and age-related. In multivariable analysis, patients with Medicare insurance were independently associated with longer reported symptom duration (in months). Greater self-efficacy was associated with longer symptom duration in bivariate, but not multivariable, analysis. No factors were independently associated with a sudden versus gradual onset of symptoms. Hispanic ethnicity and federal, county, or no insurance were independently associated with the perception that the problem was caused by an injury or event. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1 in 5 patients misperceived new symptoms as representing a new disease, often as a type of injury. Misperception of the pathology as new had a limited association with unhealthy thoughts and is likely generally responsive to reorientation. We speculate that gentle, strategic reorientation of misperception can protect patients from choices inconsistent with their values.

Dual energy CT can aid in the emergent differentiation of acute traumatic and pathologic fractures of the pelvis and long bones.

PURPOSE: To determine whether dual energy CT (DECT) scanning can aid in the differentiation between acute traumatic and pathologic fractures of the pelvis and long bones. METHODS: Retrospective review of 11 patients with 15 pathologic fractures proven by biopsy and/or other advanced imaging modalities. Age- and sex-matched patients with non-pathologic traumatic fractures were used as controls. Studies were reviewed by two readers on syngo.via software before and after the creation of virtual bone marrow color maps. Hounsfield units (HU) of the marrow space at the level of the fracture were recorded on both reviews. Differences between the HU of the bone marrow of traumatic and pathologic fractures were compared using two-tailed unpaired t-test. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found in the HU of the affected bone marrow on DECT virtual noncalcium bone marrow color maps between the pathologic group (mean HU:4.89) and the non-pathologic group (mean HU: - 286.2) (p = 0.0177). HU measurements on the mixed kVp images were 150.4 for the pathologic and 94.1 for the non-pathologic fracture groups, respectively, with no statistical significance (p = 0.272). CONCLUSIONS: DECT scanning can aid in the differentiation between hematoma at acute traumatic fracture sites and neoplasm at pathologic fracture sites. HU of the bone marrow is higher for pathologic fractures, and the difference in bone marrow attenuation is more evident on the virtual bone marrow color maps.

A third of referrals are unnecessary: Critical review of burn outpatient clinic data.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to establish patterns in types of burns referred to the Outpatient Clinic (OP) at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). METHODS: A 2-year retrospective chart review was conducted of patients presenting to the OP Clinic from June 1, 2016 - June 1, 2018. Data collected included: patient demographics, depth of burn, Total Body Surface Area (TBSA), anatomical location of burn, geographical location of referral, and operative versus non-operative management. RESULTS: The OP Clinic served 470 patients for burn injuries with a total of 1852 visits. Of these, 20% were follow-up visits post-admission, and 73.6% were primary referrals from the emergency department (ED) or elsewhere. The vast majority (69.6%) of burns were less than 5% TBSA. Half involved the hands (50.9%), and half were superficial dermal in depth (45.1%). A third of patients attended only one appointment with the OP Clinic before discharge and 15% did not receive any treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study demonstrate gaps in current provincial referral guidelines leading to a significant number of "unnecessary referrals." Further research could correlate the results to current provincial referral guidelines to estimate their current efficacy in practical use.

Reduced Anterolateral Thigh Flap Donor-Site Morbidity Using Incisional Negative Pressure Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Primary closure of the donor-site after harvest of a large anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) is associated with significant morbidity. Incisional negative pressure therapy (INPT) may decrease complications in high-risk incisions. This study assessed if the incidence of complications after primary closure of the ALT flap donor-site decreases with INPT. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of a prospectively maintained database including patients who underwent upper and lower limb reconstruction, using an ALT free flap with primary closure of the donor-site. Two groups were defined: primary closure and INPT (study group) and primary closure with traditional dressings (control group). Nonparametric statistics were employed to identify prognostic factors, p < 0,05. RESULTS: Fifty-eight free ALT flaps in 58 patients (study group n = 28; control group n = 30) were included. Median flap width and length were 9 cm (range: 5-14) and 25 cm (range: 10-48), respectively. Median follow-up was 19 months (range: 3-78 months). No significant differences in age or flap size were identified in both groups (p > 0.05). The global complication rate was 7.14% (n = 2) in the INPT group, and 37% (n = 11) in the control group (p = 0.007). The study group had a lower dehiscence and skin necrosis rate (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed IPNT was associated with a significant reduction of donor-site complications (p = 0.006), especially in patients with defects > 8 cm (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: In this cohort study the use of INPT significantly reduced the donor-site morbidity after ALT flap harvest.

Two cases of unidentified acute compartment syndrome.

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a surgical emergency that requires urgent fasciotomy to prevent irreversible sequelae. We report two cases of unidentified ACS, which did not result from traumatic injuries such as fractures or crush injury, iatrogenic injury or diseases such as haematological malignancies. Both patients complained of severe pain and swelling of their extremity. No bite marks, blisters or skin necrosis was noted. They also complained of marked symptoms of third cranial nerve injury, including divergent squint and diplopia. The diagnosis of ACS was made following continuous intracompartmental pressure measurement, and both patients underwent urgent fasciotomy with partial incision. Considering the season and location of the injuries, together with the rapid progression of signs and symptoms that included thrombocytopaenia, acute renal failure, rhabdomyolysis and especially that of third cranial nerve injury, we postulate that these two cases may have developed following mamushi (Gloydiusblomhoffii) bites.

The correlation between stabbing-related upper extremity wounds and survival of stabbing victims with abdominal and thoracic injuries.

BACKGROUND: When treating patients with stab injuries of the torso, clinicians often lack timely information about the degree and nature of internal organ damage. An externally observable sign significantly associated with characteristics of torso injuries may therefore be useful for practitioners. One such potential sign is the presence of wounds to the hands, sometimes sustained during victims' attempt to defend themselves during the violent altercation. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate the association between presence of upper extremity wounds and the severity of the thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries due to stabbing. METHODS: This study was carried out retrospectively using data on 8714 patients with stabbing-related injuries from 19 trauma centers that participated in the Israeli National Trauma Registry (INTR) between January 1st1997 and December 31st 2013. Patients with wounds of upper extremities in addition to torso injuries (UE group) were compared to other patients with torso injuries (TO group) in terms of demographics, injury characteristics and clinical outcome. RESULTS: The compared groups were found to be homogeneous in terms of age and systolic blood pressure; the number of sustained torso injuries was also identical. The UE group comprised a slightly greater percentage of females, however both groups were predominantly male. Patients with upper extremity injuries had a lower proportion of internal organ damage (36% vs. 38.5%) and lower mortality (0.9% vs. 2%). The higher mortality of patients without upper extremity wounds remained significantly different even when adjusted by other epidemiological parameters (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.33-5.08).The number of sustained upper extremity injuries was positively associated with deeper penetration of the torso by the stabbing instrument. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with stabbing-related upper extremity wounds had a significant survival advantage over patients without such injuries. However, a greater number of sustained upper extremity wounds may be an external sign of greater severity of thoracic and intraabdominal stabbing injuries.

[THE METHOD CHOICE OF OPERATIVE INTERVENTION IN PATIENTS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC DEFECTS OF COVERING TISSUES OF TRUNK AND EXTREMITIES].

Results of 242 patients treatment, suffering the trunk and extremities covering tissues defects, which have had occur as a consequence of mechanical injury in a 2008 ­ 2016 yrs period, were analyzed. There were 697 оperative interventions performed, of them 492 (70.6%) ­ aiming to restore the tissues injured. The choice of method of the correcting intervention and the tissues defects covering have depended upon the wound dimension and depth, as well as peculiarities of hemodynamics in the area injured. Application of differentiated approach to choice of method for the wound surfaces closure, which were created as a consequence of mechanical injury, have had permitted to achieve satisfactory results in 98.75% of patients.

Relationship between subscapularis tears and injuries to the biceps pulley.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between long head of the biceps brachii (LHBT) lesions and subscapularis tears. The hypothesis was that a bicipital pulley might remain intact, even in the case of a subscapularis tear. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2011, all patients who had a primary arthroscopic repair of a subscapularis tear were potentially included in this prospective study. The outcome of interest was the prevalence and type of arthroscopic lesions of the LHBT and bicipital pulley. Furthermore, the supposed pathomechanics of injury and the treatment proposed (conservative, pulley repair, tenodesis, tenotomy, etc.) was recorded. The following baseline characteristics were assessed: age, sex, shoulder side, and limb dominance. RESULTS: Of the 218 patients, the superior glenohumeral ligament/coracohumeral ligament (SGHL/CHL) complex was normal in 54 patients (25%), stretched in 84 patients (39%), and absent in 77 patients (35%). Below the SGHL/CHL complex in the bicipital groove, the medial wall of the LHBT sheath was normal in 25%, partially torn in 39%, and completely torn in 35%. In 25 of the 218 patients (11%), a pathologic LHBT with an intact SGHL/CHL complex was observed. In these cases, the medial wall of the bicipital sheath was torn in 92%. CONCLUSIONS: The biceps pulley system, including the SGHL/CHL complex and subscapularis tendon, merits recognition as an important anatomical structure, and its lesions contribute to shoulder pathology. The subscapularis tendon is very important for the stability of the LHBT and should be included in the pulley system. In cases of a tear associated with a lesion of the SGHL/CHL complex, the LHBT is nearly always unstable and pathologic. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

[PECULIARITIES OF THE TREATMENT TACTICS IN CLOSURE OF DEFECTS OF COVERING TISSUES OF TRUNK AND EXTREMITIES OF MECHANICAL ORIGIN].

Results of treatment of 242 patients, to whom 697 оperative interventions were done, including 492 (70.6%) ­with restoration of the injured soft tissues and other trunk and extremities structures ­were analyzed. Choice of the correcting intervention method and closure of the covering tissues defect have depended on the wound dimensions and depth, peculiarities of hemodynamics in the area injured. Application of Lacert preparation for the traumatic injury consequences made spectrum of treatment options in patients, suffering covering tissues defect,broader. Differential approach to choice of procedure for the wound surface closure have permitted to achieve satisfactory results in 98.75% of patients.

Throwing-related injuries of the subscapularis in professional baseball players.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the MR appearance of a series of throwing-related injuries to the subscapularis muscle-tendon complex among baseball players. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of MR scans of the shoulder in players from 1 professional baseball organization over the course of 5 years was performed to identify cases with findings suggestive of subscapularis injury. These findings were graded and the medical record was reviewed to assess clinical findings, treatment, and follow-up. Preinjury baseline measurements of arm external rotation at 90° of abduction were compared to measurements from a noninjured cohort to evaluate whether this measure is a risk factor for injury. RESULTS: A total of 133 MR scans of the shoulder were evaluated. Eleven of the scans demonstrated signal changes suggesting subscapularis injury; 10 of these 11 patients had clinical findings supporting a diagnosis of throwing-related subscapularis strain. There were four grade 1, four grade 2, and two grade 3 injuries. All injuries occurred in the inferior half of the subscapularis at the myotendinous junction. Risk of subscapularis injury increased with lower levels of dominant arm external rotation (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.07-1.21; p < 0.001). A threshold of dominant arm external rotation of <106° demonstrated sensitivity of 0.700 (95% CI, 0.392-0.897) and specificity of 0.951 (95% CI, 0.888-0.982) for subscapularis injury. CONCLUSION: Throwing-related subscapularis injuries occur in the inferior half of the muscle at the myotendinous junction. Our data suggest that there is an increased risk of these injuries with lower levels of dominant arm external rotation.

A myofibroblast-mast cell-neuropeptide axis of fibrosis in post-traumatic joint contractures: an in vitro analysis of mechanistic components.

Previous studies have implicated a myofibroblast-mast cell-neuropeptide axis of fibrosis in pathologic joint capsules from post-traumatic contractures. The hypothesis to be tested is that joint capsule cells (JC) from human elbows with post-traumatic contractures and their interactions with mast cells (MC) and neuropeptides in the microenvironment underlie the pathogenesis of contractures. The hypothesis was tested using an in vitro collagen gel contraction model. The JC were isolated from human elbow capsules and mixed with neutralized PureCol collagen I. The gels were treated in various ways, including addition of MC (HMC-1), the neuropeptide substance P (SP), an NK1 receptor (SP receptor) antagonist RP67580 and the mast cell stabilizer ketotifen fumarate (KF). The collagen gels were released from the wells and gel size (contraction) was measured optically at multiple time points. The JC contracted collagen gels in a dose-dependent manner. This was enhanced in the presence of MC and increased further with SP. Increasing concentrations of the SP receptor antagonist, RP67580 or the mast cell stabilizer, KF decreased the magnitude of contraction. These observations identify putative mechanistic components of a myofibroblast-mast cell-neuropeptide axis of fibrosis in the joint capsules in post-traumatic contractures and potential prophylactic or therapeutic interventions.

Anatomic findings and complications after surgical treatment of chronic, partial distal biceps tendon tears: a case cohort comparison study.

PURPOSE: To describe pertinent anatomic findings during repair of chronic, partial distal biceps tendon tears and to compare the complications of surgery with a similar cohort of acute, complete tears. METHODS: Group 1 included 14 patients (15 elbows) with partial tears managed operatively an average of 10 months from onset of injury or symptoms. Group 2 included a matched cohort of 16 patients (17 elbows) treated for complete, acute tears an average of 19 days from injury. A retrospective review of all 30 patients focused on demographic data, intraoperative findings, and postoperative complications. A single, anterior incision was used in all cases with multiple suture anchors or a bicortical toggling button for fixation of the repair. RESULTS: We evaluated 27 men and 3 women with an average age of 55 years (group 1) and 48 years (group 2). Intratendinous ganglion formation at the site of rupture of the degenerative tendon was observed in 5 cases of partial tears and none of the complete tears. Partial tears involved the lateral aspect or short head of the biceps tendon insertion in all cases. Postoperative complications included lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve neuritis in 8 group 1 patients and 6 group 2 patients and transient posterior interosseus nerve palsy in 3 group 1 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Partial distal biceps tendon ruptures showed a consistent pattern of pathology involving disruption of the lateral side of the tendon insertion involving the small head of the biceps. Degenerative intratendinous ganglion formation was present in one third of cases. Repair of chronic, partial distal biceps tendon injuries may have a higher incidence of posterior interosseous and lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve palsies. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic III.

The severity of the long head biceps tendinopathy in patients with chronic rotator cuff tears: macroscopic versus microscopic results.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the histopathology of the long head of biceps (LHB) tendon and correlated the findings with the macroscopic appearances of the LHB and the size of rotator cuff tears (RCTs) in patients with chronic RCTs. METHODS: We compared biopsy specimens from LHBs in 34 patients with chronic RCTs and grossly normal LHBs in 8 patients undergoing shoulder hemiarthroplasty (controls). Duration of preoperative symptoms, the severity of RCTs, and macroscopic appearance of LHBs were recorded, classified, and compared with the histologic grading and apoptosis index of terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated biotin-deoxy uridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assays of LHBs. RESULTS: In the RCT group, there were 8 partial-thickness tears with 5 macroscopic LHB lesions, 12 full-thickness tears with 8 macroscopic LHB lesions, and 14 massive tears with 13 macroscopic LHB lesions. There were 6 LHB subluxations. However, the macroscopic grading and the symptom duration were not correlated with the severity of the histology. In patients with massive tears, no matter what the macroscopic appearance of the LHB, the proportion of end-stage (grade 4) histologic LHB tendinopathy significantly increased (85.7%, P < .05) compared with patients with other types of RCTs. There was a consistently high incidence of advanced LHB histology (grade 3 or higher) in each classification of RCTs (75.0%-100.0%). The 8 patients in the control group showed milder histopathology (grade 1 or 2). The apoptosis index significantly increased as the tendinopathy progressed (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The macroscopic pathology of LHB may not fully reflect the severity of tendinopathy, and the coexisting size of RCTs plays a role in the severity of LHB tendinopathy.

High-resolution magnetic resonance neurography in upper extremity neuropathy.

The most common sites of nerve entrapment are in the upper extremity, commonly diagnosed based on clinical findings and electrophysiologic studies. Cross-sectional imaging modalities, such as ultrasonography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, have been used to enhance diagnostic accuracy and provide anatomic mapping of abnormalities. MR neurography offers multiplanar high-resolution imaging of upper extremity nerves as well as adjacent soft tissues, and provides an objective assessment of the neuromuscular anatomy and related abnormalities. This article reviews the normal 3-T MR neurographic appearance of the upper extremity nerves, and abnormal findings related to injury, entrapment, and other pathologic conditions.

Complete unilateral right-sided absence of the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles in an adult male cadaver of South Indian origin.

The unilateral complete absence of the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles in the absence of other anomalies is very rare. The complete absence of the pectoralis major and serratus anterior on the right side was observed during routine dissection of an elderly male cadaver of South Indian origin. Nodularity of the right fifth rib near the fifth costochondral junction was seen. The lateral pectoral and long thoracic nerves were present on the right side. Moderate right-sided disuse atrophy was noted in the pectoralis minor and the rotator cuff muscles due to a shoulder arthrodesis performed on that side. No abnormalities were noted on the left side. There was no family history of any upper limb anomalies suggestive of Poland's syndrome. The findings in the present case could be either due to a sporadic variant of Poland's syndrome or an isolated congenital unilateral absence of the pectoralis major and serratus anterior.

Procurement of hand and arm allografts.

Upper extremity transplantation has been at the forefront of vascularized composite allotransplantation. There have been more hand and upper extremity transplants than any other kinds of vascularized composite allotransplantation. However, it is a new and evolving field. Reconstructive surgeons are relative newcomers to the field of transplantation, and the procurement of upper extremity allografts has many subtleties that will differ depending on the intended recipient. However, there are certain principles that can be adhered to that this review serves to elucidate.