Access to Allied Health Care Services in Canadian Interdisciplinary Complex Nerve Injury Programs.

Nerve transfer surgery for patients with nerve and spinal cord injuries can result in dramatic functional improvements. As a result, interdisciplinary complex nerve injury programs (CNIPs) have been established in many Canadian centers, providing electrodiagnostic and surgical consultations in a single encounter. We sought to determine which allied health care services are included in Canadian CNIPs, at the 3rd Annual Canadian Peripheral Nerve Symposium. Twenty CNIPs responded to a brief survey and reported access as follows: occupational therapy = 60%, physiotherapy = 40%, social work = 20%, and mental health = 10%. Access to allied health services is variable in CNIPs across Canada, possibly resulting in heterogeneity in patient care.

Surgical Management of Delayed Brachial Plexopathy After Clavicle Nonunion.

SUMMARY: Brachial plexopathy after conservative therapy or surgical treatment of clavicular fractures is an uncommon, yet serious complication that is associated with compression of the brachial plexus or the subclavian artery and vein because they traverse through the thoracic outlet. Surgical decompression of the brachial plexus is the recommended treatment if this condition is to occur. Although there are multiple reports of these cases in the literature, at present, there are no clear guidelines for their management. We are highlighting an institutional management algorithm, illustrated by a small retrospective case series, that uses a multidisciplinary approach in an effort to minimize complications associated with the management of clavicle nonunion.

Relationship Between Sensibility Tests and Functional Outcomes in Patients With Traumatic Upper Limb Nerve Injuries: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate which tests of hand sensibility correlate with functional outcomes in patients with upper limb traumatic nerve injuries and to assess if composite scales of sensibility correlate with functions. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched in May 2020, with a supplementary search in July 2020. Reference lists of the included publications were hand searched. STUDY SELECTION: Database search found 2437 records. Eligible studies reported on inferential association between sensibility tests and functions pertaining to adults after upper limb nerve repair. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility. Fifteen publications were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Extracted data contain patient characteristics, surgical procedure, follow-up duration, sensibility tests, and functional assessments. Two reviewers independently assessed data quality. DATA SYNTHESIS: Fifteen publications involving 849 patients were reviewed. All publications reported on median and/or ulnar nerve injuries. Monofilament tests correlated with Short-Form Health Survey (r=0.548, P<.05), pick-up test (r=0.45, P<.05), and function domain of Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation Questionnaire (PRWHE) (r=0.58, P<.05). The 8 studies of static and moving 2-point discrimination provided conflicting correlations with activities of daily living (ADL) and/or the pick-up test. Data for area localization and object/shape identification were equivocal as well. No data were found for Ten test and vibration tests. Rosén score sensory domain correlated with ADL (r=0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.72) and PRWHE function domain (r=-0.56, P<.05). Medical Research Council sensory scale was related to pick-up test; return to work status; and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: Monofilament tests allow practitioners to gather sensibility data meaningful to patients' overall recovery of functions after upper limb nerve trauma. For 2-point discrimination and other sensibility tests, practitioners should be aware that improvement in test performance does not necessarily translate to improved hand function. Findings from the composite scales indicate that hand sensibility, in general, is related to functions. Future research on other common sensibility tests is recommended to explore how the test relates to patients' functions.

Reliability of the "Ten Test" for assessment of discriminative sensation in hand trauma.

"Ten Test" (TT) is a bedside measure of discriminative sensation, whereby the magnitude of abnormal sensation to moving light touch is normalized to an area of normal sensation on an 11-point Likert scale (0-10). The purposes of this study were to determine reliability parameters of the TT in a cohort of patients presenting to a hand trauma clinic with subjectively altered sensation post-injury and to compare the reliability of TT to that of the Weinstein Enhanced Sensory Test (WEST). Study participants (n = 29, mean age = 37 ± 12) comprised patients presenting to an outpatient hand trauma clinic with recent hand trauma and self reported abnormal sensation. Participants underwent TT and WEST by two separate raters on the same day. Interrater reliability, response stability and responsiveness of each test were determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC: 2, 1), standard error of measurement (SEM) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and minimal detectable difference score, with 95% CI (MDD95), respectively. The TT displayed excellent interrater reliability (ICC = 0.95, 95% CI 0.89-0.97) compared to good reliability for WEST (ICC = 0.78, 95% CI 0.58-0.89). The range of true scores expected with 95% confidence based on the SEM (i.e. response stability), was ±1.1 for TT and ±1.1 for WEST. MDD95 scores reflecting test responsiveness were 1.5 and 1.6 for TT and WEST, respectively. The TT displayed excellent reliability parameters in this patient population. Reliability parameters were stronger for TT compared to WEST. These results provide support for the use of TT as a component of the sensory exam in hand trauma.

The transverse figure-of-eight suture for securing the nail.

Various techniques have been described for securing the nail plate back in its anatomic position after trauma or for reconstructive exposure. The figure-of-eight suture technique uses the paronychial folds and notches in the distal aspect of the nail plate to create both ventral and proximal forces to secure the nail plate under the eponychial fold. The transverse figure-of-eight suture prevents the nail from moving distally or dorsally. It is simple, secure, and easily taught to non-hand surgeons. This technique can also be used when the eponychium is damaged. It is a useful adjunct to the armamentarium of anyone treating finger-tip injuries.

A comparison of ipsilateral pedicled TRAM flap with and without previous irradiation.

Due to concerns for increased complications, there is reluctance to use the ipsilateral pedicled TRAM for breast reconstruction in the presence of previous chest wall irradiation. This study will assess whether the ipsilateral pedicled TRAM is a safe and effective option when the pedicle is part of the irradiation field. Consecutive cases of ipsilateral pedicled TRAM flap procedures from 1997-2003 were reviewed. Patients with and without previous irradiation were compared on several vascular indicators. There were 123 and 124 patients in the irradiated and nonirradiated groups, respectively. These groups were demographically similar, except the nonirradiated group was significantly older. The irradiated group had a significantly higher rate of minor wound problems related to mastectomy flap healing (8.9% versus 1.6%). All other flap vascular complications were equivalent. The ipsilateral pedicled TRAM flap is a safe and effective option for breast reconstruction in an irradiated field in terms of the pedicle to the flap.