Avascular Necrosis of the Scaphoid-Preiser Disease: Outcomes of 39 Surgical Cases.

PURPOSE: There is no established treatment standard for patients with idiopathic avascular necrosis of the scaphoid, also known as Preiser Disease. We evaluated outcomes of operative interventions performed for patients diagnosed with Preiser Disease and assessed scaphoid morphology in the contralateral wrists. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients undergoing surgery for Preiser disease between 1987 and 2019 at our institution. A total of 39 wrists in 38 patients were identified. The mean age was 37 years at the time of surgery, and the median follow-up time was 5.3 years. The patients were classified according to the Herbert and Kalainov classifications. Pre- and postoperative pain and functional outcomes were evaluated, and Mayo Wrist Scores were calculated. Reoperations for complications were recorded. Scaphoid shapes were assessed for wide/type 1 and slender/type 2 scaphoids in the contralateral unaffected wrist in patients with unilateral disease. RESULTS: Overall, pain and Mayo Wrist Scores improved, while flexion/extension decreased slightly and grip strength remained stable. In a comparison of the 2 main surgery groups, 17 wrists with a pedicled vascular bone graft and 12 wrists with salvage surgery (4-corner fusion/proximal row carpectomy) showed similar functional outcomes. Similar outcome scores were found regardless of preoperative Herbert or Kalainov classifications. Radiographic morphologic evaluation of the contralateral side determined that 4 of 8 patients had a slender scaphoid shape, which has been shown to have a more limited vascular network when compared to full scaphoids. CONCLUSIONS: A treatment algorithm of Preiser disease is lacking and the optimal surgical treatment remains controversial. Pedicled vascular bone grafts had similar functional outcomes as salvage procedures, but preserving the scaphoid was possible in 70% of the pedicled vascular bone graft cases. A slender scaphoid is potentially more common in patients with Preiser disease who undergo surgery. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Neurotized free VRAM used to create myoelectric signals in a muscle-depleted area for targeted muscle reinnervation for intuitive prosthesis control: A case report.

Targeted muscle reinnervation enables native muscles to send electromyographic signals to myoelectric receptors, which drive movements in a prosthesis. This system requires voluntary contracture of muscles for sequential control of powered prosthetic joints. This report describes a surgical solution for cases where the chest wall is depleted of muscle targets. A 13-year-old boy with left forequarter amputation and pectoralis major resection as a result of extended necrotizing facilities 8 years prior received a neurotized free Vertical Rectus Abdominus Mycocutaneous (VRAM) flap (28 × 10 cm) designed to produce myoelectric signals, reduce pain, and provide stability for prosthetic fitting. Five intercostal nerves from the VRAM were coapted to portions of the brachial plexus to create a myoelectric interface for targeted muscle reinnervation. The postoperative course was uneventful. At 39 months of follow-up, the patient gained control of the transferred VRAM and was able to operate a custom-fitted myoelectric prosthesis together with contraction of the ipsilateral infraspinatus muscle. The neurotized VRAM transfer created a neural interface in an area with depleted neuromuscular targets while decreasing pain and adding tissue bulk for proper prosthesis fitting. Such a surgical strategy may have applications in other areas of the body.

Is Rural Plastic Surgery Feasible and Important?: A Survey and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: There is little written about the scope of rural plastic surgery within the United States. Approximately 25 million people do not have immediate access to a plastic surgeon. Most areas are designated as rural, and this lack of specialty care can result in suboptimal care. Physicians are more likely to move to a rural area if they have prior life experience with rural areas, but exposure to rural plastic surgery in residency training is scarce. We attempted to examine the practice characteristics of rural plastic surgeons within the United States to (a) to better define the average rural plastic surgery practice and (b) to highlight the broad scope of practice of the rural plastic surgeon to educate both hospital administrators and our physician colleagues of the impact and benefit a plastic surgeon can have on a health system. METHODS: A survey was e-mailed to surgeons identified as rural plastic surgeons who practiced in communities with fewer than 50,000 people not located in a metropolitan area. Thirty-four surgeons were identified and 12 responded to the survey. RESULTS: Respondents on average were 56 years old and had practiced for 14.3 years. At the time of the survey, 33% practiced in a hospital-employed group practice, and 33% operated in a hospital that is part of a health system. Seventy-five percent did not complete fellowship training, but 67% believed that fellowship training would be beneficial to someone interested in rural plastic surgery. Seventy-five percent recommended hand surgery as the most beneficial fellowship. Eighty-three percent had prior experiences with rural surgery before starting their practice. Average case volume ranged from 150 to more than 1000 cases per year and spanned the spectrum of plastic surgery. Potential barriers to practicing rural plastic surgery included call responsibility and facility limitations. CONCLUSIONS: A career in rural plastic surgery offers great variety encompassing the spectrum of plastic surgery. Most agreed that hand fellowship would be the most beneficial fellowship. Most had prior experience with rural surgery before seeking a career in rural plastic surgery, highlighting the importance of increasing awareness of these opportunities.

Comparison of full-thickness skin grafts versus second-intention healing for Mohs defects of the helix.

BACKGROUND: Two repair options for Mohs defects of the helix include full-thickness skin grafting and second-intention healing. Limited long-term data exist comparing these 2 repair options. OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes of full-thickness skin grafts (FTSG) versus second-intention wound healing for Mohs defects on the helix. METHODS: In this study, 29 second-intention and 18 FTSG repairs were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS). Patient questionnaires and retrospective chart analysis were used to assess secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The average second-intention VAS score was 82.1 (standard deviation [SD] = 7.6), and the average FTSG VAS score was 75.2 (SD = 16.7) (difference of 6.9, 95% confidence interval: -1.3 to 15.1, p = .061). A subsequent noninferiority test indicated that cosmetic outcome of second-intention healing was at least as good as that of FTSG in the authors' study (p < .001). Retrospective chart analysis revealed no significant difference in complications. Patient-reported outcomes were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Mohs surgical defects of the helix left to heal by second-intention have comparable long-term cosmetic outcomes to those repaired by FTSG. There was no significant difference in complications, and patients were highly satisfied with both repair options.

Idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome in children and adolescents.

PURPOSE: A retrospective review of a single institution's experience with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in children and adolescents was performed to evaluate management and outcomes in an effort to establish a treatment protocol. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with idiopathic CTS from ages 1 to 16 years of age between 1983 and 2013 were reviewed. The results of diagnostic testing and efficacy of therapeutic interventions were analyzed. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire was sent to all patients following medical or surgical management. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients with 31 involved wrists met criteria for entrance into the study. The mean age at diagnosis was 14.4 years. Orthosis fabrication was used as the initial treatment in 30 of 31 wrists and was successful in completely alleviating symptoms in 9 of 30 wrists. A steroid injection was performed in 11 of 31 wrists, completely relieving symptoms in 5 of 11 wrists. Carpal tunnel release was performed in 10 of 31 wrists. Following surgery, patients had complete relief of symptoms in 5 of 10 wrists and partial relief of symptoms in 5 of 10 wrists. Questionnaire response incidence was 55% (11 of 20), with an average long-term follow-up of 17.6 years. Eight questionnaire respondents continued to have mild to moderate symptoms while performing activities of daily living. CONCLUSIONS: Once metabolic, anatomical, and hereditary causes of pediatric CTS are ruled out, a reasonable treatment course should follow that of adults with orthosis fabrication, followed by injection, and then surgery for those that are refractory to nonsurgical treatment. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic IV.

Near-peer driven dissection selective: A primer to the medical school anatomy course.

In the anatomy laboratory, skill remains a critical component to unlocking the true value of learning from cadaveric dissection. However, there is little if any room for provision of instruction in proper dissection technique. We describe how near-peer instructors designed a supplemental learning activity to enhance the dissection experience for first-year medical students. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this curriculum in improving participants' understanding of dissection technique and its impact on perceived challenges associated with the anatomy course. Curriculum was designed under faculty guidance and included didactic sessions, low-fidelity models, dissection, student presentations, and clinical correlations. Participants' (n = 13) knowledge of basic dissection techniques and concepts were assessed before the selective, and both participants' and nonparticipants' (n = 39) knowledge was assessed at the end of week one and week seven of the anatomy course. Scores were compared using repeated measures ANOVA followed by post hoc t-tests. Thirteen deidentified reflective essays were reviewed by four independent reviewers for themes that aligned with learning objectives. Participants in the selective course scored higher on assessment of dissection techniques and concepts one week after the selective compared to both nonparticipants and their own baseline scores before the selective. Analysis of student reflections resulted in four themes: confidence with dissection skill, sharing resources and transfer of knowledge, learning environment, and psychological impact of perceived challenges of the anatomy course. Near-peer driven supplemental exercises are effective in facilitating dissection skills. This dissection primer increases student confidence and alleviates apprehension associated with anatomy courses.

EPPOCRATIS: Expedited Preoperative Point-of-Care Reduction of Fractures to Normalized Anatomy and Three-Dimensional Printing to Improve Surgical Outcomes.

SUMMARY: Virtual surgical planning and three-dimensional printing have been invaluable tools in craniomaxillofacial surgery. From planning head and neck reconstruction to orthognathic surgery and secondary reconstruction of maxillofacial trauma, virtual surgical planning and three-dimensional printing allow the surgeon to rehearse the surgical plan and use patient-specific surgical guides for carrying out the plan accurately. However, the process of virtual surgical planning and three-dimensional printing requires time and coordination between the surgeon on one hand and the biomedical engineers and designers on the other hand. Outsourcing to third-party companies contributes to inefficiencies in this process. Advances in surgical planning software and three-dimensional printing technology have enabled the integration of virtual surgical planning and three-dimensional printing at the treating hospital, the point of care. This allows for expedited use of this process in semiurgent surgical cases and acute facial trauma cases by bringing the surgeon, radiologist, biomedical engineers, and designers to the point of care. In this article, the authors present the utility of EPPOCRATIS, expedited preoperative point of care reduction of fractures to normalized anatomy and three-dimensional printing to improve surgical outcomes, in the management of acute facial trauma.

The Role of Amputation and Myoelectric Prosthetic Fitting in Patients with Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries.

BACKGROUND: A cohort of patients with traumatic brachial plexus injuries (BPIs) underwent elective amputation following unsuccessful surgical reconstruction or delayed presentation. The results of amputation with and without a myoelectric prosthesis (MEP) using nonintuitive controls were compared. We sought to determine the benefits of amputation, and whether fitting with an MEP was feasible and functional. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with BPI who underwent elective upper-extremity amputation at a single institution. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, injury and reconstruction details, amputation characteristics, outcomes, and complications. Prosthesis use and MEP function were assessed. The minimum follow-up for clinical outcomes was 12 months. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with BPI and an average follow-up of 53 months underwent elective amputation between June 2000 and June 2020. Among the cases were 18 transhumeral amputations, 12 transradial amputations, and 2 wrist disarticulations. There were 29 pan-plexus injuries, 1 partial C5-sparing pan-plexus injury, 1 lower-trunk with lateral cord injury, and 1 lower-trunk injury. Amputation occurred, on average, at 48.9 months following BPI and 36.5 months following final reconstruction. Ten patients were fitted for an MEP with electromyographic signal control from muscles not normally associated with the intended function (nonintuitive control). Average visual analog scale pain scores decreased post-amputation: from 4.8 pre-amputation to 3.3 for the MEP group and from 5.4 to 4.4 for the non-MEP group. Average scores on the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire decreased post-amputation, but not significantly: from 35 to 30 for the MEP group and from 43 to 40 for the non-MEP group. Patients were more likely to be employed following amputation than they were before amputation. No patient expressed regret about undergoing amputation. All patients in the MEP group reported regular use of their prosthesis compared with 29% of patients with a traditional prosthesis. All patients in the MEP group demonstrated functional terminal grasp/release that they considered useful. CONCLUSIONS: Amputation is an effective treatment for select patients with BPI for whom surgical reconstruction is unsuccessful. Patients who underwent amputation reported decreased mechanical pain, increased employment rates, and a high rate of satisfaction following surgery. In amputees with sufficient nonintuitive electromyographic signals, MEPs allow for terminal grasp/release and are associated with high rates of prosthesis use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Plastic Surgery In-service Training Examination: An In-depth Reference Analysis.

The goal of this study was to characterize the references provided as supporting evidence of the Plastic Surgery In-service Training Examination (PSITE) syllabi, including those on the novel "core surgical principles" section. METHODS: We analyzed the references from five consecutive PSITE Examination syllabi (2016-2020). We collected the following information from each question: question section, total number of references, and source of publication of each reference. RESULTS: We analyzed 1250 questions and 3436 references. Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery was overall the most frequently referenced journal followed by Journal of Hand Surgery (American Volume) and Annals of Plastic Surgery. The most commonly referenced textbooks were Plastic Surgery (by Neligan), Green's Operative Hand Surgery, and Grabb and Smith's Plastic Surgery. Regarding the "core surgical principles" section, Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery remained the most frequently cited journal, followed by the Journal of the American Medical Association, New England Journal of Medicine, Annals, and Aesthetic Surgery Journal. "Core surgical principles" contained the largest number of unique journals (n = 209) among all test sections. Within the "core" section, Statistics in Medicine was the most frequently referenced textbook followed by Grabb and Smith's Plastic Surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The main plastic surgery texts and literature were used to support approximately half of the answers within the "core surgical principles" section. The references within this section originated from the largest number of different journals, thus highlighting the breadth and variety of this content and the challenges in preparing for this section.

Upper-Extremity Reconstruction in Tetraplegia: A Critical Analysis Review.

Management of tetraplegia should be individualized to a patient's particular deficiencies and functional goals. Surgical decision-making for upper-extremity reconstruction in patients with tetraplegia relies on a thorough physical examination to determine which nerves and muscles remain under volitional control with adequate strength for transfer. Peripheral nerve transfers, either in conjunction with or in place of traditional tendon transfers, enable providers to offer an expanded set of surgical options for patients with tetraplegia who are seeking upper-extremity reconstruction. All upper-extremity reconstructive efforts should be carefully considered with regard to their potential effects on the availability of future reconstructive efforts.

Challenging the Dogma of Tourniquet Pressure Requirements for Upper Extremity Surgery.

Background Traditional teaching supports upper extremity tourniquet pressure to be set at 250 mm Hg. Complications have been associated with increased pressure and duration of tourniquet use. We hypothesized that there will be no significant difference in intraoperative variables between tourniquet pressures of 125, 150, 175, or 200 mm Hg as compared with the current practice of 250 mm Hg during mini-open carpal tunnel release. Case Description A retrospective review was conducted of patients undergoing open carpal tunnel release from June 2009 to June 2012. Those undergoing surgery with a tourniquet pressure of 250 mm Hg were compared with those with lower tourniquet pressures regarding their demographics, operative and anesthesia time, and whether the tourniquet pressure needed to be increased to 250 mm Hg during surgery. Literature Review A total of 432 patients underwent carpal tunnel release over the 3-year period. There were no differences with respect to patient demographics. There was no significant difference between operative or anesthesia time between different tourniquet pressure groups. There were no reported problems with breakthrough bleeding or difficulty with visualization of structures in any of the pressure groups. None of the patients with lower tourniquet pressures needed the tourniquet pressure to be adjusted during surgery. Clinical Relevance This study demonstrated that using lower tourniquet pressures had no effect on the operation for open carpal tunnel release including effect on operative or anesthesia time, breakthrough bleeding, or complications directly related to tourniquet pressures. Orthopedic surgeons may consider reducing tourniquet pressures during carpal tunnel release.

Carbon dioxide laser treatment for Hailey-Hailey disease: a retrospective chart review with patient-reported outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) is an autosomal dominant genodermatosis that leads to skin breakdown and blister formation, usually in intertriginous areas. Laser ablation is a known surgical treatment for HHD. OBJECTIVES: We report outcomes in a series of patients with HHD treated with carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser ablation. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of data for 13 patients who underwent CO2 laser ablation for HHD was conducted. Questionnaires assessing effectiveness, pain, healing time, recurrence, new disease, complications, additional ablation, improvement in quality of life (QoL), and overall satisfaction were completed by all patients. RESULTS: All patients had been recalcitrant to previous treatments prior to CO2 laser ablation. Anatomic sites treated and anesthesia techniques for the procedure varied. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) score for the effectiveness of CO2 laser ablation for HHD was 9.3 ± 0.9 (maximum: 10). All patients reported improved QoL. No patient had recurring disease within the treatment field. Five patients underwent additional CO2 laser treatments at new sites. One patient reported postoperative infection. No other complications were identified. The mean ± SD score for overall satisfaction with CO2 laser ablation was 8.9 ± 1.1. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with CO2 laser ablation is very effective and can lead to prolonged or permanent remission in most HHD patients. Patients are highly satisfied with the results and report a substantial improvement in QoL.