Congenital Hypoplasia of the Extensor Tendons of the Fingers: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

We present a rare case and unusual presentation of digital extensor tendon congenital hypoplasia. A 34-year-old woman presented to our clinic with the inability to extend her index, middle, and ring fingers since birth. Her tendons were reconstructed using transfer of flexor digitorum superficialis tendons from the middle and ring fingers to the extensor aponeurosis of the index, middle, and ring fingers. An acellular dermal substitute was applied in a novel way to reconstruct the extensor retinaculum and promote a successful functional outcome.

Reconstruction of Ollier disease in a severely involved hand.

Ollier disease is a nonhereditary disorder characterized by multiple enchondromata, with a random asymmetrical distribution. We report an unusual case of massive ulcerating multiple enchondromata of the left hand of an 11-year-old male patient. A methodical approach to treating such a massive tumor burden and steps in reconstructing the hand are described. This case report demonstrates a radical expression of this disease; however, no malignancy was identified despite the aggressive and chronic nature of the disease. Unlike previously reported cases with less severe involvement, this patient did not undergo amputation, and this approach demonstrates a strategy for limb salvage not previously described. In particular, despite bony defects of 6 cm, no autograph was necessary for the reconstruction of the hand.

Surgical Repair of an Avulsed Distal Flexor Carpi Radialis Tendon in a Boxer: A Case Report.

CASE: A 25-year-old professional boxer presented with a right distal flexor carpi radialis (FCR) tendon avulsion after sustaining an injury while boxing. The avulsion was identified and confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging, and the tendon was successfully reinserted into the trapezium. The patient returned to professional boxing 10 months later without complication. CONCLUSIONS: Distal FCR tendon avulsions are rare. Occasionally, this tendon can avulse after an application of excessive force. For some patients, unrepaired distal FCR tendon avulsions may prevent competitive performance. In this case, the tendon was reattached to the trapezium to aid wrist motion and stability, which are essential for professional boxing.

Successful Arthroplasty Using Cadaveric Meniscus for Osteochondral Defects in the Wrist and Hand Joints.

BACKGROUND: Osteochondral defects of the radiocarpal, metacarpophalangeal (MCP), and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints often necessitate joint arthrodesis or mechanical arthroplasty, which has a limited lifespan. In severely arthritic wrist and finger joints, we propose a novel adjunct for joint salvage using cadaveric meniscus for joint resurfacing as an off-the-shelf alternative to address osteochondral defects and restore normal intraarticular contact stress. METHODS: A total of 14 patients with osteochondral defects in 5 radiocapitate, 5 MCP, 3 PIP, and 1 carpometacarpal joints received cadaveric meniscus to facilitate arthroplasty. Patient demographic, perioperative pain, range of motion, and complications were examined. RESULTS: Patients aged 17 to 73 years old (average, 54.6 years old) underwent joint reconstruction for scaphoid nonunion (n = 1), scaphoid-lunate advanced collapse (n = 4), or osteoarthritis of MCP/carpometacarpal (n = 6) or PIP (n = 3) joints. Successful arthroplasty with joint space preservation occurred in all joints. Patients had a significant reduction in average pain scale score (P < 0.01) and improved average range of active motion degrees of flexion (P < 0.01) and degrees of extension (P < 0.05). No complications resulted; only a revision tenolysis and capsulotomy were required for PIP and MCP arthroplasties. Postoperative films reveal preservation of arthroplasty joint space after an average 19.7-month follow-up (range, 8-54). CONCLUSIONS: We believe that meniscus is a viable joint salvage option or adjunct to preserve pain-free motion and avoid total joint arthrodesis. In this series of 14 patients, we demonstrate the successful use of cadaver meniscus in hand joint arthroplasty, such that it advantageously maintains a low metabolic demand, is biointegratable, and is surgically malleable.

Preserving the posttrapeziectomy space with a human acellular dermal matrix spacer: a pilot case series of patients with thumb carpometacarpal joint arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Advanced thumb carpometacarpal arthritis is widely treated with trapeziectomy and tendon interposition despite donor-site morbidities. Trapeziectomy alone leaves a postresection space, leading to proximal metacarpal migration and scaphoid/trapezoid impingement. Prosthetic implants have been unsuccessful due to particulate debris, silicone synovitis, osteolysis, and migration. Recent studies have shown successful use of allograft for interposition material in the posttrapeziectomy space both in animal and human models. To obviate the need for autologous tissue, maintain thumb length, and reduce the risk of scaphoid impingement, the senior author developed an interposition arthroplasty technique using a spacer constructed from human acellular dermal matrix (HADM). METHODS: Sixteen patients with Eaton stage III-IV thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis received the above procedure from the 2 senior authors. HADM was imbricated to fill the posttrapeziectomy space and secured to the volar capsule and metacarpal base. Pre- and postoperative trapezial space on radiograph, pain scores, and grip strength were recorded. RESULTS: Six months postoperatively, radiographs showed an average joint space loss of 11%. Heights postoperatively were not significantly different from immediate postoperative heights (P ≥ 0.01). At 6 months, patients had improved pain and grip strength (P ≤ 0.01). No infections, foreign body reactions, or other complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: HADM has been used extensively in other forms of reconstruction and has been shown to incorporate into surrounding tissues through neovascularization. Our early results illustrate that HADM can safely fill the dead space left by trapeziectomy.

The use of acellular dermal matrix in release of burn contracture scars in the hand.

BACKGROUND: Contracture deformities of the upper extremity are encountered frequently in burn victims. Surgical repair of this problem is challenged by a paucity of soft tissue, poor functional outcome, and a high rate of recurrence. Acellular dermal matrix has become increasingly popular in reconstructive surgery--at times--as an alternative to local and free tissue transfer in different parts of the body. However, its applicability in contracture release, particularly in hand surgery, has not been widely explored. METHODS: Nine patients with burn contracture scars involving different locations in the hand and the wrist underwent two-stage reconstruction consisting of contracture release and use of acellular dermal matrix followed by definitive coverage with skin graft at the second stage. Patients were followed up for a period of at least 10 months (range, 10 to 25 months), during which time the passive range of motion of the hand was used as a quantitative measure of surgical outcome. RESULTS: All nine patients retained at least 83 percent of the corrected range of motion involving the affected joints by 1 year and at least 89 percent of correction at each webspace. No patient required a revision procedure. CONCLUSION: Acellular dermal matrix can be an effective tool in surgical treatment of difficult burn contracture deformity in the hand, with lasting results.

Heritability patterns in hand osteoarthritis: the role of osteophytes.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the present study was to assess heritability of clinical and radiographic features of hand osteoarthritis (OA) in affected patients and their siblings. METHODS: A convenience sample of patients with clinical and radiographic hand OA and their siblings were evaluated by examination and radiography. Radiographs were scored for hand OA features by radiographic atlas. The heritability of hand OA phenotypes was assessed for clinical and radiographic measures based on anatomic locations and radiographic characteristics. Phenotypic data were transformed to reduce non-normality, if necessary. A variance components approach was used to calculate heritability. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-six probands with hand OA and their sibling(s) were enrolled. By anatomic location, the highest heritability was seen with involvement of the first interphalangeal joint (h2 = 0.63, P = 0.00004), the first carpometacarpal joint (h2 = 0.38, P = 0.01), the distal interphalangeal joints (h2 = 0.36, P = 0.02), and the proximal interphalangeal joints (h2 = 0.30, P = 0.03) with osteophytes. The number and severity of joints with osteophyte involvement was heritable overall (h2 = 0.38, P = 0.008 for number and h2 = 0.35, P = 0.01 for severity) and for all interphalangeal joints (h2 = 0.42, P = 0.004 and h2 = 0.33, P = 0.02). The severity of carpometacarpal joint involvement was also heritable (h2 = 0.53, P = 0.0006). Similar results were obtained when the analysis was limited to the Caucasian sample. CONCLUSIONS: In a population with clinical and radiographic hand OA and their siblings, the presence of osteophytes was the most sensitive biomarker for hand OA heritability. Significant heritability was detected for anatomic phenotypes by joint location, severity of joint involvement with osteophytes as well as for overall number and degree of hand OA involvement. These findings are in agreement with the strong genetic predisposition for hand OA reported by others. The results support phenotyping based on severity of osteophytes and a joint-specific approach. More specific phenotypes may hold greater promise in the study of genetics in hand OA.