Outcome Analysis of Metacarpal and Phalangeal Fixation Techniques at Bellevue Hospital.

PURPOSE: Phalangeal fractures represent a significant portion of upper extremity injuries but are not well studied as a single entity. We define our approach at a level 1 trauma center and determine whether plating or lag screws (ie, rigid fixation) have superior functional outcomes compared with Kirschner wire fixation for phalangeal or metacarpal fractures. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of all surgically managed hand fracture cases at Bellevue Hospital during 2012 and 2013. Demographics, type of fixation, length of operation, period of immobilization, range of motion, time to return to work, and complications including reoperation were noted. Comparisons were assessed for significance using Student t tests and Fisher exact test (P < 0.05 considered significant). RESULTS: One hundred ninety-two fractures (158 patients) were treated and followed for an average of 113 days. Rigid fixation was used for 17 (19%) of 90 metacarpal fractures and 5 (5%) of 102 phalangeal fractures. Operative times were significantly shorter (59 vs 135 minutes, 84 vs 149 minutes), and period of immobilization was longer (37 vs 15 days, 34 vs 18 days) when Kirschner wires were used for metacarpal and phalangeal fractures, respectively (P > 0.05). Total active motion and return to work were similar regardless of type of intervention in both fracture types. No patients treated with rigid fixation required reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: To our best knowledge, this is the first review to study phalangeal fractures concurrently but also separately from metacarpal fractures. Despite shorter periods of immobilization, rigid fixation does not appear to lead to improved total active motion or time to return to work.

NGS mutational status on first diagnostic tissue, liquid biopsy and mastectomy in G2-G3 breast cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the more frequently diagnosed cancers leading to death in women, and, like other tumor types, it is heterogeneous in its immunophenotype. It harbors mutations that modify tumor aggressiveness, therapy responses, residual disease, drug resistance, and relapse rates in advanced stages. This study aims to assess the mutational status of G2 and G3 tumors using next-generation sequencing (NGS) on initial tissue biopsies, liquid biopsies, and mastectomy specimens. The histopathological (HP) diagnosis for the 32 selected cases was established via Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining by two observers. For the immunohistochemical (IHC) testing of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PGR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), we used the Ventana BenchMark Ultra. Ki67 testing was conducted using Bond-III from Leica. For cases with a score of 2+, gene amplification was assessed by silver-enhanced in situ hybridization (ISH) (SISH; Inform HER2 Dual ISH) on Ventana BenchMark Ultra. NGS analysis was initially performed on biopsies and plasma, and later on mastectomy specimens. After automated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction, concentrations were measured using the Invitrogen Qubit system. Libraries were created using Oncomine systems, and sequencing and analysis were done with the Ion Torrent system. Most tumors were graded as G3 (19 cases), with Luminal A being the predominant molecular subtype, and a significant number displayed HER2∕HER2-low characteristics (24 out of 32 cases). The NGS assessment showed that phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) mutations were the most frequent across all sample types. A significant limitation was the high number of invalid plasma tests due to pre-analytical handling errors or transport issues. Nonetheless, plasma testing (liquid biopsy) proved useful for monitoring tumor evolution and assessing residual disease.

Disappearing Digits: Analysis of National Trends in Amputation and Replantation in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Significantly fewer replantations have been performed at the authors' institution in recent years, with similar trends observed across the United States. A study of three national databases was performed to evaluate this trend, its possible cause, and national health care implications. METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and National Inpatient Sample databases were queried for cases with a diagnosis of finger amputation over available years from 2000 to 2011. Data were weighted and analyzed to give appropriate national estimates of amputations, replantations, and related clinical variables. Trend analysis was performed using modified Poisson regression. RESULTS: Although workplace finger amputation rates decreased 40 percent from 2000 to 2010 (p < 0.0001), the overall finger amputation incidence did not change significantly (26,668 versus 24,215; p = 0.097). Compared with 930 replantations in 2001, only 445 were performed in 2011, more than a 50 percent decrease (p < 0.001). In all years, the majority of hospitals performing replantation performed only one (49.3 to 64.1 percent) each year, with a small minority (2.2 to 8.1 percent) performing more than 10 per year. In 2000, 120 hospitals (12.1 percent) performed at least one replantation, compared with only 80 hospitals (7.6 percent) in 2010, a 4.6 percent annual decline (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: There has been a striking decline in digital replantations being performed, despite a relatively stable incidence of amputations. Apparently independent of declining work-related injuries, evolving clinical decision-making may be responsible for this trend. Decreasing replantation experience among hand surgeons lends credence to the development of specialized regional centers designed to treat these complex injuries.

Impact of Evolving Radiation Therapy Techniques on Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing implant-based reconstruction in the setting of postmastectomy radiation therapy suffer from increased complications and inferior outcomes compared with those not irradiated, but advances in radiation delivery have allowed for more nuanced therapy. The authors investigated whether these advances impact patient outcomes in implant-based breast reconstruction. METHODS: Retrospective chart review identified all implant-based reconstructions performed at a single institution from November of 2010 to November of 2013. These data were cross-referenced with a registry of patients undergoing breast irradiation. Patient demographics, treatment characteristics, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Three hundred twenty-six patients (533 reconstructions) were not irradiated, whereas 83 patients (125 reconstructions) received radiation therapy; mean follow-up was 24.7 months versus 26.0 months (p = 0.49). Overall complication rates were higher in the irradiated group (35.2 percent versus 14.4 percent; p < 0.01). Increased maximum radiation doses to the skin were associated with complications (maximum dose to skin, p = 0.05; maximum dose to 1 cc of skin, p = 0.01). Different treatment modalities (e.g., three-dimensional conformal, intensity-modulated, field-in-field, and hybrid techniques) did not impact complication rates. Prone versus supine positioning significantly decreased the maximum skin dose (58.5 Gy versus 61.7 Gy; p = 0.05), although this did not translate to significantly decreased complication rates in analysis of prone versus supine positioning. CONCLUSIONS: As radiation techniques evolve, the maximum dose to skin should be given consideration similar to that for heart and lung dosing, to optimize reconstructive outcomes. Prone positioning significantly decreases the maximum skin dose and trends toward significance in reducing reconstructive complications. With continued study, this may become clinically important. Interdepartmental studies such as this one ensure quality of care. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.