Dislocation of the Medial Head of the Triceps With Ulnar Nerve Location Anterior to the Medial Epicondyle.

Snapping elbow is a rare syndrome caused by dislocation of the medial head of the triceps. Simultaneous dislocation of the ulnar nerve occurs even less frequently. We report a case of ulnar nerve dislocation accompanied by dislocation of the triceps over the medial humeral epicondyle. The ulnar nerve was located in front of the medial epicondyle and did not change position with the elbow flexed or extended. At the point of insertion, the proximal end of the triceps muscle was displaced anteriorly. In this case, diagnosis by physical examination was challenging, but ultrasonography proved useful for diagnosis. During surgical treatment, partial resection of the triceps medial head was achieved, and the patient demonstrated a full recovery.

Investigating the minimum distance between the finger flexor tendons and distal radius during wrist and finger positions in healthy people.

PURPOSE: Rupture of the flexor pollicis longus (FPL) and index flexor digitorum profundus (FDP2) tendons often occurs after locking plate fixation for distal radius fracture. This study aimed to determine the shortest tendon-radius distances of different hand positions. METHODS: Fifty-nine hands of 30 healthy volunteers were studied. Distances between the FPL or FDP2 and distal radius were calculated in six wrist positions: 30° palmar flexion, neutral, 30° dorsiflexion, 60° dorsiflexion, maximum dorsiflexion, and 40° ulnar deviation with three finger positions (full extension and flexion of fingers, full flexion of the thumb or index finger, and full extension of the other four fingers). The shortest distance between the FPL or FDP2 and distal radius was noted. RESULTS: The shortest distance between the FPL and distal radius was during maximum wrist dorsiflexion with isolated thumb flexion. The distance between the FDP2 and distal radius was shortest with all-finger flexion in 30° wrist dorsiflexion. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to measure the distance between the FPL and distal radius in maximal wrist dorsiflexion with full flexion of the isolated thumb, as the shortest distance was observed with flexion of the isolated thumb. On the contrary, we recommend measuring the distance between the FDP2 and distal radius in 30° wrist dorsiflexion with flexion of all fingers.

Dorsal-approach open reduction for irreducible dislocation of the hallux interphalangeal joint: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: The common treatment for hallux interphalangeal joint dislocation is closed reduction, but some cannot be reduced by interposition of the sesamoid or the plantar plate in the interphalangeal joint, and such cases need open reduction. PRESENTATION OF CASE: In case 1, the patient was a 17-year-old boy who was injured when a motorcycle fell on his right hallux. X-ray revealed Miki type 2 IP joint dislocation. Because closed reduction failed, open reduction via the dorsal approach to the hallux IP joint was performed. In case 2, the patient was a 17-year-old boy who was hit by a car whilst walking. X-ray revealed Miki type 2 dorsal dislocation of the hallux IP joint. After closed reduction, X-ray and CT revealed that the IP joint dislocation changed from Miki type 2 to type 1. Open reduction was performed through the dorsal approach. DISCUSSION: Fifteen cases of Miki type 2 changed to type 1 after closed reduction, and type 1 dislocation is often overlooked, leading to some chronic cases. X-rays should be performed after repositioning, specifically in lateral and oblique views. CONCLUSION: We experienced two cases of irreducible dislocation of the hallux IP joint. One of our cases was reclassified from Miki type 2 to type 1, but we did not overlook the failed closed reduction, as we performed CT. Hence, we recommend additional lateral-view X-rays and/or CT imaging.

A case report of an isolated fracture through the radial bicipital tuberosity.

INTRODUCTION: Generally, anatomical reduction of shaft fractures through operative treatment is necessary to restore the anatomical relationship of the forearm bones. However, a number of nerves and vessels are located in the proximal radius, which complicates surgery. In this study, we aimed to reduce postoperative complications by using a posterior approach. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We describe an isolated fracture through the radial bicipital tuberosity in a 69-year-old man caused by direct blunt force and our management of the fracture. The patient underwent an operation for the fracture under brachial plexus block. The injury was explored using the posterior approach, and plate fixation was performed after confirming the absence of obstacles to rotation on pronation and supination. One year later, the patient did not have any difficulties in activities of daily living. DISCUSSION: Since an isolated fracture through the radial bicipital tuberosity is more distal than the radial head and neck and more proximal than a common radius diaphysis fracture, we had to consider a different operative approach. The nerve and blood vessels of the forearm, such as the radial nerve and artery, run in a complicated fashion around the proximal radius; thus, we chose the posterior approach because of its simpler surgical technique and lower complication risk, compared with the anterior approach. CONCLUSION: Surgeons can obtain a favorable treatment result using the posterior approach to the fracture and reduce complications by ensuring with rigid fixation using a locking plate.

Predicting functional recovery and return to work after mutilating hand injuries: usefulness of Campbell's Hand Injury Severity Score.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of severity and form of mutilating hand injuries on functional recovery and return to work, and the usefulness of an injury-severity score in predicting these outcomes. METHODS: We reexamined patients in whom finger amputation or near amputation had been treated with replantation or revascularization at our institution at least 3 years earlier. We evaluated radiographs, sensory recovery, finger range of motion, skin temperature, and current overall hand function to calculate Tamai and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores, and recorded return-to-work status, duration of treatment, and time away from work. We determined injury level, number of involved fingers, type of injury, and Campbell's Hand Injury Severity score (HISS) from the medical record. RESULTS: The average age of the 50 enrolled patients was 43 years (range, 18-69 years); average follow-up was 7.8 years (range, 3.1-15.3 years). More proximal injuries, more involved fingers, and more complicated injury predicted poorer functional recovery. HISS was highly correlated with Tamai's score (r = -0.77; p<.001) and moderately correlated with the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score (r = 0.39; p = .009). HISS was only moderately correlated with length of treatment (r = 0.32; p<.05) and with time away from work (r = 0.34; p<.05). Mean HISS among the 3 return-to-work groups differed remarkably. When HISS was <50, 11 of 12 patients returned to their original jobs; when it was between 50 and 150, 17 of 23 patients were able to return; and when it was >150, only 4 of 15 were able to return to work. CONCLUSIONS: Given the current surgical care of patients with mutilated hand injuries, HISS determined at the time of injury can adequately predict functional outcome and return to work status. Larger studies will be necessary to validate these findings.