Management of Intra-Articular Distal Radius Fractures: Volar or Dorsal Locking Plate-Which Has Fewer Complications?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the functional outcomes and complications of volar and dorsal plating for the management of intra-articular distal radius fractures, with special regard to indications for dorsal plating. Furthermore, we examine the rationale for choosing dorsal plating and its frequency of use. METHODS: Clinical assessments included range of motion measurements at the wrist; grip strength; the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score; and the Gartland and Werley score. Clinical results were compared with those achieved using a volarly placed locking plate system. According to Lutsky's plate theory, the rationale for choosing dorsal plating was based on 4 types of pathologic fractures. RESULTS: Of 112 patients, 38 patients were treated with open reduction internal fixation via a dorsal approach and 68 patients were treated using a volar approach. Except for wrist flexion, there were no other statistical differences in the clinical results between groups for both subjective and objective parameters. There were no statistically significant differences in the complication rates between the volar and dorsal plated groups. One serious complication occurred after volar plating. The most common reason for choosing dorsal plating was irreducible dorsal die-punch fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of displaced intra-articular distal radius fractures with a dorsally versus a volarly placed interlocking plate system demonstrated similar clinical results. Postoperative complications were not readily observed in the patients treated with a dorsal locking plate. Certain fracture patterns are more appropriately stabilized using a dorsal plate fixation.

Asymptomatic Flexor Tendon Damages after Volar Locking Plate Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures.

BACKGROUND: To investigate asymptomatic flexor tendon damages after volar locking plate fixation of distal radius fractures in 32 wrists of 32 patients with distal radius fractures fixed using two plate types. Sixteen patients received the Acu-Loc volar distal radius plate, and the remaining 16 patients received the Aptus distal radius correction plate. METHODS: The flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendon and flexor digitorum profundus were evaluated according to intraoperative findings at plate removal. Ultrasonography was used to measure the distance between the FPL tendon and distal edge of the plates (FPL plate distance) before plate removal, the distance between the FPL tendon and distal edge of the radius (FPL radius distance) after plate removal, in the contralateral wrist, and the angle between an extension line of a volar surface line on the proximal FPL tendon and a second volar surface line on the distal FPL tendon (FPL angles). RESULTS: Erosion of the FPL tendon was identified in four wrists, and erosion of the flexor digitorum profundus of the index finger was identified in one wrist. All five cases of wrists with flexor tendon damage had Acu-Loc plates installed. The average FPL angle before plate removal was 15.4° in the wrists with tendon damage, which was statistically significantly larger than the average FPL angle in the wrists without erosion. CONCLUSIONS: The type of plate and larger FPL angle on ultrasonography may be the risk factors for flexor tendon damage.

Novel Suture Anchor Technique with Continuous Locking Stitch for Collateral Ligament Repair.

Collateral ligaments are difficult to repair due to large amount of fraying in detached ligaments and attenuated stumps that may not provide enough strength after the repair. Although strong locking sutures are used to repair the ligament with proper tension, these damages can cause pull-out failure or relaxation of the repaired ligaments even from undersized load that may extend postoperative splinting or casting time. Furthermore, current suture techniques can repair varus or valgus instability of the elbow and radial or ulnar instability of the fingers, but these techniques do not offer rotatory stability of these areas. We have developed a novel suture anchor technique that has overcome this problem of current suture techniques, and this can be used to correct rotatory instability in the elbow and fingers. We used this procedure in seven cases with injury of collateral ligament in the elbow and eight cases with detached collateral ligaments of finger joint. No patient experienced rerupture or any kind of residual instability. We believe that the proposed method can produce much stronger repair and may shorten the postoperative immobilization period.

Closed mallet thumb injury: Our experience of 10 patients treated with surgery and a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study reports 10 patients with closed mallet thumb injury treated with surgery and compares the clinical outcomes achieved with those of previously described patients who were treated with either conservative therapy or surgery. METHODS: We report the outcomes of a series of 10 patients who received surgical treatment at our institutions. Due to the rarity of closed mallet thumb, a systematic review was conducted, and the results of a literature search were compared with our case series to strengthen our conclusions. The previously described patients were categorized into two groups: the surgically treated group (16 patients) and the conservatively treated group (10 patients). The following patient and injury characteristics were documented: age, gender, injured side, time from injury to treatment, mechanism of injury, extension lag at first visit, postoperative range of motion (ROM) of the interphalangeal joint, immobilization period, and follow-up period. RESULTS: Statistical analyses showed no significant differences in the clinical results, except for shorter immobilization periods between our series and the previously described patients involving conservative treatment (4.9 ± 0.9 vs. 9.5 ± 2.3 weeks, respectively; P = 0.0053). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that surgery may result in more rapid recovery.

A Finite-Element Study of Metal Backing and Tibial Resection Depth in a Composite Tibia Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Prosthetic alignment, patient characteristics, and implant design are all factors in long-term survival of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), yet the level at which each of these factors contribute to implant loosening has not been fully described. Prior clinical and biomechanical studies have indicated tibial overload as a cause of early TKA revision. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between tibial component design and bone resection on tibial loading. Finite-element analysis (FEA) was performed after simulated implantation of metal backed (MB) and all-polyethylene (AP) TKA components in 5 and 15 mm of tibial resection into a validated intact tibia model. Proximal tibial strains significantly increased between 13% and 199% when implanted with AP components (p < 0.05). Strain significantly increased between 12% and 209% in the posterior tibial compartment with increased bone resection (p < 0.05). This study indicates elevated strains in AP implanted tibias across the entirety of the proximal tibial cortex, as well as a posterior shift in tibial loading in instances of increased resection depth. These results are consistent with trends observed in prior biomechanical studies and may associate the documented device history of tibial collapse in AP components with increased bone strain and overload beneath the prosthesis.

Clinical Results of Percutaneous Needle Fasciotomy for Dupuytren's Disease in Japanese Patients.

BACKGROUND: Clinical results of percutaneous needle fasciotomy (PNF) in Japanese patients with Dupuytren's disease are reported. METHODS: In this prospective study, 51 patients (103 fingers: 1 index, 9 middle, 47 ring, and 46 small) underwent PNF at 99 metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and 68 proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. Patients were assessed postoperatively after 1 day, at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Correction of contracture was measured in degrees, and an improvement index (% improvement) was described previously by Tonkin et al. A correction of the contracture to 5° or less at each joint and at each digital ray represented a successful correction. The recurrence rates in MCP and PIP joints were also evaluated. Correlations between the Tubiana classification stage and successful correction, % improvement, and recurrence rate were evaluated. The relationships between recurrence rate and the diathesis score (more/less than 5 points) and between recurrence rate and age at surgery (<50/≥50 years) were also examined. RESULTS: In MCP and PIP joints, the improvement maintained at final follow-up was 89% and 57%, respectively, with successful corrections in 89% and 76%, respectively. PNF corrected digital rays at various Tubiana stages: stage 1 = 100%, stage 2 = 82%, stage 3 = 46%, and stage 4 = 0%. Improvements were preserved in stage 1 = 83%; stage 2 = 62%; stage 3 = 58%, and stage 4 = 60%. Recurrence of Dupuytren's disease was significant for the PIP joint, severe Tubiana stage, and younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical results of PNF in Japanese patients with Dupuytren's contractures were similar to those of whites.

Surgical Technique and Clinical Results for Trapeziometacarpal Arthrodesis Using Locking Plate Fixation in Women Aged 50 Years or Older.

BACKGROUND: The authors hypothesized that locking plates have the potential to decrease the risk of nonunion for trapeziometacarpal joint arthrodesis and eliminate the period of postoperative immobilization. The surgical technique is described and the clinical results are reported for Eaton stage III trapeziometacarpal joint arthrodesis using locking plate fixation in elderly women. METHODS: The outcomes of 18 fusion operations with a 2-year follow-up were assessed during this prospective study. Patients were evaluated for bone union, grip strength, tip and key pinch strength, and Kapandji opposition scores. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire and visual analogue scale pain scores were obtained from the patients and evaluated. In addition, complications were assessed. RESULTS: Bone unions were obtained for 16 of 18 fusions. Grip strength was 18.3 kg (range, 12.5 to 26.0 kg), tip pinch strength was 5.6 kg (range, 3.5 to 7.5 kg), and key pinch strength was 6.4 kg (range, 4.0 to 7.5 kg). The Kapandji opposition score was 8.3 points (range, 8 to 10). Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire score decreased from 54.2 (range, 68.8 to 39.4) to 8.8 (range, 3.9 to 22.0), and visual analogue scale pain scores decreased from 8.3 (range, 8 to 10) preoperatively to 0.9 (range, 0 to 4) postoperatively. Malpositioned devices were removed from two patients. One symptomatic patient required removal of the fixation device as a result of hardware loosening. CONCLUSION: The results for arthrodesis with a locking plate are comparable to results with a nonlocking plate and are quite satisfactory in the appropriate hands. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Thumb opposition in severe carpal tunnel syndrome with undetectable APB-CMAP.

Thumb opposition does not always represent the function of the median nerve due to variations in thenar muscle innervation. One hundred and thirty hands of 109 idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients with an undetectable compound muscle action potential of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB-CMAP) were classified into one of four groups; Type 1 (86.2%) had thenar muscle atrophy and could not perform thumb opposition; Type 2 (10.8%) had thenar muscle atrophy but could perform thumb opposition; Type 3 (2.3%) did not have thenar muscle atrophy and could perform thumb opposition, but needle electromyography of the APB showed neurogenic changes and Type 4 (0.8%) had no thenar muscle atrophy, could perform thumb opposition, and needle electromyography showed no neurogenic changes. Over 10% of severe CTS patients have mild or no muscle atrophy and intact thumb opposition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the variations in thenar muscle innervation in patients with severe CTS.

Herbert screw fixation of capitellar fractures.

From 1993 to 2003, 6 patients with displaced fractures of the humeral capitellum were treated by open reduction and internal fixation of the capitellar fragments with Herbert bone screws. By use of the criteria of Grantham et al, there were 2 type II-A fractures, 1 type II-B fracture, 1 type II-C fracture, and 2 type III-A fractures. A lateral approach was used in 4 patients and a posterior approach with olecranon osteotomy in 2. The elbows were immobilized postoperatively for 4 to 28 days (mean, 13.5 days). We evaluated the range of motion, stability, and pain using the criteria of Grantham et al. The follow-up period ranged from 2.5 to 9.3 years (mean, 5.6 years). All patients had a stable, pain-free elbow with good range of motion at follow-up. All fractures healed, and there was no evidence of avascular necrosis or degenerative change.