A review of functional latissimus dorsi transfers for absent elbow flexion and supination.

AIMS: To review patients treated with a functional latissimus dorsi flap for congenital and acquired elbow flexion deficits. METHODS: Retrospective review of functional latissimus dorsi flaps performed in one regional unit. Patient notes were reviewed to determine aetiology, pre-op deficits and function, surgical technique, complications and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of six functional latissimus dorsi transfers were performed on four patients. Two patients had bilateral latissimus dorsi transfers for congenital defects. The remaining two procedures were for traumatic defects. Post-operatively both children had excellent outcomes with full range of active movement allowing them to perform key activities of daily living. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Epimysium of latissimus dorsi folded to form a pseudo-tendon, tunnelled subcutaneously and either attached to a remnant of biceps tendon or secured to the radius. Congenital patients achieved better outcomes; pre-operatively, there was no active elbow flexion in all four elbows but 90-100 of passive flexion. COMPLICATIONS: One latissimus dorsi dehiscence which required revision surgery. Two donor-site seromas. CONCLUSIONS: Functional latissimus dorsi transfer has been shown to achieve excellent elbow flexion in patients with congenital absence of biceps and brachialis muscles. Outcomes in older patients with traumatic injuries have been less successful in achieving a full range of active flexion.

The Provision of Primary and Revision Elbow Replacement Surgery in the NHS.

BESS Surgical Procedure Guidelines (SPGs). Optimising Surgical Outcomes for Shoulder and Elbow patients. The British Elbow and Shoulder Society (BESS) SPGs are a series of evidence and consensus Best Practice Recommendations developed by BESS surgeons and physiotherapists to help drive quality improvement and achieve the best possible surgical outcomes for UK patients. This SPG on primary and revision elbow replacement surgery is supported and endorsed by both the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) and the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme.

Combined conservative and orthotic management of acute ruptures of the Achilles tendon.

BACKGROUND: There has been considerable debate about the best treatment for acute rupture of the Achilles tendon. At our institution, a well-documented and structured program of nonoperative management of Achilles tendon rupture with use of casts and a removable orthosis was developed. METHODS: We assessed the results in 140 consecutive patients with a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon who had been treated with our nonoperative regimen at our center between 1992 and 1998. Patients were evaluated on the basis of the subjective results and clinically with physiological testing. RESULTS: Overall, 56% of our patients had an excellent result; 30%, good; 12%, fair; and 2%, poor. The overall complication rate was 8%, with three complete and five partial tendon reruptures, two deep vein thromboses, and one temporary dropfoot. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our nonoperative orthotic treatment were better overall than published results of operative repair of acute Achilles tendon rupture. Our patients were quite satisfied with their treatment.

Arthrodesis of ring finger and little finger metacarpal bases for little finger carpometacarpal joint arthritis.

Five patients with localized little finger carpometacarpal arthritis were treated by excision of the little finger metacarpal base and arthrodesis of the little and ring metacarpals. A dorsal periosteal/capsular flap was used as an interposition graft. All patients achieved significant pain relief, good cosmesis and satisfactory grip strength. All returned to activities of daily living. This procedure, the Dubert procedure, is indicated for localized pathology of the hamate-little finger metacarpal joint. It has theoretical advantages over arthrodesis and resection or interposition arthroplasty as it preserves little finger length, rotation and alignment and maintains some mobility of the transverse carpal arch and the little finger ray.

An anatomic study of the triquetrum-hamate joint.

PURPOSE: To investigate the articulating surface of the triquetrum-hamate joint (TqH). METHODS: The carpal bones of 46 wrist specimens were examined. The shape of the TqH joint surfaces were investigated, with focus on variations in the shape of the hamate and corresponding triquetrum and the presence and position of convex and concave surfaces. RESULTS: Two distinct patterns of hamate TqH articular surfaces were identified, designated type I (31 of 46) and type II (15 of 46). The triquetral TqH articular surface also was found to have 2 distinct patterns, designated type A (18 of 46) and type B (15 of 46). Of the triquetrums examined 13 of 46 had characteristics that were a variable mixture of the 2 identifiable triquetral surface types, but these did not have sufficient similarity to constitute a third triquetrum surface type. The corresponding articulation patterns of these joint surfaces showed a strong trend for a type A triquetrum to articulate with a type I hamate (18 of 46 of all joints) and for a type B triquetrum to articulate with a type II hamate (13 of 46 of all joints). No association was seen between lunate types and type I or type II hamates. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the existence of 2 distinct TqH joint patterns, which have been termed TqH-1 and TqH-2. There appears to be a spectrum of variation between these 2 identifiable types. As a result, the TqH is best described as a spectrum, with TqH-1 at one end and TqH-2 at the other. A TqH-1 joint is a helicoidal configuration. It is double-faceted, with the hamate and the triquetrum articular surfaces possessing complementary concave and convex parts. A TqH-2 joint has a predominantly oval convex shape, whereas the primarily concave triquetrum is better described as a dish for the flatter hamate. It has no hamate groove or distal ridge.