Factors that affect the healing index of metacarpal lengthening: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To determine factors that affect healing index and consolidation time following lengthening of congenitally short metacarpals (brachymetacarpia). METHODS: 18 metacarpals of 8 young women (mean age, 18.6 years) were lengthened using the callus distraction technique. The results, including healing index and consolidation time, were analysed and compared with those in the literature. RESULTS: The mean length increase was 16.5 mm (55% of the original length of 30 mm). Age was positively correlated with healing index and consolidation time: younger patients healed faster than older patients. Healing index differed significantly between patients aged 0 to 18 years and those aged 19 to 30 years (p=0.002). Comparison of our results with 9 previous studies confirmed that increased age was associated with a greater healing index and consolidation time. Conversely, the faster the distraction rate, the less the healing index and consolidation time. CONCLUSION: Age has the most effect on healing index and consolidation time. Metacarpal lengthening using callus distraction is recommended. Adolescence is the most appropriate time to perform distraction lengthening of a congenitally short metacarpal. This will avoid additional lengthening of normal metacarpals prior to epiphyseal closure.

Metatarsal transfer for the treatment of post-axial metatarsal-type foot synpolydactyly: a new technique that allows for comfortable shoe wearing.

We analysed the clinical and radiological outcomes of a new surgical technique for the treatment of heterozygote post-axial metatarsal-type foot synpolydactyly with HOX-D13 genetic mutations with a mean follow-up of 30.9 months (24 to 42). A total of 57 feet in 36 patients (mean age 6.8 years (2 to 16)) were treated with this new technique, which transfers the distal part of the duplicated fourth metatarsal to the proximal part of the fifth metatarsal. Clinical and radiological assessments were undertaken pre- and post-operatively and any complications were recorded. Final outcomes were evaluated according to the methods described by Phelps and Grogan. Forefoot width was reduced and the lengths of the all reconstructed toes were maintained after surgery. Union was achieved for all the metatarsal osteotomies without any angular deformities. Outcomes at the final assessment were excellent in 51 feet (89%) and good in six (11%). This newly described surgical technique provides for painless, comfortable shoe-wearing after a single, easy-to-perform operation with good clinical, radiological and functional outcomes.

The innervation of patella: anatomical and clinical study.

As much interest has been focused on afferent innervation of knee than that of patella, there are few articles about patellar innervation. But in clinical practice anterior knee pain due to patellar disorders is a quite frequent problem. Our aim was to review the innervation pattern of patella and to give the topographic anatomy of the nerves. We dissected 30 knees of 15 formaldehyde-fixed cadavers. Two nerves from vastus medialis and lateralis were found to reach patellar edge. Apart from these, we were unable to find any other neural structures around patellae. Mean distances between the tuberosity of the tibia and medial and lateral nerve entry points were 90.1(range 74-102) and 96.3 mm (range 76-109), respectively. The angles between lines which join the entry points of nerves and vertical line to the center point of patella were measured in frontal plane. It was approximately 60 degrees medially and 40 degrees laterally. To confirm that these nerves are patellar pain afferents, we performed a local anesthesia test in 32 knees of 20 patients with patellofemoral pain. Clinically, there was a significant difference between the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores before and after local anesthetic injections (p<0.01). Previous studies have emphasized especially the medial innervation. We found that both superomedial and superolateral nerves were important for patellar innervation. We described precisely the entry points of these nerves to patella for selective denervation.