De Quervain's Tendinitis after Trapeziometacarpal Arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVES: De Quervain's tendinitis is frequently observed after placement of a trapeziometacarpal prosthesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between De Quervain's tendinitis, osteoarthritis of the thumb and placement of a trapeziometacarpal prosthesis. The second aim was a critical analysis of the literature in search of a cause for this postoperative event after arthroplasty or trapeziectomy. METHODS: We reviewed a series of 331 trapeziometacarpal prostheses. RESULTS: There were no differences in thumb column length, gender, type of neck (straight or angled), or surgical approach between patients who developed De Quervain's tendinitis and those who did not. However, the frequency of De Quervain's tendinitis was much higher after arthroplasty than trapeziectomy. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the preoperative frequency of De Quervain's tendinitis in trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis is underestimated, being part of a more general pain symptomatology. More precise and specific examination is needed for a better preoperative diagnosis. Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis should be considered within a more global framework of peri-trapeziometacarpal pathology, including the trapeziometacarpal and triscaphoid levels, the articular ligaments and the abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis longus, and flexor carpi radialis tendons.

Contribution to the study of stresses in the thumb column during key pinch grip.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to calculate the stress acting on the trapeziometacarpal joint during an key pinch grip. METHOD: We used profile X-rays of the thumb to measure the various bony and muscle lever arms. We assessed the angles of action of the muscular elements involved in the thumb column. Based on this data, we established a two-dimensional geometric model that enabled us to determine the forces at each joint level, as a function of stresses and muscular contributions. We were also able to calculate the participation of the different muscle groups in obtaining a balanced situation. RESULTS: Our results, as a function of the degree of flexion of the interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints, show a multiplying factor of 2.9-3.19 in relation to the key pinch grip force. DISCUSSION: Previous studies modelling a key pinch grip are showed multiplying factors from 6 to 13 in relation to the key pinch grip force. They are not compatible with the characteristics of the polyethylene used for trapeziometacarpal prostheses, whereas numerous articles in the literature show survival rates that are more or less comparable to those of total hip prostheses. These studies required an excessive number of assumptions, which could lead to error. Our results are compatible with the results of trapeziometacarpal prosthesis and with those of a recent study measuring intra-articular trapeziometacarpal pressure in a cadaveric model. Our model allows us to test different configurations of the thumb spine depending on the degree of flexion of the interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints.

Dual mobility trapeziometacarpal prosthesis: a prospective study of 107 cases with a follow-up of more than 3 years.

We report the results of a prospective study using a dual mobility trapeziometacarpal prosthesis (Touch®) in 107 patients with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. One-hundred and two patients (95%) were very satisfied or satisfied with the functional outcomes and the mean pain intensity in visual analogue scale decreased from 7.4 to 0.8 (p < 0.001). Thumb opposition (Kapandji score) index increased from an average of 8.0 to 9.4, while the mean QuickDASH score improved from 38 preoperatively to 20 at follow-up (p < 0.01). Key-pinch strength improved from 3.5 kg (range 0.5-9.5) to 5.5 kg (range 3.0-11.5). There was a 4.6% rate of complications, including cup loosening and wear of polyethylene, which required revision, but no cases of prosthetic dislocation were seen. Applying the dual mobility principle to trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty may significatively improve the stability of these prostheses. Radiolucent zones around the components of the prostheses are not systematic predictors of future loosening.Level of evidence: IV.

Revision procedures after trapeziometacarpal surgery.

Surgical treatment of thumb basal joint arthritis generally yields good and excellent results. In case of failure, the surgeon will propose an appropriate solution to the patient, one that can be performed easily. Each technique has its own complications: shortening with trapeziometacarpal pain following trapeziectomy, loosening and instability following total arthroplasty, instability for some implants. There are also intolerances such as allergies to nickel, foreign body reactions to silicone and inflammatory reactions to some synthetic ligament implants. It is important to bear these complications in mind when determining the best possible surgical technique initially. The different surgical solutions are exposed here. Prosthetic replacement is preferred in case of loosening when it is technically possible in order to preserve the thumb's length. A conversion to trapeziectomy with or without interposition (implant or ligament reconstruction) will be carried out in the other cases. In case of trapeziectomy failure, solutions are more difficult to find. In the current state of things, it seems that implant or biological tissue interposition is the best solution.

A rare cause of sciatica: Sciatic nerve schwannoma - Report of one case with long subclinical course and misleading presentation.

The authors report one case of schwannoma located in the sciatic nerve, just above the popliteal fossa. A sciatic localization is rare, observed in 1% of the patients. The misleading clinical presentation of this localization causes a delay in diagnosis. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice, but the final diagnosis is made by the histological examination of the tumor. Schwannoma should be surgically removed without division of the nerve trunk.

Ulna-shortening osteotomy: subjective appreciation and long-term functional outcome.

Ulna-shortening osteotomy is a therapeutic option for ulnar impaction syndrome. We aimed to assess the long-term subjective and functional outcome after ulna-shorteming osteotomy. We conducted a retrospective study of 18 patients presenting with ulnar impaction syndrome of various aetiologies, with an average follow-up of 5.9 +/- 3.4 years. Seventeen patients (94.4%) were satisfied and would undergo the operation again. Although most patients reported residual complaints (833%) such as weakness (38%) or pain under given specific circumstances, objective measurements of wrist function were good. The average Mayo Wrist Score was 75.9 +/- 13.4 (n=16) and the average DASH score was 18.0 +/- 13 (n=12). Comparison of the operated and healthy limb did not show any significant difference in strength or range of motion, except for significantly reduced flexion on the operated side (p < 0.05). In this study, ulna-shortening osteotomy provided a good functional outcome and high subjective satisfaction over the long term.