Surgical Hand Antisepsis: Environmental and Cost Impact in Hand Surgery.

Health care systems, including operating rooms, are a considerable contributor to environmental waste. Given ongoing concerns regarding water scarcity in the United States and worldwide, action to reduce water utilization should be taken. Traditional water-based hand scrubbing wastes an estimated 11 L of water per scrub. Waterless hand rubbing with an alcohol-based solution has been shown to be as effective as traditional water-based hand scrubbing in surgical hand antisepsis and in preventing surgical site infections. Furthermore, alcohol-based rubbing results in less waste and reduced costs when compared with water-based hand scrubbing. The hand surgery operating room, including minor procedure rooms, serves as an opportunity to decrease water use and reduce the environmental impact of our field. Waterless alcohol-based hand rubbing for antisepsis may also be an opportunity to save money and provide value-based care to our patients.

Soft Tissue Management of Partial Hand Amputation.

Conventional teaching in the management of partial hand amputations prioritizes residual limb length, often through local, regional, or distant flaps. While multiple options exist to provide durable soft tissue coverage, only a few flaps are thin and pliable enough to match that of the dorsal hand skin. Despite debulking, excessive soft tissues from previous flap reconstructions can interfere with residual limb function, prosthesis fit, and surface electrode recording for myoelectric prostheses. With rapid advances in prosthetic technology and nerve transfer techniques, patients can achieve very high levels of function following prosthetic rehabilitation that rival, or even outpace, traditional soft tissue reconstruction. Therefore, our reconstruction algorithm for partial hand amputations has evolved to the thinnest coverage possible, providing adequate durability. This evolution has provided our patients with faster and more secure prosthesis fitting with better surface electrode detection, enabling earlier and improved use of simple and advanced partial hand prostheses.

Scaphoid Fractures in Adults Aged 50 Years or Older: Epidemiology and Association With Osteopenia and Nonunion.

BACKGROUND: Scaphoid fractures are less commonly reported in adults older than 50 years. The association between bone density and outcomes following scaphoid fractures has not been explored in this patient population. The second metacarpal cortical percentage (2MCP) has been shown to predict low bone density. The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiology and radiographic characteristics associated with scaphoid fractures in adults older than 50 years, determine the prevalence of osteopenia defined by 2MCP, and evaluate the characteristics associated with scaphoid nonunion in this population. We hypothesized that osteopenia defined by 2MCP would be common in this patient population and associated with scaphoid nonunion. METHODS: Patients older than 50 years with an acute, closed scaphoid fracture were identified. Demographic data, radiographic characteristics, and outcome data were collected. The 2MCP was measured using standard hand radiographs. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients were identified. Most fractures were nondisplaced and occurred in women via low-energy mechanism. Fifty-six patients (50.5%) had osteopenia defined by a 2MCP less than 60%. Nondisplaced fractures achieved union faster than displaced fractures (P < .05). Displaced, unstable fractures were statistically associated with nonunion (P < .001). 2MCP did not correlate with nonunion. CONCLUSIONS: In adults older than 50 years, scaphoid fractures may represent a fragility fracture cohort given they occur more frequently in female patients via low-energy mechanisms and over half of the cohort had osteopenia defined by a 2MCP less than 60%. Displaced and unstable fractures were statistically more likely to go on to nonunion. Nonunion was not found to be associated with osteopenia.

Prospective Clinical and Computed Tomography Evaluation of Calcaneus Fractures Treated Through Sinus Tarsi Approach.

Background: The traditional lateral extensile approach to the calcaneus allows for excellent visualization but is associated with high wound complication rates. The sinus tarsi approach has been shown to produce similar radiographic outcomes with much lower rates of wound complications. The purpose of this study is to prospectively determine clinical and radiographic outcomes in calcaneus fractures treated with a sinus tarsi approach. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with 30 calcaneus fractures underwent operative fixation through a sinus tarsi approach and were prospectively evaluated. Routine pre- and postoperative radiographs were obtained, in addition to computed tomography (CT) scans at 6 weeks and 12 months after surgery. Patient-reported outcomes including American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12), and Foot Functional Index (FFI) were recorded. Patients were followed for a minimum of 1 year postoperation. Results: Twenty-one patients with 22 calcaneus fractures completed 1 year of follow-up. At 12 months postoperation, 20 of 22 patients (91%) had 0 to 2 mm of fracture displacement at the posterior facet on CT scans whereas 2 of 22 patients had 2 to 4 mm of fracture displacement. There was no significant change in posterior facet fracture displacement comparing 6-week and 12-month postoperative CT scans (P > .99). Mean postoperative Bohler angle was 26.1 degrees compared to 13.2 degrees preoperatively. All patients had complete union of fracture site. There were no major wound complications. Four of 22 patients (18.2%) had minor wound complications. AOFAS, FFI, and VAS pain scores improved postoperatively but were not found to correlate with Bohler angle or critical angle of Gissane. Conclusion: We found that in select patients excellent anatomic alignment and good clinical outcomes with low wound complication rates can be achieved when fixing calcaneus fractures through the sinus tarsi approach. Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective cohort study.