Effect of Proximal Row Carpectomy and Wrist Arthrodesis on the Resting Length of Extrinsic Digit Flexor Tendons: A Cadaveric Study.

Background Spastic joint contractures remain a complex and challenging condition. For patients with upper extremity spastic dysfunction, improving the muscle balance is essential to maximize their hand function. Multiple procedures, including proximal row carpectomy (PRC) and wrist arthrodesis (WA), are considered among the different surgical alternatives. However, the biomechanical consequences of these two procedures have not been well described in current literature. Hence, the objective of our study is to assess the change in the extrinsic digit flexor tendon resting length after proximal row carpectomy and wrist arthrodesis. Methods Six fresh-frozen cadaver upper extremities (four females and two males) with no obvious deformity underwent dissection, PRC, and WA. All the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), and flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendons were marked proximally 1-cm distal to their respective myotendinous junction and cut distally at the marked point. The overlapping segment of each distal flexor tendon from its proximal mark was considered the amount of flexor tendon resting length change after PRC and WA. A descriptive evaluation was performed to assess the increment in tendon resting length. Additionally, a regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relation between the tendon resting length and the proximal carpal row height. Results Following PRC and WA, the mean digit flexor tendon resting length increment achieved across all tendons was 1.88 cm (standard deviation [SD] = 0.45; range: 1.00-3.00 cm). A weak direct relationship ( R = 0.0334) between the increment in tendon resting length and proximal carpal row height was initially suggested, although no statistical significance was demonstrated ( p = 0.811). Conclusion This study provides an anatomic description of the increased extrinsic digit flexor tendon resting length after PRC and WA in cadaveric specimens. Findings provide a useful framework to estimate the amount of extrinsic digit flexor resting length increment achieved after wrist fusion and the proximal carpal row removal.

The Rotator Cable Does Not Stress Shield the Crescent Area During Shoulder Abduction.

BACKGROUND: It is accepted by the orthopaedic community that the rotator cable (RCa) acts as a suspension bridge that stress shields the crescent area (CA). The goal of this study was to determine if the RCa does stress shield the CA during shoulder abduction. METHODS: The principal strain magnitude and direction in the RCa and CA and shoulder abduction force were measured in 20 cadaveric specimens. Ten specimens underwent a release of the anterior cable insertion followed by a posterior release. In the other 10, a release of the posterior cable insertion was followed by an anterior release. Testing was performed for the native, single-release, and full-release conditions. The thicknesses of the RCa and CA were measured. RESULTS: Neither the principal strain magnitude nor the strain direction in either the RCa or the CA changed with single or full RCa release (p ≥ 0.493). There were no changes in abduction force after single or full RCa release (p ≥ 0.180). The RCa and CA thicknesses did not differ from one another at any location (p ≥ 0.195). CONCLUSIONS: The RCa does not act as a suspension bridge and does not stress shield the CA. The CA primarily transfers shoulder abduction force to the greater tuberosity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The CA is important in force transmission during shoulder abduction, and efforts should be made to restore its continuity with a repair or reconstruction.

Humeral offset as a predictor of outcomes after reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The Grammont-style reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) relies on medialization and distalization of the shoulder center of rotation. Lateralized designs have recently gained popularity. The amount of lateralization, however, remains a controversial topic. The purpose of this study was to correlate the change in humeral offset (HO) with outcomes and complications following RSA. We hypothesized that a lateralized HO following RSA would be associated with improved range of motion (ROM), better patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and fewer complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of 104 patients (109 shoulders) was retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent primary RSA by 2 shoulder and elbow fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons at 2 different centers. Inclusion criteria was a primary RSA with at least 1-year follow-up. All patients had the HO measured on a preoperative and a postoperative Grashey radiograph, and the change in HO was calculated (ΔHO = PostHO-PreHO). A negative value was defined as a medialized HO and a positive value as a lateralized HO. ROM and primary outcomes, including forward elevation (FE), external rotation (ER), internal rotation (IR), Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) score, were collected. Complications and revisions were also reported. RESULTS: The mean age was 72 years with a mean follow-up of 22.3 months. The average FE (92° vs. 148°), ER (34° vs. 44°), SSV (35% vs. 87%), and ASES score (37.2 vs. 81.2) increased significantly (all P < .01) compared with preoperative values. The HO was medialized postoperatively in 63 shoulders and lateralized in 46 shoulders. No statistically significant differences in the mean values for postoperative FE (147° vs. 146°, P = .892), ER (43° vs. 45°, P = .582), IR (L3 vs. L3, P = .852), SSV (88% vs. 85%, P = .476), and ASES score (81.3 vs. 81.1, P = .961) were found between the groups. However, there was significantly more improvement in ER in the lateralized HO cohort than the medialized cohort (16° vs. 7°, P = .033). Six shoulders, 5 medialized and 1 lateralized HO, demonstrated scapular notching and remained asymptomatic. Five shoulders, 4 medialized and 1 lateralized HO, experienced at least 1 instability incident, and 2 shoulders with medialized HO had an acromion/scapular spine fracture. Overall, 2 shoulders with medialized HO underwent revision surgery because of instability. CONCLUSIONS: Although RSA provides significant improvement in ROM and PROs regardless of postoperative HO, restoring baseline HO or lateralization beyond baseline may be favorable for improving ER and decreasing complications following RSA.

Return to Play After Distal Biceps Tendon Repair.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Distal biceps tendon ruptures (DBTR) are uncommon injuries in 40- to 50-year-old men but occur at a younger age in the athlete population. The distal biceps tendon is an important supinator of the forearm and flexor of the elbow. A complete injury results in limiting function in the upper extremity. The current review evaluates the different options in management and the current literature on return to play in athletes. RECENT FINDINGS: The distal biceps tendon inserts on the posterior aspect of the radial tuberosity as two independent heads. The long head footprint is more proximal and posterior giving it a better lever arm for supination. The short head footprint is more distal and anterior giving it a better lever arm for flexion. Surgical anatomic repair is highly recommended among the athlete population, to restore proper function of the upper extremity. There is scarce literature on return to play among athletes. The most recent studies on high-performance athletes are on National Football League (NFL) players. These studies showed that 84-94% of NFL players returned to play at least one game after distal biceps repair. Compared to matched control groups, there was no difference in the player's performance after surgery. Anatomic repair of DBTR results in excellent outcomes, high return to work, and high rate of return to play among athletes. When compared to matched control groups, NFL players have the performance score and play the same number of games after surgery.

Level of Supervision and Radiation Exposure of Senior Orthopedic Residents During Surgical Treatment of Proximal Femur Fracture.

The sustained use of intraoperative fluoroscopy has led to increased use of minimally invasive surgical techniques, enhanced surgeon proficiency, improved anatomic corrections, reduced patient morbidity, earlier functional recovery, and decreased length of hospital stay. As a result, orthopedic attending surgeons and residents are exposed to more radiation, increasing the risk of cancer and radiation-induced cataracts compared with the general population and those who work in other surgical specialties. The magnitude of radiation exposure depends on the susceptibility of the tissues affected, medical specialty, the position of the C-arm, distance from the radiation beam, level of difficulty of the surgical procedure, surgeon experience, level of resident training, and level of supervision by the attending surgeon. However, little information is available on the effect of supervision level on radiation exposure for orthopedic senior residents. The goal of this study was to investigate whether level of supervision by the attending surgeon affects the radiation exposure of orthopedic senior residents during surgical treatment of proximal femur fracture with cephalomedullary nail fixation. This retrospective cohort study was performed from January 2019 to March 2019. No significant relationship between supervision level and radiation exposure of senior residents was observed. Supervision level does not significantly affect radiation exposure for senior residents; therefore, the implementation of standardized training in radiation safety may be a more essential measure to decrease radiation exposure. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(3):e402-e406.].