Evaluation of grip strength in hook of hamate fractures treated with osteosynthesis. Is this surgical treatment necessary?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in hamate hook fractures and review the literature on this surgical procedure. METHODS: We report the outcomes of ORIF of hamate hook fractures in 13 consecutive patients (12 men and 1 woman; mean age: 32 years (range, 22-48 years)). In eight patients (61%) the fracture was associated with ulnar nerve neuritis in Guyon's canal. We assessed the following clinical data: age, sex, mechanism of injury, side of the injured hand and associated lesions, fracture classification, average time from injury to correct diagnosis, surgical technique, complications, and length of follow-up. All patients underwent radiological imaging, including standard radiographs in two planes (anteroposterior and lateral projections), and a CT study. Functional outcomes evaluated were pain, range of motion, grip strength, Disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) and Mayo wrist score. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 36 months (range, 12-144 months). All 13 cases were treated with ORIF of the hook of the hamate. Mean VAS pain score was 5 preoperatively (4-9) and 1 (0-2) postoperatively. All patients returned to pre-injury level and only one patient felt pain on activity. Preoperative modified Mayo wrist score was 51 and the postoperative value was 94. All outcomes scores improved significantly from preoperative values. The patients who participated in sports postoperatively were able to do so at or near pre-injury levels. Postoperative average range of wrist motion was 76° in extension, 71° in flexion, 14° in ulnar deviation, and 21° in radial deviation. Mean grip strength in the hand with the hook fracture was 58 kg compared with 53 Kg in the unaffected hand. All patients returned to their pre-injury level of functioning after 10-12 weeks and there were no complications. Analysis of grip strength revealed values comparable with the unaffected hand. CONCLUSION: ORIF of hamate hook fractures is a safe and effective technique to restore normal grip strength and return to pre-injury level. In cases of ulnar nerve neuritis, neurolysis of the deep palmar branch is mandatory. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Therapeutic study.

Relationship Between Wrist Motion and Capitolunate Reduction in Four-Corner Arthrodesis.

The authors retrospectively studied 36 patients with degenerative changes associated with scaphoid nonunion and scapholunate advanced collapse treated with circular plate fixation and bone graft. The goals of the study were to review the incidence of dorsal impingement, nonunion of arthrodesis, loose hardware, broken screws, and limitation in wrist motion associated with correct or incorrect surgical capitolunate reduction. Surgical indications were scapholunate advanced collapse (3 patients), scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse (32 patients), and sequelae of irreducible perilunate dislocation (1 patient). All of the patients were men, with a mean age of 48 years (range, 35-68 years). Average follow-up was 56 months (range, 12-108 months). Functional outcomes evaluated were pain with the visual analog scale, range of motion, grip strength, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, satisfaction, and time to union. Mean visual analog scale score was 7 (range, 5-9) preoperatively and 1 (range, 0-2) postoperatively. Average wrist range of motion was 42° in extension, 36° in flexion, 15° in ulnar deviation, and 12° in radial deviation. Mean grip strength was 34 kg preoperatively, 50 kg postoperatively, and 56 kg contralaterally. Thirty-five of the 36 patients achieved union at 6 months. Degenerative changes at the radiolunate articulation were present in 1 patient 62 months after surgery, but he was asymptomatic. Mean capitolunate angle was 38º preoperatively and 9º postoperatively. Poor correlation was found between the measured capitate-lunate angle and subsequent flexion and extension (r=0.32 and r=0.17, respectively) using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The authors noted 1 or 2 broken screws in 3 cases (8.3%) and hardware dorsal impingement in the plate in 6 cases (16.6%). Mean DASH score was 24 of 100. Overall patient satisfaction was 70%.