Spare-part fillet cross-finger flaps: A series of two cases.

INTRODUCTION: The concept of 'spare-part' flaps in hand reconstruction is most commonly applied using finger fillet flaps to cover dorsal or volar hand defects. In this paper, we introduce the concept of utilization of spare-part finger fillet flaps in a cross-finger fashion. CASE REPORTS: The technique is demonstrated in two case reports. In both cases, there was one finger that was severely crushed requiring amputation. The bones from that finger were removed and the fillet finger flap was utilized to reconstruct a complex defect in an adjacent digit. Immediate post-operative physiotherapy was employed and flap division was done 17-18 days later. Both patients were satisfied with the outcome and returned back to work as manual workers. DISCUSSION: Differences between previous techniques / types of cross-finger flaps and the current spare-part fillet cross-finger flap technique are discussed. CONCLUSION: We introduce the concept of utilization of spare-part finger fillet flaps in a cross-finger fashion.

Penile reconstruction in a newborn following complicated circumcision: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Grade V post-circumcision penile injury is known as "total phallic loss". It is usually seen with the use of mono-polar electro-cautery for circumcision resulting in penile necrosis. We report on a newborn treated by release of the subcutaneous corporal remnant and explain why this option should be considered of choice in cautery-related Grade V injuries. REPORT OF A CASE: A 25-day old Saudi Arabian newborn with Grade V penile injury underwent reconstruction at our tertiary-care center. Upon exploration, the remnant part of the penis under the suprapubic skin was 2.6 cm. This included the root of the penis (estimated to be 1.8 cm long in the newborn) as well as an extra 0.8 cm of corporal length from the pendulous part of the penis which has retracted under the skin. Full release of the suspensory ligament was done. The result at 6 months was satisfactory both functionally and cosmetically. DISCUSSION: Options of management of Grade V injuries include sex-reassignment, phallic reconstruction using flaps, and release of the subcutaneous corporal remnant. We demonstrate that the latter option should be considered of choice in cautery-related Grade V injuries because there is usually preservation of the most proximal part of the corpora of the shaft which becomes retracted under the skin. Hence, the released remnant is of adequate length. CONCLUSION: Post-circumcision Grade V penile injuries of the newborn are best reconstructed with release of the subcutaneous corporal remnant. The neophallus is erectile and has an acceptable length and appearance.

Time of return back to work and complications following cross-finger flaps in industrial workers: Comparison between immediate post operative mobilization versus immobilization until flap division.

INTRODUCTION: Previous authors have immobilized the injured hand or digits following cross finger flaps. PATIENTS AND METHODS: About 3 years ago, the author adopted a protocol of immediate postoperative active and passive mobilization (without a splint) following cross finger flap surgery in industrial workers. The current study is a retrospective audit comparing postoperative complications and time of return back to work following cross-finger flaps in two groups of injured industrial workers: Group I (n=12) had immediate postoperative mobilization; and Group II (n=12) had immobilization till the time of flap division. RESULTS: The complication rate was similar in both groups. However, patients in Group I returned to work earlier than those in group II and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Immediate postoperative mobilization following cross-finger flaps in industrial workers does not increase the risk of complications and has the advantage of early return to work.

GLI3-related polydactyly: a review.

GLI3 mutations are known to be associated with nine syndromes/conditions in which polydactyly is a feature. In this review, the embryology, pathogenesis, and animal models of GLI3-related polydactyly are discussed first. This is followed by a detailed review of the genotype-phenotype correlations. Based on our review of the literature and our clinical experiences, we recommend viewing GLI3-related syndromes/conditions as four separate entities; each characterized by a specific pattern of polydactyly. These four entities are: the preaxial polydactyly type IV-Greig-acrocallosal spectrum, postaxial polydactyly types A/B, Pallister-Hall syndrome (PHS), and oral-facial-digital overlap syndrome. We also provide illustrative clinical examples from our practice including a family with a novel GLI3 mutation causing PHS. The review also introduces the term 'Forme Fruste' preaxial polydactyly and gives several conclusions/recommendations including the recommendation to revise the current criteria for the clinical diagnosis of PHS.

Suturing of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon to the entire volar plate in distal zone I injuries.

PURPOSE: The author conducted an anatomical and a prospective clinical study to address the technique and complications of using the entire volar plate (VP) as a distally-based flap for distal Zone I flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon repair. METHODS: In the anatomical study, eight fresh finger specimens were dissected to study the anatomy of the VP as well as the stability of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) after raising the entire VP as a distally-based flap. In the clinical series, six patients underwent repair of distal Zone I FDP lacerations using the VP flap technique and were assessed at a mean of 9 months for range of motion as well as DIPJ deformities. RESULTS: The results of the anatomical study showed that the intact collateral ligaments can still maintain the stability of the DIPJ after loss of joint support from the VP. In the clinical series, none of the patients showed joint hyper-extension or flexion contracture at the DIPJ. Using Moiemen-Elliot criteria, the post-operative active range of motion at the DIPJ was rated as excellent in one, good in three, and fair in two patients. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the use of the entire VP as a distally based flap is an acceptable technique to repair distal FDP injuries and the technique does not result in DIPJ instability or flexion contracture.

Pollicization of the index finger requiring secondary fusion of the new metacarpophalangeal joint.

In children with absent thumbs, some authors have stated that 'relative' contraindications of pollicization include severe fixed flexion contracture and instability of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the index finger. The current author does not consider severe proximal interphalangeal joint deformities of the index finger as a contraindication to pollicization; and hence these children are offered the procedure. A literature review did not reveal any study that specifically documents the outcome of pollicization in these cases. The current series included five children: four with severe (over 80°) fixed flexion contracture of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the index finger and one with instability of the proximal interphalangeal joint. All children were initially assessed during infancy at their local hospitals and the parents were informed that a pollicization procedure would yield a poor outcome. Presentation to the author was relatively late at a mean of 9.3 years (range 2.5-12). All children underwent two surgical procedures: a pollicization followed by fusion of the new metacarpophalangeal joint. The overall early functional outcome was good and all children/parents were satisfied with the procedure. These encouraging results warrant a prospective long term study on various conditions that are considered as 'relative' contraindications to the pollicization procedure.Level evidence: IV Therapeutic (case series).

Two-staged extensor tendon reconstruction for zone 6 extensor tendon loss of the fingers: indications, technique and results.

Over a 20-year period, six patients (19 tendons) underwent two-staged extensor tendon reconstruction using silicone rods followed by palmaris longus tendon grafts sutured proximally to the divided flexor carpi radialis tendon. All patients were young men (mean age, 22 years) who sustained the injury in car accidents. The soft tissue loss from the dorsum of the hand was associated with extensor tendon loss over the entire zone 6 with or without loss in zone 7. Primary soft tissue coverage was done elsewhere, and patients presented for secondary tendon reconstruction. All patients had supple metacarpophalangeal joints before reconstruction. After the two-staged tendon reconstruction, full or near-full active flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joints was obtained in all patients. However, minor extension lags (10°-15°) at the metacarpophalangeal joints were seen in 15 out of 19 reconstructed fingers.

Re-repair of ruptured primary flexor tendon repairs in Zones I and II of the fingers in children.

The aetiology, management, and results of acute rupture of primary flexor tendon repairs in Zones I and II of the fingers in children have not been previously investigated. The author reports on a personal series of 10 children treated over a period of 13 years. The aetiology is different when compared with adults: children less than 5 years of age usually rupture their primary repairs whilst the hand is completely immobilized in a cast; whereas teenagers usually rupture their tendons when falling down while playing. In the current series, direct re-repair was performed without lengthening at the musculo-tendinous junction, and no free tendon grafts were used. The results were worse than other paediatric series of primary flexor tendon repairs. Using the Strickland-Glogovac criteria, there was only one excellent outcome, the remaining nine being either a good (n = 5) or fair (n = 4) outcome.

The use of the phrenic nerve communicating branch to the fifth cervical root for nerve transfer to the suprascapular nerve in infants with obstetric brachial plexus palsy.

Traditionally, suprascapular nerve reconstruction in obstetric brachial plexus palsy is done using either the proximal C5 root stump or the spinal accessory nerve. This paper introduces another potential donor nerve for neurotizing the suprascapular nerve: the phrenic nerve communicating branch to the C5 root. The prevalence of this communicating branch ranges from 23% to 62% in various anatomical dissections. Over the last two decades, the phrenic communicating branch was used to reconstruct the suprascapular nerve in 15 infants. Another 15 infants in whom the accessory nerve was used to reconstruct the suprascapular nerve were selected to match the former 15 cases with regard to age at the time of surgery, type of palsy, and number of avulsed roots. The results showed that there is no significant difference between the two groups with regard to recovery of external rotation of the shoulder. It was concluded that the phrenic nerve communicating branch may be considered as another option to neurotize the suprascapular nerve.

Limb regeneration in salamanders and digital tip regeneration in experimental mice: implications for the hand surgeon.

UNLABELLED: Several lessons and observations from limb regeneration in animals could open new insights to direct related research in the field of hand surgery. This article briefly reviews the biology of limb regeneration in salamanders and experimental mice, with special emphasis on implications for hand surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

Median nerve to biceps nerve transfer to restore elbow flexion in obstetric brachial plexus palsy.

Median nerve to biceps nerve transfer in the arm has been reported only in adults. The following paper reports on 10 cases of this transfer in obstetric brachial plexus palsy. All patients had upper palsy (ERb's or extended ERb's palsy) and presented to the author late (13-19 months of age) with poor or no recovery of elbow flexion. Following the nerve transfer, nine children recovered elbow flexion (a score of 6 in one child and a score of 7 in eight children by the Toronto scale). The remaining child did not recover elbow flexion.

Obstetric brachial plexus palsy: the mallet grading system for shoulder function--revisited.

The Mallet grading system is a commonly used functional scoring system to assess shoulder abduction/external rotation deficits in children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy. One feature of the Mallet score is that each grade is translated into certain degrees of deficiencies in both shoulder abduction and external rotation. The aim of the current study is to investigate the percentage of children in which the Mallet score could not be applied because of a discrepancy between the deficiency of shoulder abduction and shoulder external rotation. The study group included 50 consecutive unoperated older children (over 5 years of age) with Erb's palsy and deficits in shoulder movements. The Mallet score could be applied in 40 cases (80%). In the remaining 10 cases (20%), the Mallet score could not be applied either because shoulder abduction had a better grade than the grade of shoulder external rotation (n = 7) or vice versa (n = 3). It was concluded that documenting the deficits in shoulder abduction and external rotation are best done separately and this can be accomplished by using other grading systems.

Fibroma of tendon sheath of the hand: a series of 20 patients with 23 tumours.

Fibroma of tendon sheath is an uncommon fibrous tumour that has a predilection for the hand. Large series from Histopathological Units report a local recurrence rate of 24% after surgical excision. In the hand/orthopaedic surgery literature, fibroma of tendon sheath was generally reported as isolated case reports with unusual presentations, such as triggering and carpal tunnel syndrome. The current article reports on a series of 23 tumours of the hands of 20 patients. These were all adults (mean age of 36 years) with a male to female ratio of 3:1. The thumb and index were the most common sites. A slow-growing painless mass was the clinical presentation in every case. Total surgical excision was ensured by excision of part of flexor sheath/palmar fascia to which the tumour was attached. Diagnosis was confirmed by the classic histological features of fibroma of tendon sheath. There were no recurrences at final follow-up 2-5 years after surgery.

Concurrent dorsal dimelia in 160 consecutive patients with congenital anomalies of the hands and feet.

This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of dorsal dimelia in a series of 160 consecutive patients with congenital anomalies of the hands and feet, and to investigate the distribution of dorsal dimelia and the concurrent anomalies. Five cases (3.1%) showed evidence of dorsal dimelia and the distribution of dorsal dimelia was similar to the distribution of concurrent anomalies in all five cases. Another 11 cases of concurrent dorsal dimelia with other congenital anomalies have been reported previously with a positive match in the distributions in all cases. This similarity in the distribution in all 16 reported cases (including the five cases in the current study) is statistically significant. It is concluded that dorsal dimelia in humans is not as rare as it is generally thought to be, and that it may be viewed as an error of dorso-ventral patterning, which occurs in the same distribution as other concurrent anomalies.

Embryology of familial (non-syndromic) brachydactyly of the hand.

Isolated familial non-syndromic brachydactyly is interesting from the embryological point of view because the phenotypes of isolated brachydactyly are frequently overlapping, yet they are caused by different gene mutations and the ring finger is frequently relatively preserved. We review the embryology of isolated familial brachydactyly with special attention to these two features.

Formation of normal interdigital web spaces in the hand revisited: implications for the pathogenesis of syndactyly in humans and experimental animals.

The creation of the normal web spaces has been attributed to apoptosis. This paper presents evidence that lysosomal-mediated cell death and extracellular matrix degradation are important events in addition to cell death by apoptosis. The author proposes the use of the term interdigital cell death- extracellular matrix degradation instead of interdigital apoptosis. Furthermore, the concept of web creation by differential growth is introduced along with the discussion of the latest research in molecular biology and genetics on the topic.