Comparing the Intensity of Pain and Incidence of Flare Reaction Following Trigger Finger Injections Using Betamethasone and Methylprednisolone: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Considerable evidence supports corticosteroid injection as an effective treatment for trigger finger. One common side effect, the flare reaction, is a well-documented phenomenon of increased pain following steroid injections. Its incidence and intensity may be related to steroid composition. The purpose of this study was to determine whether betamethasone and methylprednisolone injections for trigger fingers have differing intensity of pain or incidence flare reaction. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic trigger finger were recruited during their hand surgery visits. Patients were randomized into 2 treatment groups: betamethasone (40 mg) and methylprednisolone (6 mg) mixed with lidocaine 1%. Treatment group assignment was blinded to the patients and investigators. Visual analog scale pain measurements were taken prior to injection, 5 minutes postinjection, and daily thereafter for 7 days. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were randomized into the 2 treatment groups. Patients in the betamethasone group reported slightly higher baseline pain compared with the methylprednisolone group, but lower pain on day 1. None of the following days showed a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of flare and severe flare reactions of betamethasone injections for trigger finger management was roughly double that of methylprednisolone, but this difference was not statistically significant. Further studies are required to evaluate the relative course of nonflare postinjection pain for different corticosteroid injections for trigger finger injections.

Distal Ulna Fracture Fixation with the Specialized Threaded Pin.

Purpose: Distal ulna fractures can often be treated nonsurgically; however, many surgeons consider significant displacement or instability, especially following fixation of an associated distal radius fracture, an indication for surgical fixation because of potential problems associated with malunion of these fractures. Traditionally, these fractures have been addressed with plate fixation but hardware in this location is often prominent and associated with a high rate of symptomatic hardware and subsequent hardware removal. We proposed a method of intramedullary fixation using a specialized threaded pin. As this fixation is intramedullary, it avoids many of the problems associated with traditional surgical treatment methods for this fracture. We present a series of nine patients treated in this manner, all of whom had associated distal radius fractures. Methods: Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were reviewed, after which patients were contacted via phone. Patient-reported outcome measures, including QuickDASH and visual analog scale scores, were assessed. Results: The average QuickDASH score was 13.6 (range, 0-100), with a median of 9.1. Three patients reported occasional ulnar-sided wrist pain, with an average visual analog scale score of 1.3 (range, 0-10) and a median of 0.5. All patients returned to all activities except one patient who could not resume playing musical instruments because of stiffness. No patient required removal of the threaded pin, but one patient underwent removal of the radial volar plate. No other patients underwent secondary procedures. Conclusions: Threaded pin fixation is a viable alternative to existing options for distal ulnar neck fractures and may have an advantage over plate fixation because of a lack of hardware prominence. Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic IV.

Percutaneous Threaded Pin Fixation of Distal Radius Fracture in the Athlete.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes and return to play with early rehabilitation in athletes who sustained unstable extra-articular distal radius fractures treated with a purpose-designed threaded pin technique. METHODS: This prospective study examined athletes with displaced and unstable distal radius fractures treated surgically with purpose-designed threaded pins. Patients were enrolled in an early rehabilitation protocol, with formal therapy initiated on postoperative days 1 to 3. Range of motion and strength measurements were documented throughout the postoperative period, noting the time until return to athletic competition. These results were compared with historical values using other forms of fixation. RESULTS: Nineteen athletes, average age of 35 years, were treated with threaded pin technique with early rehabilitation; all had complete healing and maintained alignment based on radiographic evaluation. The average time span between surgery and release to competition was 8 weeks, with all but 1 patient returning to sport within 12 weeks of injury. Average postoperative flexion measured 58°, extension was 57°, pronation was 81°, and supination was 74°. JAMAR grip strength in position 3 measured 25.22 kg, which equated to 73% of the uninjured side's grip strength at the time of release to play. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical fixation using a purpose-designed threaded pin is a useful alternative to volar plating for isolated radial styloid and extra-articular distal radius fractures in athletes. The purpose-designed threaded pin may afford athletes rapid recovery during the early postoperative period, preserving strength and dexterity and minimizing time lost before return to play.

Is Grit Associated with Burnout and Well-being in Orthopaedic Resident and Faculty Physicians? A Multi-institution Longitudinal Study Across Training Levels.

BACKGROUND: Grit has been defined as "perseverance and passion for long-term goals" and is characterized by maintaining focus and motivation toward a challenging ambition despite setbacks. There are limited data on the impact of grit on burnout and psychologic well-being in orthopaedic surgery, as well as on which factors may be associated with these variables. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Is grit inversely correlated with burnout in orthopaedic resident and faculty physicians? (2) Is grit positively correlated with psychologic well-being in orthopaedic resident and faculty physicians? (3) Which demographic characteristics are associated with grit in orthopaedic resident and faculty physicians? (4) Which demographic characteristics are associated with burnout and psychologic well-being in orthopaedic resident and faculty physicians? METHODS: This study was an institutional review board-approved interim analysis from the first year of a 5-year longitudinal study of grit, burnout, and psychologic well-being in order to assess baseline relationships between these variables before analyzing how they may change over time. Orthopaedic residents, fellows, and faculty from 14 academic medical centers were enrolled, and 30% (335 of 1129) responded. We analyzed for the potential of response bias and found no important differences between sites in low versus high response rates, nor between early and late responders. Participants completed an email-based survey consisting of the Duckworth Short Grit Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services (Medical Personnel) Survey, and Dupuy Psychological Well-being Index. The Short Grit Scale has been validated with regard to internal consistency, consensual and predictive validity, and test-retest stability. The Psychological Well-being Index has similarly been validated with regard to reliability, test-retest stability, and internal consistency, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory has been validated with regard to internal consistency, reliability, test-retest stability, and convergent validity. The survey also obtained basic demographic information such as survey participants' age, gender, race, ethnicity, marital status, current year of training or year in practice (as applicable), and region of practice. The studied population consisted of 166 faculty, 150 residents, and 19 fellows. Beyond the expected age differences between sub-populations, the fellow population had a higher proportion of women than the faculty and resident populations did. Pearson correlations and standardized ß coefficients were used to assess the relationships of grit, burnout, psychologic well-being, and continuous participant characteristics. RESULTS: We found moderate, negative relationships between grit and emotional exhaustion (r = -0.30; 95% CI -0.38 to -0.21; p < 0.001), depersonalization (r = -0.34; 95% CI -0.44 to -0.23; p < 0.001), and the overall burnout score (r = -0.39; 95% CI -0.48 to -0.31; p < 0.001). The results also showed a positive correlation between grit and personal accomplishment (r = 0.39; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.48; p < 0.001). We also found a moderate, positive relationship between grit and psychologic well-being (r = 0.39; 95% CI 0.30 to 0.49; p < 0.001). Orthopaedic surgeons with 21 years or more of practice had higher grit scores than physicians with 10 to 20 years of practice. Orthopaedic surgeons in practice for 21 years or more also had lower burnout scores than those in practice for 10 to 20 years. Married physicians had higher psychologic well-being than unmarried physicians did. CONCLUSION: Among orthopaedic residents, fellows, and faculty, grit is inversely related to burnout, with lower scores for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and higher scores for personal accomplishment as grit increases. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results suggest that grit could be targeted as an intervention for reducing burnout and promoting psychologic well-being among orthopaedic surgeons. Other research has suggested that grit is influenced by internal characteristics, life experiences, and the external environment, suggesting that there is potential to increase one's grit. Residency programs and faculty development initiatives might consider measuring grit to assess for the risk of burnout, as well as offering curricula or training to promote this psychologic characteristic.

Hand and Finger Injuries: Metacarpal Fractures.

Metacarpal fractures are common. Many metacarpal fractures without malrotation, particularly fifth metacarpal neck fractures, can be managed nonsurgically. However, intraarticular and extraarticular metacarpal fractures of the thumb are subject to tendon forces and often displace. Patients with such fractures require referral to an orthopedic surgery subspecialist for possible surgical intervention, as do patients with metacarpal fractures that have intraarticular involvement, malrotation, shortening greater than 6 mm, or excessive angulation.

Hand and Finger Injuries: Finger Fractures and Dislocations.

Many finger fractures can be managed nonsurgically. Patients with fractures that include angulation, comminution, and malrotation must be referred expeditiously to a hand surgeon, preferably within 1 week. Some fractures, such as condylar fractures, appear nondisplaced at first but have a high propensity to displace and, therefore, also should be referred to a subspecialist. The management of mallet fractures is controversial, with studies supporting surgical and nonsurgical options.

Hand and Finger Injuries: Tendon and Soft Tissue Injuries of the Hand.

Patients with any laceration or wound over the hand need to be evaluated for tendon and neurovascular injuries. Patients with these injuries should receive urgent wound care as well as splinting and expeditious referral for surgical repair because lacerated tendons and nerves cannot heal without surgical approximation. Conversely, ligament injuries of the hand, such as disruption of the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb, can sometimes be managed nonsurgically if the joint is stable and there is no Stener lesion. If nonsurgical management does not stabilize the joint, patients should be referred for surgery. Stener lesions, where the ulnar collateral ligament at the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb has torn and retracted proximal to the adductor pollicis, always require surgery for the ligament to heal and for the best outcomes; however, surgery is not urgent.

Hand and Finger Injuries: Chronic Hand and Wrist Pathologies.

Common chronic hand pathologies seen by family physicians include carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and de Quervain tenosynovitis. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compressive neuropathy of the upper extremity and is caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is caused by a metaplasia of the A1 flexor tendon pulley and the flexor tendon causing increased friction and decreased space for tendon gliding in the flexor tendon sheath. de Quervain tenosynovitis has a similar metaplasia of the tissues of the first dorsal extensor compartment over the radial styloid. For these pathologies, nonsurgical management includes activity modification, immobilization, and corticosteroid injections. Lack of benefit from these nonsurgical options is an indication for surgical referral.

Excision of a Rare Triquetral Body Fracture Nonunion.

Aside from the more common dorsal avulsion fractures, isolated triquetral body fractures are a rare injury and often missed. When they are identified, conservative treatment via immobilization is often the standard of care for initial treatment. Rarely, triquetral body fractures can develop into symptomatic nonunions, causing considerable pain and disability. Multiple classification schemes have been described to categorize triquetrum fractures; however, distal triquetrum fractures fit into none of the established models. There is scarce literature describing treatment of triquetral body fracture nonunions. The few reports that exist often use a variation of open reduction internal fixation with or without grafting as treatment. We present the case of an unusual triquetral body fracture nonunion that was successfully treated via surgical excision of the ununited distal fragment.

Long-term Outcomes of Partial Trapeziectomy With Capsular Interposition Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis of the Thumb Basal Joint.

The purpose of this study was to describe long-term outcomes of partial trapeziectomy with capsular interposition (PTCI) arthroplasty for patients with osteoarthritis of the basal joint of the thumb. A total of 27 patients (20 women, 7 men; 32 thumbs) with a mean age of 61 years (range, 47-74 years) agreed to return for follow-up and were included in the study. Mean postoperative follow-up was 64.3 months (range, 28-112 months). Evaluation included tests for grip and pinch strength; range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint; measurement of the first web space; completion of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire; visual analog scale (VAS) measurements; and radiographic examination of the hand. A paired, 2-tailed t test was used to determine statistical significance (P<.05) of pre- and postoperative values. Postoperative values for grip strength were significantly increased from preoperative values. No significant loss of pinch strength was noted. Excessive hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal joint did not occur, and the first web space was maintained. The mean DASH questionnaire and VAS scores were 5.06 (range, 0-26.5) and 0.32, respectively. Use of PTCI arthroplasty resulted in minimal loss in thumb height (7%) and significantly reduced thumb metacarpal subluxation (13%). There were no reported complications. The low DASH questionnaire and VAS scores compare well with other studies and indicate good functional outcomes. In treating thumb basal joint osteoarthritis, use of PTCI arthroplasty may result in improved thumb stability and grip strength, minimal subsidence of the thumb metacarpal, and reduced joint subluxation. [Orthopedics. 2018; 41(2):e228-e233.].

Predicting radiographic changes at the first visit following operative repair of distal radius fractures.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that clinical assessment reliably identifies patients with radiographic changes (including loss of reduction, hardware failure, and hardware migration) at the initial visit following operative repair of distal radius fractures. METHODS: We identified 102 patients undergoing operative repair of distal radius fractures. Radiographs and clinical notes were reviewed. RESULTS: At the initial postoperative visit, 11 patients had more than normal postoperative pain, 0 had deformity, 0 had crepitus with gentle motion, and 0 had instability at the fracture site on examination. These 11 patients were considered to have positive clinical assessments, but none had radiographic changes on x-rays taken that day. Three patients had negative clinical assessments but had radiographic changes noted at the initial postoperative visit. There were no additional radiographic changes between the series taken at the initial postoperative visit and series taken at later postoperative visits. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that for purposes of detecting radiographic changes, radiography at the initial visit is helpful, whereas radiography at subsequent visits may not be. Radiography at subsequent visits may be useful to monitor bony healing, which we did not investigate.

Routine imaging after operatively repaired distal radius and scaphoid fractures: a survey of hand surgeons.

Background There is currently no standard of care for imaging after hand and upper-extremity procedures, and current imaging practices have not been characterized. Questions/Purposes To characterize current imaging practices and to compare those practices to the best available evidence. Patients and Methods A survey was distributed to attending-level surgeons at a regional hand and upper-extremity surgery conference in the United States in 2013. 40 out of 75 surgeons completed the survey (53%). Results All results are presented for distal radius and scaphoid fractures, respectively. There was a high degree of variability between respondents in the number of radiographic series routinely ordered during follow-up of asymptomatic patients, with the number of series ranging from 1-6 and 1-6. On average, respondents did not order an excessive number of follow-up radiographs for asymptomatic patients, with means (± standard deviations) of 2.6 ± 1.0 and 3.3 ± 1.2 radiographic series. Radiographic series were taken at only 74% and 81% of postoperative visits with asymptomatic patients. Only 10% and 8% of respondents felt it was acceptable medical practice to save costs by ordering postoperative radiographs only when patients are symptomatic. Conclusions Among a sample of 40 fellowship-trained hand surgeons, these findings demonstrate a high degree of variability in number of radiographs obtained after operative repair of distal radius and scaphoid fractures. On average, respondents were relatively efficient with respect to total number of postoperative radiographs ordered. Level of Evidence Diagnostic study, level IV.

Eosinophilic fasciitis: case report.

A 16-year-old healthy boy presented with an acute claw hand and signs of flexor tenosynovitis or possible necrotizing fasciitis of all 4 fingers in 1 hand. After an operative incision and drainage and treatment with antibiotic, the patient improved; cultures were negative. He relapsed shortly after completing the 10-day course of antibiotics. A second incision and drainage was performed. Cultures from the second operation also revealed no infectious agent. The pathological report indicated a diagnosis of eosinophilic fasciitis. Our patient improved on antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and has since had no further relapse. Eosinophilic fasciitis should be considered in the setting of acute claw hand and physical examination findings consistent with necrotizing fasciitis in which no infection is identified. One should consider biopsies as well as cultures during operative intervention in cases that clinically mimic serious infection but do not have purulence.