Drill and Fill Technique for the Treatment of Scaphoid Delayed Unions and Nonunions.

Background This article reviews the results of a surgical technique using three iterations of drilling , autologous cancellous bone grafting ( filling ), and use of an intraosseous compression screw for the treatment of nondisplaced or minimally displaced scaphoid delayed unions or nonunions. Methods Part 1-Cadaveric study: Three cadaveric scaphoids underwent stained cancellous bone graft packing and headless cannulated compression screw placement using a single iteration of drilling and graft packing. Three additional scaphoids were allocated to the triple "drill and fill" group, and underwent three iterations of drilling and graft packing before screw insertion. Graft particle distribution on mid-sagittal sections was assessed under fluorescence microscopy. Comparison of normalized areas between the single and triple "drill and fill" groups was performed using repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. Part 2-Clinical study: Twelve patients with minimally displaced scaphoid delayed unions and nonunions treated between April 2007 and December 2013 with the triple "drill and fill" technique were included. The average follow-up was 60.4 weeks. Two fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists independently reviewed images for fracture healing. Results By the histomorphometric analysis, there was improved autograft distribution along the screw tract, particularly within the proximal pole, with three iterations of drilling and filling. Clinically, 11 of 12 delayed unions and nonunions had healed. Conclusion Our results support the use of the "drill and fill" technique as an option for the treatment of select nondisplaced or minimally displaced scaphoid nonunions and delayed unions at the waist without avascular necrosis of the proximal pole. Level of Evidence This is a Level IV study.

Right Ring Finger Volar Mass in a 14-Year-Old Boy.

A trigger digit is relatively uncommon in adolescents and often has a different etiology in that age group vs adults. In the pediatric population, trigger digits frequently arise from a variety of underlying anatomic situations, including thickening of the flexor digitorum superficialis or flexor digitorum profundus tendons, an abnormal relationship between the flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus tendons, a proximal flexor digitorum superficialis decussation, or constriction of the pulleys. In addition, underlying conditions such as mucopolysaccharidosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and central nervous system disorders such as delayed motor development have been associated with triggering. Less commonly, triggering secondary to intratendinous or peritendinous calcifications or granulations has been described, which is what occurred in the current case. This report describes a case of tenosynovitis with psammomatous calcification treated with excision of the mass from the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon and release of both the A1 and palmar aponeurosis pulleys in an adolescent patient. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(5):e918-e920.].

Lipoma of the Tendon Sheath in the Fourth Extensor Compartment of the Hand.

Lipoma of an extensor tendon compartment is an exceedingly rare tumor of the hand. Although benign, it can often cause localized pain and finger stiffness, necessitating surgical excision. We report a case of a lipoma of the tendon sheath in the fourth dorsal compartment of the hand that was successfully treated with surgical excision.

Perilunate Injuries.

Perilunate injuries often result from high-energy trauma to the carpus. Despite the severity of these injuries, they are often missed initially because of their subtle radiographic and physical examination findings. Early anatomic reduction of any carpal malalignment is paramount to a successful outcome. Even with optimal treatment, complications, such as generalized wrist stiffness, diminished grip strength, and posttraumatic arthritis, commonly develop; however, recent studies suggest these issues are often well tolerated. In this article, the basic presentation and treatment of perilunate injuries are discussed.

Profound sinus bradycardia due to diltiazem, verapamil, and/or beta-adrenergic blocking drugs.

Both beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist drugs (beta-blockers) and non-dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers (non-DHP CCBs), ie, diltiazem and verapamil, can cause sinus arrest or severe sinus bradycardia, and when drugs from the two classes are used together, these effects may be more than additive. We report nine patients in whom a beta-blocker (one patient), a non-DHP CCB (one patient), or the combination (seven patients) caused sinus arrest or severe sinus bradycardia which resulted in hospitalization in six of the nine. Although this combination of drugs always has the potential for causing profound bradycardia, certain aspects of the history, such as age, the presence of renal or hepatic disease, and the number and types of other medications, are further predictors of marked bradycardia with hypotension.

Management of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. II. Beyond reperfusion.

The last issue of the Journal contains a continuing medical education article on reperfusion therapy in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and this article completes the sequence by discussing other aspects of the management of acute STEMI.