Tenoscopy for the Treatment of Hand Intratendinous Ganglion: Technique Description and Case Report.

Synovial or ganglion cysts are the most common soft tissue tumors of the wrist and hand and can arise from joints or tendons. Intratendinous synovial cysts, in contrast, are rare and their pathogenesis is still a matter of debate. The treatment of synovial cysts of articular origin using arthroscopy is commonly used with good results. For cysts of tendon origin, that is, extra-articular, when located at the ankle, shoulder, knee, and wrist, endoscopic treatment has also been described in a procedure called tenoscopy. We describe the technique and the good results using tenoscopy for a patient treated for an intratendinous synovial cyst located at the extensor communis tendon of the third digit. It is a reproducible, safe technique with low morbidity, and the patient has had no complications or recurrence.

Scaphoid fracture non-union: a systematic review of the arthroscopic management.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: There is no consensus regarding the most appropriate treatment of scaphoid nonunion. This systematic review aimed to investigate whether wrist arthroscopy exerts a positive influence on bone union and clinical outcomes. METHODS: We searched the literature on Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, Embase and Scopus databases using the combined keywords "scaphoid" AND "arthroscopy" AND "pseudoarthrosis" OR "nonunion". Eighteen studies were finally included in our review. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Coleman Methodological Score. RESULTS: Our systematic review has shown that arthroscopic management of scaphoid nonunion achieves a high rate of union and satisfactory clinical outcomes with minimal complications. CONCLUSIONS: There is need to perform randomized controlled trials reporting on the use of arthroscopy. In addition, the different pattern of pseudoarthrosis should be better classified to manage the patients who will benefit after the management.

Computer-Assisted Surgery Enables Beginner Surgeons, Under Expert Guidance, to Achieve Long-Term Clinical Results not Inferior to Those of a Skilled Surgeon in Knee Arthroplasty.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of a surgical navigation system in total knee replacement (TKR) enables beginner and intermediate surgeons to achieve clinical PROM outcomes as good as those conducted by expert surgeons in the long term. Methods: We enrolled 100 consecutive patients whose total navigated knee arthroplasty (TKA) was performed in our institution from 2008 to 2010. According to the principal surgeon's surgical experience, the patients were divided into three groups: (1) beginner surgeons, with no more than 30 previous knee replacement performances, (2) intermediate surgeons, with more than 30 but not more than 300, and (3) expert surgeons, with more than 300 knee replacements. Demographic data collected on the cohort included gender, laterality, age, and body mass index (BMI). The outcome measures assessed were Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), implant positioning, limb alignment, and prosthesis survival rate. A margin of equivalence of ± 18.5 points in the FJS scale was prespecified in terms of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) to compare the FJS results obtained in the long period between the groups of interest. Results: The mean follow-up was 11.10 ± 0.78, 10.86 ± 0.66, and 11.30 ± 0.74 years, respectively, for each of the groups. The long-term FJS mean score was 80.86 ± 21.88, 81.36 ± 23.87, and 90.48 ± 14.65 for each group. The statistical analysis proved noninferiority and equivalence in terms of the FJS results reported in the long term by patients in Groups 1 or 2 compared to those in Group 3. More specifically, it has been proved that the mean difference between groups is within the interval of equivalence defined in terms of the MCID. The overall prostheses survival rate was 93.7%. Conclusion: Navigated assisted TKA, under expert guidance, can be as effective when performed by beginner or intermediate surgeons as performed by senior surgeons regarding the accuracy of implant positioning, limb alignment, and long-term clinical outcome.

Mechanical Alignment in Knee Replacement Homogenizes Postoperative Coronal Hip-Knee-Ankle Angle in Varus Knees: A Navigation-Based Study.

After knee replacement, postoperative lower limb alignment is influenced by the geometry of the prosthesis position and surrounding soft tissue that contributes to the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle. The purpose of this study is to determine the dynamic coronal HKA angle after mechanical alignment in total knee replacement using computer navigation. We conducted a pre-post design study of 71 patients with varus osteoarthritic knees on which total knee arthroplasty was performed. The HKA was measured before and at the end of the surgical procedure with the patient in the supine position using a navigation system at 30, 60, and 90 degrees of knee flexion. Postoperative implant position and flexion and extension gaps were assessed. HKA was clustered in three preoperative dynamic patterns (PDPs; Varus-Neutral, Varus-Valgus, and Varus-Varus). There were statistically significant differences in the dynamic coronal HKA between the preoperative and postoperative statuses after mechanically aligned knee replacement (with p < 0.0001) Before the surgical procedure, statistically significant differences were found between patterns at any angle of flexion confirming a well-differentiated preoperative dynamic behavior between the three groups. Postoperatively, 98.6% (71 out of 72) of the knees were within ± 3 degrees of the HKA at full extension. Fifty-eight knees (80.6%) were assessed to a "within-range" postoperative dynamic alignment at any grade of flexion considered. There are differences between the preoperative and postoperative status of the dynamic coronal HKA angle after mechanically aligned knee replacement. We proposed that an excellent dynamic HKA alignment is achieved not only at full extension within the range of 0 ± 3 degrees but also when this alignment is maintained at 30, 60, and 90 degrees.

Descripción y análisis del patrón de normalidad de flujo dinámico y morfológico de las arterias principales de la muñeca y mano en población sana española / Description and analysis of the dynamic and morphological flow pattern of the main arteries of the wrist and hand in a healthy spanish population

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: La anatomía vascular de la mano ya ha sido ampliamente descrita a nivel macroscópico. Sin embargo, existen muy pocos trabajos que estudien el patrón de normalidad de la vascularización in vivo y describan y analicen las arterias principales de la mano. El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar un estudio que sirva de referencia para los valores normales de tamaño y flujo de la arteria radial y ulnar a nivel de la muñeca y de las arterias digitales radiales y ulnares a nivel de los dedos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo observacional de corte trasversal sobre 200 manos en 100 voluntarios sanos entre 20-30 años. Se realizó ecografía Doppler-color de las arterias ulnar y radial en la muñeca, así como de las arterias digitales radial y ulnar de cada dedo. Una vez tomadas las medidas se llevó a cabo un análisis comparativo de forma general y también teniendo en cuenta la lateralidad, la dominancia y el género. RESULTADOS: Se observó que existe un mayor tamaño de la arteria radial sobre la ulnar a nivel de la muñeca; sin embargo, es la arteria ulnar la que presentó dominancia de flujo a este nivel. A nivel de los dedos, en los tres primeros fue la arteria digital ulnar la que presentó un mayor tamaño y mayor flujo. No obstante, en el cuarto y quinto dedos fue la arteria digital radial la que presentó un mayor tamaño y dominancia de flujo. CONCLUSIÓN: Ha quedado confirmado que la dominancia de flujo, pero no de tamaño, a nivel de la muñeca es de la arteria ulnar. A nivel de los dedos, existe un mayor tamaño y flujo de las arterias en las zonas de los dedos más protegidas de las lesiones (arteria digital ulnar en los tres primeros y radial en el cuarto y quinto)

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The vascular anatomy of the hand has already been widely described macroscopically. However, there are very few papers that study the pattern of normality of in vivo vascularisation that describe and analyse the main arteries of the hand. The aim of this paper was to carry out a study to serve as a reference for the normal values of size and flow of the radial and ulnar artery at the level of the wrist, and the digital radial and ulnar arteries at the level of the fingers. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study on 200 hands in 100 healthy volunteers aged between 20-30 years. Doppler-colour ultrasound was performed on the ulnar and radial arteries in the wrist, as well as on the radial and ulnar digital arteries in each finger. Once the measurements had been taken, a general comparative analysis was performed also taking laterality, dominance and gender into account. RESULTS: It was observed that the radial artery is larger in size than the ulnar at wrist level, however, it was the ulnar artery that showed flow dominance at this level. At finger level, the arteries are greater in size and flow in the areas of the fingers more protected from injury (digital ulnar artery in the first three and radial artery in the fourth and fifth digits)

Description and analysis of the dynamic and morphological flow pattern of the main arteries of the wrist and hand in a healthy spanish population. / Descripción y análisis del patrón de normalidad de flujo dinámico y morfológico de las arterias principales de la muñeca y mano en población sana española.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The vascular anatomy of the hand has already been widely described macroscopically. However, there are very few papers that study the pattern of normality of in vivo vascularisation that describe and analyse the main arteries of the hand. The aim of this paper was to carry out a study to serve as a reference for the normal values of size and flow of the radial and ulnar artery at the level of the wrist, and the digital radial and ulnar arteries at the level of the fingers. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study on 200 hands in 100 healthy volunteers aged between 20-30years. Doppler-colour ultrasound was performed on the ulnar and radial arteries in the wrist, as well as on the radial and ulnar digital arteries in each finger. Once the measurements had been taken, a general comparative analysis was performed also taking laterality, dominance and gender into account. RESULTS: It was observed that the radial artery is larger in size than the ulnar at wrist level, however, it was the ulnar artery that showed flow dominance at this level. At finger level, the arteries are greater in size and flow in the areas of the fingers more protected from injury (digital ulnar artery in the first three and radial artery in the fourth and fifth digits).

All-Arthroscopic Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Ligamentoplasty for Chronic DRUJ Instability.

Peripheral injuries of the triangular fibrocartilage complex can produce pain and instability of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ). There are several techniques for the repair or reconstruction of these injuries, which vary depending on the location, healing capacity, and viability of the tissues, as described by the classification proposed by Atzei. In irreparable chronic injuries of the triangular fibrocartilage complex in which there are no associated chondral injuries of the DRUJ or in failures in previous repair techniques, ligament reconstruction plasty with tendon grafts, either by open surgery or assisted by arthroscopy, are the treatments of choice. We present a completely arthroscopic reconstruction technique of the triangular fibrocartilage complex by means of tendon graft to provide stability to the DRUJ. This reconstruction technique provides a more stable reconstruction after the integration of the tendon plasty in the bone tunnels, based on the anatomic insertions of the triangular fibrocartilage in the fovea and in the corners of the dorsal and volar sigmoid notch, along with the advantages offered by arthroscopy in terms of recovery time, esthetic result, less mobility loss, and pain.

Infection Due to Saksenaea vasiformis Following a Spider Bite.

Cutaneous mucormycosis due to Saksenaea vasiformis species is exceptional. There have been about 40 reported cases worldwide, with most being fatal. We report an exceptional nonlethal case of mucormycosis due to S. vasiformis following a spider bite. The patient was in an immunosuppressed state owing to previous chemotherapy and diabetes mellitus. The origin of the inoculation was the bite of a Loxosceles laeta spider, which caused loxoscelism. The initial skin injury was quickly progressive, requiring amputation of the right upper limb. After surgical intervention and suitable antifungal treatment, the patient was discharged with resolution of accompanying pulmonary disease. Infections due to S. vasiformis are probably underdiagnosed. To avoid fatal outcomes, a high index of clinical suspicion in patients with quickly progressive necrotic lesions of soft tissues and systemic dissemination is important.

Arthroscopic Proximal Row Carpectomy Using the Volar Central Portal.

Proximal row carpectomy (PRC) is a well-accepted procedure for the treatment of degenerative lesions of the wrist and advance Kienböck disease. This procedure has been classically described as an open procedure but recently has been reported as an arthroscopic one. Arthroscopic PRC has several advantages such as minimal damage to the dorsal and volar ligaments as well as there being no need to detach the capsule, which can facilitate earlier mobilization and can decrease postoperative stiffness. In addition, there is a reduced risk of the interosseous posterior nerve being injured, and the proprioception system continues to function. This arthroscopically assisted technique uses the volar central portal as a third portal, which can be useful to remove the volar portions of the bones to view the dorsal areas of the bones and to allow the surgeon to work with 2 instruments at the same time. As a result, the time spent on the procedure can be reduced.