Semi-occlusive dressing for the treatment of fingertip amputations with exposed bone: quantity and quality of soft-tissue regeneration.

Nineteen fingertip amputations with exposed bone were treated with a semi-occlusive dressing. The quantity and quality of the regenerated soft tissue was examined. In all 19 fingers there was sufficient uncomplicated healing such that secondary surgical procedures were not needed. At follow-up 6-18 months after the injury, soft tissue thickness around the bone of the distal phalanx measured 6.0 mm (SD 1.6) on the palmar aspect (opposite side 7.0 mm (SD 0.8)) and 4.2 mm (SD 1.7) distally (opposite side 4.5 mm (SD 0.8)). The two-point discrimination was 4 mm (SD 2) (opposite side 3 mm (SD 1)). The skin healed almost without scarring and the dermal ridges reformed. The regeneration of the soft tissue thickness to almost 90% of its former extent is higher than we expected.

[Resection, interposition and suspension arthroplasty for treatment of Basal joint arthritis of the thumb: a randomized and prospective comparison of techniques using the abductor pollicis longus- and the flexor carpi radialis tendon]. / Ein randomisierter prospektiver Vergleich der Verwendung der Abduktor pollicis longus-Sehne und der Flexor carpi radialis-Sehne bei der Resektions-Suspensions-Interpositions-Arthroplastik in der operativen Therapie der Rhizarthrose.

The operative treatment of thumb carpometacarpal joint arthritis may include resection-suspension-interposition-arthroplasty. Although quite a technically demanding procedure, a suspension arthroplasty using a strip of the flexor carpi radialis tendon is quite a popular technique. Other techniques, which use the abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendon, is also widely accepted.The aim of this randomized, prospective study was to compare the results of these 2 procedures 8 months postoperatively.From May 2005 to December 2006 a total of 55 operations in 53 patients with symptomatic Grade III or IV 1st CMC joint arthritis were identified and recruited into the study. They were then randomized to one of the 2 groups (APL vs. FCR). Patients were assessed preoperatively, and then immediately and 8 months postoperatively. Both, subjective parameters (Visual Analog Scale and DASH-Score) and functional parameters (maximum radial abduction, opposition and pinch- and key grip strength) where recorded. Additionally, the trapezial space was assessed radiographically postoperatively.After 8 months both groups had comparable subjective results (APL-group: VAS 2.3 points, DASH 24 points; FCR-group: VAS 1.9 points, DASH 20 points) as well as functional results (APL-group: radial abduction 55.3°, key-grip strength 8.1 kg, pinch-grip strength 5.5 kg; FCR-group: radial abduction 55.8°, key-grip strength 7.2 kg, pinch-grip strength 4.7 kg). Radiologically both groups showed an approximate 50% reduction in the height of the trapezial space.In resection-suspension-interposition-arthroplasty of the 1st CMC joint, similar results can be obtained using the technically less demanding APL-procedure when compared with the FCR-technique 8 months postoperatively.

[Ganglia of the hand and wrist--a retrospective study on the origination of recurrences]. / Ganglien der Hand und Handgelenkes--eine retrospektive Studie zur Rezidiventstehung.

This study examines retrospectively the impact of operative and perioperative factors on the recurrence rate of finger and wrist cysts.Out of a total of 237 recorded cyst operations in 201 patients, 46% were carried out for dorsal wrist ganglia, 38% for finger ganglia, and 16% for palmar wrist cysts. 133 (56%) patients answered on a mailed questionnaire. At an average of 2 years 79 of these 133 patients could be re-examined. Data concerning history, size of the cyst, location of the cyst, the hand surgical experience of the performing surgeon were taken from the charts. Statistical analysis were performed.There were 48 (36.1%; n=133) recurrences. Most (79.2%) occurred within the first year. A higher recurrence rate was observed in patients with a longer history, larger ganglia, and when patients were operated by less experienced surgeons. Recurrence rates did neither correlate with the ganglion location, the patient's age, and gender.

[Piezoelectric osteotomy in hand surgery: the autologous osteocartilage transplantation for joint reconstruction]. / Piezoelektrische Osteotomie in der Handchirurgie: autologe osteokartilaginäre Transplantation zur Gelenksrekonstruktion.

This article demonstrates the use of this piezoelectricsurgical device during an autologous osteocartilage transplantation in which the head of the phalanx of a finger is reconstructed from part of the phalanx condyle of a toe.