[Arthroscopic management of scapholunate instability]. / Traitement arthroscopique des instabilités scapholunaires.

Scapholunate ligament tears cause chronic instability leading to SLAC. Wrist arthroscopy allows to see the lesions, even at an early stage, and to treat them with a simple K-Wires fixation in acute cases. Patients were treated on an outpatient basis with tourniquet and under regional anaesthesia. In acute cases, the scapholunate dissociation was reduced by external and internal manoeuvres. The fixation was done with pins under arthroscopic and fluoroscopic control. In chronic lesions, after wrist arthroscopy check, an electrothermal shrinkage can be performed in some cases. An arthroscopic classification was created with 4 grades. Wrist arthroscopy is the best technique for early diagnosis, and assures the best functional results.

[Arthroscopic management of scapholunate instability.] / Traitement arthroscopique des instabilités scapholunaires.

Scapholunate ligament tears cause chronic instability leading to SLAC. Wrist arthroscopy allows to see the lesions, even at an early stage, and to treat them with a simple K-Wires fixation in acute cases. Patients were treated on an outpatient basis with tourniquet and under regional anaesthesia. In acute cases, the scapholunate dissociation was reduced by external and internal manoeuvres. The fixation was done with pins under arthroscopic and fluoroscopic control. In chronic lesions, after wrist arthroscopy check, an electrothermal shrinkage can be performed in some cases. An arthroscopic classification was created with 4 grades. Wrist arthroscopy is the best technique for early diagnosis, and assures the best functional results.

Carpal fractures in athletes.

A review of the literature shows that 3% to 9% of all athletic injuries occur to the hand or wrist. Also, hand and wrist injuries are more common in pubescent and adolescent athletes than adults. Although knee and shoulder injuries are more common athletic injuries, an injury to the hand or wrist significantly can impair the athlete's ability to throw or catch a ball, or swing a bat or racquet. A college football player trains year round for just 11 or 12 hours of playing time. An athletic injury that occurs during the season can have profound consequences for the athlete's career and emotions. When defining a management plan for a particular wrist athletic injury, the time to heal the injury and the time to rehabilitate fully must be considered. The athlete must be informed fully of the length of recovery. The continued advancement of fixation methods and techniques are diminishing fracture morbidity considerably. Small-cannulated compression screws that provide rigid fixation can be inserted with decreased surgical dissection, thus preserving critical vascular supply and promoting accelerated healing and earlier rehabilitation. The arthroscope as a valuable adjunct in the management of wrist fractures was virtually unheard of years ago, but is now common. The ability to arthroscopically guide a cannulated compression screw to stabilize a scaphoid fracture without a formal open volar approach can reduce surgical morbidity significantly and allow the athlete to return to competition more quickly. Mechanisms of injury that cause osseous fractures of the wrist are fairly high energy. A high index of suspicion for associated soft tissue injuries should be kept in mind when fractures of the wrist are identified. The wrist is composed of eight carpal bones tightly interwoven with each other by intrinsic and extrinsic wrist ligaments. The management of carpal fractures depends on prompt diagnosis, stable and anatomic alignment of the involved carpal bone, protective immobilization of the injury, and thorough rehabilitation. Displaced fractures of the hook of the hamate, trapezial ridge fractures, and comminuted pisiform fractures are managed best by early excision to promote uncomplicated recovery and early return to sport. For most athletes, return to competition can be expedited safely with the use of padded gloves and custom playing splints or casts. The sports medicine physician always must put the athlete's safety first when deciding the appropriate time for return to competition.

Arthroscopic aided fixation of scaphoid fractures.

Acute nondisplaced scaphoid fractures have traditionally been managed with cast immobilization. Although cast immobilization may be successful in approximately 90% of cases, prolonged casting may lead to muscle atrophy, joint contracture, disuse osteopenia, and potential financial hardship. An athlete or worker may be inactive for 6 months or longer as the fracture heals. Arthroscopic assisted fixation offers a middle ground between traditional cast immobilization and open reduction for scaphoid fractures. These techniques reduce exposure and minimize soft tissue dissection with potential loss of vascularity, avoid division of the important radioscaphocapitate ligament, and allow for detection and management of any associated intracarpal soft tissue injuries. This article presents the indications and describes in detail the various applications for wrist arthroscopy in management of scaphoid fractures.

Percutaneous and limited open reduction of intra-articular distal radial fractures.

Fluoroscopy monitors intra-articular distal radial fracture reduction and stabilisation. The reduction is guided by traction, ligamentotaxis and manipulation, and when necessary, completed by minimally invasive percutaneous or limited open instrumentation. Kirschner wires effectively splint the reduction until fracture callus is visualised on X-ray. An occasional mini plate is required to buttress a displaced volar medial lunate facet (die punch) fragment into position. First, major metaphyseal articular fragments are approximated to restore the articular surface. Smaller fragments follow their larger counterparts into position or may be ignored (the "Rule of the Majority" or "Vassal Rule"). The repaired metaphysis is then aligned with and stabilised to the diaphysis. Cancellous bone may be inserted through small targeted incisions when defects and areas of comminution are present. The wrist is splinted in a functional (slightly extended) position for three to four weeks in uncomplicated cases. Digital elevation and rehabilitation are emphasised during the early stages of fracture healing. After callus appears on X-ray, progressive wrist rehabilitation is initiated and the patients are weaned from their splints. Minimally invasive surgical intervention, good pain control and early rehabilitation maximise functional recovery and minimise morbidity, medical costs and lost work time.

The arthroscopic management of intra-articular distal radius fractures.

Intra-operative arthroscopy and fluoroscopy provide improved visualisation and guide the restoration of intra-articular distal radial fractures while minimising the operative dissection required for their stabilisation. Radial styloid fractures, distal radial fractures with dorsal, palmar or combined ulnar-sided "die punch" fragments, palmar and dorsal Barton's fractures, and various three- and four-part intra-articular fractures without significant bone loss or defect are especially suited for this technique. The experienced arthroscopist may wish to apply the technique to more severely comminuted intra-articular fractures. Bone defects may be approached through a limited dorsal incision traversing the 3rd dorsal wrist compartment. Arthroscopy and fluoroscopy may be used adjunctively to assess fracture reduction and fixation. Arthoscopy further facilitates initial treatment by allowing direct joint visualisation, debridement, the removal of small free intra-articular fragments, and the recognition and early treatment of wrist ligament injuries, particularly those not appreciated by X-ray evaluation

Arthroscopic management of intra-articular distal radius fractures.

Wrist arthroscopy is increasingly becoming recognized as an important adjunct in the management of displaced intra-articular fractures of the distal radius. Anatomic restoration of the articular surface is possible under bright, magnified conditions. Osteochondral loose bodies and associated intracarpal soft tissue injuries that may not be apparent on plain radiographs are detected and simultaneously managed. A method of management for displaced distal radius fractures using wrist arthroscopy and a combination of percutaneous and limited open reduction techniques are described.

Intra-articular fractures of the distal aspect of the radius.

Intra-articular distal radius fractures are a heterogeneous group of injuries with different fracture patterns. The existing classification systems are helpful for describing the fractures but not for assessing their stability or for deciding which surgical approach to use. Patients who have a fracture with at least 1.0 mm of displacement of the articular surface may benefit from open surgical treatment. Improved diagnostic imaging with CT is helpful for fracture classification and surgical planning. The options for surgical treatment include limited open reduction and internal fixation, arthroscopically assisted internal fixation, and open reduction and internal fixation. The surgical approach is determined on the basis of the initial displacement of the fracture. Patients who have a displaced fracture of the volar rim may benefit from a volar approach; those who have a dorsally displaced fracture, from a dorsal approach; and those who have an impacted fracture such as a die-punch fracture, from a dorsal approach that provides better visualization of the articular surface. The long-term functional outcome is determined in part by the severity of the fracture as defined by the amount of comminution, the initial severity of displacement, and the number of fracture fragments. The accuracy of the reconstruction of the articular surface, with the goal of establishing congruency to within 1.0 mm, is also important in order to minimize the risk of late osteoarthrosis. Of all of the extra-articular parameters, restoration of the length of the radius is the most important for enhancing recovery of motion and grip strength and for preventing problems involving the distal radioulnar joint--the so-called forgotten joint in distal radial fractures.

Arthroscopic repair of peripheral avulsions of the triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist: a multicenter study.

A multicenter study to assess arthroscopic reconstruction of the peripheral attachment of the triangular fibrocartilage complex was undertaken. A total of 44 patients (45 wrists) from three institutions were reviewed. Twenty-seven of the 45 wrists had associated injuries, including distal radius fracture (4), partial or complete rupture of the scapholunate (7), lunotriquetral (9), ulnocarpal (2), or radiocarpal (2) ligaments. There were two fractured ulnar styloids and one scapholunate accelerated collapse (SLAC) wrist deformity. The peripheral tears were repaired using a zone-specific repair kit. The patients were immobilized in a munster cast, allowing elbow flexion and extension, but no pronation or supination for 4 weeks, followed by 2 to 4 weeks in a short arm cast or VersaWrist splint. All patients were reexamined independently 1 to 3 years postoperatively by a physician, therapist, and registered nurse. The results were graded according to the Mayo modified wrist score. Twenty-nine of the 45 wrists were rated excellent. 12 good, 1 fair, and 3 poor. Overall, 42 of the 45 patients (93%) rated as satisfactory and returned to sports or work activities. One patient had chronic pain, and two patients had ulnar nerve symptoms, although motion was normal in all, and their grip strength was at least 75% of the opposite hand. Arthroscopic repair of peripheral tears of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is a satisfactory method of repairing these injuries.

Arthroscopically assisted reduction of intraarticular distal radial fractures.

Anatomic restoration of the joint surface and extraarticular alignment is the goal in management of displaced distal radial fractures. Arthroscopy provides well lit, magnified conditions in which to reconstruct the fractured joint surface and to detect and manage intracarpal soft tissue injures associated with distal radial fractures. Percutaneous and limited open reduction techniques combined with wrist arthroscopy in the arthroscopically assisted management of displaced distal radial fractures is described.

Distal radioulnar joint injuries associated with fractures of the distal radius.

The most common cause of residual wrist disability after fractures of the distal radius is the distal radioulnar joint. The 3 basic conditions that produce radioulnar pain and limitation of forearm rotation are instability, joint incongruency, and ulnocarpal abutment. The last 2 entities initiate irreversible cartilage damage that eventually leads to degenerative joint disease. Early recognition and management in the acute stage aim at the anatomic reconstruction of the distal radioulnar joint including bone, joint surfaces, and ligaments in an effort to reduce the incidence of painful sequelae and functional deficit. This article provides a description and the treatment options of the distal radioulnar joint lesions that occur in association with fractures of the distal radius, and the results obtained with open and arthroscopic techniques. Both acute and chronic disorders are analyzed, and a prognostic and treatment oriented classification is presented Furthermore, the pathoanatomy and management of chronic distal radioulnar joint derangement after fracture of the distal radius are reviewed briefly.

Intracarpal soft-tissue lesions associated with an intra-articular fracture of the distal end of the radius.

Sixty patients who had a displaced intra-articular fracture of the distal end of the radius were managed with manipulative reduction and internal fixation performed under both fluoroscopic and arthroscopic guidance. According to the AO/ASIF classification system, seven fractures were type B1, two were type B2, three were type B3, thirteen were type C1, twelve were type C2, and twenty-three were type C3. Forty-one patients (68 per cent) had soft-tissue injuries of the wrist, including tears of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (twenty-six patients), the scapholunate interosseous ligament (nineteen), and the lunotriquetral interosseous ligament (nine). Thirteen patients had two soft-tissue injuries. Intracarpal soft-tissue injuries were identified most frequently in association with fractures involving the lunate facet of the distal articular surface or the radius.

Compression plating of acute femoral shaft fractures.

Although intramedullary fixation has standardized the management of femoral shaft fractures, compression plating may offer a viable alternative. A retrospective review of acute femoral shaft fractures managed by open reduction and compression plating between 1980 and 1987 revealed 71 fractures in 69 patients. There were 58 closed fractures, and six grade I and seven grade II open fractures. All patients received prophylactic antibiotics. Sixty-nine percent of patients were bone grafted. Sixty-six of 71 fractures (93%) healed uneventfully. The average time until union was 16 weeks (range: 23 to 72). Complications included two nonunions, two refractures, and one broken implant (7%). Careful adherence to the principles of prophylactic antibiotics, medial cancellous bone grafting, and meticulous soft tissue technique can significantly reduce the complication rate of compression plating.

Arthroscopic repair of a posterior cruciate ligament avulsion.

Isolated posterior cruciate ligament injuries are rare and their management is controversial. Bony avulsion fractures have commonly been repaired with open reduction and internal fixation using the posterior approach described by Trickey. However, this approach does not lend itself to detection and repair of associated injuries. We report the case of a posterior cruciate ligament avulsion that was arthroscopically reduced and stabilized with cannulated screws. This technique provided rigid fixation for early rehabilitation and allowed concomitant arthroscopic examination of the knee for any associated injuries.

Arthroscopically assisted reduction of intra-articular fractures of the distal radius.

Wrist arthroscopy is increasingly being recognized as an important adjunct in the management of displaced intra-articular distal radius fractures. A method of management for displaced distal radius fractures using wrist arthroscopy and a combination of percutaneous and limited open reduction techniques are described.

Treatment of complex intra-articular distal radius fractures.

Techniques for reduction and fixation of intra-articular distal radius fractures have improved in recent years such that fractures that were once thought doomed to a poor result may now be successfully treated operatively. This article explores open, semi-open, and arthroscopically assisted techniques for reduction and fixation of complex distal radius fractures. The reader should gain an appreciation of which fractures can benefit from operative treatment and which techniques may be most useful for specific fracture types. A number of fixation techniques are described, and familiarity with diverse methods will aid the surgeon in complex cases.

Arthroscopic suture fixation of displaced tibial eminence fractures.

The purpose of this article is to describe a technique for arthroscopic reduction and suture fixation of avulsion fractures of the tibial eminence involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Six patients (five type III, one type II) with tibial eminence fractures underwent arthroscopic evaluation when closed reduction after aspiration failed to yield an anatomic reduction. The study population was composed of five males and one female. Average age was 24 years (range 16-36). One fracture (type II) was easily reduced after manipulating the interposed anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. In five patients the fragment was stabilized with multiple sutures. The technique involved arthroscopic placement of multiple sutures of 2-0 polydioxanone suture (PDS) into the base of the ACL pulled through a tibia drill hole and tied onto a 4.5-mm screw post. Patients were placed in a standard postoperative ACL protocol. All fractures demonstrated radiographic healing by 8 weeks, and no patients had subjective complaints of instability at 1 year. All patients obtained full extension intraoperatively, and only one patient lost 2 degrees of terminal extension at latest follow-up. Arthroscopic reduction and suture fixation of avulsion fractures of the tibial eminence restores the length of the ACL, provides stable fixation promoting early motion with minimal morbidity, and does not require a second operation for metal removal.

Intraarticular abnormalities in association with posterior cruciate ligament injuries.

The effect of an isolated injury of the posterior cruciate ligament on the articular cartilage and menisci has not been extensively studied. Intraarticular abnormalities in 88 arthroscopically proven posterior cruciate ligament tears in symptomatic patients with straight unidirectional posterior instability were reviewed. There were 33 patients with acute injuries (range, 3 to 21 days; mean, 14) and 55 patients with chronic tears (range, 28 to 3650 days; mean, 786). Of the acute injuries, chondral defects occurred in 4 patients (12%) and meniscal tears in 9 patients (27%; 6 lateral and 3 medial). Chondral defects of both the lateral femoral condyles and patella were present in all 4 patients. Of the chronic injuries, chondral defects occurred in 27 (49%) and meniscal tears in 20 patients (36%) (7 lateral and 17 medial). Chondral defects of the medial femoral condyle were most common. The mechanism of injury resulting in an isolated injury of the posterior cruciate ligament is most likely to affect the lateral compartment or the articular cartilage of the patella. The incidence of articular defects and the incidence of meniscal tears increased in patients with chronic posterior cruciate ligament injuries; both lesions increased most in the medial compartment.