Cannabis use patterns among patients with upper extremity conditions at the time of legalization in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Recreational cannabis use was legalized in Canada in 2018. Cannabis use patterns and patient attitudes toward cannabis use, particularly in the context of these legal changes, are not well understood. Our aim was to evaluate baseline cannabis use patterns and attitudes at the time of legalization among patients with upper extremity conditions in Canada. METHODS: In 2018, we conducted a multicentre cross-sectional survey study of 1561 patients with upper extremity conditions at 7 surgical centres. Participants were asked whether they currently use cannabis. If yes, they were asked questions regarding usage patterns and perceptions of cannabis use, including likelihood of use, safety and comfort discussing it with their physician. RESULTS: In the 6 months after legalization, 790 (51%) participants felt that cannabis was safer than prescription narcotics, with 450 (29%) currently using cannabis. Reasons for cannabis use included pain (56%), stress (51%) and recreation (42%). Of the 1105 patients not using cannabis, 267 (24%) were more likely to consider it after legalization. Of the 450 cannabis users, 73 (16%) had been using it for less than 6 months, 206 (46%) stated they were more comfortable discussing cannabis with their physician after legalization and 195 (43%) were using cannabis more than 4 times per week. CONCLUSION: Many patients with upper extremity conditions were regularly using cannabis. Patients were more comfortable discussing cannabis with their physician than before legalization. Treating surgeons should be aware of these trends and expect to receive questions regarding cannabis use.

Asymptomatic reference values for the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand and Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation - electronic data collection and its clinical implications.

The purpose of this study was to establish normal asymptomatic population values for the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand and Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation in healthy, asymptomatic individuals of different age, gender, ethnicity, handedness and nationality, using electronic data collection. Two-hundred and ninety-two Australian and 293 Canadian citizens with no active wrist pain, injury or pathology in their dominant hand, were evaluated. Participants completed an electronically administered questionnaire and were assessed clinically. There was no statistically significant association between both wrist scores and nationality. There was a statistically significant association between both wrist scores and age, demonstrating that as age increased, normal wrist function declined. This study has established an electronic, asymptomatic control group for future studies using these scores. When using the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand and Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation, the control group can be sourced from a pre-established control group within a database, without necessarily being sourced from the same country of origin. Level of evidence: II.

A prospective randomized controlled trial comparing circumferential casting and splinting in displaced Colles fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Our primary objective was to determine the effectiveness of 3 immobilization methods (circumferential casting [CC], volar-dorsal splinting [VDS] and modified sugar-tong [MST] splinting) in maintaining the position of displaced distal radius fractures after successful closed reduction. Our secondary objective was to assess longterm functional outcomes associated with immobilization with fibreglass splinting versus standard CC in patients maintaining initial nonoperative reductions. METHODS: We conducted a prospective randomized single-blind controlled trial in patients over 18 years of age who presented to the emergency department with a displaced fracture of the distal radius requiring closed reduction. The primary outcome was loss of reduction (defined as radiologic slippage or the need for surgical fixation during the 3-4 week primary immobilization period after initial successful reduction). Secondary outcomes included DASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) score, return to work, activities of daily living, wrist pain, range of motion and grip strength assessed at 8 weeks and 6 months. RESULTS: Thirty participants were randomly assigned to receive MST splinting, 31 to receive VDS and 40 to receive CC. Baseline characteristics were similar among groups. Radiographic loss of reduction occurred in 16% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1%-28.9%) of participants in the VDS group, 20% (95% CI 7.6%-32.4%) in the CC group and 30% (95% CI 13.6%-46.4%) in the MST splinting group (p = 0.17). Based on multivariate analysis of variance, functional outcomes at 8 weeks were similar among groups (p = 0.89). DASH scores at 8 weeks and 6 months were similar among groups, based on 1-way analysis of variance (p > 0.25). CONCLUSION: Rates of loss in anatomic position were not statistically significant among the 3 types of dressings used. However, there was a clinically important trend of increased loss of reduction with the use of MST splinting. Functional outcomes at 8 weeks and 6 months were not significantly different between CC, VDS and MDS splinting. Ease of application and familiarity with use should guide clinical decisions when choosing a dressing type for displaced Colles fractures.

Soft tissue coverage for posttraumatic reconstruction.

Posttraumatic foot and ankle reconstruction requires careful preoperative planning to reduce wound complications. Systemic and local factors need to be considered. A careful surgical technique can avoid the need for surgical soft tissue coverage. Recognition of the need for coverage preoperatively improves outcomes. Often, dressings and time allow minor wound complications to heal. More severe wound issues require early soft tissue coverage by local or free flaps to prevent failure of the surgery.

The sensitivity of carpal bone indices to rotational malpositioning.

We investigated the dependence of 20 radiographic carpal measurements (carpal indices) on rotational positioning errors in posteroanterior and lateral radiographs. The measurements were made from "true perspective" digitally reconstructed radiographs created from computed tomography data. Most posteroanterior indices were not affected by rotation. Carpal height, carpal height ratio, revised carpal height ratio, capitate-radius distance, and carpal ulnar translocation were particularly robust. Lateral-view indices involving the scaphoid were the most sensitive to simulated malpositioning: radioscaphoid, scapholunate, and scaphocapitate angles were reduced from 58 degrees, 48 degrees, and 56 degrees at true lateral to 30 degrees, 24 degrees, and 34 degrees, respectively, at 20 degrees external rotation. Observers were unable to estimate the degree of malpositioning accurately in either view. Our results support use of the "scaphopisocapitate" criterion for assessing correct positioning in lateral plain radiographs.