The impact of psychosocial variables on initial presentation and surgical outcome for ulnar-sided wrist pathology: a cohort study with 1-year follow-up.

AIMS: Ulnar-sided wrist pain has historically been equated to lower-back pain of wrist surgery. Little is known about the relationship between psychosocial profile and the manifestation of ulnar-sided wrist pathology and their treatment outcomes. This study aimed to determine the impact of pain catastrophising, psychological distress, illness perception, and patients' outcome expectations on patient-reported pain and hand function before and one year after surgery for ulnar-sided wrist pathology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included patients who underwent surgical treatment for ulnar-sided wrist pathology. Before surgery, patients completed the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Brief-Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ), and Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ). Pain and dysfunction were assessed before (n = 423) and one year after surgery (n = 253) using the Patient Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE). Hierarchical linear regression was used to assess the relationship between psychosocial factors and the preoperative PRWHE score, postoperative PRWHE score, and change in PRWHE. RESULTS: Psychosocial variables explained an additional 35% of the variance in preoperative PRWHE scores and 18% on postoperative scores. A more negative psychosocial profile was associated with higher (worse) preoperative PRWHE scores (PCS: B = 0.19, CI = [0.02-0.36]; B-IPQ Consequences: B = 3.26, CI = 2.36-4.15; and B-IPQ Identity, B = 1.88 [1.09-2.67]) and postoperative PRWHE scores (PCS: B = 0.44, CI = [0.08-0.81]) but not with the change in PRWHE after surgery. Higher treatment expectations were associated with a lower (better) postoperative PRWHE score (CEQ expectancy: B = -1.63, CI = [-2.43;-0.83]) and a larger change in PRWHE scores (B =|1.62|, CI = [|0.77; 2.47|]). CONCLUSION: A more negative psychosocial profile was associated with higher pain levels and dysfunction preoperatively and postoperatively. However, these patients showed similar improvement as patients with a more feasible psychosocial profile. Therefore, patients should not be withheld from surgical treatment based on their preoperative psychosocial profile alone. Boosting treatment expectations might further improve treatment outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III (Cohort study).

Outcomes of ulna shortening osteotomy: a cohort analysis of 106 patients.

BACKGROUND: Ulna shortening osteotomy (USO) for ulnar impaction syndrome (UIS) aims to improve pain and function by unloading the ulnar carpus. Previous studies often lack validated patient-reported outcomes or have small sample sizes. The primary objective of this study was to investigate patient-reported pain and hand function at 12 months after USO for UIS. Secondary objectives were to investigate the active range of motion, grip strength, complications, and whether outcomes differed based on etiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report on 106 patients with UIS who received USO between 2012 and 2019. In 44 of these patients, USO was performed secondary to distal radius fracture. Pain and function were measured with the Patient Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) before surgery and at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Active range of motion and grip strength were measured before surgery and at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Complications were scored using the International Consortium for Health Outcome Measurement Complications in Hand and Wrist conditions (ICHAW) tool. RESULTS: The PRWHE total score improved from a mean of 64 (SD = 18) before surgery to 40 (22) at 3 months and 32 (23) at 12 months after surgery (P < 0.001; effect size Cohen's d = -1.4). There was no difference in the improvement in PRWHE total score (P = 0.99) based on etiology. Also, no clinically relevant changes in the active range of motion were measured. Independent of etiology, mean grip strength improved from 24 (11) before surgery to 30 (12) at 12 months (P = 0.001). Sixty-four percent of patients experienced at least one complication, ranging from minor to severe. Of the 80 complications in total, 50 patients (47%) had complaints of hardware irritation, of which 34 (32%) had their hardware removed. Six patients (6%) needed refixation because of nonunion. CONCLUSION: We found beneficial outcomes in patients with UIS that underwent USO, although there was a large variance in the outcome and a relatively high number of complications (which includes plate removals). Results of this study may be used in preoperative counseling and shared decision-making when considering USO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic III.

The prevalence, incidence, and progression of radiographic thumb base osteoarthritis in a population-based cohort: the Rotterdam Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence, incidence, and progression of radiographic thumb carpometacarpal (CMC-1) and trapezioscaphoid (TS) radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) in the general Dutch population aged ≥55y. DESIGN: Data were from the first and second cohort of the Rotterdam Study (1990-2005, 4-12 years follow-up, age 55+). Participants underwent bilateral radiographs at baseline (N = 7792) and follow-up (N = 3804), read for Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade. ROA was defined on the joint level as K-L grade ≥2. The prevalence was assessed at baseline, incidence at follow-up in those free of ROA at baseline, and progression in those with ROA. Differences based on sex and age were evaluated using logistic regression models. RESULTS: At baseline, 1977 (25.3%) had CMC-1 ROA and 1133 (14.5%) TS ROA. The prevalence was higher in females for CMC-1 (aOR = 1.98 95%CI [1.77-2.21]) and TS ROA (aOR = 2.00 [1.74-2.29]) and increased for every year of age (CMC-1 ROA 1.08 [1.07-1.08]) (TS ROA 1.06 [1.05-1.07]). Most (437/512; 85.4%) incident cases of CMC-1 ROA (2994 at risk) were mild (K-L = 2), whereas most (145/167; 86,8%) incident cases of TS ROA (3311 at risk) were moderate to severe (K-L = 3/4). CMC-1 ROA progression was mostly (88/100; 88.0%) seen in the K-L 2 group at baseline, whereas that was (4/17; 23.5%) for TS ROA. CONCLUSION: CMC-1 ROA and TS ROA are prevalent in the general Dutch population. While incident CMC-1 ROA was primarily mild, incident TS ROA was more often moderate to severe. CMC-1 ROA was a strong predictor for incident TS ROA.

Factors associated with return to work after open reinsertion of the triangular fibrocartilage.

The aim of this study was to assess return to work (RTW) after open Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) reinsertion. RTW after open surgery for TFCC injury was assessed by questionnaires at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-operatively. Median RTW time was assessed on inverted Kaplan-Meier curves and hazard ratios were calculated with Cox regression models. 310 patients with a mean age of 38 years were included. By 1 year, 91% of the patients had returned to work, at a median 12 weeks (25%-75%: 6-20 weeks). Light physical labor (HR 3.74) was associated with RTW within the first 15 weeks; this association altered from 23 weeks onward: light (HR 0.59) or moderate physical labor (HR 0.25) was associated with lower RTW rates. Patients with poorer preoperative Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) total score returned to work later (HR 0.91 per 10 points). Overall cost of loss of productivity per patient was €13,588. In the first year after open TFCC reinsertion, 91% of the patients returned to work, including 50% within 12 weeks. Factors associated with RTW were age, gender, work intensity, and PRWE score at baseline.