Percutaneous Reduction and Fixation Using Two K-wires In Paediatric Angulated Radial Neck Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the radial neck in children are usually seen at about the age of five years, after the appearance of the proximal radial epiphysis. They are usually caused by a fall on the outstretched hand which produces a valgus strain [1]. Minor degrees of angulation can be accepted and treated conservatively, but advice on the maximum acceptable angulation varies widely, up to as much as 45°0 [2] More severely angulated and displaced fractures have been variously treated by closed or open reduction, but the precise indications for each are not clear [3]. In a retrospective study Steele et al. found that open reduction generally had a poor result and that open reduction with internal fixation was even worse, as has been reported by others [4, 5]. METHODS: We describe a modified percutaneous technique using two (1.6 mm) K-wires for reduction (one wire for leverage and one wire for translation) and two K-wires for rotationally stable fixation. RESULTS: Nine patients were included in the study. The median age of the patients was 9.6 years. There were six males and three females. The average follow up period was 23 months. The final results of the study included six patients with excellent results and one with a good result. Unfortunately, two patients were visitors and failed to attend for review. CONCLUSION: We have found this technique effective and easily reproducible. Level of evidence IV - Case series.

Spontaneous Compartment Syndrome of the Hand in Systemic Sclerosis.

Compartment syndrome refers to a condition of compromised circulation within a limited space due to increased pressure within that space. The reduced tissue perfusion results in reduced venous drainage, leading to increased interstitial tissue pressure and subsequent compromised arterial flow. Although not as common as compartment syndrome of the leg and forearm, compartment syndrome of the hand is not rare and can lead to devastating sequelae as a result of tissue necrosis. Compartment syndrome of the hand has several etiologies, including trauma, arterial injury, thermal injury, and constrictive bandaging. The cardinal clinical sign is pain that is aggravated by passive stretching of the muscles within the involved compartments. Extremity function is usually restored with expeditious fasciotomy of the involved myofascial compartments, and complications, such as intrinsic muscular dysfunction and Volkmann's ischemic contracture, can usually be prevented. There are no reported cases of compartment syndrome of the hand in patients with systemic sclerosis or Raynaud's phenomenon. Systemic sclerosis is a form of scleroderma that affects the skin and internal organs. The limited cutaneous subset affects the skin of the extremities but is associated with a set of characteristic features that includes calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal involvement, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia. This report describes an unusual case of a patient who had spontaneous compartment syndrome of the hand. The patient's concomitant limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis may have played a role in this unusual occurrence. The diagnosis was based on the clinical picture, and the symptoms resolved after surgical decompression.

Anterior interosseous nerve palsy as a complication of proximal humerus fracture.

Anterior interosseous nerve palsy subsequent to proximal humerus fracture is rare compared with an axillary nerve injury. This article presents a case of anterior interosseous nerve palsy secondary to such a fracture in an 87-year-old woman after a simple fall onto her outstretched hand. The patient had no sensory involvement but was unable to form an O with her thumb and index finger. She had a positive pointing index test on attempting to clasp her hand. The fracture and nerve palsy were treated conservatively. At 3-month follow-up, the patient had partial recovery; therefore, electromyography was not performed. By 6 months, she had complete recovery of anterior interosseous nerve palsy. This case highlights the possibility of sustaining anterior interosseous nerve palsy with proximal humerus fracture with a classical clinical presentation. Because most nerve lesions after proximal humerus fracture are neurapraxia, symptoms usually resolve either partially or completely after a few months. It is recommended that cases with proximal humerus fracture be evaluated carefully for median nerve and axillary nerve injury. In addition, it is recommended to perform electromyography if no signs of recovery are evident at 3-month follow-up.

Retrograde femoral nailing in elderly patients with supracondylar fracture femur; is it the answer for a clinical problem?

BACKGROUND: Supracondylar fractures of femur constitute 7% of all femoral fractures. In elderly patients, they are invariably low-energy fractures predisposed to by osteoporosis. Treatment of these fractures in the elderly is a challenging task for most orthopaedic surgeons. There is no consensus on what would be the ideal treatment for such cases. This study looks at the results of retrograde femoral nailing as a treatment option for this vulnerable group of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study looks at 23 elderly patients with supracondylar fractures of the femur treated by retrograde femoral nailing. Patients had an average age of 75 years (range between 65 years and 97 years). All patients were assessed with regard to operative time, blood loss, hospital stay, and postoperative complications. All patients were assessed clinically and radiologically every 6 weeks for average period of 14 months (range 12 to 18 months). RESULTS: two patients died a few weeks postoperatively. Average operative time 70 minutes, average blood loss 350ml. Radiologically all cases united, 39.2% had angular malalignment. There were no cases of implant or fixation failure. CONCLUSION: Retrograde femoral nailing is a surgically limited and reliable procedure for elderly patients with supracondylar fractures of the femur without intra-articular extension. Although it has a high incidence of angular malalignment, the overall functional demands of this age group are perhaps not affected much by that particular complication.