Description and analysis of the dynamic and morphological flow pattern of the main arteries of the wrist and hand in a healthy spanish population. / Descripción y análisis del patrón de normalidad de flujo dinámico y morfológico de las arterias principales de la muñeca y mano en población sana española.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The vascular anatomy of the hand has already been widely described macroscopically. However, there are very few papers that study the pattern of normality of in vivo vascularisation that describe and analyse the main arteries of the hand. The aim of this paper was to carry out a study to serve as a reference for the normal values of size and flow of the radial and ulnar artery at the level of the wrist, and the digital radial and ulnar arteries at the level of the fingers. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study on 200 hands in 100 healthy volunteers aged between 20-30years. Doppler-colour ultrasound was performed on the ulnar and radial arteries in the wrist, as well as on the radial and ulnar digital arteries in each finger. Once the measurements had been taken, a general comparative analysis was performed also taking laterality, dominance and gender into account. RESULTS: It was observed that the radial artery is larger in size than the ulnar at wrist level, however, it was the ulnar artery that showed flow dominance at this level. At finger level, the arteries are greater in size and flow in the areas of the fingers more protected from injury (digital ulnar artery in the first three and radial artery in the fourth and fifth digits).

Carpal tunnel ultrasound: is the "safe zone" on the ulnar side of the median nerve really avascular?

INTRODUCTION: Numerous publications have studied the regional anatomy of the carpal tunnel to define a "safe zone" to reduce the risk of perioperative neurovascular complications. This zone, located between the ulnar neurovascular bundle and the median nerve, is considered to be safe mainly because of the absence of vascular structures. This study aims to assess the presence of arterioles within this area using superb microvascular imaging (SMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The images from patients who underwent a bilateral routine wrist ultrasound with SMI, between January 28 and February 28, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists to evaluate the presence and location of arterioles in the safe zone. In addition, cadaveric wrists injected with intra-arterial red latex underwent dissection of the carpal tunnel. RESULTS: The images from 27 patients (54 wrists) were reviewed. In the safe zone, arterioles were seen superficial to the retinaculum in 36 wrists (36/54; 66.7%) and deep to the retinaculum in 21 wrists (21/54; 38.9%). The arterioles located deep to the retinaculum were more frequently found close to the median nerve (21/54; 38.9%) than to the ulnar artery (9/54; 16.7%). In five cadaveric wrists, arterioles were detected superficial to the retinaculum in 3 wrists (3/5; 60%) and deep to the retinaculum in 2 wrists (2/5; 40%). CONCLUSION: Arterioles can be seen in the safe zone both superficial and deep to the flexor retinaculum. Deep to the retinaculum, they are mainly observed in the proximal aspect of the carpal tunnel and more frequently close to the median nerve. KEY POINTS: • Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) enables the visualization of arterioles within the "safe zone" of the carpal tunnel (visible both superficial and deep to the flexor retinaculum). • Arterioles were more frequently observed in the proximal aspect of the carpal tunnel. • Deep to the retinaculum, arterioles were more frequently seen in proximity to the median nerve.

Safe zones in volar portals for wrist arthroscopy, evaluation of central portal : a cadaveric study.

The purpose of this cadaveric study is to determine safe zones utilizing volar portals for wrist arthroscopy, by quantitatively describing the neurovascular relationships of a volar radial and a volar ulnar wrist arthroscopy portals in comparison with those of a newly described volar central portal (7) , considering the advantages in visualization of volar portals for wrist arthroscopy over the standard dorsal (19) . The neurovascular structures and the tendons of nine frozen human cadaveric upper limbs were exposed, while the aforementioned volar portal sites were pointed out with pins. The horizontal distance between the portals and the closest neurovascular branch or tendon was measured with a digital caliper, followed by statistical analysis of the data. The median interquartile range distances from portals to structures at risk were measured and safe zones around each portal were established. This study provides a safe approach to the volar radial and ulnar aspects of the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints, while volar radial and ulnar portals should be considered for inclusion in the arthroscopic examination of any patient with radial and ulnar sided wrist pain respectively (17,18) . Regarding the volar central portal, it is reproducible, safe and both the above joints can be inspected through one single incision (7) .

A Large Scalp Defect Coverage With Pedicled Free Flap Using the Wrist as a Free Flap Carrier.

The absence of an adequate recipient vessel for free flap pedicle anastomosis near local defect sites discourages surgeons from performing free flap transfers over the scalp because of the challenging neck dissection and the thrombogenic potential of vein grafts for pedicle elongation. We present a case in which a large scalp defect was successfully reconstructed using the wrist as a "free flap carrier," which is an alternative method. A 78-year-old patient with a totally occluded common carotid artery presented to our clinic with a large scalp defect. Reconstruction of the scalp defect was performed in a 2-stage procedure. In the first stage, a free latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle flap was transferred to the defect site, and the pedicle anastomosis was held at the ipsilateral wrist to provide inflow and outflow of blood through the radial artery and vena comitante and cephalic vein that were anastomosed to the flap pedicle. After subsequent split-thickness skin graft, the elevated position of the arm was achieved using a splint and sutures for 3 weeks. In the second stage, the flap was divided, and an additional skin graft over the flap division site and radial artery repair with vein graft was performed. Successful coverage of the scalp defect was confirmed on postoperative day 14 of the second procedure with no complications.

Superselective angiography of the wrist in patients with Kienböck's disease.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular problems like increased intraosseous pressure or venous congestion may influence the development of Kienböck's disease. We examined if wrist position modifies the blood flow in the nutrient vessels. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 17 patients with Kienböck's disease who had a superselective microangiography of the radial, ulnar and interosseous artery in different wrist positions under general anaesthesia. We analysed the data with Fisher's exact and Wilcoxon-test. RESULTS: We found vessels that entered the bone, that ended at the bone edge, and that supplied a vascular plexus. The origins were the anterior interosseous artery in 10 of 17 cases, the radial artery in seven cases, and the ulnar artery in five cases. Movement of the wrist could reduce or stop the blood flow. Type of lunate configuration showed no significant influence on the blood supply in neutral position. CONCLUSION: The radial, ulnar, and anterior interosseous artery contribute to the vascular supply of the lunate bone in different combinations. Wrist movement can reduce blood flow to the lunate bone.

Power-Doppler perfusion phenotype in RA patients is dependent on anti-citrullinated peptide antibody status, not on rheumatoid factor.

It is not known whether there are any consistent non-serological differences between seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, and if any, whether they depend upon rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA), or both. In a pilot study, we showed that the two forms could be differentiated using power-Doppler sonography (PDS), and that the difference is ACPA dependent. This extended study explored whether the previous findings could be confirmed. 103 patients 51 ACPA positive (ACPA +), 52 ACPA negative (ACPA -) with active wrist arthritis were examined using PDS. By means of a temporal image series, pulsatility was evaluated over a 3-5-s period, maximum and minimum perfusion signal were determined using a computer program counting the number of coloured pixels for each frame. Maxima (Pmax) and minima (Pmin) were determined, and the standardized peak-to-peak amplitude sA was calculated (sA = (Pmax - Pmin)/Pmax). This parameter was then compared for ACPA + and ACPA- patients. In addition, a multivariate regression was performed, to determine which factors influence sA. sA differed significantly between ACPA + and ACPA- patients [20% (13-26) vs. 41% (32-57), p < 0. 0001]. In the multivariate analysis, age (t = 2.5, p = 0.02) and ACPA status (t = - 4.8, p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of sA. PDS perfusion patterns are different in seropositive and seronegative RA. The difference appears to be ACPA, not RF dependent. This suggests that the underlying pathophysiological process is different in ACPA-positive and ACPA-negative RA.

Treatment for proximal pole scaphoid nonunion with capsular-based vascularized distal radius graft.

PURPOSE: We retrospectively reviewed the results of 89 patients with proximal pole scaphoid nonunion, 58 with avascular necrosis, treated with a capsular-based vascularized distal radius graft. METHODS: Seventy-one male and eighteen female patients with symptomatic nonunion at the proximal pole of the scaphoid were included in this study. No patient had a humpback deformity. In all patients, the vascularized bone graft was harvested from the dorsum of the distal radius and was attached to a capsular flap of the dorsal wrist capsule. After fixation of the scaphoid with a small cannulated screw, the graft was inserted press-fit into the scaphoid trough in the nonunion site. Supplementary fixation of the graft with a microsuture anchor into the scaphoid was used in 66 patients. RESULTS: At a mean time of 12.3 weeks (range 6-24) after surgery, solid union was achieved in 76 of 89 patients (49 of 58 with avascular necrosis). Eleven patients had persistent nonunion and two fibrous union as determined by CT scan. Sixty-six of the patients with solid bone union were completely pain free, and ten complained of slight pain with strenuous activities. No donor site morbidity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The capsular-based vascularized bone graft from the distal radius is a reliable alternative technique for scaphoid nonunions. It is a simple and expedient harvesting technique without the need for a microsurgical anastomoses. The supplemental fixation with a microsuture anchor eliminates the risk of graft displacement.

Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) for evaluating hand joint lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in clinical remission.

The utility of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) for evaluating hand joint lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical remission is unreported. This study aimed to compare SMI and power Doppler imaging (PDI) for the evaluation of hand joint lesions in these patients. Twenty-six patients with RA in clinical remission were enrolled. A total of 572 joints (52 wrist, 260 proximal interphalangeal, and 260 metacarpophalangeal joints) were detected by SMI and PDI. A semi-quantitative scale of 0-3 was used to compare the detection of synovial blood flow signal by SMI and PDI. Inter-observer agreement for the assessment of SMI and PDI scores was measured with kappa values. In the ten healthy volunteers, SMI and PDI signals were both scored 0. In the 26 RA patients, the remission rate via PDI was 65.4% but was only 42.3% via SMI. SMI also detected microvessel flow signal in seven patients diagnosed with clinical remission via PDI. Moreover, a total of 106 blood flow signals (18.5%) were detected by SMI, while 50 blood flow signals (8.7%) were detected by PDI. Compared with PDI, SMI increased 18.0% of power flow signals from Grade 0-1 and increased 13.7% of power flow signals from Grade 1-2. One joint classified as Grade 1 by PDI was classified as Grade 0 by SMI. Inter-observer agreement for PDI and SMI semi-quantitative scoring was moderate (kappa = 0.463). SMI seems more sensitive than PDI for detecting hand joint lesions in RA in clinical remission PDI, and could aid the achievement of true remission in RA patients.

Electrical stimulation and blood flow restriction increase wrist extensor cross-sectional area and flow meditated dilatation following spinal cord injury.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and blood flow restricted (BFR) exercise on wrist extensors cross-sectional area (CSA), torque and hand functions compared NMES only in individuals with incomplete tetraplegia. The acute effect of an acute bout of NMES with BFR on flow mediated dilation (FMD) was compared with BFR only. METHOD: Nine men completed 6 weeks twice weekly of bilateral NMES training of the wrist extensor muscles. The right forearm received NMES + BFR (30 % above the resting systolic blood pressure), while the left forearm received NMES only. The CSA of the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) and extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscles was measured on ultrasound images. Torque was measured isometrically and hand function with grasp and release test. Another eight men with SCI received NMES+BFR to the right forearm, while the left forearm received BFR only. Immediately, the FMD of the brachial artery was measured. RESULT: Following training, the ECRL CSA was 17 % greater in the NMES+BFR forearm (mean difference = 0.6 cm(2), p = 0.003) compared with the NMES only. The NMES+BFR had a 15 % increase in ECRL CSA (mean increase = 0.58 cm(2), p = 0.048). FMD increased (p = 0.05) in the exercise arm (12 ± 3 %) compared with the control arm (6.5 ± 6 %). CONCLUSION: NMES training with BFR is a strategy that can increase skeletal muscle size. NMES with and without BFR can improve wrist strength and hand function. The acute effects of NMES+BFR may suggest that an increase in FMD may partially contribute to skeletal muscle hypertrophy.

The cardiovascular response to passive movement is joint dependent.

The cardiovascular responses to passive limb movement (PLM) at the knee are well established, however, responses to PLM at other joints involving smaller muscle volume are unknown. To compare the cardiovascular responses to passive movement at other joints, 10 participants underwent a PLM protocol in which the wrist, elbow, ankle, and knee joints were passively extended and flexed at 1 Hz for 1 min. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and arterial blood flow to that limb segment (BF) were measured and vascular conductance (VC) was calculated for a 30-sec baseline period and for 3-sec intervals throughout PLM protocols. PLM of the knee and elbow resulted in significant increases in BF and VC from baseline values with peak values 180% (P < 0.001) greater than baseline. PLM of the elbow resulted in significant increases in BF and VC from baseline values with peak values 109% and 115% (P < 0.001) greater than baseline, respectively. No changes in BF and VC were observed in the ankle and wrist. Furthermore, the greater increase in blood flow per limb segment volume in the thigh and upper arm (62.8 ± 36.5 and 55.5 ± 30.3 mL min(-1) L(-1), respectively) compared to the forearm and lower leg (23.6 ± 16.7 and 19.1 ± 10.3 mL min(-1) L(-1), respectively) indicates the limb volume is not solely responsible for the differences in the hyperemic responses. These data indicate that the use of PLM to assess vascular function or as a rehabilitation modality to maintain vascular health may be most appropriate for the muscles that span the elbow and knee.

Ultrasound evaluation of effect of different degree of wrist extension on radial artery dimension at the wrist joint.

CONTEXT: Successful arterial cannulation requires wide and patent arterial lumen. A recent study has shown that success rate of radial arterial cannulation at first attempt is more at 45° angle of wrist extension in both young and elderly patients. No study has reasoned whether these high success rates at 45° is because of less compression of the radial artery at this particular angle of wrist extension. Hence, we attempted to study whether the radial artery dimensions changes with increasing angles of wrist extension in young, healthy female volunteers using ultrasound examination. AIM: To investigate the effect of increasing angle of wrist extension of 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75° on radial artery dimensions at the level of the wrist joint using ultrasound examination. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A prospective single blinded study in volunteers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sonographic measurements of radial artery dimension at the wrist level were performed in 48 young, healthy female subjects. Height (anteroposterior in mm), width (mediolateral in mm) and depth (skin to artery) were measured at wrist extension of 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75°. The dimensions at each angle are compared with 0° as the control and statistical analysis done. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One-way analysis of variance test. RESULTS: No statistically significant change in dimension of the radial artery is observed with increasing angle of wrist extension. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound evaluation showed that increasing angle of wrist extension does not significantly change the dimensions of radial artery at the wrist joint level in young healthy female volunteers.

Persistence of subclinical sonographic joint activity in rheumatoid arthritis in sustained clinical remission.

BACKGROUND: Sonographic assessment, measuring grey scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) signals, is a sensitive tool for the evaluation of inflammatory joint activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated the persistence of PD and GS signals in previously clinically active RA joints that have reached a state of continuous clinical inactivity. METHODS: We performed sonographic imaging of 22 joints of the hands of patients with RA, selected all joints without clinical activity but showing ongoing sonographic signs of inflammation, and evaluated the time from last clinical joint activity. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients with RA with 1980 assessed joints were included in this study. When comparing the mean time from clinical swelling, we found a significantly longer period of clinical inactivity in joints showing low sonographic activity (mean±SD time from swelling of 4.1±3.2 vs 3.1±2.9 years for PD1 vs PD≥2, p=0.031 and 4.5±3.4 vs 3.3±3.2 years for GS1 vs GS≥2, p≤0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that subclinical joint activity is long-lasting in RA joints in clinical remission, but attenuates over time. The latter conclusion is based on the observed shorter time duration from last clinical activity for strong compared with weaker sonographic signals.

The effect of isometric exercise of the hand on the synovial blood flow in patients with rheumatoid arthritis measured by color Doppler ultrasound.

In 90% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the joints of the hand are affected. Studies of grip strength training have not indicated a negative effect on disease activity after training. Introduction of ultrasound Doppler (USD) to measure increased blood flow induced by inflammation has made it possible to investigate the direct effect on blood supply in the synovium after training. In this case-control study, 24 patients with RA with USD activity in the wrist joint participated. The USD activity was measured by the color fraction (CF) (CF = colored pixels/total number of pixels in ROI). Twenty-four patients were assigned to an 8-week grip strength training program. At baseline and after 8 weeks of training, an USD examination of the wrist joint was performed. In the training group, we measured grip strength and pain in the wrist joint. Six patients withdrew from the training because of pain or change in medication. Eighteen patients served as control group. There was a modest, not significant, decrease in the CF in response to training (1.86%; P = 0.08). Grip strength increased 8.8% after training (P = 0.055). Pain in motion deceased after training (P = 0.04). No difference in the CF was seen between the training and control groups, neither at baseline nor at follow-up (P = 0.82 and P = 0.48). Patients withdrawing from training had a significantly higher CF than the other patients (P > 0.001). The results in this study might indicate that the flow in the synovium assessed by USD is not affected by grip strength training.

A classification-based treatment algorithm for Kienböck disease: current and future considerations.

Kienböck disease is an isolated disorder of the carpal lunate associated with characteristic, and often progressive, clinical and radiographic changes. Appropriate intervention at specific disease stages represents the best opportunity to achieve good outcomes. As understanding of the disease improves, new therapeutic and diagnostic innovations have surfaced that further augment existing treatment options. Biologic, not just traumatic, processes may explain the onset and progression through the disease continuum. In addition to observing the obvious osseous changes, there has been renewed interest in understanding the vascular and cartilaginous manifestations of the disorder. Recognition of these factors can permit focused areas of intervention, including gene and cell-based therapies in the earliest stages. New diagnostic techniques are also being investigated. Advanced imaging modalities can facilitate the earlier recognition of Kienböck disease and enhance the assessment of lunate vascularity. Moreover, diagnostic arthroscopy permits us to directly visualize and characterize affected structures, including cartilage. Finally, there has been much recent interest in the natural history of Kienböck disease. Infantile, juvenile, and geriatric forms have been described. It has been suggested that the disease pathway in these individuals may differ from the typical adult patient population. Integrating these contemporary findings with the classic information on Kienbock disease can permit a more sophisticated approach to stage-specific treatment. This article reexamines the current classification systems to account for these emerging concepts.

Study of vascular supply of lunate and consideration applied to Kienböck disease.

The purpose of this study was to assess vascularity of the lunate by number of foramina and radiography of vessels of the wrist. The genesis of lunatomalacia requires some vascular risk and mechanical predisposition. The findings were correlated with the cause of Kienböck's disease. The vascular foramina were more than two in 91.33% of the lunate. The lunate had consistent dorsal and palmar branches from radial artery. The additional branches from anterior interosseous artery in 72.22% and a branch of palmar inter carpal arch in 69.44% cases contributed in arterial anastomosis on palmar aspect of lunate. The dorsal blood supply was found by anterior interosseous artery in 85.71% of specimens and dorsal branch from dorsal intercarpal arch in 50% of specimens. The blood supply of lunate comes along with various ligaments which may be disrupted due to trauma or strain leading to avascular necrosis. The present observations are suggestive of rich blood supply of lunate in comparison of other investigations. Therefore Kienböck's disease is less common in northern India.

[Bone scintigraphy in evaluation of bone vascularisation at wrist and hand]. / La scintigraphie osseuse dans l'évaluation de la vascularisation osseuse au niveau de la main et du poignet.

Diphosphonate bone scintigraphy is used since the 1970s for studying bone pathology; it is increasingly common because of increased physical activity of the population. The disphosphonate uptake in bone requires the preservation of bone vascularity and reflects osteoblastic activity; it allows studying the viability of bone. Using data from the literature and our experience, we tried to take stock of its main uses in routine emphasizing the study of vascular and describe its use in fractures of the scaphoid and in the study of vascularised bone transfers. If the value of scintigraphy is well known, the use made by means of pinhole collimator and the market entry of new and more sensitive detectors with better resolution could allow the side of the imaging anatomy of improving the study of the vascularisation of small bone transfers which are increasingly used, particularly at wrist and hand.

[Osseous vascular anatomy in the hand and wrist]. / Anatomie vasculaire osseuse à la main et au poignet.

The design and the realization of vascularized osseous grafts at the hand and the wrist require a precise knowledge of the general and regional anatomy. This article gives first a progress report on current knowledge about the general organization of arterial and venous vascularization, of the long bones (number and localization of the nutrient foramina, communication between the epiphyseo-metaphyseal and diaphyseal networks) and of the short bones, in the adult and the child, before the closing of the growth plate. The general organization of arterial vascularization of the hand and the wrist is pointed out, with the current nomenclature and the contribution of the recent publications, in particular in these, which relate to the distal extremity of the radius. The vascularization of each bone (radius and ulna, carpal bones, metacarpals and phalanges) is then described; making way, the anatomical bases of each vascularized bone graft, which can be harvested there, are described. The last technical projections are included, in particular the realization of the reverse flow vascularized bone grafts harvested from the metacarpals. This article still gives a progress report on the osseous vascularization of the short bones, in particular of those which are exposed the most to the osteonecrosis (scaphoid, lunatum). It has the ambition to light the reader and to prepare him (her) with the reading of the following chapters.

[The role of imaging in the assessment of vascularity at hand and wrist]. / Apport de l'imagerie dans le diagnostic de la vascularisation osseuse à la main et au poignet.

The viability of the bone is compromised in two main situations at the wrist: Kienböck's disease and scaphoid nonunion with avascular necrosis. Plain radiography and CT allow an accurate anatomical approach of morphological changes associated with avascular necrosis of the lunate and the scaphoid fracture with complications. CT is readily available to detect nondisplaced fractures. However, early forms of necrosis can be misdiagnosed and evaluation of bone vitality is impossible. MRI is the best imaging modality to detect avascular necrosis and the intravenous injection of gadolinium improves the specificity of diagnosis of necrosis. The lack of enhancement of the proximal fragment of the scaphoid leads the surgeon to use a vascular graft in the treatment of nonunion. The technique has its limitations. The bone necrosis is histologically complex and contrast enhancement does not mean necessarily viability. However, MRI is still the most powerful imaging modality in the assessment of the bone marrow.