Postoperative Rehabilitation Following Thumb Base Surgery: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of rehabilitation for patients who underwent first carpometacarpal joint (CMC-1) arthroplasty, with emphasis on early active mobilization. DATA SOURCES: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane were searched. STUDY SELECTION: Articles written in English that described the postoperative regimen (including immobilization period/method and/or description of exercises/physical therapy, follow-up 6wk) on CMC-1 arthroplasty were included. DATA EXTRACTION: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement was used as guidance in this review, and methodological quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool. Randomized studies were additionally scored using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. DATA SYNTHESIS: Twenty-seven studies were included consisting of 1015 participants, in whom 1118 surgical procedures were performed. A summary of the components of postoperative rehabilitation used in the included studies of CMC-1 osteoarthritis is presented for different surgical interventions. We found that early active recovery (including short immobilization, early initiation of range of motion and strength exercises) provides positive outcomes for pain, limitations in activities of daily living, and grip and pinch strength, but comparative studies are lacking. Furthermore, 3 postoperative exercises/therapy phases were identified in the literature-the acute phase, the unloaded phase, and the functional phase-but again comparative studies are lacking. CONCLUSIONS: Early active recovery is used more often in the literature and does not lead to worse outcomes or more complications. This systematic review provides guidance for clinicians in the content of postoperative rehabilitation for CMC-1 arthroplasty. The review also clearly identifies the almost complete lack of high-quality comparative studies on postoperative rehabilitation after CMC-1 arthroplasty.

Proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty with Neuflex® implants: relevance of the volar approach and early rehabilitation.

Proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty through a volar approach preserves the extensor apparatus, which allows for early active rehabilitation. Here, we report on the results of 28 silicone implants in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (12 joints) or osteoarthritis (16 joints) with a mean follow-up of 39 months. Pain was reduced significantly after arthroplasty. Range of motion increased significantly by 29° with a mean postoperative value of 58°; the mean extension deficit was reduced from 14° to 5°. There were 18 cases of preoperative ulnar drift with a mean value of 13°, compared with 13 cases postoperatively with a mean value of 7°. Three cases (10%) of implant fracture were noted on the radiology reports. The mean DASH score at follow-up was 35/100. Immediate active mobilization led to significant shortening in recovery time. The improvement in mobility and extension seems to be higher than that obtained with other approaches. Clinodactyly remains problematic no matter the type of arthroplasty.

Hállux Rígidus: estudo prospectivo da substituição articular com hemiartroplastia / Hállux Rígidus: prospective study of joint replacement with hemiarthroplasty

Objetivo: Relatar os resultados com médio prazo de seguimento após a implantação de Arthrosurface-HemiCap em pacientes com diagnóstico de hállux rígidus (HR). Método: Onze pacientes foram submetidos à artroplastia parcial da primeira metatarso-falangeana. Seis mulheres e cinco homens com idade média de 51,9 anos (46 a 58 anos) e média de seguimento pós-operatório de 3,73 anos (3-4 anos); foram classificados através do sistema de Kravitz e avaliados pelas escalas da american orthopaedic foot and ankle society (AOFAS) para hállux, visual analog scale (VAS) – analógico funcional de dor - e pela amplitude de movimento da primeira articulação metatarsofalangeana no periodo pré-operatório, pós-operatório de seis meses e pós-operatório atual. Resultados: Os resultados revelam melhora significativa dos três parâmetros analisados no estudo, tanto para análise global como para comparações pré e pós-operatórias individuais. A análise comparativa de cada variável nos períodos pós--operatórios de seis meses e atual não mostram diferença estatística o que indica manutenção dos parâmetros durante esse intervalo. Conclusão: A hemiartroplastia da primeira metatarsofalangeana é opção reprodutível e segura para o tratamento cirúrgico do hállux rígidus II e III, com significativa melhora dos parâmetros avaliados para a população estudada. Nível de Evidência IV, Série de casos.

Objective: To report the results of medium-term follow-up after deploying arthrosurface-Hemicap in patients with diagnosis of hállux rígidus (HR). method: eleven patients underwent partial arthroplasty of the first metatarsal-phalangeal joint. six women and five men with an average age 51.9 years (46 to 58 years) and average postoperative follow-up of 3.73 years (3-4 years); were classified through the Kravitz system and evaluated by the american orthopaedic foot and ankle society (aofas) scales for hallux, visual analogical scale (vas) – analog functional pain - and motion range in the first metatarsal joint in preoperative, postoperative after six months and present post-operative. Results: the results show significant improvement of the three analyzed parameters, both for overall analysis and for pre and post-operative comparisons individually. the comparative analysis of each variable in the six months and the current postoperative periods do not show statistically significant differences, indicating maintenance of parameters during this interval. conclusion: hemiarthroplasty of first metatarsophalangeal joint is a reproducible and safe option for the surgical treatment of hállux rígidus II and III, with significant improvement of the evaluated parameters for the studied population. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series.

Static versus dynamic splinting for proximal interphalangeal joint pyrocarbon implant arthroplasty: a comparison of current and historical cohorts.

STUDY DESIGN: Nonrandomized mixed current and historical cohort follow-up study. The purpose of the study was to test the effectiveness of static splinting after arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis. Dynamic splinting is recommended after proximal interphalangeal joint pyrocarbon implant arthroplasty; however, static splinting may be more feasible to deliver. Nine consecutive patients received static splinting in this study. These patients were compared with those of a historical control group (n = 10) who received dynamic splinting. Function and performance variables were measured preoperatively and 3 months after surgery. All patients underwent surgery by the same hand surgeon, and most of the patients were treated by the same certified hand therapist. Both static and dynamic groups showed improvement on several function and performance measures. Compared with the dynamic group, the static group showed greater improvements in the Michigan. Hand Outcomes Questionnaire subset of work performance (21.00 ± 14.75 vs 3.13 ± 14.13, p < 0.05) and Jebsen-Taylor Test (-11.58 ± 5.44 vs -2.81 ± 3.23, p < 0.03). Patients who received static splinting had similar outcomes to those who received the dynamic splinting. Static splinting requires less therapist training and offers greater patient convenience and is a promising protocol that should be evaluated in a larger study.