Restoration of thumb opposition (opponensplasty).

The authors review the therapeutic principles that must be applied when restoring the thumb opposition surgically. Among the many surgical techniques, five are featured: transfer of the flexor digitorum superficialis of the third or fourth finger, transfer of the extensor indicis proprius, transfer of the palmaris longus, translocation of the flexor palmaris longus tendon, transfer of the extensor pollicis longus. After summarizing the procedures, they emphasize the practical points that must be respected. This surgery, which cannot restore sensitivity, requires a precise assessment of the patient's wishes and information on what can be really expected.

Results of interposition arthroplasty with the Amandys® pyrocarbon implant in rheumatoid wrist at a mean 5 years' follow-up.

Management of severe joint involvement in rheumatoid wrist is controversial. The gold-standard is total wrist fusion, but total wrist replacement offers a motion-conserving alternative. The purpose of this study was to present the results of interposition arthroplasty with the Amandys® pyrocarbon implant in rheumatoid wrist. We performed a retrospective review of 28 arthroplasties for rheumatoid wrist arthritis. Eighteen females and 5 males were included, with a mean age of 55.7 years. Mean follow-up was 64 months. We measured range of motion, grip strength, and pain (on VAS). Function was evaluated preoperatively and at last follow-up with the DASH and PRWE scores. Mean range of motion in flexion-extension was maintained while mean inclination and rotational range of motion showed significant improvement. Mean grip strength increased from 10 kg to 17 kg. Mean pain score decreased from 6/10 to 2/10. Mean PRWE and QuickDASH scores decreased from 62/100 to 25/100 and from 62/100 to 36/100, respectively. Three patients underwent early reoperation to reposition a dislocated implant. No implants had to be removed. Amandys® pyrocarbon arthroplasty is a reliable alternative to total fusion or total replacement in rheumatoid wrist. Indications must be limited to well-aligned wrists with competent capsule-ligament structures.

[Dorsal cutaneous adipofascial flaps of long fingers]. / Les lambeaux cutanés a pédicule adipofascial de la face dorsale des doigts longs.

We report a series with the adipofascio cutaneous flap of the dorsal aspect of long fingers used with an anterograde or retrograde pedicle. Thirty flaps were performed in 29 patients with a mean age of 43 years, 16 cases in emergency and 13 cases secondary for the treatement of traumatic sequelae. The adipofascial pedicle was retrograde for 22 flaps and anterograde for 8 flaps. The donor site was adjacent of the cutaneous defect in 21 cases or at a distance in 9 cases. Transcient veinous congestion was observed in 2 cases. No necrosis was reported. A second surgery of plasty was performed in 1 case for a cutaneous bulk. The quality of the cutaneous coverage gave any functional discomfort and was evaluated very satisfying. These flaps have an important adaptabily of utilization depending on the localisation and the size of the cutaneous defect as well as the quality of its surrounding skin. The homodigital feature of these flaps avoids the disadvantages of the dorsal hand flaps or the heterodigital flaps. Due to their anastomotic vascularisation, these flaps are reliable and therefore can be recommended for the treatment of dorsal cutaneous defects of long fingers less than 2.5 cm.

Presence of an intracompartmental septum detected by ultrasound is associated with the failure of ultrasound-guided steroid injection in de Quervain's syndrome.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to find clinical or ultrasound characteristics that might predict the failure of conservative treatment in de Quervain's syndrome. A total of 42 ultrasound-guided injections have been performed in 41 patients after clinical and ultrasound examination. Patients were immobilized for 3 weeks with a spica splint cast, and clinically evaluated at 3 and 6 weeks and by phone call at the end of the study. Ultrasound showed a septum between the tendons of the first comportment in 34% of the wrists. At last follow-up (mean 15.6 months after the injection) ten patients (24%) had undergone surgery. When comparing ultrasound and clinical characteristics of the operated and non-operated wrists, we found that patients with a high baseline visual analogue scale, with all positive clinical tests and with a persistent intracompartmental septum, had a significantly higher risk of failure following conservative treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

[Shoulder instability]. / Epaule instable.

Shoulder instability is a sign described by the patient. The etiology of this instability is varied: sometimes it is the result of a traumatic luxation with tear of the gleno-humeral inferior ligament, sometimes it is the result of an abnormal hyperlaxity. The examiner must be able to do a difference between these two causes because treatment and consequence are very different. Nevertheless, these two factors can be associated at variable degrees. A careful history and examination, a precise x-rays and scanning can help the examiner to solve this difficult problem.

Cubital tunnel syndrome: comparative results of a multicenter study of 4 surgical techniques with a mean follow-up of 92 months.

BACKGROUND: Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most frequent entrapment syndrome. Physiopathology is mixed, and treatment options are multiple, none having yet proved superior efficacy. OBJECTIVES: The present retrospective multicenter study compared results and rates of complications and recurrence between the 4 main cubital tunnel syndrome treatments, to identify trends and optimize outcome. MATERIALAND METHODS: Patients presenting with primary clinical cubital tunnel syndrome diagnosed on electroneuromyography were included and operated on using 1 of the following 4 techniques: open or endoscopic in situ decompression, or subcutaneous or submuscular anterior transposition. Four specialized upper-limb surgery centers participated, each systematically performing 1 of the above procedures. Subjective and objective results and rates of complications and recurrence were compared at end of follow-up. RESULTS: Five hundred and two patients were included and 375 followed up for a mean 92 months (range, 9-144 months); 103 were lost to follow-up and 24 died. Whichever the procedure, more than 90% of patients were cured or showed improvement. There was a single case of scar pain at end of follow-up, managed by endoscopic decompression; there were no other long-term complications. None of the 4 techniques aggravated symptoms. There were 6 recurrences by end of follow-up: 1 associated with open in situ decompression and 5 with submuscular transposition. CONCLUSION: Surgery was effective in treating cubital tunnel syndrome. Submuscular anterior transposition was associated with recurrence. In contrast to literature reports, subcutaneous anterior transposition, which is a reliable and valid technique, was not associated with a higher complication rate than in situ decompression. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. Multicenter retrospective.

Amandys(®) implant: novel pyrocarbon arthroplasty for the wrist.

OBJECTIVES: Post-traumatic, arthritic or degenerative destruction of the midcarpal and radiocarpal joints are difficult to treat. A new arthroplasty with a free interposition pyrocarbon implant, Amandys(®), is proposed for the treatment of extensive destruction of midcarpal and radiocarpal joints. Preliminary results are reported. METHODS: The prospective series included 25 patients, 15 males and 10 females with a mean age of 60. The indications were degenerative, post-traumatic or rheumatoid destruction of the wrist. Sixty percent of the patients had already had surgery on their wrist before the operation. The mean follow-up was 24months. RESULTS: Three patients had a reoperation: two for a repositioning of the implant and one for a styloidectomy. At the last follow-up, the mean grip strength was 16kg (51% of the contralateral side), the mean range of motion in flexion-extension was 68°. Mean strength and range of motion did not change significantly with the operation. Pain and function showed significant improvement. The mean pain score decreased from 6.7/10 to 3.7/10 postoperatively. The mean PRWE score decreased from 61/100 to 32/100.The mean QuickDash score decreased from 63/100 to 36/100. Ninety-six percent of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied. No dislocation or subsidence of the implant was noticed. CONCLUSIONS: This minimally invasive pyrocarbon interposition increases the possibilities for the treatment of extensive articular destructions of the wrist. Indications must be limited to a well-aligned wrist with competent capsuloligamentous structure. This new arthroplasty is a reliable alternative to other surgical options, which are more radical or invasive such as total arthrodesis or total wrist prosthesis.

[Acute closed injuries of the digital proximal interphalangeal joints]. / Les traumatismes fermé récents des IPP des doigts.

Acute closed injuries of the digital proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints are frequent and can leave sequelae because of imprecise diagnosis of the lesions, poorly adapted treatment, or insufficient follow-up. The therapeutic options proposed in this presentation are advocated by all of the participants and are based on their personal experience and evidence reported in the literature. After a brief anatomic review necessary for the understanding of PIP joint pathophysiology we have presented the longterm outcomes of PIP joint injuries, which are central to the therapeutic decision-making process in terms of risk benefit ratio. To facilitate the presentation, we have separated lesions "with" and "without" fracture. A specific chapter is devoted to surgical approaches essential for successful management of these injuries and another to particular problems related to the seldom reviewed topic of traumatic injury of the PIP joint during bone growth.