Acute Hand Injury in Surfing: A Case Report.

Hand injuries from surfing tend to be severe and require medical attention. Follow-up of a surfing injury is difficult because many patients are visiting and go home after treatment. We report a case of a surfing hand injury sustained abroad, which was treated upon the patient's return, allowing for follow-up. The mechanism of injury was traction and torsion from the surfboard leash while surfing. The patient was initially treated for nailbed injury but presented later back home after persistent pain, for which an unstable distal phalanx fracture in their right ring finger was found by x-ray. This was surgically reduced with K-wire insertion and nailbed repair. Postoperatively, the injured finger was kept in a splint, and the patient had physiotherapy. Pain was significantly reduced, and the patient regained sufficient function. Considering a fracture as a differential for finger injury caused by the surfboard leash may prevent management delays. Injury may be prevented through education and redesign of the surfboard leash.

The Hand and Wrist: AntImicrobials and Infection (HAWAII) trial.

BACKGROUND: Hand trauma, comprising injuries to both the hand and wrist, affects over five million people per year in the NHS, resulting in 250 000 operations each year. Surgical site infection (SSI) following hand trauma surgery leads to significant morbidity. Triclosan-coated sutures may reduce SSI in major abdominal surgery but have never been tested in hand trauma. Feasibility needs to be ascertained before a definitive trial can be delivered in hand trauma. METHODS: A multicentre feasibility RCT of antimicrobial sutures versus standard sutures involving adults undergoing surgery for hand trauma to evaluate feasibility for a definitive trial. Secondary objectives were incidence of SSI in both groups, hand function measured with patient-reported outcome measures, health-related quality of life and change in employment. Randomization was performed on a 1:1 basis, stratified by age of the patient and whether the injury was open or closed, using a secure, centralized, online randomization service. Participants were blinded to allocation. RESULTS: 116 participants were recruited and randomized (60 intervention, 56 control). Of 227 screened, most were eligible (89.5 per cent), and most who were approached agreed to be included in the study (84.7 per cent). Retention was low: 57.5 per cent at 30 days, 52 per cent at 90 days and 45.1 per cent at 6 months. Incidence of SSI was >20 per cent in both groups. Hand function deteriorated after injury but recovered to near pre-injury levels during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of SSI after hand trauma is high. A definitive RCT of antimicrobial sutures in hand trauma surgery is feasible, if retention is improved. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN10771059.

Remote Symptom Monitoring With Ecological Momentary Computerized Adaptive Testing: Pilot Cohort Study of a Platform for Frequent, Low-Burden, and Personalized Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.

BACKGROUND: Remote patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) data capture can provide useful insights into research and clinical practice and deeper insights can be gained by administering assessments more frequently, for example, in ecological momentary assessment. However, frequent data collection can be limited by the burden of multiple, lengthy questionnaires. This burden can be reduced with computerized adaptive testing (CAT) algorithms that select only the most relevant items from a PROM for an individual respondent. In this paper, we propose "ecological momentary computerized adaptive testing" (EMCAT): the use of CAT algorithms to reduce PROM response burden and facilitate high-frequency data capture via a smartphone app. We develop and pilot a smartphone app for performing EMCAT using a popular hand surgery PROM. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of EMCAT as a system for remote PROM administration. METHODS: We built the EMCAT web app using Concerto, an open-source CAT platform maintained by the Psychometrics Centre, University of Cambridge, and hosted it on an Amazon Web Service cloud server. The platform is compatible with any questionnaire that has been parameterized with item response theory or Rasch measurement theory. For this study, the PROM we chose was the patient evaluation measure, which is commonly used in hand surgery. CAT algorithms were built using item response theory models derived from UK Hand Registry data. In the pilot study, we enrolled 40 patients with hand trauma or thumb-base arthritis, across 2 sites, between July 13, 2022, and September 14, 2022. We monitored their symptoms with the patient evaluation measure, via EMCAT, over a 12-week period. Patients were assessed thrice weekly, once daily, or thrice daily. We additionally administered full-length PROM assessments at 0, 6, and 12 weeks, and the User Engagement Scale at 12 weeks. RESULTS: The use of EMCAT significantly reduced the length of the PROM (median 2 vs 11 items) and the time taken to complete it (median 8.8 seconds vs 1 minute 14 seconds). Very similar scores were obtained when EMCAT was administered concurrently with the full-length PROM, with a mean error of <0.01 on a logit (z score) scale. The median response rate in the daily assessment group was 93%. The median perceived usability score of the User Engagement Scale was 4.0 (maximum possible score 5.0). CONCLUSIONS: EMCAT reduces the burden of PROM assessments, enabling acceptable high-frequency, remote PROM data capture. This has potential applications in both research and clinical practice. In research, EMCAT could be used to study temporal variations in symptom severity, for example, recovery trajectories after surgery. In clinical practice, EMCAT could be used to monitor patients remotely, prompting early intervention if a patient's symptom trajectory causes clinical concern. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 19841416; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN19841416.

Outcomes of Free Flap Reconstruction for Chronic Venous Ulceration in the Lower Limb: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The mainstay of treatment for venous ulceration is conservative wound management and lifelong compression therapy. For patients with recalcitrant ulcers, free flap reconstruction has been proposed as a treatment option to reconstruct the diseased soft tissues as well as the underlying insufficient venous system. This review systematically evaluates the outcomes of free flap reconstruction for chronic venous ulcers in the lower limb. METHOD: A protocol was developed a priori and registered on the PROSPERO database. A systematic search of literature was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), clinical trials registries, and OpenGrey from inception to April 2020 according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Studies of patients undergoing free tissue transfer reconstruction for chronic venous ulcers in the lower limb were included. RESULTS: A total of 5 noncomparative cohort studies featuring 56 patients with 62 recalcitrant venous ulcers treated with 64 free flaps who had a mean age of 50 years (range, 17-76 years) were included, and a narrative analysis undertaken. Mean defect size following ulcer debridement was 153.3 cm 2 (range, 24-600 cm 2 ). Defects were reconstructed with muscle (n = 39 [60.9%]), fasciocutaneous (n = 23 [35.9%]), and visceral (n = 2 [3.1%]) free flaps, with latissimus dorsi (n = 16, 25%) and rectus abdominis flaps (n = 16, 25%) being the most frequently used. Mean follow-up ranged from 24 to 125 months. Pooled flap survival rate was 95%. No recurrence within the territory of the flap was reported, but there were 20 instances (35.7%) of new ulcers outside of the flap boundaries. CONCLUSION: There is currently an absence of evidence to support the use of free flap reconstruction for recalcitrant venous ulcers compared with conventional management. Although evidence suggests that it is technically feasible, there is no evidence to suggest it prevents ulceration outside the reconstructed region. Further studies are necessary to evaluate its effectiveness for venous ulcers in the lower limb.

Hydrosurgical debridement versus conventional surgical debridement for acute partial-thickness burns.

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries are the fourth most common traumatic injury, causing an estimated 180,000 deaths annually worldwide. Superficial burns can be managed with dressings alone, but deeper burns or those that fail to heal promptly are usually treated surgically. Acute burns surgery aims to debride burnt skin until healthy tissue is reached, at which point skin grafts or temporising dressings are applied. Conventional debridement is performed with an angled blade, tangentially shaving burned tissue until healthy tissue is encountered. Hydrosurgery, an alternative to conventional blade debridement, simultaneously debrides, irrigates, and removes tissue with the aim of minimising damage to uninjured tissue. Despite the increasing use of hydrosurgery, its efficacy and the risk of adverse events following surgery for burns is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of hydrosurgical debridement and skin grafting versus conventional surgical debridement and skin grafting for the treatment of acute partial-thickness burns. SEARCH METHODS: In December 2019 we searched the Cochrane Wounds Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); Ovid MEDLINE (including In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid Embase and EBSCO CINAHL Plus. We also searched clinical trials registries for ongoing and unpublished studies, and scanned reference lists of relevant included studies as well as reviews, meta-analyses and health technology reports to identify additional studies. There were no restrictions with respect to language, date of publication or study setting. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that enrolled people of any age with acute partial-thickness burn injury and assessed the use of hydrosurgery. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently performed study selection, data extraction, 'Risk of bias' assessment, and GRADE assessment of the certainty of the evidence. MAIN RESULTS: One RCT met the inclusion criteria of this review. The study sample size was 61 paediatric participants with acute partial-thickness burns of 3% to 4% total burn surface area. Participants were randomised to hydrosurgery or conventional debridement. There may be little or no difference in mean time to complete healing (mean difference (MD) 0.00 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) -6.25 to 6.25) or postoperative infection risk (risk ratio 1.33, 95% CI 0.57 to 3.11). These results are based on very low-certainty evidence, which was downgraded twice for risk of bias, once for indirectness, and once for imprecision. There may be little or no difference in operative time between hydrosurgery and conventional debridement (MD 0.2 minutes, 95% CI -12.2 to 12.6); again, the certainty of the evidence is very low, downgraded once for risk of bias, once for indirectness, and once for imprecision. There may be little or no difference in scar outcomes at six months. Health-related quality of life, resource use, and other adverse outcomes were not reported. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This review contains one randomised trial of hydrosurgery versus conventional debridement in a paediatric population with low percentage of total body surface area burn injuries. Based on the available trial data, there may be little or no difference between hydrosurgery and conventional debridement in terms of time to complete healing, postoperative infection, operative time, and scar outcomes at six months. These results are based on very low-certainty evidence. Further research evaluating these outcomes as well as health-related quality of life, resource use, and other adverse event outcomes is required.

MRI for Detecting Root Avulsions in Traumatic Adult Brachial Plexus Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Accuracy.

Background Traumatic brachial plexus injuries affect 1% of patients involved in major trauma. MRI is the best test for traumatic brachial plexus injuries, although its ability to differentiate root avulsions (which require urgent reconstructive surgery) from other types of nerve injury remains unknown. Purpose To evaluate the accuracy of MRI for diagnosing root avulsions in adults with traumatic brachial plexus injuries. Materials and Methods For this systematic review, MEDLINE and Embase were searched from inception to August 20, 2018. Studies of adults with traumatic nonpenetrating unilateral brachial plexus injuries were included. The target condition was root avulsion. The index test was preoperative MRI, and the reference standard was surgical exploration. A bivariate meta-analysis was used to estimate summary sensitivities and specificities of MRI for avulsion. Results Eleven studies of 275 adults (mean age, 27 years; 229 men) performed between 1992 and 2016 were included. Most participants had been injured in motorcycle collisions (84%). All studies were at risk of bias, and there were high applicability concerns for the index test (ie, MRI) in four studies given the lack of diagnostic criteria, inadequate descriptions of pulse sequences, and multiplicity of reporting radiologists. Overall, 72% of patients with brachial plexus injuries had at least one root avulsion (interquartile range [IQR]: 53%-86%); meta-analysis of patient-level data was not performed because of sparse and heterogeneous data. With the nerve root as the unit of analysis, 583 of 918 roots were avulsed (median, 55%; IQR: 38%-71%); the mean sensitivity of MRI for root avulsion was 93% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 77%, 98%) with a mean specificity of 72% (95% CI: 42%, 90%). Conclusion On the basis of limited data, MRI offers modest diagnostic accuracy for traumatic brachial plexus root avulsion(s), and early surgical exploration should remain as the preferred method of diagnosis. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license. Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures for skin closure after carpal tunnel decompression surgery.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common problem and surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel is the most effective treatment. After surgical decompression, the palmar skin may be closed using either absorbable or non-absorbable sutures. To date, there is conflicting evidence regarding the ideal suture material and this formed the rationale for our review. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures for skin closure after elective carpal tunnel decompression surgery in adults on postoperative pain, hand function, scar satisfaction, wound inflammation and adverse events. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following databases on 30 October 2017: the Cochrane Neuromuscular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase. We searched two clinical trials registries on 30 October 2017. SELECTION CRITERIA: We considered all randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing absorbable and non-absorbable sutures for skin closure after any form of carpal tunnel decompression surgery in adults. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The unit of analysis was the hand rather than the patient. We performed meta-analysis of direct comparisons to generate standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in pain scores and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs for dichotomous outcomes, such as wound inflammation. The primary outcome was postoperative pain. Secondary outcomes included hand function, scar satisfaction, scar inflammation and adverse events (complications). We assessed the quality of evidence for key outcomes using GRADE. MAIN RESULTS: We included five randomised trials (255 participants). The trials were all European (UK, Republic of Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands). Where quoted, the mean age of participants was between 48 and 53 years. The trials measured outcomes between one and 12 weeks postoperatively.Meta-analysis of postoperative pain scores for absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures at 10 days following open carpal tunnel decompression (OCTD) produced a SMD of 0.03 (95% CI -0.43 to 0.48; 3 studies, number of participants (N) = 137; I2 = 43%); the SMD suggests little or no difference, but with a high degree of uncertainty because of very low-quality evidence. At 10 days following endoscopic carpal tunnel decompression (ECTD), the SMD for postoperative pain with use of absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures was -0.81 (95% CI -1.36 to -0.25; 1 study; N = 54); although the SMD is consistent with a large effect, the very low-quality evidence means the results are very uncertain. Only the OCTD studies provided pain data at 6 weeks, when the SMD was 0.06 (95% CI -0.72 to 0.84; 4 studies; N = 175; I2 = 84%), which indicates little or no evidence of difference, but with a high degree of uncertainty (very low-quality evidence). The RR for wound inflammation using absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures after OCTD was 2.28 (95% CI 0.24 to 21.91; N = 95; I2 = 90%) and after ECTD 0.93 (95% CI 0.06 to 14.09; 1 study, N = 54). Any difference in effect on wound inflammation is uncertain because the quality of evidence is very low. One study reported postoperative hand function but found no evidence of a difference between suture types at two weeks (mean difference (MD) -0.10, 95% CI -0.53 to 0.33, N = 36), with similar findings at six and 12 weeks. Only the ECTD trial reported scar satisfaction, with 25 out of 28 people reporting a 'nice' result in the absorbable-suture group, versus 18 out of 26 in the group who received non-absorbable sutures (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.72, N = 54). These findings are also very uncertain as we judged the quality of the evidence to be very low. All studies were at high risk of bias for most domains. No trials reported adverse events. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: It is uncertain whether absorbable sutures confer better, worse or equivalent outcomes compared to non-absorbable sutures following carpal tunnel decompression, because the quality of evidence is very low. Use of absorbable suture eliminates the need for suture removal, which could confer considerable savings to patients and healthcare providers alike. We need rigorously-performed, non-inferiority randomised trials with economic analyses to inform choice of suture.

Perioperative Blood Loss and Transfusion in Craniosynostosis Surgery.

Craniosynostosis has an incidence of 1 in 2000 to 2500 live births and may be corrected through several methods including total calvarial remodeling and frontal orbital advancement remodeling. Blood loss during craniosynostosis surgery can be substantial, ranging from 20% to 500% of total circulating volume with a high associated risk of transfusion-related adverse events. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing surgery for craniosynostosis at a tertiary pediatric craniofacial center with a focus on blood loss and subsequent transfusion.The authors reviewed 40 patients with craniosynostosis >16 years at a single-center. Data on perioperative blood loss and transfusion were obtained, including pre-, intra-, and postoperative hemoglobin, hematocrit, and use of tranexamic acid. The authors calculated estimated percentage of circulating red cell volume lost and transfused.The majority of patients had sagittal synostosis and underwent total calvarial remodeling (n = 20); the rest underwent frontal orbital advancement remodeling (n = 19) or lambdoid correction (n = 1). The average estimated volume red cell loss was 77% of circulating volume and 90% of patients received blood transfusion with an average 88.3% transfusion of circulating red cell volume. Longer operative time, younger age, and lower weight predisposed to >50% blood volume transfusion (P = 0.032, <0.005, <0.005 respectively).This single-center observational study reports red cell volume loss and volume of transfusion in children undergoing surgical correction of craniosynostosis. Red cell volume loss was comparative to that in the literature and in this cohort longer operative time, younger age, and lower weight predisposed to >50% blood volume transfusion.

Correction to: Reply to ''Complications in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy for Breast Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study Comparing Unilateral Versus Bilateral Reconstructions".

In the original article Justin C. R. Wormald's middle initials were incorrect. They are correct as reflected in this erratum. The original article has also been corrected.

Surgical site infection and patient-reported outcomes in surgically treated soft tissue facial injury: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue facial injuries (STFI) constitute a huge portion of craniofacial trauma, but the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following surgical management of STFI are unknown. METHODS: A PRISMA-compliant search was conducted from January 1990 until March 2023, and meta-analysis was performed using R. Pooled effects of the outcomes were estimated using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model or generalised linear mixed model, when feasible. RESULT: Among the 8897 screened studies, 38 were included. Twelve studies reported PROMs (n = 985), whereas 28 studies reported SSI rates (n = 10,996) following operative treatment for STFI. The pooled SSI rate (n = 28) was 3.30 % (95 % CI 1.89 %-5.71 %). Surgical and non-surgical closure did not differ significantly in SSI rate. PROs focused on scar outcomes, cosmetic outcomes, quality of life and psychological impact. Subgroup analysis showed lower SSI risk in operative repair for general facial trauma compared to primary repair, and in general facial trauma compared to other aetiologies. The pooled patient scar assessment scale, score at 6-12 months post-intervention (5 studies, n = 217) was 16.16 (95 % CI 15.34-16.97). Limited evidence is available on the effect and superiority of surgical treatment in cosmetic outcomes, quality of life and psychological impact. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasise the limited and unreliable evidence available on PROs following operative treatment for STFI. Future studies employing robust methodologies are needed to investigate optimal approaches for managing STFI.

Systematic review of treatment for pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis of the hand.

AIMS: Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (PFT) comprises 2.5-9.4% of all primary hand infections. Management is variable, including surgical intervention, systemic antibiotics, or both. However, there are no evidence-based treatment guidelines. We conducted a systematic review to determine the best evidence for existing interventions and a meta-analysis to summarise published data quantitatively. METHODS: MEDLINE and Embase (OVID) databases were searched in January 2023 and March 2024. Screening and data extraction were performed in duplicate. The risk of bias was assessed using National Institute of Health study assessment tools. A protocol is available on PROSPERO (CRD42023411142), and the review was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Data analysis was performed in RStudio. RESULTS: 24 studies (n = 1108 patients) were included following screening of 2386 abstracts. All were retrospective (18 case series and six cohort studies). Surgical interventions were assessed in 22 studies, combined with specific antibiotic regimes in four studies. Two studies described non-operative management alone. The pooled mean hospital stay for those undergoing operative intervention was 8.3 days (SD 7.5, n = 552), compared to 4.76 days (SD 0.12, n = 58) for non-operative intervention. Two studies reported PROMs (DASH), reporting no difference when comparing operative and non-operative interventions. Most studies were of poor quality (20), with four being fair. CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence in favour of one intervention regarding hospital stay or PROMs, including the superiority of operative management or non-operative approaches. Given the prevalence of PFT, management should be guided by robust data. Future experimental studies of surgical techniques and comparisons with non-operative management are warranted.

Protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis of the use of prophylactic antibiotics in hand trauma surgery.

BACKGROUND: The use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery is contentious. With the rise in antimicrobial resistance, evidence-based antibiotic use should be followed. This systematic review and network meta-analysis will assess the effectiveness of different antibiotics on the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) following hand trauma surgery. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The databases Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL and CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform will be searched. Abstracts will be screened by two persons independently to identify eligible studies. This systematic review will include both randomised and non-randomised prospective comparative studies in participants with hand and/or wrist injuries requiring surgery; bite injuries will be excluded. The network meta-analysis will compare the use of different prophylactic antibiotics against each other, placebo and/or no antibiotics on the development of SSI within 30 days of surgery (or 90 days if there is an implanted device). The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2 will be used to assess the risk of methodological bias in randomised controlled trials, and the Newcastle-Ottowa scale (NOS) will be used to assess the risk of bias in non-randomised studies. A random-effects network meta-analysis will be conducted along with subgroup analyses looking at antibiotic timing, injury type, and operation location. Sensitivity analyses including only low risk-of-bias studies will be conducted, and the confidence in the results will be assessed using Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINEMA). DISCUSSION: This systematic review and network meta-analysis aims to provide an up-to-date synthesis of the studies assessing the use of antibiotics following hand and wrist trauma to enable evidence-based peri-operative prescribing. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023429618.

Toxin for Treating Raynaud Conditions in Hands (The TORCH Study): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Raynaud disease of the hands is a complex disorder resulting in inappropriate constriction and/or insufficient dilation in microcirculation. There is an emerging role for botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in the treatment armamentarium for refractory Raynaud disease. The aim of this systematic review was to critically evaluate the management of primary and secondary Raynaud disease treated with BTX-A intervention. Methods: We performed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-compliant systematic review of clinical studies assessing treatment of primary or secondary Raynaud disease with BTX-A by searching Ovid MEDLINE and Embase databases from inception to first August 2023. The review protocol was prospectively registered on the PROSPERO database (CRD42022312253). Results: Our search strategy identified 288 research articles, of which 18 studies [four randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two non-RCTs, five case series, and seven retrospective cohort studies] were eligible for analysis. Meta-analysis demonstrated that the probability of pain visual analog scale score improvement with BTX-A intervention was 81.95% [95% confidence interval (74.12-87.81) P = 0.19, heterogeneity I 2 = 26%] and probability of digital ulcer healing was 79.37% [95% confidence interval (62.45-89.9) P = 0.02, heterogeneity I 2 = 56%]. Conclusions: Delivery of BTX-A to digital vessels in the hand may be an effective management strategy for primary and secondary Raynaud disease. A definitive, appropriately-powered RCT with objective functional and patient-reported outcome measures is required to accurately assess and quantify the efficacy of BTX-A in Raynaud disease of the hands.

Hand and Wrist trauma: Antimicrobials and Infection Audit of Clinical Practice (HAWAII ACP) protocol.

Aims: Hand trauma, consisting of injuries to both the hand and the wrist, are a common injury seen worldwide. The global age-standardized incidence of hand trauma exceeds 179 per 100,000. Hand trauma may require surgical management and therefore result in significant costs to both healthcare systems and society. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common following all surgical interventions, and within hand surgery the risk of SSI is at least 5%. SSI following hand trauma surgery results in significant costs to healthcare systems with estimations of over £450 per patient. The World Health Organization (WHO) have produced international guidelines to help prevent SSIs. However, it is unclear what variability exists in the adherence to these guidelines within hand trauma. The aim is to assess compliance to the WHO global guidelines in prevention of SSI in hand trauma. Methods: This will be an international, multicentre audit comparing antimicrobial practices in hand trauma to the standards outlined by WHO. Through the Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network (RSTN), hand surgeons across the globe will be invited to participate in the study. Consultant surgeons/associate specialists managing hand trauma and members of the multidisciplinary team will be identified at participating sites. Teams will be asked to collect data prospectively on a minimum of 20 consecutive patients. The audit will run for eight months. Data collected will include injury details, initial management, hand trauma team management, operation details, postoperative care, and antimicrobial techniques used throughout. Adherence to WHO global guidelines for SSI will be summarized using descriptive statistics across each criteria. Discussion: The Hand and Wrist trauma: Antimicrobials and Infection Audit of Clinical Practice (HAWAII ACP) will provide an understanding of the current antimicrobial practice in hand trauma surgery. This will then provide a basis to guide further research in the field. The findings of this study will be disseminated via conference presentations and a peer-reviewed publication.

Plate fixation versus flexible intramedullary nails for management of closed femoral shaft fractures in the pediatric population: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the adverse outcomes.

Purpose: Fractures of the femoral diaphysis are associated with a risk of morbidity in children. Various fixation methods have been developed, but with only limited evidence to support their use. This systematic review assesses the evidence regarding clinical outcomes of closed femoral diaphyseal fractures in children treated with plate fixation or flexible intramedullary nails. Methods: A PROSPERO-registered, PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science (WoS) databases were searched from inception to February 2023. Inclusion criteria included clinical studies reporting adverse outcomes following surgical treatment of pediatric closed femoral diaphyseal fractures using plate fixation and flexible intramedullary nails. The ROBINS-I and RoB 2 tools evaluated the risk of bias. Results: Thirteen papers (2 prospective randomized controlled trials and 11 retrospective cohorts) reported 805 closed diaphyseal femoral fractures in 801 children (559 males, 242 females). There were 360 plate fixations and 445 flexible intramedullary nails. Two cases of osteomyelitis and one nonunion were reported. Meta-analysis showed that plate fixation had a lower risk of soft tissue infection (relative risk 0.26 (95% confidence interval 0.07-0.92)). There was no difference in the following outcomes: malunion (relative risk 0.68 (95% confidence interval 0.32-1.44)); unplanned reoperation (relative risk 0.59 (95% confidence interval 0.31-1.14)), and leg-length difference (relative risk 1.58 (95% confidence interval 0.66-3.77)). The risk of bias was high in all studies. Conclusions: An analysis of 805 fractures with minimal differences in meta-analyses is considered high quality even when the quality of the evidence is low. The findings are limited by important flaws in the methodology in the published literature. Well-designed multicentre prospective studies using standardized core outcomes are required to advise treatment recommendations. Level of evidence: III.

The management of partial extensor tendon lacerations of the hand and forearm: A systematic review.

Injuries to the extensor mechanism of the hand and forearm are common and cause significant functional disability. Complete tendon lacerations are managed with surgical repair, whereas selected partial tendon injuries may be managed without repair but with splinting and physiotherapy alone. There is limited evidence to support the management of partial lacerations, in particular the decision of whether to repair or not. We aimed to systematically review the literature to determine the optimal management of partial extensor tendon lacerations in the hand and forearm. A protocol for the systematic review was developed prospectively and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021250431). PubMed, EMBASE, clinicaltrials.gov, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched from 1990 to 27/05/2022. 4565 studies were screened, of which 88 underwent full text review. Five studies were included, one randomised control trial and four cohort studies. One study examined outcomes of partial lacerations treated without repair; the other four studies examined outcomes following repair. Pinch and grip strength and time to return to work were similar regardless of management. Adverse outcomes were reported for patients undergoing surgical repair; none were observed in those managed without repair. Meta-analysis was precluded by study heterogeneity and high risk of bias. There is limited evidence to support the management of partial extensor tendon lacerations, with some low-quality evidence that non-operative management of selected partial lacerations is safe. There is a pressing need for pragmatic, multicentre randomised trials to assess the cost-effectiveness of current treatments.

RSTN COVID Hand: Hand trauma in the United Kingdom and Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly impacted the delivery of hand surgery services throughout the UK and Europe; from triage to treatment. Our aim was to assess the impact on management of common hand trauma injuries to inform future service delivery and research. The Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network led a service evaluation during the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020. Data was collected on hand injury management during the COVID-19 pandemic and was compared to the management clinicians would have delivered prior. Across 35 hand surgery units, 2540 patients with hand trauma were included. There was an increase of between 3% and 7% in non-operative management of injuries, apart from flexor tendon injuries where management remained unchanged. Cases triaged by a consultant doubled, with a 22% increase in the see-and-treat model. There was a move to operating in low-resource settings; a 13% increase in the use of minor operating theatres and 10% in clinic rooms. Use of WALANT, absorbable sutures, and remote follow-up also increased by 16%, 24%, and between 11% and 25%, respectively. The reported 30-day complication rate was 3.2%, with a surgical site infection rate of 1.8%. The pandemic led to rapid change in many aspects of hand trauma care. It was the impetus for increased out-of-theatre operating, use of local anaesthetic, and more non-operative management of injuries, without an increase in complication rate. Further research needs to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of these changes to ensure that COVID-19 is a catalyst for a modern, evidence-based, and environmentally sustainable delivery of hand trauma services.

Outcomes of flap reconstruction for diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of Clinical Studies.

BACKGROUND: People with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are at risk of major amputation, which is associated with a high mortality rate (exceeding 50% at five years) and reduced quality of life. We hypothesise that flap reconstruction of diabetic foot ulcers improves patient outcomes in comparison to standard treatment modalities including major amputation. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and grey literature were searched on 9 th February 2022. Comparative and single-arm studies reporting outcomes of DFU treated with local, regional or free flaps including function, limb loss, mortality, and flap failure were included. Risk of bias was assessed and meta-analysis of proportions was performed. RESULTS: 3,878 records were retrieved, of which 45 met the inclusion criteria, including 1,681 patients who underwent flap reconstruction of DFU. Free flaps were most commonly performed (n = 1,257, 72%). Only one study utilised a verified functional outcome measure. At 12 months, the mortality rate was 6.35% (95% C.I. 3.89 - 10.20), limb loss rate was 11.39% (95% C.I. 7.02 - 17.96) and the free flap failure rate was 9.95% (95% C.I. 8.19 - 12.05). All studies were at high risk of bias. A comparative meta-analysis of interventions was not performed due to study method and outcome heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: There is short-term evidence that flap reconstruction (including microsurgical transfer) has low mortality, limb loss and flap failure rates. However, there are limited high-quality comparative studies, and uncertainty remains regarding the outcome of DFU flap reconstruction in comparison to other treatments.

Surgical site infection following surgery for hand trauma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Surgical site infection is the most common healthcare-associated infection. Surgical site infection after surgery for hand trauma is associated with increased antibiotic prescribing, re-operation, hospital readmission and delayed rehabilitation, and in severe cases may lead to amputation. As the risk of surgical site infection after surgery for hand trauma remains unclear, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all primary studies of hand trauma surgery, including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies and case series. A total of 8836 abstracts were screened, and 201 full studies with 315,618 patients included. The meta-analysis showed a 10% risk of surgical site infection in randomized control trials, with an overall risk of 5% when all studies were included. These summary statistics can be used clinically for informed consent and shared decision making, and for power calculations for future clinical trials of antimicrobial interventions in hand trauma.