Splints, with or without wrist immobilization, following surgical repair of flexor tendon lesions of the hand: A systematic review.

Splints with or without wrist immobilization can be used during the rehabilitation of flexor tendon lesions of the hand. The evidence base for these techniques has not previously been studied in a systematic review. We sought to thoroughly review patient-reported functional outcomes and pain to compare splinting with or without wrist immobilization. Five bibliographic databases were searched. Studies were considered for inclusion if they were randomized controlled trials or observational comparative studies reporting the difference in outcome among patients treated with or without wrist immobilization. No limits were set on publication date or language. Study selection was performed independently by two authors, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. The review protocol was preregistered in PROSPERO. There were no randomized controlled trials. No studies could be included based on our inclusion criteria. We decided to qualitatively summarize the most relevant studies although they did not meet our inclusion criteria. This resulted in a narrative review of the studies we found relevant. Based on the current literature, it is impossible to provide evidence-based recommendations for or against wrist immobilization during the rehabilitation period following flexor tendon repair. The lack of high-quality evidence points to a need for randomized clinical trials to guide rehabilitation decisions.

Acute midtarsal sprains: frequency and course of recovery.

In a prospective consecutive registration of 711 ankle inversion sprains, the dorsal ligaments and capsule of the midtarsal joints were involved in 237 of the cases (33%), and in 172 cases (24%) only these joints seemed to be injured. A total of 162 isolated midtarsal injuries and 161 cases of isolated lateral talocrural lesions selected at random were followed using questionnaires 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after injury. The frequencies of pain after 1 month and swelling after 1 and 3 months were significantly lower in isolated dorsal midtarsal sprains compared with isolated lateral talocrural sprains. At the following controls, frequencies of both pain and swelling were the same for both groups. Functional instability appeared with the same frequency in both groups during the 12 months of follow-up. Regarding the social impact of the sprains, absence from work and sports did not differ between groups. When avulsions were present in midtarsal injuries recovery was slow, with two thirds of the patients experiencing pain after 6 months. We conclude that the dorsal midtarsal sprain is a common entity with a course of recovery and a frequency of residual symptoms very like the lateral talocrural lesions.

Epidemiology of sprains in the lateral ankle and foot.

The epidemiology of sprains in the lateral ankle and foot was investigated in a prospective study at the casualty ward at Hillerød County Hospital. During one year, 766 patients were registered. The overall sprain incidence was 7/1000 person-years. The incidence was highest for young males. After the age of 40 years, the incidence was higher for women than for men. Most sprains were sustained during sport, but, with increasing age, other activities became dominant. Sixty-one percent of the lesions were located around the lateral ankle, and 24% were located on the lateral midfoot.

Fracture of ceramic femoral heads in total hip arthroplasty.

Five cases of fractured ceramic heads occurring 1-2 years after primary hip arthroplasty are reported. All fractures occurred without significant trauma. As the mechanism of these failures has not been clarified, the authors have stopped using ceramic heads.

The prognostic importance of primary dislocated ankle joint in patients with malleolar fractures.

Sixty-nine patients with bi- or trimalleolar ankle fractures were evaluated in a questionnaire on an average of 9.6 years after their fracture. Patients with primary clinically severely dislocated ankle joints had significantly more complaints than patients with nondislocated ankle joints. The prognostic importance of this condition is emphasized.

The influence of captopril on the epinephrine response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in humans. The interaction between the renin-angiotensin system and the sympathetic nervous system.

The aim of this study was to assess whether an interaction exists between the renin-angiotensin system and the sympathetic nervous system at the level of the adrenal medulla during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in normal humans. Seventeen healthy volunteers were studied in a randomized, single-dose, double-blind, cross-over fashion using 25 mg captopril v placebo followed by an intravenous injection of 0.15 IU/kg insulin. Blood samples were obtained before and at 15 min intervals after insulin injection. Both plasma glucose level and heart rate were identical during captopril and placebo at rest and after insulin. Plasma renin activity increased after insulin and captopril. The increase in plasma epinephrine was lower after insulin and captopril compared to after insulin and placebo. Likewise the increase in plasma norepinephrine was blunted on insulin and captopril. Thus, when the generation of angiotensin II was blocked by captopril the insulin-induced rise in epinephrine and norepinephrine was blunted. This indicates that an interaction exists between the renin-angiotensin system and the sympathoadrenal system.

[Inguinal hernias with bladder herniation]. / Ingvinalhernier med blaereindhold.

Two cases of inguinal scrotal bladder herniation are reported. Both patients were operated upon with repositioning of the bladder and fascial repair. Herniation of the urinary bladder should be suspected in men aged over 50 years with scrotal herniation and symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction.

Tibial periosteal reactions in soldiers. A scintigraphic study of 29 cases of lower leg pain.

Twenty-two soldiers with tibial pain along the posteromedial tibial border (29 painful tibias) entered the study. The tibias were evaluated using radiographs and scintigraphs. Follow-up scintigraphs of 12 tibias were performed. The scintigraphic lesions were classified as Stages 0-V depending on the percentage of bone thickness involved. No attempts were made to differentiate between shin splints and stress fractures. Twenty-four symptomatic lesions and five asymptomatic lesions were found by scintigraphy. Radiographic changes were found in all the lesions classified as Stage III or higher, in some Stage II lesions, but never in Stages 0 and I lesions. Because intense scintigraphic uptake is seen in bone tumors, radiographs are needed to exclude this diagnosis. Radiographs were, however, not as sensitive as scintigraphs for differentiating the periosteal injuries seen in this study. The initial scintigraphs can be used to classify the lesions. Follow-up scintigraphs are not useful because they take months to return to normal. Consequently, the clinical symptoms and the level of pain should be the guidelines for treatment.

Early mobilizing treatment for grade III ankle ligament injuries.

Eighty patients with grade III lateral ligament ruptures were treated either with total immobilization in a walking plaster cast or early mobilization in a stabilizing orthosis. The criterion for entrance was a talar tilt of more than 9 degrees and an anterior translation of more than 10 mm at stress radiography, a previously stable ankle, and a contralateral ankle showing normal stress radiographic values. Ninety-one percent of the patients were evaluated at 7 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year postinjury. While functionally treated patients reached normal mobility and resumed work and sports earlier than immobilized patients there were no differences between the treatment groups in ankle stability or symptoms during activity after 1 year. Ninety-five percent of the ankles in either group were mechanically stable after treatment. Residual symptoms were present 1 year postinjury in 13% of the functionally treated ankles and in 9% of the cast-mobilized ankles. In lateral ankle ligament ruptures causing gross mechanical instability early mobilization results in a better early functional result; however, at 1 year postinjury there was no statistically significant difference in outcome as compared to cast-immobilized ankles.

[Compression stockings contra ace-bandages in the treatment of acute ankle distorsions. A prospective randomized study]. / Støttestrømper kontra støttebind i behandlingen af akutte ankeldistorsioner. En prospektiv randomiseret undersøgelse.

Sprained ankles are most often treated with ace-bandages. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of compressing antiembolism stocking (T.E.D.) versus the ace-bandage in a prospective randomised trial. Evaluation was based on the duration of pain, swelling, limp and absence from daily routines (job, daily activity and sport). The study included 149 patients. We found no difference between the two treatments, on the basis of 95% confidence interval at the difference between the treatments. On the basis of this trial we cannot recommend one treatment rather than the other, but it must be borne in mind that the ace-bandage is cheaper.