ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To find out whether it is possible to evaluate the healing of wrist arthrodesis, carried out with a metallic spider plate, by means of 64-slice computed tomography (CT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 18 CT examinations were performed in 12 patients 2 weeks to 37 months following scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) arthrodesis fixed with a metallic plate. Ten patients also had plain films of the wrist. Radiation doses were estimated. RESULTS: Plain films were difficult to evaluate due to overprojection of the spider plate. With 64-slice CT, however, it was possible to evaluate the healing process in all patients in spite of metallic artifacts. Radiation doses were low. CONCLUSION: The healing of SLAC arthrodesis of the wrist is difficult to evaluate with conventional radiography due to the metallic plate. By means of 64-slice CT, however, it was possible to "see under" the plate in all 12 patients.
Subject(s)
Arthrodesis/methods , Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Wrist Joint/diagnostic imaging , Wrist Joint/surgery , Adult , Aged , Artifacts , Bone Plates , Bone Transplantation/methods , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Fracture Healing , Humans , Joint Instability/diagnosis , Lunate Bone/diagnostic imaging , Lunate Bone/injuries , Lunate Bone/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Osteoarthritis/complications , Osteoarthritis/surgery , Postoperative Complications/diagnosis , Prosthesis Implantation/methods , Scaphoid Bone/diagnostic imaging , Scaphoid Bone/injuries , Scaphoid Bone/surgery , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Two children with painful and progressive Madelung deformities were treated by osteotomy of the radius and subsequent angular correction and bone lengthening using the Ilizarov technique. Both children were radiologically improved and free of pain at follow-up.
Subject(s)
Ilizarov Technique , Radius/abnormalities , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Osteotomy , Radius/surgeryABSTRACT
Twenty-seven patients with intraarticular fractures of the distal radius with a step of more than 1 mm in the joint surface after attempted closed reduction, were treated by reduction under arthroscopic control and percutaneous fixation. All fractures healed without measurable incongruity of the joint surface and at follow-up 3 to 38 months after surgery 19 patients had excellent and eight patients good results according to the Mayo modified wrist score.
Subject(s)
Endoscopy , Fracture Fixation/methods , Radius Fractures/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Arthroscopy , Endoscopy/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Radiography , Radius Fractures/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
The number and type of fireworks injuries occurring around New Year's Eve as well as type of fireworks used was investigated with the aim of guiding future prophylactic efforts. All patient contacts to emergency rooms throughout Denmark that were due to fireworks were prospectively registered for twenty-four hours before and after New Year's Eve 1995/1996 and 1996/1997. The number of fireworks injuries increased by 13.9% from 381 to 433, and the number of serious injuries increased by 50.8%. In 1996/1997 50% of the injuries were hand injuries, 19% were eye injuries, 8% were injuries to the head and neck, and the remaining 23% were hearing injuries and miscellaneous injuries. Seventy percent of the serious injuries were hand injuries, leading to some form of amputation in a third of cases. Sixty-one percent of the admissions were due to illegal fireworks. It is concluded that the number of serious fireworks injuries is on the increase, and that the main part of these injuries are hand injuries. Over half of the the serious injuries were due to illegal fireworks. Prophylactic efforts should be aimed against hand-held and illegal fireworks.
