ABSTRACT
Six cases are described of Beau's lines (transverse grooves in the fingernails) developing after injuries to the hand involving damage to nerves and flexor tendons. The literature is reviewed.
Subject(s)
Hand Injuries/complications , Nails/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Fingers , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The incidence of a palmaris longus tendon in patients with Dupuytren's disease is significantly greater than in a control group with normal hands (p = 0.014). If a patient has a palmaris longus tendon, then there is a highly significant chance of Dupuytren's disease developing in that hand (p less than 0.001).
Subject(s)
Dupuytren Contracture/pathology , Hand , Tendons/pathology , Humans , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Nine patients with rheumatoid arthritis, who had Silastic prostheses (Swanson's) introduced into 34 metacarpophalangeal joints, were reviewed 5 years after surgery. The most important long-term advantage conferred by the introduction of prostheses was pain relief; functional benefit was marginal. The majority of prostheses eventually fractured but this did not necessarily lead to a functional deterioration. Impairment of function was usually the result of loss of flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joints, but it was sometimes due to excessive instability after fracture of the prostheses. It is suggested that Silastic joint replacement may be a worthwhile procedure in rheumatoid patients with moderate destruction or deformity of the metacarpophalangeal joints when pain is a predominant feature. Significant functional improvement can be anticipated only when secondary to pain relief.
