Flexor origin slide for contracture of spastic finger flexor muscles: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Contracture of the wrist and extrinsic finger flexor and pronator muscles is a common consequence of central nervous system disorders. The proximal release of the extrinsic flexor and pronator muscles was first described by Page and Scaglietti for a Volkmann contracture. The aim of the present study was to assess the amount of increase in extension and the improvements in global hand function that can be expected following this lengthening procedure in patients with central nervous system disorders. METHOD: A single-center retrospective review of patients with central nervous system lesions and contractures of the wrist and extrinsic finger flexor and forearm pronator muscles, causing aesthetic, hygienic, or functional impairment, was carried out. The Page-Scaglietti technique was used for all interventions. Before the operation, motor nerve blocks were used to distinguish between spasticity and contractures with surgical intervention only for contractures. The Zancolli and House classifications were used to evaluate improvements. RESULTS: Data from fifty-four hands and fifty patients (thirty-five men and fifteen women) were evaluated. The mean duration of follow-up (and standard deviation) was 26 ± 21 months (range, three to 124 months). The mean gain (and standard deviation) in wrist extension with fingers extended was 67° ± 25° (range, -10° to 110°). Preoperatively, no hands were classified as Zancolli Group 1, whereas twenty-five hands were classified as Zancolli Group 1 at the latest follow-up review. Ten nonfunctional hands (rated as House Group 0 or Group 1) became functional as a supporting hand postoperatively. Zancolli and House classifications increased significantly (p < 0.01) postoperatively. In twelve cases, a partial recurrence of the deformity occurred. In seven of these cases, surgery unmasked spasticity or contracture of the intrinsic muscles, which required further intervention. CONCLUSION: The Page-Scaglietti technique appears to improve range of motion and function in people with wrist and finger contractures due to central nervous system disorders.

Heterotopic ossification of the shoulder after central nervous system lesion: indications for surgery and results.

BACKGROUND: Heterotopic ossification (HO) of the shoulder after central nervous system damage has seldom been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a single-center retrospective study from 1993 to 2009 including patients who underwent surgery for troublesome shoulder HO. Demographic data, HO location, surgical approach, preoperative and postoperative shoulder range of motion, etiologies, and postoperative complications were collected from patients' files. RESULTS: We found 19 shoulder HOs in 16 patients (traumatic brain injury in 11, spinal cord injury in 2, stroke in 1, and cerebral anoxia in 2). The data in 2 files were incomplete and were therefore not used. HO locations around the joint were anteroinferomedial in 4 (21.1%), posteroinferomedial in 5 (26.3%), encircling in 3 (15.8%), superior in 1 (5.3%), and mixed (2 associated HOs that are not encircling) in 6 (31.6%). The surgical approaches were as follows: deltopectoral, 5 (26.3%); Neer, 3 (15.8%); posterior, 5 (26.3%); axillary, 1 (5.3%); Martini, 2 (10.5%); posterior associated with deltopectoral, 2 (10.5%); and Neer (superolateral) associated with deltopectoral, 1 (5.3%). The mean range of motion increased significantly (gain at follow-up of 69°, 60°, and 13° in forward elevation, abduction, and lateral rotation, respectively). Regarding postoperative complications, there was 1 case of capsulitis and 1 reoperation for insufficient excision (because of hemorrhage during surgery). There were no other side effects. CONCLUSION: Anatomic relations with nerves and vessels, as well as limited range of motion, require a case-by-case surgical approach, a preoperative scan (looking for a gutter), and sometimes, electromyography. Surgical indications depend on the degree of loss of function or hygiene, control of comorbid factors, and discussion with the patient and his or her family.

Manual needle placement: accuracy of botulinum toxin A injections.

INTRODUCTION: Electrophysiological or ultrasound guidance can facilitate botulinum toxin A (BoNt-A) injection accuracy, but clinical landmarks and palpation are often used for superficial muscles. We evaluated the accuracy of manual needle placement in the gastrocnemius muscles (GC) guided only by anatomical landmarks and palpation. METHODS: Bilateral limbs from 30 cadavers were used to evaluate ink injection into the GC. One anatomist and one orthopedic surgeon verified the accuracy of manual needle placement postinjection by calf muscle dissection. Injection was considered a failure if the ink was not located in the head of the target GC. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-one practitioners were evaluated. Fifty-two injections were successful (43%), and 69 failed (57%). This result was unrelated to injector experience (P = 0.097). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show a poor success rate, regardless of injector experience. Therefore, muscle palpation and anatomical landmarks are insufficient to ensure the accuracy of BoNt-A injections, even for large, superficial muscles.

Impact of the operative delay and the degree of neurologic sequelae on recurrence of excised heterotopic ossification in patients with traumatic brain injury.

The timing of surgery with regard to recurrence risk after neurologic heterotopic ossification (HO) excision is still debated. This study investigated the association between recurrence risk after HO excision in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and (1) the operative delay and (2) the degree of neurologic sequelae (Garland status). A case-control study was performed. Patients who developed troublesome HO requiring surgery after TBI with (case, n = 16) or without recurrence (control, n = 64) were retrospectively included. Other matching criteria were sex and age at the time of surgery (± 4 years). The median delay for first HO surgery was 13.7 months (interquartile range: 9.0-37.1) for the case group and 13.2 months (interquartile range: 7.8-30.0) for the control group. No significant link was found between recurrence and operative delay (P = .54), even after inclusion of all matching factors (P = .53), or Garland status (P = .81). The inclusion of Garland status into the model did not change this result (P = .64). After TBI, no link was found between HO operative delay and recurrence. In spite of a common notion of a relationship between initial severity of TBI and HO development, no link was found between HO recurrence risk and the severity of sequelae.

Motor branch of extensor carpi radialis longus: anatomic localization.

OBJECTIVE: To identify extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) motor nerve coordinates in relation to anatomic surface landmarks. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Anatomy institute of a school of medicine in Paris, France. CADAVERS: Fresh adult cadaver upper limbs (N=20). INTERVENTION: Anatomic dissection of upper limbs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three measurements (mm) were taken of the position of the ECRL motor branch: the distance between the lateral epicondyle and the emergence of the ECRL branch along the forearm axis, the branch depth, and the ratio between the distance corresponding to the nerve depth and the intercondylar distance. RESULTS: The radial nerves of 4 men and 6 women (age range 59-80 y) were identified between the brachioradialis and the ECRL and traced proximally to the lateral epicondyle. The injection point was between the lateral epicondyle posteriorly and the wrist extensor group anteriorly. Direction was perpendicular to the axis of the forearm. Mean depth was 35.6 mm (minimal value: 24.0; maximal value: 58.0; SD=9 mm). Ratio between nerve depth and intercondylar distance was .46 (.37; .53±.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ECRL motor nerve branch is easy to reach using specified landmarks. Selective motor nerve block of the ECRL branch should be considered in the clinical assessment to test the capacity of the extensor carpi radialis brevis to extend the wrist alone and to assess the command and overactivity of antagonists before surgery.

The impact of preoperative hip heterotopic ossification extent on recurrence in patients with head and spinal cord injury: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: The preoperative Heterotopic Ossification (HO) extent is usually one of the main used criteria to predict the recurrence before excision. Brooker et al built a radiologic scale to assess this pre operative extent around the hip. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the recurrence risk after hip HO excision in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients and the preoperative extent of HO. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A case control study including TBI or SCI patients following surgery for troublesome hip HO with (case, n = 19) or without (control, n = 76) recurrence. Matching criteria were: sex, pathology (SCI or TBI) and age at the time of surgery (+/-4.5 years). For each etiology (TBI and SCI), the residual cognitive and functional status (Garland classification), the preoperative extent (Brooker status), the modified radiological and functional status (GCG-BD classification), HO localization, side, mean age at the CNS damage, mean delay for the first HO surgery, and for the case series, the mean operative delay for recurrence after the first surgical intervention were noted. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The median delay for first HO surgery was 38.6 months (range 4.5 to 414.5;) for the case subgroup and 17.6 months (range 5.7 to 339.6) for the control group. No significant link was found between recurrence and operative delay (p = 0.51); the location around the joint (0.07); the Brooker (p = 0.52) or GCG-BD status (p = 0.79). Including all the matching factors, no significant relationship was found between the recurrence HO risk and the preoperative extent of troublesome hip HO using Brooker status (OR = 1.56(95% CI: 0.47-5.19)) or GCG-BD status (OR class 3 versus 2 = 0.67(95% CI: 0.11-4.24) and OR class 4 versus 2 = 0.79(95%CI: 0.09-6.91)). Until the pathophysiology of HO development is understood, it will be difficult to create tools which can predict HO recurrence.

Troublesome heterotopic ossification after central nervous system damage: a survey of 570 surgeries.

BACKGROUND: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a frequent complication after central nervous system (CNS) damage but has seldom been studied. We aimed to investigate features of HO for the first time in a large sample and the rate of early recurrence of HO in terms of the time of surgery. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We retrospectively analyzed data from an anonymous prospective survey of patients undergoing surgery between May 1993 and November 2009 in our institution for troublesome HO related to acquired neurological disease. Demographic and HO characteristics and neurological etiologies were recorded. For 357 consecutive patients, we collected data on 539 first surgeries for HO (129 surgeries for multiple sites). During the follow-up, recurrences requiring another surgery appeared in 31 cases (5.8% [31/539]; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8%-7.8%; 27 patients). Most HO requiring surgery occurred after traumatic brain injury (199 patients [55.7%]), then spinal cord injury (86 [24.0%]), stroke (42 [11.8%]) and cerebral anoxia (30 [8.6%]). The hip was the primary site of HO (328 [60.9%]), then the elbow (115 [21.3%]), knee (77 [14.3%]) and shoulder (19 [3.5%]). For all patients, 181 of the surgeries were performed within the first year after the CNS damage, without recurrence of HO. Recurrence was not associated with etiology (p = 0.46), sex (p = 1.00), age at CNS damage (p = 0.2), multisite localization (p = 0.34), or delay to surgery (p = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In patients with CNS damage, troublesome HO and recurrence occurs most frequently after traumatic brain injury and appears frequently in the hip and elbow. Early surgery for HO is not a factor of recurrence.

The dual mobility socket concept: experience with 668 cases.

Long-term results of a retrospective series of primary arthroplasty with the original cementless dual mobility socket (A) and the midterm results with the second generation (B) are reported. In series A (follow-up 16.5 years) 437 total hip arthroplasties (THA) were included and in series B (follow-up five years) 231 hips. The 15-year survival rate was 84.4 ± 4.5% (revision for any reason as endpoint); 30 hips (6.8%) were revised for aseptic loosening. Five THA were revised for dislocation: two early and three after ten years or more. With the second generation socket neither dislocation nor revision for mechanical reasons were observed. The survival rate was 99.6 ± 0.4% (revision for any reason). The prevalence of revision for dislocation was very low in our series. This concept does not avoid wear and aseptic loosening, especially in young active patients, but the long-term stability has been confirmed. Dual mobility can be recommended for patients over 70 years of age and for younger patients with high risk of dislocation.