Correction of Clinodactyly by Early Physiolysis: 6-Year Results.

PURPOSE: To review results at least 6 years after physiolysis for treatment of the delta phalanx associated with clinodactyly. METHODS: We present 22 cases of clinodactyly treated with physiolysis in which we removed the central part of the epiphysis, which is the portion restricting longitudinal growth unilaterally and inducing progressive finger deviation, and placed a fat graft in the resultant defect. RESULTS: This retrospective study reports the results of early physiolysis in 27 fingers with radial clinodactyly, including 17 fingers from 17 patients previously reported and 10 little fingers from 5 additional patients. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 6 years. Mean preoperative angle was 38° (range, 25° to 47°). At final follow-up, mean angle was 8° (range, 0° to 24°), a mean correction of 79%. Twelve fingers in 9 patients had more than 10° of deformity at final follow-up, whereas 15 fingers in 13 patients had a residual deformity of less than 10°, which is effectively full correction of a clinodactyly. No patient required a closing wedge osteotomy later for insufficient correction. CONCLUSIONS: These accumulative findings confirm our previous preliminary report. Early physiolysis is a quick and simple procedure that allows for growth and partial but often adequate correction of the clinodactyly. The correction occurs slowly over a period of years, which can be seen as a disadvantage, and requires careful counseling of the parents. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

The preliminary results of treatment of symptomatic carpal boss by wedge joint resection, radial bone grafting and arthrodesis with a shape memory staple.

There is no consensus regarding the aetiology or treatment of carpal boss. Recurrences or carpometacarpal instability is reported after simple resection. Carpometacarpal arthrodesis has been proposed as a primary treatment and after failure of simple resection. This paper reports the results at a mean follow-up of 17 (range 13-28) months of treatment by wedge-shaped joint resection, corticocancellous radial bone graft and arthrodesis with a shape memory staple of seven of 32 patients who presented with a painful carpal boss. The study group included five women and two men of mean age at operation 29 (range 18-40) years. Fusion was achieved in all cases and all patients were pain free at follow-up. No complications occurred and all the patients were pleased with the aesthetic aspect of the treatment.

Camptodactyly as a spectrum of congenital deficiencies: a treatment algorithm based on clinical examination.

BACKGROUND: Camptodactyly is a frequent congenital hand disorder, but its cause and treatment remain a matter of controversy. Although it is difficult to establish the primary cause of camptodactyly, careful clinical examination allows the assessment of all the structures involved (e.g., skin, subcutaneous fascia, flexor tendons, extensor tendon, intrinsic muscles, and joints). The purpose of the study was to assess the validity of an algorithm based on the clinical examination in planning the operation. METHODS: An algorithm based on clinical examination and the authors' 27-year experience was designed to determine and customize the surgery for each case according to the function of the anatomical structures involved. The authors compared the results of surgical treatment in two groups of patients with camptodactyly of the fifth finger operated on before (group 1, 33 patients) or after use of the algorithm (group 2, 35 patients). All patients had more than 1 year of follow-up (range, 21 to 47 months). RESULTS: There were significantly fewer failures in group 2 (14 percent versus 45.5 percent, p < 0.01). The improvement, after an extensive liberation in stiff early cases (type Ia), gave better results than previous attempts but did not reach significance (84 percent versus 66 percent). Similarly, for types Ib (early and correctable) and IIb (late and correctable) camptodactyly, the surgical results were improved, with 91 percent and 90 percent improvement, respectively, in group 2 versus 50 percent and 44 percent in group 1 (not significant). CONCLUSION: A selective surgical indication, based on careful clinical examination, improves the results of camptodactyly treatment by correcting the involved anatomical components.

Radial shift of the ulnar fingers: a new technique for special cases of longitudinal central deficiency.

Treatment of central longitudinal deficiencies is well defined, with different techniques established for the classical clefts. However, none of these techniques is easily applied to the treatment of very deep clefts accompanied by a significant divergence of the metacarpal bones. In such cases, the results of current techniques are disappointing. We propose a new technique of "Translocation in the Radial direction of the Ulnar Finger(s)" (TRUF) by intra-carpal osteotomy. The results are illustrated in three clinical cases. The TRUF operation allowed closing of the cleft, alignment of the metacarpal bones and preservation of carpometacarpal mobility. When necessary, a metacarpal synostosis may be treated at the same procedure.

Relationship between dorsal ganglion cysts of the wrist and intraosseous ganglion cysts of the carpal bones.

Soft tissue ganglion cysts are the most common benign tumours of the wrist; their pathogenesis remains controversial. We prospectively screened the radiographic appearance of the wrists of 51 patients presenting to a single surgeon with dorsal wrist ganglions during a one-year period. Postero-anterior and lateral radiographs were systematically performed looking for possible associated intraosseous ganglion cysts. There were 51 dorsal soft tissue ganglion cysts in 51 patients. We detected 29 associated intraosseous ganglia in 24 patients (47%): 16 ganglia in the lunate bone (55%), 5 in the capitate bone, 7 in the scaphoid and 1 in the trapezoid. Mean size of the intraosseous ganglia was 3 mm (range, 2 to 5 mm). This high prevalence of intraosseous ganglia in association with soft tissue ganglia has to our knowledge never been reported previously. A common aetiology for these two types of ganglion cysts may explain this high association rate.

Principalization of pollicization of the index finger in congenital absence of the thumb.

After reviewing our experience with pollicization in congenital cases of thumb hypoplasia or aplasia, we found that classic techniques have several weak points concerning function and appearance. Abduction is frequently inadequate, and adduction is quite weak. Esthetically the thumb has a slender aspect, the web fold is absent, and the commissure looks more like a cleft. We tried to prioritize the issues to propose some technical modifications for improvement of function and appearance.

A severe complication of muscle transfer: clostridial myonecrosis.

We present a case of gas gangrene as a severe complication of muscle transfer for opponensplasty. After debridement, the extensive palmar wound was covered by a free gracilis muscle transfer. This complication of muscle transfer has to our knowledge never been reported previously.

Denervation of the proximal interphalangeal joint: a realistic and simple procedure.

Pain relief in osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint is a difficult problem. Joint denervation, a technique yielding good reproducible results in wrist and first carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis, is, at the proximal interphalangeal joint level, a good alternative to implant arthroplasty or arthrodesis. The surgical technique is simple and may be performed under local anesthesia. Results are satisfactory with about 80% pain relief.

First carpometacarpal joint denervation: anatomy and surgical technique.

The main goal of first carpometacarpal arthritis surgery is to relieve pain. The main disadvantage of the classic techniques (trapeziectomy, implant arthroplasty) is that they are extensive surgeries with potential complications, such as radial nerve paresthesia and synovitis. In the author's opinion, denervation of the first carpometacarpal joint is a viable option in selected cases. He describes the technique of denervation based on his previous anatomic investigations. Two incisions are needed to sever all the articular branches derived from the superficial branch of the radial nerve, the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve, the thenar branch of the median nerve, and the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. Results comparable with trapeziectomy or first carpometacarpal joint fusion are obtained concerning pain. Complications are uncommon, except for temporary paresthesia of the radial nerve sensory branch.