A BIONIC HAND VS. A REPLANTED HAND.

Objective: Evaluation of the hand function affected when replacing a malfunctioning hand by a bionic hand. Design: Case report. Subjects: One individual that wished for a better quality of life after unsatisfying hand function following a replantation. Methods: A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of body functions as well as activity performance and participation before and after a planned amputation and prosthetic fitting is presented. Results: Improvements were seen in the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) that were used regarding activity (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand [DASH] and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [COPM]), pain (Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory [NPSI], Brief Pain Inventory [BPI], Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]), cold intolerance (CISS) and health related quality of life (SF-36), as well as in the standardised grip function test, Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure (SHAP). No referred sensations were seen but the discriminative touch on the forearm was improved. In the qualitative interview, a relief of pain, a lack of cold intolerance, improved appearance, better grip function and overall emotional wellbeing were expressed. Conclusions: The planned amputation and subsequent fitting and usage of a hand prosthesis were satisfying for the individual with positive effects on activity and participation. Clinical relevance: When the hand function after a hand replantation does not reach satisfactory levels, a planned amputation and a prosthetic hand can be the right solution.

No long-term risk of wrist osteoarthritis due to subchondral haematomas in distal radial fractures.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study of distal radius fractures was to determine if a subchondral haematoma in an unfractured compartment predicts secondary osteoarthritis. METHODS: In 1995-1997, 41 patients, 22 women, a median age of 41 years (20-57 years) with a displaced distal radius fracture underwent diagnostic wrist arthroscopy in addition to the fracture treatment. In 12 patients (7/12 women), subchondral haematomas were identified in a joint compartment not involved in the fracture. RESULTS: At 13-15 years, 37 patients were still alive. Twenty-eight patients attended the follow-up and 8/28 had had a subchondral haematoma within an uninjured compartment at the time of arthroscopy. The range of motion at 13-15 years was impaired in the injured wrist, but unrelated to the presence of a subchondral haematoma. The mean grip strength in patients with subchondral haematoma was 80% of the contralateral, compared to 78% in patients without. No correlation was found between the presence of a subchondral haematoma at arthroscopy and the development of radiographic osteoarthritis in the long term. CONCLUSION: The presence of a subchondral hematoma in an uninjured compartment at the time of fracture did not alter the long-term clinical or radiographic outcome after a distal radius fracture.

Arthroscopically diagnosed scapholunate ligament injuries associated with distal radial fractures: a 13- to 15-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the natural history of untreated complete or partial scapholunate (SL) ligament tears associated with displaced distal radius fractures. METHODS: Between 1995 and 1997, 51 consecutive patients aged < 60 years with displaced distal radius fractures were examined arthroscopically to assess for concomitant soft tissue injuries. Thirty-two of 51 patients had an SL ligament tear, 10 had a complete tear (Lindau grade 3), and 22 had a partial tear (Lindau grades 1 and 2). Thirty-two patients had AO type-C fractures, 3 had type-B fractures, and 16 had type-A fractures. In 2010, 47 of the 51 patients were still alive, and they were invited for an interview, clinical examination, and radiography. RESULTS: Thirty-eight of the 51 original patients participated in the long-term follow-up. Mean grip strength was 83% relative to the contralateral hand in patients with a complete tear, as compared with 92% in patients with partial or no SL tears (nonsignificant). Median Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire score was 2 (range, 0‒55) for complete SL tears, compared with 9 (range, 0‒70) for the others (nonsignificant). No differences were found regarding visual analog scale pain or wrist motion/forearm rotation. None of the patients developed a static SL dissociation or a SL advanced collapse wrist. CONCLUSIONS: No major differences were found in the subjective, objective, or radiographic outcome after a complete (grade 3) or partial (grade 1 or 2) SL untreated tear associated with displaced distal radius fracture. It should be noted that none of the patients had a grade 4 SL tear, which may have a different outcome. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

The natural course of traumatic triangular fibrocartilage complex tears in distal radial fractures: a 13-15 year follow-up of arthroscopically diagnosed but untreated injuries.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term results of a prospective, longitudinal case series of untreated, traumatic triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears found in displaced distal radial fractures. METHODS: Between 1995 and 1997, 51 patients (24 men, 27 women; age, 20-57 y) with a displaced distal radius fracture had wrist arthroscopy to identify associated injuries. Forty-three patients had complete or partial tears of the TFCC, which were not treated. All patients were contacted in 2010, 13-15 years after the injury. One patient had had a TFCC reattachment due to painful distal radioulnar joint instability and was excluded. Thirty-eight patients returned for a radiographic and clinical follow-up that recorded strength, distal radioulnar joint laxity, range of motion, pain scale score, and subjective and objective outcome scores. RESULTS: After 13-15 years, 17/38 patients were lax in the distal radioulnar joint. The mean grip strength was worse in the patients with a lax distal radioulnar joint (83%, SD 15 of the contralateral side vs 103%, SD 33). The median Gartland and Werley score was 5 (good; range, 0-15) in the lax group compared to 1 (excellent; range, 0-9) in the non-lax group, and the median Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores were 14 (range, 0-59) and 5 (range, 0-70) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this 13-15 year, prospective, longitudinal outcome study of the natural course of TFCC tears associated with distal radius fracture, only 1 patient had been operated on for painful instability since the injury. The subjective and objective results did not provide evidence that a TFCC injury would influence the long-term outcome. However, trends were found and, by speculation, the low number of patients in the series and the risk for a type II error could be the cause of absent statistically significance. Larger, preferably prospective, randomized studies are needed to find out whether a more aggressive treatment is beneficial. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic I.