The Nottingham Palmar Plate Arthroplasty for Metacarpophalangeal Joint Noninflammatory Arthritis.

Palmar (volar) plate interposition arthroplasty for osteoarthritis (OA) of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of the fingers is a well-established technique. Its use has diminished since its initial description and introduction because of poor results in patients with inflammatory arthropathy and a difficult surgical technique. We report the surgical technique and mid-term results of the novel Nottingham interposition arthroplasty for noninflammatory MCP joint OA. A dual dorsal and palmar incision is utilized to maximize the harvest of interposition substance. The surgical technique is described and illustrated in full. Prospective data concerning pain, range of movement and function are reported. The results of 12 arthroplasties in 9 patients are reported. At a median follow-up of 76.1 months the median arc of movement was 44 degrees, favoring an improvement in flexion. The median visual analog score for pain was 0, with all but 1 patient reporting no pain at all. Range of movement has been further improved with a progressively less restrictive rehabilitation regimen giving a median arc of 70 degrees in the more recent patients. Compared with modern implant arthroplasty techniques, the Nottingham Palmar Plate Arthroplasty has demonstrated favorable results in terms of range of movement and most importantly resolution of pain. We consider it to be a viable option in the first line management of MCP joint OA.

The relationship between proximal pole blood flow and the subjective assessment of increased density of the proximal pole in acute scaphoid fractures.

The cause and importance of increased density of the proximal pole of the scaphoid seen in radiographs after an acute fracture were investigated. Blood flow to the proximal poles of 32 nonsurgically treated scaphoid fractures were assessed 1 to 2 weeks after injury by measuring their uptake of gadopentetate dimeglumine with dynamic magnetic resonance imaging and calculating its steepest slope and percentage of enhancement values. Initial (week 0) and week 8 scaphoid series radiographs were independently assessed by 2 observers for increased proximal pole density; both agreed that the density had increased during treatment in 9 fractures. All 9 fractures united, suggesting that increased proximal pole density is not a major determinant of fracture outcome. Increased density of the proximal pole was associated with low proximal pole blood flow, but this relationship was not absolute, suggesting that other factors contribute to the appearance of increased density.