Treatment of chronic scapholunate instability: Results with three-ligament tenodesis vs. scapholunate and intercarpal ligamentoplasty.

In this retrospective case control/comparison study, we compared the clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with chronic scapholunate dissociation treated with three-ligament tenodesis (3 LT) versus scapholunate and intercarpal ligamentoplasty (SLICL). Twenty patients with a mean age of 43 years were treated with the 3 LT procedure and 26 patients with a mean age of 44 years with the SLICL procedure. All patients had chronic reducible scapholunate dissociation without chondral lesions. The two groups of patients were operated on by senior surgeons, at the same facility, over two different time periods. All patients were evaluated (pain, motion, strength, function, X-rays) with a mean follow-up of 28 months (12-49) in the 3 LT group and 36 months (12-54) in the SLICL group. In the both groups, we found a significant improvement in pain levels, grip strength and functional scores (DASH and PRWE). The SLICL group had significantly less pain and greater grip strength than the 3 LT group. Patients in the SLICL group had a greater improvement in their DASH and PRWE Scores. The mean range of motion in flexion-extension was 82° (102° preoperative) in the 3 LT group and 113° (115° preoperative) in the SLICL group. In the 3 LT, there was no significant improvement in the mean static and dynamic scapholunate gaps (3.6 and 4.8 mm postoperatively versus 3.9 and 4.9 mm preoperatively), or the scapholunate angle (75° versus 72°). In the SLICL group, the mean static and dynamic gaps improved significantly (2.3 and 3.0 mm postoperatively versus 3.2 and 4.6 mm preoperatively), as did the scapholunate angle (62° versus 73°). In the 3 LT group, 4 patients developed osteoarthritis. In conclusion, the SLICL procedure for scapholunate ligament reconstruction led to better clinical and early radiological results than the 3 LT technique.

Fracture-dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the long fingers: Report of an unusual case requiring open surgery.

Dorsal fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the long fingers are in most cases unstable. They require surgery, whose primary aim is to restore and maintain articular congruency. While numerous techniques exist to treat these injuries, none have been shown to be superior to any of the others in terms of outcomes and complications. The least invasive techniques should be used as much as possible. We report here a rare case of incarceration of the flexor tendons in the PIP fracture which required open surgery.

Treatment of chronic scapholunate dissociation with tenodesis: A systematic review.

Scapholunate (SL) instability is the most common dissociative carpal instability condition. It is the most frequent cause of wrist osteoarthritis, defined as scapholunate advanced collapse or SLAC wrist. Familiarity with the SL ligament complex is required to understand the various features of SL instability. Damage to the SL interosseous ligament is the main prerequisite for SL instability; however the extrinsic, palmar and dorsal ligaments of the carpus also come into play. When more than 6 weeks has passed since the initial injury event, SL instability is considered chronic because ligament healing is no longer possible. Before osteoarthritis sets in and when the SL instability is still reducible (scaphoid can be reverticalized), ligament reconstruction surgery is indicated. Since the end of the 1970s, various ligament reconstruction or tenodesis techniques have been described. These techniques are used in cases of chronic, dynamic or static reducible SL instability, when no repairable ligament stump and no chondral lesions are present. The aim is to correct the SL instability using a free or pedicled tendon graft to reduce pain while limiting the loss of mobility and protecting against osteoarthritis-related collapse in the long-term. We will perform a systematic review of the various tenodesis techniques available in the literature.

Reliability assessment of measuring active wrist pronation and supination range of motion with a smartphone.

This study aimed to improve clinical examination techniques by determining the reliability of different methods to evaluate forearm movements. Two methods using the iPhone™ 5 and its gyroscope application (alone [I5] or attached to a selfie stick [ISS]) were compared with two conventional measurement devices (a plastic goniometer with a hand-held pencil [HHP] and a bubble goniometer [BG]) to evaluate the active range of movement (AROM) of the wrist during pronation and supination. Two independent groups of subjects took part in this prospective single-center diagnostic study: 20 healthy subjects and 20 patients. The four evaluation methods had high intra-observer consistency after three measurements (intra-class correlation coefficient [ICC] [3, 1] of 0.916 for the HHP; 0.944 for ISS; 0.925 for BG; 0.933 for I5) and excellent inter-observer reliability (ICC [2, k] of 0.926 for HHP; 0.934 for ISS; 0.899 for BG; 0.894 for I5), with an agreement of plus or minus 2°. When these devices are used with rigorous methodology, they are reliable for the goniometric evaluation of AROM of wrist pronation and supination.

[Treatment of distal radius extra-articular malunion in young active patients]. / Traitements des cals vicieux extra-articulaires de l'extrémité distale du radius du sujet jeune actif.

Malunion is a common complication of distal radius fractures despite new fixation devices. The authors discuss the surgical indications, preoperative management and the various surgical techniques used to treat distal radius extra-articular malunion, specifically in active young subjects. The treatment goals in this population group are anatomical restoration of the distal radius and distal radioulnar joint, short immobilization period, quick functional recovery and stable results over time, consistent with high functional demands.

An articular spacer for metacarpophalangeal fracture: The story of a crocodile bite.

Choosing the best option for reconstructing comminuted joint fractures in hand surgery raises technical challenges due to the small size of the anatomical structures and the required early mobilization. Single-stage reconstructions are clearly preferable, but when the infection risk is high, two-stage alternatives are needed. We report a case of fracture of the head of the 2nd metacarpal resulting from a crocodile bite treated by implanting an articular spacer.

Dorsal locking plates versus staples in four-corner fusion: a comparative clinical and radiological study.

INTRODUCTION: Four-corner fusion was described in 1984 by HK Watson for the treatment of SLAC wrist. This intervention has undergone few changes since that description, but the debate on the fixation method is still not resolved. HYPOTHESIS: Dorsal locking plates provide better stability, short immobilization and a quicker return to daily activities than traditional fixation methods such as staples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one fusions using the Medartis Aptus Four-Corner Fusion(®) plate at a mean 13.1 months' follow-up and 35 using staples at a mean 80.4 months' follow-up were reviewed in a clinical and radiographic retrospective comparative study. RESULTS: Results were comparable between the two groups in terms of range of motion (flexion-extension arc of 67.3° for plates and 60.6° for staples), force (29.6 and 28 kg.F), pain and disability (PRWE 34.8/150 and 40.9; QuickDASH 19.83/100 and 30). Mean time off work was significantly shorter in the plate group (4.5 vs. 7.9 months). There were no non-unions in the plate group, versus 2 in the staples group. Dorsal impingement implicating hardware was also less frequent in the plate group (2 vs. 11). DISCUSSION: The dorsal locking plate did not improve final results in four-corner fusion in terms of range of motion, force, pain or function compared to staples. However, it provided stable fixation, allowing a shorter immobilization and a quicker return to work. Although the initial cost is higher, it could allow significant savings on postoperative costs, shifting the technical debate into the field of public health. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective study.

[Graft reconstruction of flexor tendons]. / Reconstruction par greffe des tendons fléchisseurs.

The improvement of primary flexor tendon repair has limited the indications of secondary repairs to neglected initial wound care and deficiencies in the surgical technique or rehabilitation. The surgical and rehabilitation care is complex and prolonged, requiring full cooperation of the patient. That is why the surgeon must evaluate patient's ability to integrate instructions and to comply with a long and demanding protocol. The functional needs of the patient are important in treatment decisions and the surgeon should not hesitate to use an appropriate surgical alternative (tenodesis, arthrodesis, tendon transfer, etc.). After a brief historical review, the authors discuss the indications, technical procedures and finally the results of one-stage and two-stage flexor tendon graft, which despite mixed results keep a real place in our current armamentarium.

Perioperative medullary complications in spinal and extra-spinal surgery in mucopolysaccharidosis: a case series of three patients.

The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are genetic lysosomal storage diseases. Peripheral bone dysplasia and spinal involvement are the predominant orthopedic damage. The risk of spinal cord compression due to stenosis of the craniocervical junction is well known in these patients, whereas the thoracolumbar kyphosis is often well tolerated over a long period of time. Thus, signs of spinal cord compression at this level occur later and more insidiously. The authors describe three cases of patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis who suffered from postoperative spinal cord compression in the absence of direct surgical trauma. Analysis of these cases and review of the literature helped identify causal factors resulting in spinal cord ischemia. The risk of perioperative spinal cord complications related to a thoracolumbar kyphosis must be discussed with patients with MPS and their families prior to any surgery, including extra-spinal procedures.

The role of three-ligament tenodesis in the treatment of chronic scapholunate instability.

Restoring ligamentous control in dissociative carpal instability is a major issue in protecting against osteoarthritis. We present clinical and radiological results for 20 patients who underwent flexor carpi radialis three-ligament tenodesis and were prospectively reviewed at a mean follow-up of 25.1 months. Three-ligament tenodesis significantly relieved pain and increased grip strength, wrist function at the expense of joint stiffness. This improvement was not seen in cases of dynamic instability. However, ligamentous loosening did result in rapid recurrence of radiological anomalies and frequent complications. This study challenges the long-term benefit of three-ligament tenodesis in both dynamic and static chronic scapholunate instability.