Comparison of time-efficiency of individually wrapped screws and sterile screw racks in distal radius fracture treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Time-efficiency of individually wrapped screws versus screws in a screw rack is not well established. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective single-center clinical study timing the interval between the surgeon asking and receiving a screw during plate and screw osteosynthesis of distal radius fractures. Patients were randomized for individually wrapped screws or screws in a screw rack. The study was conducted in a Level 1 Trauma Center and surgeries were performed between March and June 2023. RESULTS: Average handling time for screws from a screw rack was 9 s (SD 5.5; range 3-28) and 22 s for individually wrapped screws (SD 6.1; range 6-38). This average difference of 13 s is significant (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: There is a significant increase in handling time using individually wrapped screws over using a screw rack. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I (therapeutic, randomized controlled trial).

Arthroscopic treatment of calcific tendinitis without rotator cuff repair using prospectively collected results.

The treatment of calcific tendinitis can be either non-operative, which should always be the first step of treatment, or operative. In chronic calcifying tendinitis with insufficient conservative treatment, an arthroscopic excision of the calcification deposit may help, however, there is controversy about how it should be performed. This retrospective study, with prospectively collected results using the Surgical Outcome System™ (SOS, Arthrex®), evaluated the outcome of arthroscopic treatment of calcific tendinitis without rotator cuff repair. Outcome was measured by different scores such as Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Evaluation Form (ASES) and Single Assessment Numeric Scale (SANE). 54 patients were included in the analysis (male: 19; female: 35), mean age at surgery was 51 (range, 37-68) years. All scores improved compared with final follow-up. VAS score improved from 5,3 ± 2,2 to 0,9 ± 1,3 (p<0,001). ASES score improved from 53,0 ± 17,0 to 92,2 ± 11,1 (p<0,001) and SANE score from 47,2 ± 17,8 to 92,1 ± 10,6 (p<0,001). Most improvement is seen in the first 3 months postoperatively but gradual progress is to be expected up until 2 years. No frozen shoulders or cuff tears were reported postoperatively. No reoperations were necessary during follow-up. A noticeable fast pain relief and functional recovery are seen when treating a patient with calcific tendinitis without repairing the rotator cuff. There were no patients with frozen shoulder postoperatively.

Arthroplasty of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint With the TACTYS Prosthesis: Clinical and Radiographic Results With a Mean Follow-up of 5 Years.

BACKGROUND: Degenerative arthritis of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the long fingers is a common disorder affecting mainly a female middle-aged population. Conservative treatment is often effective, but in some cases, pain can persist which can lead to invalidating function. Besides denervation and arthrodesis, arthroplasty is a valuable alternative treatment. The goal of this retrospective study was to determine the clinical and radiological outcomes of the TACTYS prosthesis with a mean follow-up of more than 5 years. METHODS: Between October 2005 and August 2019 10 joints in 9 patients, one patient had two prostheses in two separate fingers (4 males and 6 women) were treated for painful degenerative arthritis of the long fingers with a TACTYS prosthesis (Stryker Inc, Kalamazoo, Michigan). Power grip and pinch force were tested preoperatively and postoperatively, and the functional outcome survey is performed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH), recall QuickDASH, and Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation standardized questionnaires scored of 100 and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) from 0 to 10. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 65.70 months (range: 23-106). Mean age was 71.5 years (range: 64-83). QuickDASH score evolved from 68.43 to 41.92, range of motion from 37.5° to 45.1°, VAS from 6.65 to 1/10. Power grip and precision pinch evolved from 16.44 to 20.80 kg and 1.97 to 2.85 kg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TACTYS arthroplasty can be proposed for people who have been treated long enough with unsuccessful conservative treatment. Infection rate is still the highest complication, which can evolve in invalidating arthrodesis. It should be proposed exceptionally if the PIP joint arthritis causes invalidating functional pain.

The caregene study: muscle-specific creatine kinase gene and aerobic power in coronary artery disease.

In 927 biologically unrelated Caucasian patients with coronary artery disease it was investigated whether the NcoI restriction fragment length polymorphism of the muscle-specific creatine kinase (CKMM) gene is associated with aerobic power and with the response to physical training. Physical training significantly (P<0.001) increased peak oxygen consumption in the GG, AG and AA NcoI genotypes. Covariate-adjusted peak oxygen consumption at baseline, after training and the response to training were not different across CKMM NcoI genotypes.