Perioperative Management of Oral Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Therapy in Hand and Wrist Surgery.

There is wide variability in the management of patients on antithrombotic therapy requiring surgery of the hand and wrist. There are no specific guidelines regarding whether to temporarily cease or continue oral anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. Discontinuation of these medications before surgery can lead to perioperative thromboembolic or ischemic events. On the other hand, continuation can lead to intraoperative or postoperative bleeding complications. This review discusses various anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents with special considerations for their management, analyzes the current literature, summarizes current recommendations, and provides direction for additional research.

Baseball Injuries of the Hand and Wrist.

Injuries of the hand and wrist are common in baseball. Because of the unique motions and loads encountered in this sport, physicians treating baseball players may encounter hand and wrist injuries ranging from common to rare. An understanding of these baseball-related injuries must include their pathoanatomy, diagnosis, and treatment options. This knowledge is critical for the general orthopaedic surgeon treating baseball players to allow for timely and appropriate treatment. This article reviews the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of baseball-related hand and wrist injuries, with a target audience of general orthopeadic surgeons.

A Prospective Evaluation of the Anatomy of the First Dorsal Compartment in Patients Requiring Surgery for De Quervain's Tenosynovitis.

Background We prospectively evaluated the surgical anatomy during first dorsal compartment release for De Quervain's tenosynovitis, with special attention to the superficial branch of the radial nerve (SBRN). Additionally, the incidence of tendon instability during surgery was assessed. Methods This prospective cohort study consisted of 130 De Quervain's patients undergoing first dorsal compartment release. The treating surgeons recorded the type of incision used, the number of abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendon slips, the number of SBRN branches encountered, additional subcompartments created by any septations, and active/passive tendon stability. Results A singular first dorsal compartment was found in 37% of cases, whereas 55% of patients had two subcompartments and 8% had three. Multiple APL tendon slips (range: 1-4) were identified in 78% of patients. In contrast, a single EPB tendon was found in 92% of patients (range: 0-2). At least one SBRN was encountered in 61% of cases. Following surgery, instability was evident in 9% of patients, who had tendons perch with passive wrist flexion. In one of these patients (<1%), the tendons dislocated volarly out of the first dorsal compartment during active flexion. Conclusions The anatomical findings in our relatively large, prospective study of De Quervain's patients undergoing first dorsal compartment release are consistent with previous smaller and/or retrospective studies. Overall, we expect to encounter the SBRN during first dorsal compartment release in more than 50% of patients but are unconcerned if it is not visualized during a careful approach. Tendon instability has an incidence of 9%; however, dislocation is rare (<1%).