A Unique Treatment for Compartment Syndrome After Intravenous Catheter Extravasation: A Case Report.

Intravenous cannulation is performed on nearly every patient presenting for an anesthetic. Complications of the procedure include infiltration and extravasation, which can have a varied impact on the patient. Here, we present a case of severe intravenous (IV) extravasation, resulting in compartment syndrome of the hand. Rather than treating the compartment syndrome with fasciotomies as is standard, we utilized compression therapy via an Esmarch surgical dressing wrapped distal to proximal on the effected limb, which resulted in marked decrease in swelling and return of perfusion to the hand.

Multiple Schwannomas of the Median Nerve: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Schwannomas are rare benign tumors affecting the peripheral nerves. They can grow in clusters when associated with neurofibromatosis Type II or with schwannomatosis. Typically, patients present with a palpable painless mass. However, some patients, on the other hand, present with symptomatic lesions that resemble a focal nerve compression caused by the encapsulating nature of these tumors. Surgical excision is an excellent solution for solitary symptomatic lesions. However, multiple schwannomas affecting the same nerve add another level of complexity to the surgery since these secondary masses can be too small to be detected on physical examination. A high index of suspension for schwannomatosis complemented with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ensures a more efficient pre-operative workup that can save the patient potentially an additional visit to the operating room. CASE REPORT: This is a case of a 36-year-old right-handed female presented to our clinic with a several-years history of a painful mass in her forearm. On physical examination, she had a palpable painful mass that was Tinel positive with pain and paresthesia radiating distally over the median nerve distribution. A subsequent MRI scan showed a second smaller mass distally adjacent to the main lesion along with the median nerve, both appearing to be schwannomas of the median nerve. In this case report, we discuss the patient presentation, diagnostic workup and radiographic finding, surgical technique, and pathological findings in addition to a review of the literature regarding multiple schwannomas affecting the upper extremity. CONCLUSION: Schwannomas are rare benign tumors affecting the peripheral nerves. Despite their solitary nature, a handful of cases are reported in the literature that describes multiple masses encapsulating the same nerve. MRI is utilized to allow proper pre-operative planning and more accurate localization of these tumors to avoid an unplanned return to the operating room.

Candida Parapsilosis associated rice bodies in the extensor compartment of the wrist--an emerging finding.

Candida parapsilosis has been considered an emerging pathogen with increasing incidence reported in the literature. As a normal commensal of human skin, it is likely that Candida species could gain access to soft tissues of the hand and wrist by direct inoculation, resulting in an infectious tenosynovitis. With the increased prevalence of intravenous drug use (IVDU), users are at increasing risk for musculoskeletal infections including soft tissue abscesses, cellulitis, tenosynovitis, and septic arthritis. Chronic tenosynovitis, with rice body formation in particular, is a comparatively rare musculoskeletal infection. Knowledge of this entity, the related pathogens, imaging findings, and the treatment plan is important not only to the treating clinician, but also to radiologists as the physiological and anatomic consequences can be detrimental to patient recovery.

Irreducible Galeazzi Fracture-Dislocations.

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the radial shaft with disruption of the distal radial ulnar joint (DRUJ) or Galeazzi fractures are treated with reduction of the radius followed by stability assessment of the DRUJ. In rare instances, the reduction of the DRUJ is blocked by interposed structures requiring open reduction of this joint. The purpose of this study is to review all cases of irreducible Galeazzi fracture-dislocations reported in the literature to offer guidelines in the diagnosis and management of this rare injury. METHODS: A search of the MEDLINE database, OVID database, and PubMed database was employed using the terms "Galeazzi" and "fracture." Of the 124 articles the search produced, a total of 12 articles and 17 cases of irreducible Galeazzi fracture-dislocations were found. RESULTS: The age range was 16 to 64 years (mean = 25 years). A high-energy mechanism of injury was the root cause in all cases. More than half of the irreducible DRUJ dislocations were not identified intraoperatively. In a dorsally dislocated DRUJ, a block to reduction in most cases (92.3%) was secondary to entrapment of one or more extensor tendons including the extensor carpi ulnaris, extensor digiti minimi, and extensor digitorum communis, with the remaining cases blocked by fracture fragments. Irreducible volar dislocations due to entrapment of the ulnar head occurred in 17.6% of cases with no tendon entrapment noted. CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of a Galeazzi fracture, a reduced/stable DRUJ needs to be critically assessed as more than half of irreducible DRUJs in a Galeazzi fracture-dislocation were missed either pre- or intraoperatively.

Are standardized patient self-reporting instruments applicable to the evaluation of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow?

BACKGROUND: This study attempts to confirm that the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Outcome Measure self-administered questionnaire is valid specifically for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Validity of the Levine-Katz questionnaire for ulnar neuropathology compared with DASH was also studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients with isolated ulnar nerve surgery completed a 6-month evaluation. Patients were assigned a clinical stage. The DASH and Levine-Katz questionnaires were administered, and pinch and grip strength were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Levine-Katz questionnaires were correlated with DASH to establish criterion validity. Construct validity was tested by determining a relationship between scores and clinical stages and by comparing scores preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: There was a high correlation between DASH scores and symptom severity and functional status. Although correlations were significant between DASH and biomechanical measures, correlation coefficients were lower. Postoperatively, all measures improved significantly. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that scores on the DASH questionnaire reflect the clinical staging of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.