Radiological outcomes following surgical fixation with wires versus moulded cast for patients with a dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius: a radiographic analysis from the DRAFFT2 trial.

Aims: The primary aim of this study was to report the radiological outcomes of patients with a dorsally displaced distal radius fracture who were randomized to a moulded cast or surgical fixation with wires following manipulation and closed reduction of their fracture. The secondary aim was to correlate radiological outcomes with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in the year following injury. Methods: Participants were recruited as part of DRAFFT2, a UK multicentre clinical trial. Participants were aged 16 years or over with a dorsally displaced distal radius fracture, and were eligible for the trial if they needed a manipulation of their fracture, as recommended by their treating surgeon. Participants were randomly allocated on a 1:1 ratio to moulded cast or Kirschner wires after manipulation of the fracture in the operating theatre. Standard posteroanterior and lateral radiographs were performed in the radiology department of participating centres at the time of the patient's initial assessment in the emergency department and six weeks postoperatively. Intraoperative fluoroscopic images taken at the time of fracture reduction were also assessed. Results: Patients treated with surgical fixation with wires had less dorsal angulation of the radius versus those treated in a moulded cast at six weeks after manipulation of the fracture; the mean difference of -4.13° was statistically significant (95% confidence interval 5.82 to -2.45). There was no evidence of a difference in radial shortening. However, there was no correlation between these radiological measurements and PROMs at any timepoint in the 12 months post-injury. Conclusion: For patients with a dorsally displaced distal radius fracture treated with a closed manipulation, surgical fixation with wires leads to less dorsal angulation on radiographs at six weeks compared with patients treated in a moulded plaster cast alone. However, the difference in dorsal angulation was small and did not correlate with patient-reported pain and function.

Treatment of unstable distal radius fractures: non-invasive dynamic external fixator versus volar locking plate - functional and radiological outcome in a prospective case-controlled series.

INTRODUCTION: Distal radius fracture (DRF) is a common injury and various treatment modalities including open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with volar locking plate are available. More recently, a non-invasive external fixator has been used. AIMS: To prospectively compare the use of a non-invasive external fixator with early dynamisation for DRF against ORIF with volar locking plate control group. METHODS: Consecutive patients with closed DRF were included in a prospective case-controlled study. Patients were assigned to non-invasive external fixator or ORIF. Minimum follow-up was two years. Follow-up was at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 26 and at one and two-year post-operatively. The outcome measures included demographic details, injury mechanism, AO fracture type, risk factors, body mass index (BMI), ulnar styloid fracture and dorsal comminution, radiographs, grip strength and DASH score. RESULTS: Consecutive 50 patients were treated either with non-invasive external fixator (25/50) or with ORIF (25/50) and the mean age of the two groups was 53 years (SD 17.1) and 49 years (SD 19.5), respectively. Demographics were matched in two groups. In the non-invasive external fixator group, there were 10 AO Type-A, 5 Type-B and 10 Type-C fractures. The ORIF group included 8 Type-A, 6 Type-B and 11 Type-C fractures. The mean DASH score at three-months and one-year post-injury in non-invasive fixator group was 12.2 (SD 3.1) and 3.5 (SD 0.7), respectively, significantly greater than those of ORIF group 14.5 (SD 5.6) and 11.2 (SD 4.4), respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: DRF treated with non-invasive external fixator can give functional results superior to ORIF at three-months and the trend is maintained at one and two-year post-operatively.

Distal biceps tendon rupture: current concepts.

BACKGROUND: Distal biceps tendon rupture is not a very common injury and the literature remains scarce, mainly limited to case series. While surgical repair has become popular, it is not universally accepted and there are insufficient data regarding patient satisfaction following repair. The purpose of this study was to assess the results of anatomical reinsertion according to objective muscle strength testing and patient-reported outcome measures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients underwent surgical repair over the last 10 years. All patients underwent clinical assessment using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score and Oxford Elbow score. Measurement of range of motion, supination and flexion strength testing was done using a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent of the patients had good or excellent results following surgery as defined by Mayo and Oxford Elbow scores. The average DASH score following surgery was 7.1, nearly the same as the score of 6.2 in the normal population. The mean elbow flexion arc was 134° ± 10.8 (range, 125-150°; 95% confidence interval (CI) 129.6-137.8) with no flexion contractures in the operated side compared with the unaffected elbow. The range of pronation-supination was also comparable in both sides. The average torque in flexion improved by 19.8% (p = 0.25) while supination torque was reduced by 4% (p = 0.12) when compared to the uninjured side. There was 8% incidence of persistent neuropraxia of the antebrachial cutaneous nerve of the forearm and 4% incidence of asymptomatic heterotopic ossification. CONCLUSION: Surgical repair of distal biceps ruptures provides consistently good results in terms of patient-scored outcomes. Objective muscle strength testing does not reveal statistical difference between the injured and the opposite side.

Recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome--analysis of the impact of patient personality in altering functional outcome following a vascularised hypothenar fat pad flap surgery.

We retrospectively analysed 25 patients (27 hands) who had both clinical and electrophysiological confirmation of true recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome from January 2004 to December 2009. In all the patients, after releasing the nerve a vascularised fat pad flap was mobilised from the hypothenar region and sutured to the lateral cut end of flexor retinaculum. The patient characteristics, co-morbidities, duration of symptom, interval between first release and revision surgery and intra-operative findings were assessed against post-operative relief of pain, recovery of sensory and motor dysfunction. The average age of the patients was 58 years (43-81) and the dominant hand was involved in 22 patients. Intra-operatively the nerve was compressed by scar tissue connecting the previously divided ends of the retinaculum in 18 and nine had scar tissue and fibrosis around the nerve. Following surgery 16 patients had complete recovery (asymptomatic at the first follow-up), eight had delayed recovery (partial recovery of symptoms at final follow-up) and three had a poorer outcome (persistence of preoperative symptoms at the final follow-up). The patients with delayed recovery/poorer outcome had a) Early recurrence; b) Diabetes mellitus; c) Obesity; d) Cervical spine problems; e) Involvement of non-dominant hand; and f) Intraoperative scar tissue and fibrosis. The hypothenar fat pad transposition flap provides a reliable source of vascularised local tissue that can be used in patients with recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome. The factors that were associated with poorer/delayed recovery were involvement of non-dominant hand, recurrence within a year from the previous surgery, intra-operatively scar tissue in the carpal tunnel and associated co-morbidities, like obesity diabetes mellitus and cervical spine problems.

A comparison of the Constant and Oxford shoulder scores in patients with conservatively treated proximal humeral fractures.

The Oxford shoulder scores (OSS) and Constant scores were collected prospectively for 103 patients treated conservatively for proximal humeral fractures. The paired scores were analyzed by assessing the degree of correlation, the agreement between the scores, and their sensitivity to change. Linear regression analysis was also performed. The scores correlated well with a coefficient of .84 (P < .001), demonstrating a clear relationship between the scoring systems. There was good agreement between the scores and both were sensitive to change over time (P < .001). We have also produced a regression equation (R2 = .70, P < .001) to predict the Constant score from the OSS. This study documents and compares the behavior of two scoring systems commonly used in the assessment of patients with proximal humeral fractures. The OSS may be considered as an alternative for assessing longer term follow-up, as, being solely subjective, it is easier to administer and correlates well with the Constant score.

Does the presence of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear influence outcome after proximal humeral fractures?

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of rotator cuff tears increases with advancing age. Despite proximal humeral fractures being common in the elderly, the influence of a coexistent rotator cuff tear on outcome has, to our knowledge, not been previously investigated. This study prospectively assessed whether the presence of a rotator cuff tear in association with a proximal humeral fracture influences functional prognosis. METHODS: Eighty-five patients treated conservatively for proximal humeral fractures were evaluated prospectively with ultrasonography to determine the status of the rotator cuff. Every patient was managed by immobilization in an arm sling for 2 weeks followed by physiotherapy. Functional outcome was measured using the Constant and the Oxford shoulder score, at 3 and 12 months postinjury. RESULTS: There were 43 patients with full-thickness cuff tears and 42 patients with no cuff tear or a partial-thickness tear. Full thickness cuff tears were more frequent in patients more than 60 years old. The outcome scores at 3 and 12 months showed no statistically significant difference for either the Constant or the Oxford shoulder score with regard to cuff integrity. Analysis of these scores showed no correlation between presence or absence of a full-thickness cuff tear and shoulder function. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that rotator cuff integrity is not a predictor of shoulder function at 12 months after proximal humeral fracture, as measured by outcome scores and therefore there is no clinical indication for routine imaging of the rotator cuff in patients for whom conservative management is the preferred treatment option.