Isidro Jiménez

Pacinian Corpuscles Neuroma. An Exceptional Cause of Pain in the Hand

Pacinian corpuscles are rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors mainly distributed in the dermis of the fingers and palm of the hand. A neuroma of the Pacinian corpuscle is a rare and extremely painful condition with a few cases reported in the literature, most of them, associated with local or repetitive trauma. We present a 71-year-old man with history of pain and swelling on his left index without history of previous trauma initially diagnosed as tenosynovitis resistant to conservative treatment in which we observed, directly in the subcutaneous plane, spherical, gray and in clusters lesions closer to the collateral nerve which were described by the pathological study as neuroma of the Pacinian corpuscles.

Biceps to Triceps Transfer in Tetraplegic Patients Our Experience and Review of the Literature

Background: Management and indications for surgery in the tetraplegic patient are highly complex because of the substantial functional deficits that they present and their effect on their daily activity. Our purpose was to evaluate the functional outcome in tetraplegic patients who underwent biceps-to-triceps transfer surgery according to Zancolli’s modified technique. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 6 biceps-to-triceps transfers using Zancolli’s modified technique in 4 patients. Mean follow-up was 45 months. We evaluated each patient’s DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) score before surgery and 12 months later. Results: In the 6 arms that underwent surgery, full and active elbow extension against gravity at 12 months after surgery was achieved. The mean DASH score was 73.2 preoperatively and 20.8 twelve months postoperatively. One complication occurred. One patient reported loss of elbow flexion preventing thigh lift for transfers. This was resolved with a program of rehabilitation and specific muscle strengthening Conclusions: Zancolli’s modified technique is simple and effective, with few complications, whereby we can provide more autonomy for the tetraplegic patient.

Combined Perihamate Peripisiform and Peritrapezium Open Axial Carpal Dislocation: Description of a New Pattern of Crush Injury

Background: Axial carpal dislocations and fracture-dislocations remain difficult to understand and to treat. The outcome is directly related to the injury pattern and long-term results are not good in most cases. Methods: 39-year-old male admitted to our emergency department after his left hand was caught between 2 rollers for 10 minutes. He was diagnosed of an open axial carpal dislocation type B (perihamate peripisiform) and type E (peritrapezium) of Garcia-Elias. An extensive debridement, reduction of the carpometacarpal dislocations and stabilization with Kirschner wires was performed requiring a full thickness skin graft 14 days after the trauma. Results: At 4-year follow-up, he had 70° of wrist extension, and 78° of wrist flexion, grip strength of 65% compared to the healthy side and x-ray showed mild signs of osteoarthritis. He was satisfied and returned to the same job. Conclusions: Axial carpal dislocations continue to be difficult injuries to address but also to classify. Since the prognosis depends on the injury pattern and other associated lesions, we believe that adding a type G which include the association of different patterns to the classification of Garcia-Elias could be useful not in changing the treatment but probably indicating a worse prognosis.

Bilateral Nonsynchronous Pacinian Corpuscle Neuroma

Pacinian corpuscles are rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors distributed in the dermis of the fingers and palm of the hand. A neuroma of the pacinian corpuscle is rare and extremely painful, with only a few cases reported in the literature. A 71-year-old man with pain and swelling on his left index finger, initially diagnosed as tenosynovitis resistant to nonsurgical treatment, was referred to our center. During surgery, a cluster of spherical, gray lesions close to the digital nerve was found and excised. The pathological diagnosis was neuroma of the pacinian corpuscles. Two years later, he reported the same clinical findings on his right index finger with no improvement after nonsurgical treatment. During surgery, the same lesions were found and also identified as pacinian corpuscle neuromas.

Neurovascular Complications in Clavicle Fractures Plating: A Simple Procedure to Avoid Them

Open reduction and internal fixation of clavicle displaced fractures is a well-known procedure in trauma surgery but it is not without risks including injuries to major neurovascular structures. Our goal is to share the simple and effective method to avoid neurovascular complications in clavicle fractures plating used in our center. As part of the surgical planning, we performed a digital measurement of the cephalad-caudad length of fracture fragments. We confirmed our measurement intraoperative with a sterile ruler and we adjusted the length of the drill adding 3 mm to our estimation. Knowing that the closest neurovascular structure to the clavicle is positioned at least 4.8 mm caudal to the inferior border of the clavicle, we performed the drilling knowing that we will not get >3 mm caudal to the lower border of the clavicle and, consequently, we carried out a safer surgery. We believe that this simple procedure is a valid option to help mainly young surgeons to avoid these major complications in clavicle fractures plating.

The Zitelli Bilobed Flap on Skin Coverage After Mucous Cyst Excision: A Retrospective Cohort of 33 Cases

PURPOSE To study the time to wound healing and recurrence rate achieved in the treatment of distal interphalangeal joint mucous cysts using the Zitelli modified bilobed flap. METHODS We surgically treated 33 patients from January 2006 to June 2015. We assessed demographic data, comorbidities, location and size of the cyst, time to wound healing, and complications. RESULTS The most affected finger was the right middle finger. All flaps survived and wounds healed in 14 days on average. The mucous cyst recurred in 1 of 33 cases. There were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS The Zitelli bilobed flap can provide good-quality skin coverage over the distal interphalangeal joint in a short period. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic IV.

The scratch collapse test in the diagnosis of compression of the median nerve in the proximal forearm

Our purpose was to review the clinical usefulness of the scratch collapse test (SCT) in the diagnosis of proximal entrapment of the median nerve in the forearm. Eighteen consecutive cases were reviewed. The diagnosis was based on the patient’s symptoms and signs. The SCT was positive in the affected forearm in all clinical assessments before surgery and it was negative in all after median nerve release. An anatomical reason for nerve compression was identified in all cases at operation. The SCT is a useful tool for the diagnosis of the proximal entrapment of the median nerve. Level of evidence: IV

Rigideces metacarpofalángicas en extensión. ¿Un desafío para el cirujano de mano?

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to analyse the outcomes of the surgical treatment of metacarpophalangeal stiffness by dorsal teno-arthrolysis in our centre, and present a review the literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a retrospective study of 21 cases of metacarpophalangeal stiffness treated surgically. Dorsal teno-arthrolysis was carried out on all patients. A rehabilitation programme was started ten days after surgery. An evaluation was performed on the aetiology, variation in pre- and post-operative active mobility, complications, DASH questionnaire, and a subjective satisfaction questionnaire. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 36.5 years and the mean follow-up was 6.5 years. Of the 21 cases, the most common cause was a metacarpal fracture (52.4%), followed by complex trauma of the forearm (19%). Improvement in active mobility was 30.5°, despite obtaining an intra-operative mobility 0-90° in 80% of cases. Mean DASH questionnaire score was 36.9 points. The outcome was described as excellent in 10% of our patients, good in 30%, poor in 40%, and bad in the remaining 20%. There was a complex regional pain syndrome in 9.5% of cases, and intrinsic muscle injury in 14.3%. CONCLUSION Because of its difficult management and poor outcomes, surgical treatment of metacarpophalangeal stiffness in extension is highly complex, with dorsal teno-arthrolysis being a reproducible technique according to our results, and the results reported in the literature.

Cuatro gestos quirúrgicos en el tratamiento de la epicondilitis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Lateral epicondylitis is a common injury in the population. Most patients improve with conservative treatment, but in a small percentage surgery is necessary. The aim of this study is to analyse the clinical results obtained by a «4 surgical tips» technique. MATERIALS AND METHOD This is a retrospective study of 35 operated elbows, with a mean follow-up of 5.3 years. In all cases epicondylar denervation, removal of the angiofibroblastic degeneration core, epicondylectomy, and release of posterior interosseous nerve, was performed. Each patient was evaluated using the Broberg and Morrey Rating System (BMRS), Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), DASH questionnaire, and a survey of subjective assessment. RESULTS BMRS mean score was 97.2 points, with 95.71 points with the MEPS. The mean decrease in VAS was 8.12 points, and the mean score on the DASH was 1.68 points. The results were rated as excellent or very good by 94.3% of patients. There was one recurrence, which resolved with further surgery. Two neuropraxia of the posterior interosseous nerve occurred, which completely recovered in 10 weeks. CONCLUSIONS Using the «4 surgical tips» technique, clinical resolution of symptoms in 97.1% was achieved at the first operation. Therefore, it appears to be an effective, reproducible technique with few complications, in the surgical treatment of lateral epicondylitis resistant to conservative treatment.

Arthroscopically Assisted Osteosynthesis of Coronoid Process Types I and II Fractures in Terrible Triads of the Elbow

Background: The coronoid process has not received much attention in the treatment of traumatic injuries of the elbow until recent years. In addition, there are few studies in the literature that explore the arthroscopic treatment thereof. Purpose: To study the feasibility of arthroscopically assisted treatment of coronoid process types I and II fractures. Materials and Methods: From February 2009 to October 2015, 11 patients underwent surgery for a coronoid process fracture associated with other injuries. There were all males with a mean age of 43 (28-61) years and follow-up of 14.5 (4-28) months. In all patients, arthroscopic reduction and transosseous fixation of the fracture were carried out using a FiberWire (Arthrex, Naples, Florida) suture, and the associated bony and ligamentous injuries were also repaired. After surgery, a splint was used for 18 days, and physical therapy was started after its removal. Range of motion was measured, function was assessed with the Mayo Elbow Performance Scoring (MEPS) questionnaire, pain by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and disability using the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Results: Ten fractures were type II and 1 fracture was type I. Nine patients had an associated injury of the radial collateral ligament, whereas 1 had an associated injury of the ulnar collateral ligament. Six had an associated fracture of the radial head (5 osteosynthesis and 1 fragment excision). Six patients were diagnosed as terrible triad of the elbow. Mean time to bone healing was 5 weeks. All patients had a stable elbow. The range of flexion and extension at the end of follow-up was 131.5° (120-140) to 9.5° (0-25), and pronosupination was 89° (80-90) to 86° (70-90). MEPS was 90.7 (70-100) points, VAS at rest 0 points, active VAS 0.6 (0-2), and force VAS 2.6 (0-5); finally, DASH questionnaire was 13.6 (4.5-20.5) points. No postoperative complications were reported. One patient developed mild residual pain. Conclusions: Although our series presents a limited number of cases, we believe this work shows the feasibility of an arthroscopically assisted treatment in fractures of the coronoid process using a high strength transosseous suture fixation and repairing the associated injuries when necessary.