J. Medina

Percutaneous Needle Aponeurotomy: Complications and Results

Recently French rheumatologists have repopularized fasciotomy using a percutaneous needle technique. This blind approach has been claimed to be plagued by numerous complications. We reviewed the charts of 211 patients treated consecutively on 261 hands and 311 fingers to assess the rate of postoperative complications. The first 100 patients were evaluated with a mean follow up of 3.2 years to assess the rate of recurrences and extension of the disease. In the whole group the mean age was 65 years and delay between onset and treatment was 6 years. Division of the cords were performed only in the palm in 165 cases, in the palm and finger in 111 and purely in the finger in 35. Complications were scarce without infection or tendon injury but one digital nerve was found injured during a second procedure. Postoperative gain was prominent at metacarpophalangeal joint level (79% versus 65% at interphalangeal level). The reoperation rate was 24%. In the group assessed at 3.2 years follow up, the recurrence rate was 58% and disease “activity” 69%. Fifty nine hands need further surgery. The ideal indication for this simple and reliable technique is an elderly patient with a bowing cord and predominant MP contracture.

Percutaneous needle fasciotomy in dupuytren disease.

The history of treatment for Dupuytren disease began with percutaneous fasciotomy, and numerous surgeons have designed a variety of special scalpels to facilitate the section of the cords. The use of a simple needle for such a purpose was first proposed by Debeyre, a French rheumatologist. In the original technique of percutaneous needle fasciotomy (PCNF), a 15 gauge needle was used to perform multiple perforations combined with an injection of steroids to weaken the cord in a multiplestage procedure. We began the application of this technique in 1992 as a prospective nonrandomized study, including 171 patients, 198 hands operated on, and 241 fingers. Gaining experience, we progressively expanded the indications. In this study we analyze the complications, describe the indications, and, more specifically, review 65 cases with a mean follow up of 2.5 years.

Camptodactyly as a spectrum of congenital deficiencies: a treatment algorithm based on clinical examination.

Background: Camptodactyly is a frequent congenital hand disorder, but its cause and treatment remain a matter of controversy. Although it is difficult to establish the primary cause of camptodactyly, careful clinical examination allows the assessment of all the structures involved (e.g., skin, subcutaneous fascia, flexor tendons, extensor tendon, intrinsic muscles, and joints). The purpose of the study was to assess the validity of an algorithm based on the clinical examination in planning the operation. Methods: An algorithm based on clinical examination and the authors’ 27-year experience was designed to determine and customize the surgery for each case according to the function of the anatomical structures involved. The authors compared the results of surgical treatment in two groups of patients with camptodactyly of the fifth finger operated on before (group 1, 33 patients) or after use of the algorithm (group 2, 35 patients). All patients had more than 1 year of follow-up (range, 21 to 47 months). Results: There were significantly fewer failures in group 2 (14 percent versus 45.5 percent, p < 0.01). The improvement, after an extensive liberation in stiff early cases (type Ia), gave better results than previous attempts but did not reach significance (84 percent versus 66 percent). Similarly, for types Ib (early and correctable) and IIb (late and correctable) camptodactyly, the surgical results were improved, with 91 percent and 90 percent improvement, respectively, in group 2 versus 50 percent and 44 percent in group 1 (not significant). Conclusion: A selective surgical indication, based on careful clinical examination, improves the results of camptodactyly treatment by correcting the involved anatomical components.

Metacarpal synostosis: a simple classification and a new treatment technique.

&NA; The current classification of metacarpal synostosis is based on the extent of the synostosis. The authors propose a new classification that takes into account the shape of the metacarpal bones, the curvature of the epiphysis, and the discrepancy in length between the two bones. This classification provides better guidelines for the correction of all components of the deformity. The classification is based on the authors’ observations of and experience with 36 cases of metacarpal synostosis; 13 of the deformities were surgically corrected. The I‐shaped deformity, whether with distinct (type d) or fused (type f) metacarpophalangeal joints, does not require surgical correction. The U‐shaped deformity has parallel epiphysis and does not require surgery unless the two metacarpals are asymmetrical in length (type a) or tightly fused (type t); in these cases, simple lengthening or widening of the space with a bone graft is sufficient. Y‐shaped synostosis should be separated whether the branches are symmetrical or asymmetrical, the latter having one branch shorter than the other. Because the epiphyses are already divergent, simple separation does not effectively correct Y‐shaped synostosis. The authors propose an osteotomy to isolate a trapezoidal segment of bone from the bifurcation. The isolated bone segment is then reversed in the proximal‐distal direction to provide a “plateau” upon which the two distal metacarpals can be realigned. Two cases of Ys (symmetrical) synostosis were successfully treated with this technique; one case of Ya (asymmetrical) synostosis also required distraction lengthening of the shorter metacarpal to achieve an excellent result. One of the most difficult types of metacarpal synostosis to treat is k‐shaped synostosis, observed only between the fourth and fifth metacarpals; in this type, the head of the short fifth metacarpal abuts the metaphysis of the fourth. Osteotomy and distraction lengthening provide predictable results for correction of this deformity. The authors suggest that k‐shaped synostosis might represent a late evolution of untreated Ua synostosis. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 108: 1225, 2001.)

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.

Correction of Clinodactyly by Early Physiolysis: 6-Year Results

PURPOSE To review results at least 6 years after physiolysis for treatment of the delta phalanx associated with clinodactyly. METHODS We present 22 cases of clinodactyly treated with physiolysis in which we removed the central part of the epiphysis, which is the portion restricting longitudinal growth unilaterally and inducing progressive finger deviation, and placed a fat graft in the resultant defect. RESULTS This retrospective study reports the results of early physiolysis in 27 fingers with radial clinodactyly, including 17 fingers from 17 patients previously reported and 10 little fingers from 5 additional patients. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 6 years. Mean preoperative angle was 38° (range, 25° to 47°). At final follow-up, mean angle was 8° (range, 0° to 24°), a mean correction of 79%. Twelve fingers in 9 patients had more than 10° of deformity at final follow-up, whereas 15 fingers in 13 patients had a residual deformity of less than 10°, which is effectively full correction of a clinodactyly. No patient required a closing wedge osteotomy later for insufficient correction. CONCLUSIONS These accumulative findings confirm our previous preliminary report. Early physiolysis is a quick and simple procedure that allows for growth and partial but often adequate correction of the clinodactyly. The correction occurs slowly over a period of years, which can be seen as a disadvantage, and requires careful counseling of the parents. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic IV.

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.

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.