James H. Dobyns

Complications of Colles' fractures.

Patients with Colles fractures have serious complications more frequently than is generally appreciated. A study of 565 fractures revealed 177 (31 per cent) with such complications as persistent neuropathies of the median, ulnar, or radial nerves (forty-five cases), radiocarpal or radio-ulnar arthrosis (thirty-seven cases), and malposition-malunion (thirty cases). Other complications included tendon ruptures (seven), unrecognized associated injuries (twelve), Volkmanns ischemia (four cases), finger stiffness (nine cases), and shoulder-hand syndrome (twenty cases). In many patients, incomplete restoration of radial length or secondary loss of the reduction position caused the complications.

Total elbow arthroplasty. A five-year experience at the Mayo Clinic.

During the five years from 1973 through 1977, eighty Mayo and Coonrad total elbow arthroplasties were performed in seventy-two patients at the Mayo Clinic. Follow-up after at least two years (average, four years) revealed that the results were good in 60 per cent, fair in 16 per cent, and poor in 24 per cent. Pain was a major symptom in 80 per cent of the elbows preoperatively but in only 3 per cent postoperatively. At follow-up, motion had increased: extension-flexion by 10 degrees (average range, 29 to 131 degrees of flexion) and forearm rotation by 26 degrees (average range, 61 degrees of pronation to 59 degrees of supination). Excluding eleven prostheses with loosening for which revision was necessary, there were forty-four complications (55 per cent) after eighty procedures. Of these forty-four complications, eleven were ulnar neuropathies (two permanent and nine transient); four were wound-healing problems; ten, significant triceps weakness; eleven, intraoperative fractures of the medial or lateral supracondylar bone column; seven, deep infections; and one was an ulnar fracture. Although the complication rate was very high, most of the complications occurred during the early years of the study. Follow-up revealed twenty-nine elbows with radiolucency around the components: in twenty-five about the humeral and in four about the ulnar component. Revisions were performed in nineteen (24 per cent) of the eighty elbows: in eleven because of loosening, in seven because of deep infection, and in one because of ankylosis. Intraoperative supracondylar fracture and defective cementing of the prosthesis were important factors contributing to prosthetic loosening. When the arthroplasty was successful, the relief of pain was dramatic, stability was excellent, and the range of motion was superior to that provided by any other procedure currently available.

Review and analysis of silicone-rubber metacarpophalangeal implants

A series of 530 consecutive arthroplasties using silicone-rubber implants in 119 patients was reviewed. Clinical and roentgenographic evaluations were completed on sixty patients and 254 implants, with an average follow-up of two and a half years; the remaining fifty-nine patients were evaluated by questionnaire. All but three patients had rheumatoid disease, usually with severe deformity, and many of the patients underwent other procedures on the upper extremity; these procedures often precluded early motion after the arthroplasties. Three prostheses (0.6 per cent) were removed because of infection, and reoperation was required in 2.4 per cent of the joints. Detailed clinical follow-up of 254 prostheses revealed the following: for Swanson prosthesis-average motion 38 degrees, fracture rate 26.2 per cent, and recurrence of clinical deformity 11.3 per cent; for Neibauer prostheses-average motion 35 degrees, fracture rate 38.2 per cent, and recurrence of clinical deformity 44.1 per cent. It should be noted that use of early implant types and some variations from the designers recommended rehabilitation protocols were features of this series.

Ulnar lengthening in the treatment of Kienböck's disease.

Twenty patients with Kienböcks disease were treated with a modification of the Persson ulnar-lengthening procedure to remove compressive stress from the damaged lunate. After an average follow-up of thirty-seven months, relief of pain was satisfactory in eighteen patients who had returned to work (nine of whom had strenuous occupations), and two patients were dissatisfied because they had persistent pain and were not able to return to their previous occupations. Non-union at the site of the ulnar osteotomy occurred in three patients who were treated early in the series and was the result of inadequate internal fixation or insufficient duration of protective splinting. All three of the patients had satisfactory results after replating and bone-grafting. The procedure appears to help to maintain carpal height, prevent further collapse of the lunate, encourage consolidation of the fragmented lunate, and increase grip strength. Except for ulnar deviation, which the procedure may further diminish, the postoperative motions of the wrist were moderately improved.

Traumatic axial dislocations of the carpus

Among 1140 patients treated in the last 16 years for any type of carpal fracture, dislocation, or subluxation, 16 (1.4%) patients seen with a traumatic axial disruption of both the carpus and metacarpus were identified. Most of these were crush or blast injuries. According to the direction of instability, the cases were classified into three groups: axial-ulnar disruptions (4 patients), axial-radial disruptions (11 patients), and combined axial-radial-ulnar disruption (1 patient). Treatment consisted of open reduction and percutaneous Kirschner-wire fixation in most cases. The results were less optimistic than suggested in the literature. An average follow-up of 61 months showed that prognosis was determined more by the associated soft tissue injuries than by the carpal derangement itself. Early management of both the skeletal and soft tissue components of the injury seems most effective.

Primary Epithelioid Sarcoma of the Hand and Forearm: A Review Of Thirteen Cases

Of eighty-five primary soft-tissue and sixteen primary bone sarcomas involving the hand and forearm, thirteen were epithelioid sarcomas, making this lesion third in frequency after fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma in the whole series and first in frequency in the hand. In all thirteen patients the initial diagnosis was misleading; and recurrence, metastasis, or both occurred in all but the one patient who had primary forearm amputation. Primary en bloc excision and midforearm amputation are recommended if the lesion recurs.

Radial opening wedge osteotomy in Madelung's deformity

Radiopalmar opening wedge osteotomy was used in 11 female patients (12 wrists) with Madelungs deformity who ranged in age from 9 to 31 years. Five patients met the radiographic criteria for generalized dyschondrosteosis. Clinically, there was dissatisfaction with the appearance of the wrist. The principal motion deficits were in radiocarpal extension and forearm pronosupination associated with varying degrees of discomfort with sustained activity. All had a decreased radioulnar angle, lunate subluxation shown radiographically, and various degrees of dorsal subluxation of the ulnar head. Indications for surgery were pain, limited motion, cosmetic appearance, and progressive deformity in two immature patients. Biplanar corrective opening wedge osteotomy of the radius was performed with iliac crest graft. Three patients had an added ulnar recession. Fixation was with a plate or Kirschner wire. Supplementary distracting external fixation was used in six cases. The follow-up period averaged 48 months. Pain relief in all patients was satisfactory. Range of motion and grip strength were not influenced. The radioulnar angle improved by 11 degrees, but lunate subluxation was minimally changed. Length of the forearm and bowed appearance of the forearm were improved. Reduction of the radioulnar joints was improved but remained incongruous.

Transcarpal carpometacarpal dislocations, excluding the thumb

During a 9-year period, we treated 13 patients with major fractures of bones of the distal carpal row creating instability of the corresponding carpometacarpal joints. Diagnosis of the injury was made early in only eight patients whose treatment consisted of open reduction, pin or screw fixation, and immobilization from 6 to 8 weeks. They showed no complications and had an excellent functional recovery. Diagnosis in five (38%) patients was delayed 1 week to 8 months after the accident. At initial presentation, symptoms included pain, loss of grip strength, and mild limitation of finger motion. In three patients an acute carpal tunnel syndrome developed a few days after the accident. Two had established nonunions of the capitate and the hamate. Treatment consisted of open reduction, bone grafting, fixation with multiple pins, and immobilization until fracture consolidation. Results in this group were good in one, moderate in three, and poor in one.

Radial recession osteotomy for Kienböck's disease

Sixty-eight patients underwent radial recession osteotomy for avascular necrosis of the lunate were retrospectively evaluated after an average follow-up period of 52 months. Twenty-five patients had undergone 1 or more additional procedures concurrently for treatment of Kienböcks disease. Pain diminished in 93% of patients, grip strength improved, and wrist motion was preserved; 75% of patients continued in their original occupations, including heavy labor. Surgical complications were uncommon. Four patients subsequently underwent salvage procedures, including 2 total wrist arthrodeses. Three of these 4 patients were receiving workers compensation. One third of patients demonstrated lunate healing after joint leveling. Preliminary results suggest that concomitant lunate revascularization or vascularized bone grafting may improve the radiographic result. With rare exceptions, radial recession osteotomy relieves pain and improves function in Kienböcks disease.

Trispiral tomographic staging of Kienböck's disease

Trispiral tomography enhances the staging of Kienböcks disease and aids in surgical planning. The clinical records, plain x-rays, and trispiral tomograms of 105 patients with Kienböcks disease were reviewed. When tomograms were used, upward revision of the classification stage was indicated in 73% of patients with stage I or stage II disease and in 10% of those with stage III disease. On tomograms, 91% of patients had lunate fractures, compared with 55% on plain films. The most common lunate fracture seen on trispiral tomograms was a transverse shear fracture that represented lunate collapse; the next most common was a midcoronal fracture that may be displaced, causing fragment extrusion palmarly or dorsally. The most common instability pattern was nondissociative proximal row flexion, seen in stage III. Indices of carpal collapse and ulnar translation may be useful in following up patients, but values vary widely among patients.