Sandra V. Kotsis

Treatment of unstable distal radial fractures with the volar locking plating system.

BACKGROUND The best treatment for an inadequately reduced fracture of the distal part of the radius is not well established. We collected prospective outcomes data for patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of an inadequately reduced distal radial fracture with use of the volar locking plating system. METHODS Over a two-year period, 161 patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation of an inadequately reduced distal radial fracture with use of the volar locking plating system. Patients were enrolled in the present study three months after the fracture on the basis of strict entry criteria and were evaluated three, six, and twelve months after surgery. Outcome measures included radiographic parameters, grip strength, lateral pinch strength, the Jebsen-Taylor test, wrist range of motion, and the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire. RESULTS Eighty-seven patients with a distal radial fracture were enrolled. The mean age at the time of enrollment was 48.9 years. Forty percent (thirty-five) of the eighty-seven fractures were classified as AO type A, 9% (eight) were classified as type B, and 51% (forty-four) were classified as type C. Radiographic assessment showed that the plating system maintained anatomic reduction at the follow-up periods. At the time of the twelve-month follow-up, the mean grip strength on the injured side was worse than that on the contralateral side (18 compared with 21 kg; p<0.01), the mean pinch strength on the injured side was not significantly different from that on the contralateral side (8.7 compared with 8.9 kg; p=0.27), and the mean flexion of the wrist on the injured side was 86% of that on the contralateral side. All Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire domains approached normal scores at six months, with small continued improvement to one year. CONCLUSIONS The volar locking plating system appears to provide effective fixation when used for the treatment of initially inadequately reduced distal radial fractures.

Risk of melanoma arising in large congenital melanocytic nevi: A systematic review

Large congenital melanocytic nevi are cutaneous lesions regarded by many as premalignant; estimates of malignancy incidence range from 0 to 42 percent. Given the often complex and extensive nature of large congenital melanocytic nevi resection and reconstruction, the risk of malignant transformation is a crucial factor that surgeons and families must weigh when deciding whether or not to excise the lesion. The authors conducted a systematic analysis of data from the existing literature to critically evaluate the published studies and to establish a crude incidence rate for the risk of malignant melanoma transformation in large congenital melanocytic nevi. After a comprehensive literature search, they analyzed data from eight studies (containing a total of 432 large congenital melanocytic nevi patients) of sufficient scientific quality. Twelve patients (2.8 percent) in this sample developed cutaneous malignant melanoma during the reported follow-up periods. Using a subset of this data and comparing the incidence rates to those of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results population-based database using a standardized morbidity ratio, the authors found that the large congenital melanocytic nevi patients had an increased risk of melanoma (standardized morbidity ratio, 2599; 95 percent confidence interval, 844 to 6064) compared with the general population. Regarding treatment before developing melanoma in the 12 patients, 50 percent were observed before diagnosis, 17 percent had partial excision, 8.3 percent had dermabrasion, 8.3 percent had a chemical peel, and 17 percent did not have any treatment information. These combined data are clinically useful when consulting with the parents of children with large congenital melanocytic nevi and in the management of older patients with existing lesions. This study shows that there is a significantly increased risk of melanoma in large congenital melanocytic nevi patients. The data also reveal the need for a standardized definition of large congenital melanocytic nevi and a long-term, prospective outcomes study to determine the true lifetime risk of melanoma in patients with and without surgical excision.

A prospective outcomes study of four-corner wrist arthrodesis using a circular limited wrist fusion plate for stage II scapholunate advanced collapse wrist deformity.

Background: Scapholunate advanced collapse wrist deformity is a common pattern of degenerative arthrosis of the wrist. This study prospectively evaluated a series of patients who underwent four-corner fusion using a circular plate internal fixation technique. Methods: Patients with symptomatic stage II scapholunate advanced collapse wrist deformity were treated with scaphoid excision and four-corner fusion using the Spider Limited Wrist Fusion Plate (KMI, San Diego, Calif.). Patients were prospectively evaluated at 6 months and 1 year using a standard study protocol with radiographs, functional tests, and an outcomes questionnaire. Outcomes were compared with those of historical series from the literature. Results: Eleven patients were enrolled and 10 patients completed their 1-year follow-up. Grip strength, lateral pinch strength, and Jebsen-Taylor test scores at 1 year were not significantly different from preoperative values. Mean active range of motion was 87 degrees preoperatively and 74 degrees at 1-year follow-up (p = 0.19). The Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire showed no significant improvement in function, activities of daily living, work, pain, or patient satisfaction. The mean pain scores decreased from 54 preoperatively to 42 1–year postoperatively (p = 0.30), indicating persistent wrist discomfort. Three patients had broken screws: one was asymptomatic, one required 3 months of strict wrist immobilization, and one was reoperated for symptomatic nonunion. Conclusions: Four-corner fusion using the first-generation Spider plate technique has the advantage of earlier mobility and more patient comfort from absence of protruding Kirschner wires; however, patients continued to have disabling pain, functional limitations, work impairment, and low satisfaction scores postoperatively. Although limited by a small patient sample, this series presents outcomes data that may be useful in counseling patients who are contemplating four-corner fusion using this internal fixation device. Further investigation is necessary to evaluate the biomechanical properties of the Spider plate. The data suggest that better implants should be designed to avoid implant failure, which occurred in three of the 11 patients in this series.

A cost/utility analysis of open reduction and internal fixation versus cast immobilization for acute nondisplaced mid-waist scaphoid fractures.

Background: Open reduction and internal fixation and cast immobilization are both acceptable treatment options for nondisplaced waist fractures of the scaphoid. The authors conducted a cost/utility analysis to weigh open reduction and internal fixation against cast immobilization in the treatment of acute nondisplaced mid-waist scaphoid fractures. Methods: The authors used a decision-analytic model to calculate the outcomes and costs of open reduction and internal fixation and cast immobilization, assuming the societal perspective. Utilities were assessed from 50 randomly selected medical students using the time trade-off method. Outcome probabilities taken from the literature were factored into the calculation of quality-adjusted life-years associated with each treatment. The authors estimated medical costs using Medicare reimbursement rates, and costs of lost productivity were estimated by average wages obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Results: Open reduction and internal fixation offers greater quality-adjusted life-years compared with casting, with an increase ranging from 0.21 quality-adjusted life-years for the 25- to 34-year age group to 0.04 quality-adjusted life-years for the ≥65-year age group. Open reduction and internal fixation is less costly than casting (

Application of the "see one, do one, teach one" concept in surgical training.

7940 versus

A clinical trial of Integra Template for diabetic foot ulcer treatment

13,851 per patient) because of a longer period of lost productivity with casting. Open reduction and internal fixation is therefore the dominant strategy. When considering only direct costs, the incremental cost/utility ratio for open reduction and internal fixation ranges from

Evaluation of plastic surgery information on the Internet

5438 per quality-adjusted life-year for the 25- to 34-year age group to

Early Onset Prostate Cancer: Predictors Of Clinical Grade

11,420 for the 55- to 64-year age group, and

Fundamental Principles of Conducting a Surgery Economic Analysis Study

29,850 for the ≥65-year age group. Conclusions: Compared with casting, open reduction and internal fixation is cost saving from the societal perspective (

Manuscript rejection: how to submit a revision and tips on being a good peer reviewer.

5911 less per patient). When considering only direct costs, open reduction and internal fixation is cost-effective relative to other widely accepted interventions.