The December 2014 Wrist & Hand Roundup360 looks at: ultrasound for carpal tunnel diagnosis; where we are at with management of undisplaced scaphoid fractures; ARPE for thumb metacarpals?; extravasation injuries in the hand and wrist; research and practice in hand surgery; and physio ineffective in hand osteoarthritis

In 85 % of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis the MCP-joints are involved with incressing deterioration an loss of function. The standard replacement of the MCP-joints using the Swanson-Silastic Spacers shows pain reduction and a realigment of the fingers, but the functional capacity is not improved. The HM-MCP-arthroplasty offers a concept for better function an restoration of the rheumatoid hands and osteoarthritis. In a prospective multicenter study 63 HM-MCP arthroplasties have been implanted. We used the redesigned model (PE-metacarpal head and Ti-ODH phalangeal base) with titanium stems. The follow up-time is 18 months (6 – 40 months). All patients are controlled with clinical and radiographic evaluation. The active ROM of the MCP-joints demonstrated on average flex./ext. 65/10/0 (preop. 70/15/0). The grip strength at FU demonstrated 80 % of the untreated contralateral control hand. Pain has been improved using the verbal pain scale at 1.6 (preop. 2.1). Radiographically all metacarpal and phalangeal stems show an osteointegration of the implants. Radio-lucent lines of < 1 mm have been detected at the phalangeal base without a sign of loosing. Complications: 1 palmar luxation with a successful closed reposition, 1 ulnar subluxation of the fifth finger, 1 unsuccessful revised palmar luxation. The results of the uncemented, unconstrained HM-MCP-arthroplasty show an improvement of the hand function and pain reduction. This endoprosthesis gives a new chance to treat the rheumatoid hand at an earlier stage of destruction before severe contracture of the soft tissues

Aims

Golf is a popular pursuit among those requiring total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this study was to determine if participating in golf is associated with greater functional outcomes, satisfaction, or improvement in quality of life (QoL) compared to non-golfers.

The August 2013 Wrist & Hand Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: random group therapy is no good at treating OA of the hand; salvaging failed CMCJ arthroplasty; scaphocapitate arthrodesis for instability in manual workers; Brunelli tenodesis and scapholunate instability; night splints for Dupytren’s revisited; the smallest IM nail?; early diagnosis of CRPS?; and endoscopic carpal tunnel release?

The April 2012 Wrist & Hand Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at releasing the trigger finger, function in the osteoarthritic hand, complex regional pain syndrome, arthroscopic ligamentoplasty for the injured scapholunate ligament, self-concept and upper limb deformities in children, wrist arthroscopy in children, internal or external fixation for the fractured distal radius, nerve grafting, splinting the PIPJ contracture, and finding the stalk of a dorsal wrist ganglion