Denervation surgery has been a mainstay of our management of chronic pain in the wrist. If there is useful movement at the wrist we prefer denervation to arthrodesis. We have reviewed 22 patients at a mean of 50 months after such denervation surgery at the wrist. This was the only treatment in 16 patients; the other six also had other treatments. Pain was reduced in 16 patients, and 17 were satisfied or improved. None of the patients wished to have a supplementary arthrodesis. We stress the importance of preoperative blockade tests and of a very detailed knowledge of the local anatomy

Aims

Current National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance advises that MRI direct from the emergency department (ED) should be considered for suspected scaphoid fractures. This study reports the current management of suspected scaphoid fractures in the UK and assesses adherence with NICE guidance.

The patterns of laxity of normal wrists subjected to dorsal and volar stresses were analysed. Dorsal and volar displacement tests were carried out on both wrists of 50 subjects under image-intensifier control. Lateral projections in neutral, and dorsal and volar stress positions were taken to analyse the behaviour of the carpal bones. Varying degrees of capitolunate subluxation under dorsal and volar stress were noted. Dorsal displacement of the capitate appeared to be more prominent than volar displacement. The lunate either extended or subluxed dorsally in response to a dorsal stress, suggesting a different pattern of laxity for the radiolunate joint. These observations provide a baseline for the interpretation of dorsal and volar stress views in the symptomatic wrist

Aims

The aim of this study was to describe the demographic details of patients who sustain a femoral periprosthetic fracture (PPF), the epidemiology of PPFs, PPF characteristics, and the predictors of PPF types in the UK population.

The movements of the carpal bones during the scaphoid shift test were evaluated radiographically in 60 wrists. The clinical results were graded according to the degree of subluxation of the scaphoid and pain on the dorsum of the wrist. Lateral radiographs at rest and under stress were taken and the relative movements of the scaphoid with respect to the radius and lunate, and the rotation of the scaphoid and lunate were calculated. Dorsal displacement of the scaphoid with respect to the radius was significantly associated with the clinical grade of subluxation. There was correlation between the amount of pain and the displacement of the scaphoid from the lunate, but not from the radius. The wrists with a painful shift test had greater relative displacement of the scaphoid from the lunate than those with painless subluxation. These observations support the view that pain associated with subluxation of the scaphoid during the shift test is a significant finding, and that radiographic analysis of the test may confirm a positive result when dynamic scaphoid instability is suspected

Avascular necrosis of the scaphoid following a fracture in children is rare and there is no established treatment protocol in the literature. We present two boys with nonunion and avascular necrosis of the scaphoid treated by simple immobilisation. Both cases healed with painless wrists and full movements. Our cases confirm that an ununited scaphoid fracture in children may heal with conservative treatment, even when an MRI scan suggests avascular necrosis. Unlike in adults, operative treatment need only be considered in children when conservative treatment fails

Unilateral Colles' fractures in 187 patients over the age of 55 years were studied in a randomised prospective trial: 97 fractures were minimally displaced and were treated either conventionally or in a crepe bandage; 90 displaced Colles' fractures were reduced and of these 47 were treated conventionally while 43 were encouraged to mobilise the wrist in a cast which restricted extension. Early wrist movement hastened functional recovery and led to earlier resolution of wrist swelling. Discomfort was no greater than in patients who were treated conventionally. The bony deformity, which recurred irrespective of the method of treatment, was not adversely affected by early mobilisation

A computer-assisted method of preoperative planning was used to create virtual models of the deformed distal end of the radius after malunion of a fracture. By comparison with a similar model of the uninjured wrist, values were calculated for the angles and lengths to be corrected by osteotomy. Shifts of the distal fragment were analysed for 33 deformed wrists, 27 of which underwent corrective osteotomy and bone grafting. In more than half the cases there was dorsal or volar shift of 3 mm or more. The accuracy of the correction was measured by comparing the three-dimensional models before and after osteotomy with the model of the normal wrist. The volar and ulnar inclination angles of the articular surface of the radius and the radial length were regularly restored to normal

The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy of a newly designed radiological technique (the radial groove view) for the detection of protrusion of screws in the groove for the extensor pollicis longus tendon (EPL) during plating of distal radial fractures. We also aimed to determine the optimum position of the forearm to obtain this view. We initially analysed the anatomy of the EPL groove by performing three-dimensional CT on 51 normal forearms. The mean horizontal angle of the groove was 17.8° (14° to 23°). We found that the ideal position of the fluoroscopic beam to obtain this view was 20° in the horizontal plane and 5° in the sagittal plane. We then intra-operatively assessed the use of the radial groove view for detecting protrusion of screws in the EPL groove in 93 fractures that were treated by volar plating. A total of 13 protruding screws were detected. They were changed to shorter screws and these patients underwent CT scans of the wrist immediately post-operatively. There remained one screw that was protruding. These findings suggest that the use of the radial groove view intra-operatively is a good method of assessing the possible protrusion of screws into the groove of EPL when plating a fracture of the distal radius. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1372–6

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection of the musculoskeletal tissue is a rare disease. An early and accurate diagnosis is often difficult because of the indolent clinical course and difficulty of isolating pathogens. Our goal was to determine the clinical features of musculoskeletal NTM infection and to present the treatment outcomes. A total of 29 patients (nine females, 20 males between 34 and 85 years old, mean age 61.7 years; 34 to 85) with NTM infection of the musculoskeletal system between 1998 to 2011 were identified and their treatment retrospectively analysed. Microbiological studies demonstrated NTM in 29 patients: the isolates were Mycobacterium intracellulare in six patients, M. fortuitum in three, M. abscessus in two and M. marinum in one. In the remaining patients we failed to identify the species. The involved sites were the hand/wrist in nine patients the knee in five patients, spine in four patients, foot in two patients, elbow in two patients, shoulder in one, ankle in two patients, leg in three patients and multiple in one patient. The mean interval between the appearance of symptoms and diagnosis was 20.8 months (1.5 to 180). All patients underwent surgical treatment and antimicrobial medication according to our protocol for chronic musculoskeletal infection: 20 patients had NTM-specific medication and nine had conventional antimicrobial therapy. At the final follow-up 22 patients were cured, three failed to respond to treatment and four were lost to follow-up. Identifying these diseases due the initial non-specific presentation can be difficult. Treatment consists of surgical intervention and adequate antimicrobial therapy, which can result in satisfactory outcomes. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1561–5

We report the ulnar impingement syndrome, which is caused by a shortened ulna impinging on the distal radius and causing a painful, disabling pseudarthrosis. Of the 11 cases reported, 10 were due to excision of the distal ulna after injury to the wrist; the other was a result of a growth arrest after a fracture of the distal ulna in a child. The symptoms are a painful, clicking wrist and a weak grip; clinical examination reveals a narrow wrist with pain on compression of the radius and ulna and on forced supination. Radiographs in the majority of cases show scalloping of the distal radius corresponding to the site of impingement. The mechanism by which ulnar impingement occurs after radio-ulnar convergence is illustrated. The plan of management for the young patient with traumatic dysfunction of the distal radio-ulnar joint is discussed; excision of the lower end of the ulna is not advised in such patients

This study was performed to determine whether pure cancellous bone graft and Kirschner (K-) wire fixation were sufficient to achieve bony union and restore alignment in scaphoid nonunion. A total of 65 patients who underwent cancellous bone graft and K-wire fixation were included in this study. The series included 61 men and four women with a mean age of 34 years (15 to 72) and mean delay to surgery of 28.7 months (3 to 240). The patients were divided into an unstable group (A) and stable group (B) depending on the pre-operative radiographs. Unstable nonunion was defined as a lateral intrascaphoid angle > 45°, or a radiolunate angle > 10°. There were 34 cases in group A and 31 cases in group B. Bony union was achieved in 30 patients (88.2%) in group A, and in 26 (83.9%) in group B (p = 0.439). Comparison of the post-operative radiographs between the two groups showed no significant differences in lateral intrascaphoid angle (p = 0.657) and scaphoid length (p = 0.670) and height (p = 0.193). The radiolunate angle was significantly different (p = 0.020) but the mean value in both groups was < 10°. Comparison of the dorsiflexion and palmar flexion of movement of the wrist and the mean Mayo wrist score at the final clinical visit in each group showed no significant difference (p = 0.190, p = 0.587 and p = 0.265, respectively). Cancellous bone graft and K-wire fixation were effective in the treatment of stable and unstable scaphoid nonunion. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:809–14

We assessed carpal collapse by measuring the capitate-radius (CR) distance on standard plain radiographs. This new method required validation of diagnostic accuracy, so we compared it with the method of Nattrass et al. 1. known as revised carpal height (RCH). We studied wrist radiographs from 16 normal subjects and 11 patients with unilateral Kienböck’s disease. We found that there was a significant difference in the left/right CR index between the normal wrists and those with Kienböck’s disease (p < 0.001). The use of left/right RCH index showed no significant difference (p = 0.30). Diagnostic accuracy was shown to be higher for the CR index using ROC curves. We then assessed 40 normal wrists and found the mean CR index to be 0.999 ± 0.034, and suggest that values less than 0.92 are abnormal. The CR index can be used for diagnosis in unilateral carpal collapse, and for monitoring progress where the condition is bilateral

The osteoinductive properties of demineralised bone matrix have been demonstrated in animal studies. However, its therapeutic efficacy has yet to be proven in humans. The clinical properties of AlloMatrix, an injectable calcium-based demineralised bone matrix allograft, were studied in a prospective randomised study of 50 patients with an isolated unstable distal radial fracture treated by reduction and Kirschner (K-) wire fixation. A total of 24 patients were randomised to the graft group (13 men and 11 women, mean age 42.3 years (20 to 62)) and 26 to the no graft group (8 men and 18 women, mean age 45.0 years (17 to 69)). At one, three, six and nine weeks, and six and 12 months post-operatively, patients underwent radiological evaluation, assessments for range of movement, grip and pinch strength, and also completed the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire. At one and six weeks and one year post-operatively, bone mineral density evaluations of both wrists were performed. No significant difference in wrist function and speed of recovery, rate of union, complications or bone mineral density was found between the two groups. The operating time was significantly higher in the graft group (p = 0.004). Radiologically, the reduction parameters remained similar in the two groups and all AlloMatrix extraosseous leakages disappeared after nine weeks. This prospective randomised controlled trial did not demonstrate a beneficial effect of AlloMatrix demineralised bone matrix in the treatment of this category of distal radial fractures treated by K-wire fixation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1514–20

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a Galeazzi fracture on the strength of pronation and supination at a mean of two years after surgical treatment. The strength of pronation and supination was measured in varying rotational positions of the forearm of ten male patients (mean age 38.9 years (21 to 64)) who had undergone plate fixation for a Galeazzi fracture. The stability of the distal radioulnar joint was assessed, and a clinical assessment using the quick-Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (quickDASH) questionnaire and patient-related wrist examination (PRWE) scores was undertaken. In addition, the strength of pronation and supination was measured in a male control group of 42 healthy volunteers (mean age 21.8 years (18 to 37)). . The mean absolute loss of strength of supination in the injured compared with the non-injured arm throughout all ranges of forearm rotation was 16.1 kg (. sem. 5.3), corresponding to a relative loss of 12.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6 to 21.4). For the strength of pronation, the mean loss was 19.1 kg (. sem. 4.5), corresponding to a relative loss of 27.2% (95% CI 14.2 to 40.1). Loss of strength of supination following a Galeazzi fracture correlated with poor quickDASH (p = 0.03) and PRWE scores (p < 0.01). Loss of strength of pronation (27.2%), and of supination (12.5%) in particular, after a Galeazzi fracture is associated with worse clinical scores, highlighting the importance of supination of the forearm in function of the upper limb. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1508–13