Aims. To analyze the short-term outcome of two types of total wrist arthroplasty (TWA) in terms of wrist function, migration, and periprosthetic bone behaviour. Methods. A total of 40 patients suffering from non-rheumatoid wrist arthritis were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial comparing the ReMotion and Motec TWAs. Patient-rated and functional outcomes, radiological changes, blood metal ion levels, migration measured by model-based radiostereometric analysis (RSA), bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), complications, loosening, and revision rates at two years were compared. Results. Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) scores, abbreviated version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH) scores, and pain improved similarly and significantly in both groups. Wrist motion improved significantly in the Motec group only, and forearm rotation in the ReMotion group only. Cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) blood ion levels were significantly higher in the metal-on-metal (MoM) Motec group than in the metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) ReMotion group. Mean total translation was 0.65 mm (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26 to 1.12) and 0.27 mm (95% CI 0.14 to 0.47) for the ReMotion carpal and radial components, and 0.32 mm (95% CI 0.22 to 0.45) and 0.26 mm (95% CI 0.20 to 0.34) for the Motec metacarpal and radial components, respectively. Apart from dorsal and volar tilts, which were significantly higher for the radial ReMotion than for the Motec component, no significant differences in absolute migration occurred. BMD around the radial components never returned to baseline. Almost one-third of patients required reoperation due to complications. Two ReMotion implants were revised to Motec TWAs due to carpal component loosening, and three Motec MoM articulations were revised to metal-on-polyether ether ketone due to painful synovitis. Conclusion. Both implants provided matched function and were stable at short-term follow-up, but with a high complication rate. This procedure should be restricted to specialist centres undertaking prospective analysis until its role is clarified. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(10):1132–1141

Aims. The Edinburgh Trauma Triage Clinic (TTC) streamlines outpatient care through consultant-led ‘virtual’ triage of referrals and the direct discharge of minor fractures from the Emergency Department. We compared the patient outcomes for simple fractures of the radial head, little finger metacarpal, and fifth metatarsal before and after the implementation of the TTC. Patients and Methods. A total of 628 patients who had sustained these injuries over a one-year period were identified. There were 337 patients in the pre-TTC group and 289 in the post-TTC group. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (QuickDASH) or Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, satisfaction rates, and return to work/sport were assessed six months post-injury. The development of late complications was excluded by an electronic record evaluation at three years post-injury. A cost analysis was performed. Results. Outcomes were as good or better post-TTC, compared with pre-TTC scores. At three years, the pre-TTC group required a total of 496 fracture clinic appointments compared with 61 in the post-TTC group. Mean cost per patient was nearly fourfold less after the commencement of the TTC. Conclusion. Management of minor fractures through the Edinburgh TTC results in clinical outcomes that are comparable with the previous system of routine face-to-face consultation. Outpatient workload for these injures was reduced by 88%. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:959–65

Aims. We report the use of the distal radius and ulna (DRU) classification for the prediction of peak growth (PG) and growth cessation (GC) in 777 patients with idiopathic scoliosis. We compare this classification with other commonly used parameters of maturity. Patients and Methods. The following data were extracted from the patients’ records and radiographs: chronological age, body height (BH), arm span (AS), date of menarche, Risser sign, DRU grade and status of the phalangeal and metacarpal physes. The mean rates of growth were recorded according to each parameter of maturity. PG was defined as the summit of the curve and GC as the plateau in deceleration of growth. The rates of growth at PG and GC were used for analysis using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine the strength and cutoff values of the parameters of growth. Results. The most specific grades for PG using the DRU classification were radial grade 6 and ulnar grade 5, and for GC were radial grade 9 and ulnar grade 7. The DRU classification spanned both PG and GC, enabling better prediction of these clinically relevant stages than other methods. The rate of PG (≥ 0.7 cm/month) and GC (≤ 0.15 cm/month) was the same for girls and boys, in BH and AS measurements. Conclusion. This is the first study to note that the DRU classification can predict both PG and GC, providing evidence that it may aid the management of patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1689–96

The February 2015 Wrist & Hand Roundup360 looks at: Toes, feet, hands and transfers… FCR Tendonitis after Trapeziectomy and suspension, Motion sparing surgery for SLAC/SNAC wrists under the spotlight, Instability following distal radius fractures, Bilateral wrist arthrodesis a good idea?, Sodium Hyaluronate improves hand recovery following flexor tendon repair, Ultrasound treatments for de Quervain’s, Strategies for treating metacarpal neck fractures

1. Sections were cut from the third metacarpal, the radius, the femur and the third lumbar vertebra of thirty-four male and twenty-one female cadavera. The mineral content of these different specimens was measured by ashing and the relationships between the quantity of bone mineral present at these sites were examined. 2. In the females the whole bone density and mineral/unit length at both the midshaft metacarpal and the midshaft radius correlated significantly with the whole bone density at all the other sites. 3. In the males these correlations were much less significant and no significant correlation was found between the whole bone density of either the metacarpal midshaft or the radial midshaft and that of the third lumbar vertebra or the distal femur, although a highly significant correlation was found between those of the distal femur and the lumbar vertebra. 4. It is suggested that in women, measurements of either mineral/unit length or whole bone density of both the midshaft metacarpal and radius provide useful information on the whole bone densities at other sites throughout the skeleton. This work was supported by the Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust, the National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases and G. D. Searle and Co. Ltd., High Wycombe

The June 2012 Wrist & Hand Roundup. 360. looks at; radial osteotomy and advanced Kienböck's disease; fixing the Bennett fracture; PEEK plates and four-corner arthrodesis,;carpal tunnel release and haemodialysis; degloved digits and the reverse radial forearm flap; occupational hand injuries; trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis; fixing the fractured metacarpal neck and pyrocarbon implants for the destroyed PIPJ

We describe 22 cases of bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation, or Nora’s lesion. These are surface-based osteocartilaginous lesions typically affecting the hands and feet. All patients were identified from the records of a regional bone tumour unit and were treated between 1985 and 2009. Nine lesions involved the metacarpals, seven the metatarsals, one originated from a sesamoid bone of the foot and five from long bones (radius, ulna, tibia, and femur in two). The mean age of the patients was 31.8 years (6 to 66), with 14 men and eight women. Diagnosis was based on the radiological and histological features. The initial surgical treatment was excision in 21 cases and amputation of a toe in one. The mean follow-up was for 32 months (12 to 162). Recurrence occurred in six patients (27.3%), with a mean time to recurrence of 49 months (10 to 120). Two of the eight patients with complete resection margins developed a recurrence (25.0%), compared with four of 14 with a marginal or incomplete resection (28.6%). Given the potential surgical morbidity inherent in resection, our data suggest that there may be a role for a relatively tissue-conserving approach to the excision of these lesions

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

A prospective series of 32 cases with tuberculosis of the hand and wrist is presented. The mean age of the patients was 23.9 years (3 to 65), 12 had bony disease and 20 primarily soft-tissue involvement. The metacarpal of the little finger was the most commonly involved bone. Pain and swelling were the usual presenting features and discharging sinuses were seen in three cases. All patients were given anti-tubercular chemotherapy with four drugs. Operative treatment in the form of open or arthroscopic debridement, or incision and drainage of abscesses, was performed in those cases where no response was seen after eight weeks of ATT. Hand function was evaluated by the modified score of Green and O’Brien. The mean was 58.3 (25 to 80) before treatment and 90.5 (80 to 95) at the end. The mean follow-up was for 22.4 months (6 to 43). Conservative treatment was successful in 24 patients (75%). Eight who did not respond to chemotherapy within eight weeks required surgery. Although tuberculosis of hand has a varied presentation, the majority of lesions respond to conservative treatment

The December 2022 Wrist & Hand Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy for early-stage Dupuytren’s disease; Patient experiences of scaphoid waist fractures and their treatment; Postoperative complications following open a1 pulley release for a trigger finger or thumb; How certain are findings in distal radius fractures: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials; Partial wrist denervation in wrist osteoarthritis: patient-reported outcomes and objective function; Dorsal bridge plating versus bridging external fixation for management of complex distal radius fractures; How is reduction lost in distal radius fractures in females aged 50 years and older; The HAND-Q: psychometrics of a new patient-reported outcome measure for clinical and research applications.

In a prospective study of the measurement of osteoporosis in patients with fracture of the femoral neck, we compared a histological with a radiological method. We found no significant correlation between histological planimetry and the radiological six metacarpal hand index in patients with either cervical or trochanteric fractures. This demonstrates that metacarpal morphometry cannot predict histological osteoporosis of the iliac crest

Aims

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to gather epidemiological information on selected musculoskeletal injuries and to provide pooled injury-specific incidence rates.

1. Sixteen cases of thenar paralysis are reviewed in which a bone graft was inserted between the first and second metacarpals to maintain fixed abduction and opposition of the thumb. 2. The technique of the operation is described and the causes of failure are discussed. 3. The operation is intended for those cases in which tendon transplantation to restore active opposition of the thumb is unsuitable. Rotation of the first metacarpal into full opposition is the most important feature of the operation

Aims

The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the rates of union for vascularized versus non-vascularized grafting techniques in the operative management of scaphoid nonunion. Secondary aims were to determine the effect of the fixation techniques used, the source of grafting, as well as the influence of fracture location (proximal pole) and avascular necrosis (AVN).

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the induced membrane technique for treating infected bone defects, and to explore the factors that might affect patient outcomes.

Aims

Assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a well-established clinical technique, but it is not available in the acute trauma setting. Thus, it cannot provide a preoperative estimation of BMD to help guide the technique of fracture fixation. Alternative methods that have been suggested for assessing BMD include: 1) cortical measures, such as cortical ratios and combined cortical scores; and 2) aluminium grading systems from preoperative digital radiographs. However, limited research has been performed in this area to validate the different methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the evaluation of BMD from digital radiographs by comparing various methods against DXA scanning.

A method of treatment of Bennett's fracture is described. A Kirschner wire is drilled obliquely through the base of the first metacarpal bone and traction is applied in a distal, ulnar and palmar direction in order to counteract the dislocating action of abductor pollicis longus and the flexor muscles. The advantages of the method are: 1) It is technically easy and practically without complications. No important structures are liable to be damaged. 2) It can be used in those cases where the palmar fragment is very small. 3) It can be used for comminuted fractures. 4) It can be used in neglected cases where malunion has occurred. 5) It can be used when there are other fractures of the first metacarpal or adjacent bones. 6) It allows exercises of all the finger joints during the whole period of treatment

This annotation reviews current concepts on the three most common surgical approaches used for proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty: dorsal, volar, and lateral. Advantages and disadvantages of each are highlighted, and the outcomes are discussed.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(12):1329–1333.

Aims

The underlying natural history of suspected scaphoid fractures (SSFs) is unclear and assumed poor. There is an urgent requirement to develop the literature around SSFs to quantify the actual prevalence of intervention following SSF. Defining the risk of intervention following SSF may influence the need for widespread surveillance and screening of SSF injuries, and could influence medicolegal actions around missed scaphoid fractures.

We have implanted 76 biaxial total wrist prostheses as a primary procedure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist. A total of 66 was reviewed at a mean follow-up time of 52 months. Pain was relieved in 67% of the surviving wrist replacements. On the basis of the Hospital for Special Surgery scoring system, 49 wrists (74%) were graded as fair to excellent. More than half of the 27 patients who had an arthrodesis on the contralateral wrist would have preferred a second arthroplasty. Five replacements were revised or fused because of loosening and a further nine showed signs of radiological loosening, three of which were asymptomatic. The probability of survival of the biaxial total wrist replacement at eight years was 83% with revision surgery as the terminal event, 78% with radiological loosening as the endpoint and 82% with dorsal migration and displacement from the metacarpal as the terminal event. There was a linear relationship between subsidence of the component and distal loosening. There was no evidence that the length of the stem of the carpal component, within the third metacarpal, affected any of the terminal events. The position and alignment of the carpal component within the bone at the time of surgery significantly affect the outcome and can be used to predict failure