The October 2024 Wrist & Hand Roundup360 looks at: Circumferential casting versus plaster splinting in preventing redisplacement of distal radial fractures; Comparable outcomes for operative versus nonoperative treatment of scapholunate ligament injuries in distal radius fractures; Perceived pain during the reduction of Colles fracture without anaesthesia; Diagnostic delays and physician training are key to reducing scaphoid fracture nonunion; Necrotizing fasciitis originating in the hand: a systematic review and meta-analysis; Study design influences outcomes in distal radial fracture research; Long-term results of index finger pollicization for congenital thumb anomalies: a systematic review; Enhancing nerve injury diagnosis: the evolving role of imaging and electrodiagnostic tools.

Aims

The aim of this study was to reassess the rate of neurological, psoas-related, and abdominal complications associated with L4-L5 lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) undertaken using a standardized preoperative assessment and surgical technique.

Injury to the sciatic nerve is one of the more serious complications of acetabular fracture and traumatic dislocation of the hip, both in the short and long term. We have reviewed prospectively patients, treated in our unit, for acetabular fractures who had concomitant injury to the sciatic nerve, with the aim of predicting the functional outcome after these injuries. Of 136 patients who underwent stabilisation of acetabular fractures, there were 27 (19.9%) with neurological injury. At initial presentation, 13 patients had a complete foot-drop, ten had weakness of the foot and four had burning pain and altered sensation over the dorsum of the foot. Serial electromyography (EMG) studies were performed and the degree of functional recovery was monitored using the grading system of the Medical Research Council. In nine patients with a foot-drop, there was evidence of a proximal acetabular (sciatic) and a distal knee (neck of fibula) nerve lesion, the double-crush syndrome. At the final follow-up, clinical examination and EMG studies showed full recovery in five of the ten patients with initial muscle weakness, and complete resolution in all four patients with sensory symptoms (burning pain and hyperaesthesia). There was improvement of functional capacity (motor and sensory) in two patients who presented initially with complete foot-drop. In the remaining 11 with foot-drop at presentation, including all nine with the double-crush lesion, there was no improvement in function at a mean follow-up of 4.3 years

Aims

The aim of this study was to review the current evidence surrounding curve type and morphology on curve progression risk in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

1. A case of ulnar nerve compression at the wrist caused by rheumatoid arthritis producing motor and sensory changes is presented. 2. The diagnosis from compression at the elbow can be determined by electromyography. 3. It may be that lesions of the deep branch leading to motor changes only occur in rheumatoid arthritis more often than is suspected, their effects being hidden by the concomitant disease and its associated muscle wasting

1. In ten healthy young men an experimental paralysis of the supraspinatus muscle was induced with the aid of Xylocaine injected in or near the suprascapular nerve. 2. The completeness of the paralysis was checked by electromyography. 3. With the supraspinatus muscle completely eliminated, all subjects could move the arm against gravity through its full range in the shoulder joint, though the force and the power of endurance during abduction were diminished. 4. It is concluded that the role of the supraspinatus muscle is of a quantitative nature only

The role of muscle function in the aetiology of recurrent dislocation of the patella has been examined. Eleven of the 12 patients we studied had joint hypermobility. Muscle biopsies from eight of nine patients treated by surgery had a predominance of abnormal Type 2C fibres, and three of six patients whose quadriceps muscles were studied by electromyography also had abnormal results. Our preliminary findings suggest that there may be a primary muscular defect in many cases of recurrent dislocation of the patella

We report the case of a 59-year-old man with severe knee pain and inability to flex his toes or invert his plantar flexed foot after an external rotation injury to his knee. MRI showed rupture of the popliteus with a haematoma compressing the neurovascular bundle in the proximal calf, and electromyography demonstrated signs of an axonotmesis of the posterior tibial nerve. There was progressive nerve recovery over 24 weeks. Isolated rupture of the popliteus should be considered in any patient with an acute haemarthrosis, lateral tenderness and a stable knee, especially after an external rotation injury

We have reviewed 10 patients treated for anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome produced by compression of the deep peroneal nerve or its branches, and we have studied the anatomy of the tunnel in 25 adult feet. The causes of onset of the syndrome included contusion of the dorsum of the foot, tight shoe laces, talonavicular osteophytosis, ganglion, and pes cavus. The clinical signs were often diagnostic but electromyography was helpful. Operative decompression in nine feet of eight patients gave successful results at 1.5 to 4 years follow-up

Traction injury to the sciatic nerve can occur during hamstring lengthening. The aim of this study was to monitor the influence of hamstring lengthening on conduction in the sciatic nerve using evoked electromyography (EMG). Ten children with spastic cerebral palsy underwent bilateral distal hamstring lengthening. Before lengthening, the evoked potential was recorded with the patient prone. During lengthening, it was recorded with the knee flexed to 90°, 60° and 30°, and at the end of lengthening with the hip and knee extended. In all patients, the amplitude of the evoked EMG gradually decreased with increasing lengthening. The mean decrease with the knee flexed to 60° was 34% (10 to 77), and to 30°, 86% (52 to 98) compared with the pre-lengthening amplitude. On hip extension at the end of the lengthening procedure, the EMG returned to the pre-lengthening level. Monitoring of the evoked EMG potential of the sciatic nerve during and after hamstring lengthening, may be helpful in preventing traction injury

Twenty-two patients with ulnar nerve palsy at the elbow, confirmed by electromyography, were treated by a night splint which prevented flexion of the elbow beyond 60 degrees. The splint was worn all night regularly for at least six months. At a mean follow-up of 11.3 months, 17 patients had clinical and electromyographic assessment and five were contacted by telephone. There was improvement in the symptoms in every patient, including three who had failed to respond to surgical decompression. There was electromyographic improvement in 16 of the 17 patients re-examined at follow-up. The mean improvement in motor nerve conduction velocity was 6.5 m/s and in sensory nerve conduction velocity 9.5 m/s. The efficacy of this treatment suggests that nocturnal elbow flexion is an important cause of ulnar nerve lesions at the elbow

Spinal accessory nerve palsy leads to painful disability of the shoulder, carrying an uncertain prognosis. We reviewed the long-term outcome in 16 patients who were treated for pain, weakness of active elevation and asymmetry of the shoulder and the neck due to chronic paralysis of the trapezius muscle, as a result of nerve palsy. Of four patients who were treated conservatively, none regained satisfactory function, although two became pain-free. The other 12 patients were treated operatively with transfer of the levator scapulae to the acromion and the rhomboid muscles to the infraspinatus fossa (the Eden-Lange procedure). At a mean follow-up of 32 years, the clinical outcome of the operatively treated patients was excellent in nine, fair in two, and poor in one patient, as determined by the Constant score. Pain was adequately relieved in 11 and overhead function was restored in nine patients. Pre-operative electromyography had been carried out in four patients. In two, who eventually had a poor outcome, a concomitant long thoracic and dorsal scapular nerve lesion had been present. The Eden-Lange procedure gives very satisfactory long-term results for the treatment of isolated paralysis of trapezius. In the presence of an additional serratus anterior palsy or weak rhomboid muscles, the procedure is less successful in restoring shoulder function

Nerve injury is a rare complication of total hip replacement which may be related to the exposure used for the operation. The posterior approach is traditionally associated with injury to the sciatic nerve. We have compared the incidence of nerve injury after primary total hip replacement (THR) using either a posterior or a direct lateral approach. We studied 42 consecutive patients undergoing primary total hip replacement. The surgeons used a posterior (22 patients) or direct lateral (20 patients) approach in accordance with their normal practice. The obturator, femoral, posterior tibial and common peroneal nerves were assessed clinically and electrophysiologically by electromyography (EMG) and measurement of the velocity of nerve conduction before operation and at four weeks after. All patients were free from symptoms of nerve injury after operation but five lesions were identified in four patients by the electrophysiological studies; the obturator nerve was involved in two, the femoral in one, the common peroneal in one and the posterior tibial in one. All these injuries occurred using the lateral approach. Clinical assessment alone underestimates the incidence of nerve injury complicating THR. Our study does not confirm the association of nerve injury with the posterior approach which had been described previously

1. Experience with a refined type of implantable electrode for the myo-electric control of externally powered prostheses is reported. 2. The electrodes are externally energised by electromagnetic induction and therefore do not contain any battery cells. The myo-potentials are transmitted in frequency-modulated form and detected by a receiver placed on the skin. The implantable electrode, measuring 5x11x4 millimetres, is encapsulated in epoxy resin. 3. Six electrodes have been implanted in the forearms of two normal subjects and two below-elbow amputees. The time of implantation ranged from three to fifteen months. Macroscopically, a fibrous capsule developed around the electrodes. Histological examination showed a capsule of granulation tissue of varying thickness with slight inflammatory reaction and foreign-body giant cells. 4. In all cases except one the signals received have been of high quality as ascertained by conventional electromyography and frequency analysis. There has been no significant deterioration in signal quality during the follow-up periods. 5. The major source of failure was fatigue fracture of the gold wires making contact with the body tissues. In one case, however, the electrode was still functioning normally at the time of removal fifteen months after insertion. 6. The patients have not been inconvenienced either by the operative procedures or by the presence of the electrodes in the tissues

Aims

The gluteus minimus (GMin) and gluteus medius (GMed) have unique structural and functional segments that may be affected to varying degrees, by end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) and normal ageing. We used data from patients with end-stage OA and matched healthy controls to 1) quantify the atrophy of the GMin and GMed in the two groups and 2) describe the distinct patterns of the fatty infiltration in the different segments of the GMin and GMed in the two groups.

The etiological factors concerned in paralytic scoliosis are complex. Four main types of paralytic scoliosis can be recognised. 1. The general C-curve due to the body's anatomical attempt to shift its centre of gravity towards the weaker side. Vertebral rotation is not usually marked. This type usually occurs when patients with relatively slight paralysis have been allowed up too early ; it does not usually progress to severe deformity but may occasionally do so, gradually changing into Type 2. This type usually responds well to a period of rest and muscle redevelopment in recumbency. It also responds favourably to correction and fusion because correction is easy and there is little tendency to deterioration. Many of the "successes" of correction and fusion are in this class—almost equal success would often have been gained without "correction." The spine is slightly, but not very, unstable and a relatively localised fusion will give the little extra support that is needed. 2. The "general collapse" type of curve due to extensive spinal weakness. This is the type in which simple head suspension produces marked correction. Rotation is moderate. Provided the patient's general condition is satisfactory extensive spinal fusion is usually the best treatment and produces gratifying improvement. 3. The primary lumbar curve due to a combination of pelvic obliquity, extraspinal imbalance and imbalance of the deep rotator muscles. Rotation is usually marked. Treatment must include the correction of all these factors. In mild cases correction of the pelvic obliquity is enough, but in marked cases the spine must also be corrected. The disability from a lumbar paralytic scoliosis is much greater than that from a lumbar idiopathic scoliosis of the same degree; so correction is necessary in this type. Correction in a Risser-type jacket is often inadequate and recourse to operative correction is usually required. 4. The primary thoracic curve—often associated with weakness of the scapular muscles. The indications for and methods of treatment are practically the same as in primary idiopathic thoracic curves. These curves tend to be progressive and uncompensated. Although the most popular treatment is correction and fusion, wedge osteotomy of the spine gives better correction in intractable cases. The main need is for further investigation into the etiology of paralytic scoliosis so that adequate preventive measures may be undertaken at an early stage. It is essential that every child who contracts poliomyelitis should have his back muscles examined before he gets up. If there is any suggestion of scoliosis further investigations including radiography and electromyography are essential

Aims

To report the surgical outcome of patients with severe Scheuermann’s kyphosis treated using a consistent technique and perioperative management.

Post-traumatic elbow stiffness is a disabling condition that remains challenging for upper limb surgeons. Open elbow arthrolysis is commonly used for the treatment of stiff elbow when conservative therapy has failed. Multiple questions commonly arise from surgeons who deal with this disease. These include whether the patient has post-traumatic stiff elbow, how to evaluate the problem, when surgery is appropriate, how to perform an excellent arthrolysis, what the optimal postoperative rehabilitation is, and how to prevent or reduce the incidence of complications. Following these questions, this review provides an update and overview of post-traumatic elbow stiffness with respect to the diagnosis, preoperative evaluation, arthrolysis strategies, postoperative rehabilitation, and prevention of complications, aiming to provide a complete diagnosis and treatment path.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-9:576–584.