Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the Push Ortho Thumb Brace CMC and a custom-made orthosis in the treatment of patients with primary osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb. Our outcome measures were pain scores, tests of hand function, patient satisfaction and patient preference.

Aims. The aim of this study was to develop a core outcome set of what to measure in all future clinical research on hand fractures and joint injuries in adults. Methods. Phase 1 consisted of steps to identify potential outcome domains through systematic review of published studies, and exploration of the patient perspective through qualitative research, consisting of 25 semi-structured interviews and five focus groups. Phase 2 involved key stakeholder groups (patients, hand surgeons, and hand therapists) prioritizing the outcome domains via a three-round international Delphi survey, with a final consensus meeting to agree the final core outcome set. Results. The systematic review of 160 studies identified 74 outcome domains based on the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. Overall, 35 domains were generated through thematic analysis of the patient interviews and focus groups. The domains from these elements were synthesised to develop 37 outcome domains as the basis of the Delphi survey, with a further four generated from participant suggestions in Round 1. The Delphi survey identified 20 outcome domains as ‘very important’ for the core outcome set. At the consensus meeting, 27 participants from key stakeholder groups selected seven outcomes for the core outcome set: pain/discomfort with activity, pain/discomfort with rest, fine hand use/dexterity, self-hygiene/personal care, return to usual work/job, range of motion, and patient satisfaction with outcome/result. Conclusion. This set of core outcome domains is recommended as a minimum to be reported in all clinical research on hand fractures and joint injuries in adults. While this establishes what to measure, future work will focus on determining how best to measure these outcomes. By adopting this patient-centred core outcome set, consistency and comparability of studies will be improved, aiding meta-analysis and strengthening the evidence base for management of these common and impactful injuries. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(2):87–95

Aims. We hypothesized that the wide-awake local anaesthesia with no tourniquet (WALANT) technique is cost-effective, easy to use, safe, and reproducible, with a low learning curve towards mastery, having a high patient satisfaction rate. Furthermore, WALANT would be a suitable alternative for the austere and developing nation environments where lack of funds and resources are a common issue. Methods. This was a randomized control trial of 169 patients who required surgery for closed isolated distal radius fractures. The study was performed between March 2016 and April 2019 at a public sector level 1 trauma centre. General anaesthesia was used in 56 patients, Bier’s block in 58 patients, and WALANT in 55 patients. Data were collected on pre-, peri-, and postoperative parameters, clinical outcome, hospital costs, and patient satisfaction. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used with a p-value of 0.05 being significant. Results. Operations with WALANT proceeded sooner, and patients recovered faster, resulting in mean fewer missed working days (7.8 (SD 1.67)) compared with general anaesthesia (20.1 (SD 7.37)) or Bier’s block (14.1 (SD 7.65)) (p < 0.001). The WALANT patients did not develop complications, while the other patients did (p < 0.04). Clinical outcomes did not differ, nor did surgeon qualification affect clinical outcomes. Mean hospital costs were lower for WALANT ($428.50 (SD 77.71)) than for general anaesthesia ($630.63 (SD 114.77)) or Bier’s block ($734.00 (SD 37.54)) (p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was also higher (p < 0.001). Conclusion. WALANT for distal radius fractures results in a faster recovery, is more cost-effective, has similar clinical outcomes, and has fewer complications than general anaesthesia or Bier's block. This makes WALANT an attractive technique in any setting, but especially in middle- and low-income countries. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(7):429–439

Aims. The primary aim of this study was to describe long-term patient-reported outcomes after ulna shortening osteotomy for ulna impaction syndrome. Methods. Overall, 89 patients treated between July 2011 and November 2017 who had previously taken part in a routine outcome evaluation up to 12 months postoperatively were sent an additional questionnaire in February 2021. The primary outcome was the Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) total score. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction with treatment results, complications, and subsequent treatment for ulnar-sided wrist pain. Linear mixed models were used to compare preoperative, 12 months, and late follow-up (ranging from four to nine years) PRWHE scores. Results. Long-term outcomes were available in 66 patients (74%) after a mean follow-up of six years (SD 1). The mean PRWHE total score improved from 63 before surgery to 19 at late follow-up (difference in means (Δ) 44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 39 to 50; p = <0.001). Between 12 months and late follow-up, the PRWHE total score also improved (Δ 12; 95% CI 6 to 18; p = < 0.001). At late follow-up, 14/66 of patients (21%) reported a PRWHE total score of zero, whereas this was 3/51 patients (6%) at 12 months (p = 0.039). In all, 58/66 patients (88%) would undergo the same treatment again under similar circumstances. Subsequent treatment (total n = 66; surgical n = 57) for complications or recurrent symptoms were performed in 50/66 patients (76%). The most prevalent type of reoperation was hardware removal in 42/66 (64%), and nonunion occurred in 8/66 (12%). Conclusion. Ulna shortening osteotomy improves patient-reported pain and function that seems to sustain at late follow-up. While satisfaction levels are generally high, reoperations such as hardware removal are common. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(5):375–382

Aims. The aim of this study was to describe the introduction of a virtual pathway for the management of patients with a suspected fracture of the scaphoid, and to report patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and satisfaction following treatment using this service. Methods. All adult patients who presented with a clinically suspected scaphoid fracture that was not visible on radiographs at the time of presentation during a one-year period were eligible for inclusion in the pathway. Demographic details, findings on examination, and routine four-view radiographs at the time of presentation were collected. All radiographs were reviewed virtually by a single consultant hand surgeon, with patient-initiated follow-up on request. PROMs were assessed at a minimum of one year after presentation and included the abbreviated version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (QuickDASH), the EuroQol five-dimension five-level health questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), the Net Promoter Score (NPS), and return to work. Results. A total of 221 patients were referred to the virtual pathway. Their mean age was 41 years (range 16 to 87) and there were 99 male patients (45%). A total of 189 patients (86%) were discharged with advice and 19 (9%) were recalled for clinical review: seven with an undisplaced scaphoid fracture, six with another fracture of the hand or wrist, two with a scapholunate ligament injury, and four in whom no abnormality was detected. A total of 13 patients (6%) initiated follow-up with the hand service: no fracture or ligament injury was identified in this group. PROMs were available for 179 patients (81%) at a mean follow-up of 19 months (range 13 to 33). The median QuickDASH score was 2.3 (interquartile range (IQR) 0 to 15.9), the median EQ-5D-5L was 0.85 (IQR 0.73 to 1.00), the NPS was 76, and 173 patients (97%) were satisfied with their treatment. There were no documented cases of symptomatic nonunion one year following injury. Conclusion. We describe the introduction of a virtual pathway for the management of patients with a suspected scaphoid fracture. We found high levels of patient satisfaction, excellent PROMs, and no detrimental effects in the vast majority of cases. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(6):709–714

Aims. The primary aim of this study was to describe patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following corrective osteotomy for a symptomatic malunion of the distal radius. Methods. We retrospectively identified 122 adult patients from a single centre over an eight-year period who had undergone corrective osteotomy for a symptomatic malunion of the distal radius. The primary long-term outcome was the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score. Secondary outcomes included the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score, the EQ-5D-5L score, complications, and the Net Promoter Score (NPS). Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with the PRWE score. Results. Long-term outcomes were available for 89 patients (72%). The mean age was 57 years (SD 15) and 68 were female (76%). The median time from injury to corrective osteotomy was nine months (interquartile range (IQR) 6 to 13). At a mean follow-up of six years (1 to 11) the median PRWE score was 22 (IQR 7 to 40), the median QuickDASH score was 11.4 (IQR 2.3 to 31.8), and the median EQ-5D-5L score was 0.84 (IQR 0.69 to 1). The NPS was 69. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the presence of an associated ulnar styloid fracture was the only significant independent factor associated with a worse PRWE score when adjusting for confounding variables (p = 0.004). Conclusion. We found that corrective osteotomy for malunion of the distal radius can result in good functional outcomes and high levels of patient satisfaction. However, the presence of an ulnar styloid fracture may adversely affect function. Level of Evidence: III (cohort study). Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(11):1542–1548

Aims. The objective of this systematic review was to describe trapeziectomy outcomes and complications in the context of osteoarthritis of the base of the thumb after a five-year minimum follow-up. Methods. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to guide study design, and 267 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. After exclusion criteria application, 22 studies were included, involving 728 patients and 823 trapeziectomies. Outcomes included pre- and postoperative clinical and radiological characteristics. Complications and revisions were recorded. Results. All the studies reported good results regarding pain and range of motion at the last follow-up of 8.3 years (5 to 22); the mean satisfaction rate was 91% (84% to 100%). It was difficult to assess the impact on metacarpophalangeal joint motion in extension with contrary results. The key pinch returned to its preoperative values, whereas tip pinch showed a modest improvement (+14%), with a mild improvement found in grip strength (+25%) at the last follow-up. The mean progressive trapezial collapse was 48% (0% to 85%) and was not correlated with pain, grip strength, or satisfaction. The most represented complications were linked to tendons or nerves affected during additional procedures to stabilize the joint (11.6%; n = 56). Mechanical complications included symptomatic scapho-M1 impingement (3.1%; n = 15/580), leading to nine surgical revisions out of 581 trapeziectomies. Meta-analysis was not possible due to study heterogeneity and limited data. Conclusion. After a minimum five-year follow-up, trapeziectomy achieved high patient satisfaction and pain relief. However, strength seemed to be deteriorating with detrimental consequences, but this did not correlate with trapezial collapse. The issues related to underestimating mechanical complications and varying degrees of success should be highlighted in the information given to patients. Evidence-based analyses should help the surgeon in their decision-making. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(3):141–149

Aims. Few studies have examined the long-term outcome of carpal tunnel release (CTR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the patient-reported long-term outcome of CTR for electrophysiologically severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Patients and Methods. We reviewed the long-term outcome of 40 patients with bilateral severe CTS who underwent 80 CTRs (46 open, 34 endoscopic) between 2002 and 2012. The outcomes studied were patient-reported outcomes of numbness resolution, the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) score, and patient satisfaction. Results. The mean follow-up was 9.3 years. Complete resolution of numbness was reported by 93.8% of patients, persistent numbness by 3.8%, and recurrent numbness by 2.5%. The mean BCTQ symptom score was 1.1 (. sd. 0.3; 1.0 to 2.55) and the mean Boston function score was 1.15 (. sd. 0.46; 1.0 to 3.5). 72.5% of patients were asymptomatic and had no functional impairment. Men had poorer outcomes than women and patients < 55 years had poorer outcomes than patients ≥ 55 years. All patients who had undergone endoscopic CTR reported complete resolution of numbness compared with 89.1% of those who had undergone open release (p = 0.047). There was no significant difference in outcome between dominant and non-dominant hands. Patient satisfaction rates were good. There were no adverse events. Conclusion. CTR has a favourable outcome and good rates of satisfaction, even in patients with bilateral severe CTS at a mean of nine years after surgery. Endoscopic CTR has a higher rate of numbness resolution than open surgery. There were no significant differences in outcome between the dominant and non-dominant hand. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1348–53

Aims. The aim of the Scaphoid Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Trauma (SMaRT) trial was to evaluate the clinical and cost implications of using immediate MRI in the acute management of patients with a suspected fracture of the scaphoid with negative radiographs. Patients and Methods. Patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a suspected fracture of the scaphoid and negative radiographs were randomized to a control group, who did not undergo further imaging in the ED, or an intervention group, who had an MRI of the wrist as an additional test during the initial ED attendance. Most participants were male (52% control, 61% intervention), with a mean age of 36.2 years (18 to 73) in the control group and 38.2 years (20 to 71) in the intervention group. The primary outcome was total cost impact at three months post-recruitment. Secondary outcomes included total costs at six months, the assessment of clinical findings, diagnostic accuracy, and the participants’ self-reported level of satisfaction. Differences in cost were estimated using generalized linear models with gamma errors. Results. The mean cost up to three months post-recruitment per participant was £542.40 (. sd. £855.20, n = 65) for the control group and £368.40 (. sd. £338.60, n = 67) for the intervention group, leading to an estimated cost difference of £174 (95% confidence interval (CI) -£30 to £378; p = 0.094). The cost difference per participant increased to £266 (95% CI £3.30 to £528; p = 0.047) at six months. Overall, 6.2% of participants (4/65, control group) and 10.4% of participants (7/67, intervention group) had sustained a fracture of the scaphoid (p = 0.37). In addition, 7.7% of participants (5/65, control group) and 22.4% of participants (15/67, intervention group) had other fractures diagnosed (p = 0.019). The use of MRI was associated with higher diagnostic accuracy both in the diagnosis of a fracture of the scaphoid (100.0% vs 93.8%) and of any other fracture (98.5% vs 84.6%). Conclusion. The use of immediate MRI in the management of participants with a suspected fracture of the scaphoid and negative radiographs led to cost savings while improving the pathway’s diagnostic accuracy and patient satisfaction. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:984–994

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The sensitivity and specificity of electrodiagnostic parameters in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) have been reported differently, and this study aims to address this gap.

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The evidence demonstrating the superiority of early MRI has led to increased use of MRI in clinical pathways for acute wrist trauma. The aim of this study was to describe the radiological characteristics and the inter-observer reliability of a new MRI based classification system for scaphoid injuries in a consecutive series of patients.

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Studies on long-term patient-reported outcomes after open surgery for triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) are scarce. Surgeons and patients would benefit from self-reported outcome data on pain, function, complications, and satisfaction after this surgery to enhance shared decision-making. The aim of this study is to determine the long-term outcome of adults who had open surgery for the TFCC.

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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.

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To determine the role of early MRI in the management of suspected scaphoid fractures.

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Brachial plexus injury (BPI) is an often devastating injury that affects patients physically and emotionally. The vast majority of the published literature is based on surgeon-graded assessment of motor outcomes, but the patient experience after BPI is not well understood. Our aim was to better understand overall life satisfaction after BPI, with the goal of identifying areas that can be addressed in future delivery of care.

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The aims of this study were to compare the mid-term outcomes of patients with late-stage arthritis of the wrist treated with proximal row carpectomy (PRC) and dorsal capsular interposition (DCI) arthroplasty with a matched cohort treated with routine PRC alone.

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The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of the Universal-2 total wrist arthroplasty (TWA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

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Total wrist arthrodesis (TWA) produces a spectrum of outcomes. We investigated this by reviewing 77 consecutive TWA performed for inflammatory and post-traumatic arthropathies, wrist instability and as a salvage procedure.

There is conflicting evidence about the functional outcome and rate of satisfaction of super-elderly patients (≥ 80 years of age) after carpal tunnel decompression.

We compiled outcome data for 756 patients who underwent a carpal tunnel decompression over an eight-year study period, 97 of whom were super-elderly, and 659 patients who formed a younger control group (< 80 years old). There was no significant difference between the super-elderly patients and the younger control group in terms of functional outcome according to the mean (0 to 100) QuickDASH score (adjusted mean difference at one year 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) -3.4 to 7.0) and satisfaction rate (odds ratio (OR) 0.78; 95% CI 0.34 to 1.58). Super-elderly patients were, however, more likely to have thenar muscle atrophy at presentation (OR 9.2, 95% CI 5.8 to 14.6). When nerve conduction studies were obtained, super-elderly patients were more likely to have a severe conduction deficit (OR 12.4, 95% CI 3.0 to 51.3).

Super-elderly patients report functional outcome and satisfaction rates equal to those of their younger counterparts. They are more likely to have thenar muscle atrophy and a severe nerve conduction deficit at presentation, and may therefore warrant earlier decompression.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014; 96-B:1234–8.

We performed a retrospective study to determine the effect of osteoporosis on the functional outcome of osteoporotic distal radial fractures treated with a volar locking plate. Between 2009 and 2012 a total of 90 postmenopausal women with an unstable fracture of the distal radius treated with a volar locking plate were studied. Changes in the radiological parameters of 51 patients with osteoporosis (group 1, mean age 66.9, mean T-score –3.16 (sd 0.56)) were not significantly different from those in 39 patients without osteoporosis (group 2, mean age 61.1, mean T-score –1.72 (sd 0.57)). The mean Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at final follow-up was 11.5 (sd 12.2) in group 1 and 10.5 (sd 13.25) in group 2. The mean modified Mayo wrist score at final follow-up was 79.0 (sd 14.04) in group 1 and 82.6 (sd 13.1) in group 2. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.35 for DASH score, p = 0.2 for modified Mayo wrist score). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that only the step-off of the radiocarpal joint was related to both a poor DASH and modified Mayo wrist score. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed a weak negative relationship only between the T-score and the change in volar tilt (intraclass coefficient –0.26, p = 0.02).

We found that osteoporosis does not have a negative effect on the functional outcome and additional analysis did not show a correlation between T-score and outcome.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:229–34.