scholarly journals Mallet fractures: a prospective comparison of treatment outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-55
Author(s):  
Jessica A Savage ◽  
Clara Miller ◽  
Shirley Collocott ◽  
Devlin Elliott ◽  
Karen Smith

Background: The optimal management of mallet fractures is controversial. Currently, published evidence does not clearly define the role of surgery in managing these fractures or identify when splinting alone is suitable.Methods: An observational, prospective cohort study was undertaken between 2012 and 2015 evaluating patient experience, and radiological and functional outcomes following mallet fractures managed with splinting alone or surgery combined with post-operative splinting. This study was registered with our local research facility and ethical approval was granted by the New Zealand Northern B Health and Disability Ethics Committee Health and Disability Ethics Committee (HDEC) #13/NTB/202. All patients provided formal written consent. Results: A total of 109 adult patients with 113 mallet fractures were enrolled in the study and 85 patients with 89 fractures completed follow-up. Mean follow-up was 190 days. Fractures initially associated with subluxation of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint treated with splinting alone were five times more likely to fail to meet a minimum standard of success than those fixed with surgery. When the fracture fragment occupies between one and two thirds of the joint surface, even in the absence of initial DIP joint subluxation, 13/35 (37%) joints subluxed during splint treatment. Conclusion: This study aids clinicians by highlighting where splinting is likely to fail and providing a means of identifying injuries in which surgery must be considered

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (03) ◽  
pp. 342-346
Author(s):  
Karlis Verdins ◽  
Vadims Nefjodovs

Background: Multi-fragmental intra-articular middle phalanx base fractures mostly occur in young adults during sports or work-related activities. If left untreated properly proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) instability and pain persists, thus impairing the hand’s function and the patient’s quality of life. Joint surface reconstruction with hamate osteochondral graft can be used for multi-fragmental middle phalanx base reconstruction. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. The technique was used for 17 patients. Follow-up was performed at least 6 months after the surgery. Patients were asked to fulfil multiple surveys: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) and Modern Activity Subjective Survey 2007 (MASS07). Objective measurements included strength of the power and pinch grip, range of motions (ROM) in both proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal (DIPJ) joints. All measurements were taken on both hands, on operated and contralateral fingers. Results: Out of 17 patients 5 were females and 12 males, mean age 40 (ranged 22-65 years) Eleven patients agreed to participate in the follow-up. All patients were right-handed, 8 patients had injured their right hand. The injuries’ aetiologies were sports (n = 3), fighting (n = 2) and work-related (n = 4). Six patients were treated with immobilisation before the surgery, which was performed on average 45 days after the injury (ranged 1–184 days). Two patients developed arthrosis post-operatively and received synthetic joints. Mean DASH score was 6.9, PRWE score was 5.2 and mean MASS07 score was 6.8. Patients achieved on average 90% of power grip and 100% of pinch grip with their injured hand compared to their healthy hand. Average ROM in PIPJ was 82.2° and in DIPJ 68.9°. No patients experienced joint instability or chronic pain. Conclusions: Hemi-hamate arthroplasty provides satisfactory results in patients with both acute and chronic dislocated intra-articular middle phalanx base fractures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 574-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janni K. Thillemann ◽  
Theis M. Thillemann ◽  
Pia K. Kristensen ◽  
Anders D. Foldager-Jensen ◽  
Bo Munk

Surgical treatment of bony mallet fingers is frequently recommended, but the evidence is sparse. This randomized clinical trial aimed to compare nonoperative splinting versus extension-block pinning of bony mallet fingers with involvement of more than one-third of the joint surface but without primary joint subluxation. Thirty-two patients were randomized and 28 fulfilled the protocol. At 6 months follow-up, there were no significant differences in active extension lag in the distal interphalangeal joint (the primary outcome) or in patient-reported function and pain scores. Flexion and active range of motion in the distal interphalangeal joint and finger-to-palm distance were better in the splinting group, but three patients developed secondary subluxation. We conclude from this study, that splinting these injuries is safe and efficient in restoring joint motion, but splinting does not sufficiently prevent secondary subluxation of the joint. Radiographic follow-up during splinting appears to be necessary. Level of evidence: I


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 896
Author(s):  
Anthia Papazoglou ◽  
Anna Conen ◽  
Sebastian Haubitz ◽  
Markus Tschopp ◽  
Viviane J. Guignard ◽  
...  

Postmortem pathological examinations, animal studies, and anecdotal reports suggest that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could potentially affect intraocular tissue. However, published evidence is scarce and conflicting. In our study, we screened 100 eyes of 50 patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Relevant medical and ophthalmological history was assessed as well as symptoms, laboratory results, specific treatments, clinical course, and outcome. Ophthalmic exams including assessment of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), color perception, ocular motility, ophthalmoscopy as well as optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the macula and the optic disc was performed at hospital admission and 29 to 192 days later. Of the 50 patients included, 14 (28%) were female. Median age was 64.5 (range 29–90) years. COVID-19 severity was mild in 15 (30%), severe in 30 (60%), and critical in five cases (10%). At baseline, median BCVA was 0.1 (0–1.8) Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR) and median IOP was 16 (8–22) mmHg. At follow-up, no relevant changes in BCVA and IOP were documented. No signs of active intraocular inflammation or optic nerve affection were found and OCT findings were widely stable during the observation period. Our findings suggest that COVID-19 does not regularly affect intraocular tissue.


Hand Therapy ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 175899832110078
Author(s):  
Laura Adamson ◽  
Anna Selby

Introduction For some people the appearance of their hands is as important as function. Upper limb scarring can cause some patients distress. Skin camouflage is an intervention that can be used to reduce the visual impact of a scar but there is limited published evidence for its use for hand scarring. Methods This is a case series study with a primary objective to determine whether skin camouflage reduces distress in patients with an upper limb scar and to evaluate this new service. Patients experiencing distress from an upper limb scar were recruited from a hand therapy outpatient clinic. The intervention delivered was a one hour skin camouflage session. Photographs of the upper limb pre and post skin camouflage intervention were taken. The patient-rated Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ) and Derriford Appearance Scale (DAS24) were completed before treatment, at 1 week and 1 month after treatment. Results Six participants reporting distress from an upper limb scar received skin camouflage intervention. Only three out of six participants completed all follow-up. All three showed improvement in at least two domains of the MHQ (function and aesthetics) at one month post treatment. Increased confidence during functional and work-based activities was also reported on the DAS24. Participants reported increased engagement in daily activities as a result of being able to camouflage their scars. Conclusions This small case series shows that skin camouflage intervention may be beneficial for some patients who are experiencing distress related to an upper limb scar by increasing function and self-confidence.


2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Davis Harte ◽  
Caroline SE Homer ◽  
Athena Sheehan ◽  
Nicky Leap ◽  
Maralyn Foureur

Background: Conducting video-research in birth settings raises challenges for ethics review boards to view birthing women and research-midwives as capable, autonomous decision-makers. Aim: This study aimed to gain an understanding of how the ethical approval process was experienced and to chronicle the perceived risks and benefits. Research design: The Birth Unit Design project was a 2012 Australian ethnographic study that used video recording to investigate the physical design features in the hospital birthing space that might influence both verbal and non-verbal communication and the experiences of childbearing women, midwives and supporters. Participants and research context: Six women, 11 midwives and 11 childbirth supporters were filmed during the women’s labours in hospital birth units and interviewed 6 weeks later. Ethical considerations: The study was approved by an Australian Health Research Ethics Committee after a protracted process of negotiation. Findings: The ethics committee was influenced by a traditional view of research as based on scientific experiments resulting in a poor understanding of video-ethnographic research, a paradigmatic view of the politics and practicalities of modern childbirth processes, a desire to protect institutions from litigation, and what we perceived as a paternalistic approach towards protecting participants, one that was at odds with our aim to facilitate situations in which women could make flexible, autonomous decisions about how they might engage with the research process. Discussion: The perceived need for protection was overly burdensome and against the wishes of the participants themselves; ultimately, this limited the capacity of the study to improve care for women and babies. Conclusion: Recommendations are offered for those involved in ethical approval processes for qualitative research in childbirth settings. The complexity of issues within childbirth settings, as in most modern healthcare settings, should be analysed using a variety of research approaches, beyond efficacy-style randomised controlled trials, to expand and improve practice-based results.


2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 249 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Borchers ◽  
R. Kirschner-Hennanns ◽  
B. Brehmer ◽  
R. Knüchel-Clarke ◽  
T. Reineke ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (05) ◽  
pp. 462-466
Author(s):  
Jun-Ku Lee ◽  
Soonchul Lee ◽  
SeongJu Choi ◽  
Dong Hun Han ◽  
Jongbeom Oh ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To report the clinical and radiographic results of arthrodesis of relatively small-sized distal interphalangeal joints (DIPJs) using only K-wire fixation. Patients and methods Between January 2000 and December 2018 28 arthrodesis in 21 patients (9 males and 12 females with an average age of 52.1 years) with relatively small-sized DIPJs were performed using only K-wires. Data on patient’s characteristics, such as age, sex, affected finger, and the number and size of the used k-wires were collected from the medical database. The narrowest diameter of the cortex and medulla of the distal phalanx was measured on preoperative plain radiographs. The time to union and the arthrodesis angle was determined using serial X-ray radiography follow-up. Preoperatively and at the latest follow-up examination, pain using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the quick DASH score was registered. In addition, complications were investigated. Results Average follow-up period was 11.4 months. The small finger was mostly affected (n = 12; 42.9 %). The narrowest diameters of the distal phalanx cortex and the medulla measured on preoperative X-ray images were 2.8 mm (SD 0.5) and 1.2 mm (SD 0.4), respectively. Seven fusions were done with use of 1 K-wire, 20 with 2 (71.4 %), and 1 with 3 K-wires. The most common K-wire sizes were 1.1-inch (24 K-wires = 48 %), and 0.9 inch (21 K-wires = 42 %) The preoperative VAS score and quick DASH score improved from 6.1 (range: 0–9) and 25.8 (range: 2–38) to 0.4 (range: 0–2) and 3.4 (range: 0–10.2), respectively. 25 (89.3 %) out of 28 fingers achieved bony union in an average of 96.1 days (range: 58–114) with three non-union. Conclusion Arthrodesis of small DIPJs with K-wire fixation has a high success rate. Therefore, we suggest K-wire fixation as an acceptable alternative for patients with a small phalanx which may be at risk of mismatch with bigger implants. However, concerns remain in terms of fusion delay with K-wire only fixation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 175319342110593
Author(s):  
Atsuhiko Murayama ◽  
Kentaro Watanabe ◽  
Hideyuki Ota ◽  
Shigeru Kurimoto ◽  
Hitoshi Hirata

We retrospectively compared the results of volar plating and dynamic external fixation for acute unstable dorsal fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint with a depressed fragment. We treated 31 patients (31 fingers), 12 with volar buttress plating and 19 with dynamic external fixation. Follow-up averaged 35 and 40 months in the two groups, with a minimal 6-month follow-up. Average active flexion of the proximal interphalangeal joint was 95° after plate fixation and 87° after external fixation, with an active extension lag of –6° and –9°, respectively. Active flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint averaged 67° in the plate group and 58° in the external fixation group, with active extension lags of 0° and –5°, respectively. We conclude that both methods can obtain a good range of motion at the proximal interphalangeal joint. A limitation of the extension of the distal interphalangeal joint occurred with dynamic external fixation but not with volar buttress plating. Level of evidence: IV


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leena Metso ◽  
Ville Bister ◽  
Arsi Harilainen ◽  
Jerker Sandelin

Abstract Background: This is a five years follow-up report of some of the new devices for graft fixation. A two years follow-up data was published previously. As there were no statistically or clinically relevant differences in the results two years postoperatively, we hypothesize that after five years of follow-up there is no difference in the outcome after either cross-pin or absorbable interference screw fixation in ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction with hamstring tendon autografts.Methods: 120 patients were randomized into four different groups (30 each) for ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendons: group I femoral Rigidfix cross-pin and Intrafix tibial extension sheath with a tapered expansion screw; group II Rigidfix femoral and BioScrew interference screw tibial fixation; group III BioScrew femoral and Intrafix tibial fixation; group IV BioScrew fixation into both tunnels. The evaluation methods were clinical examination, knee scores, and instrumented laxity measurements. Results: In this 5 years follow-up there were 102/120 (85%) patients available, but only 77 (64,2%) attended the clinical examinations. No significant difference between the groups in the clinical results was detected. There was a significant difference in additional procedures between the 2 and 5 years follow-up, group I had six additional procedures between the 2 and 5 years follow-up (P=.041). Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference in the additional procedures, most in group I (six). None of these procedures found problems with the ACL graft. Other statistically or clinically significant differences in the 5 years follow-up results were not found. Study design: Randomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 1.Trial registration: ISRCTN registry with study ID ISRCTN34011837. Retrospectively registered 17.4.2020.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-169
Author(s):  
Tudor Mihai Gavrilă ◽  
◽  
Emanuel Antoneac ◽  
Cristea Vlad ◽  
Stefan Cristea

The old unreduced elbow dislocation is not very frequent, but when it is found, it is a challenge for every surgeon. We present a case of 65 years old man who came to the hospital with a dislocated elbow. After the first attempt to reduce, the elbow was mobilized in sling for 2 weeks, but during a small effort, the joint dislocated again. Another two orthopedic reduction were tried, followed by cast immobilization, but the elbow dislocated again. The patient presented in our service after two months from the injury with stiff joint in a vicious position. On imagistic examinations (Rx, CT, MRI), it was found comminuted fracture of coronoid process, posterior dislocation of olecranon and both collateral ligaments were torn. An open reduction was performed during which the joint surface was cleaned up, the anterior capsule was reattached to the coronoid process with an anchor, and then, collateral ligament was restored with the help of autograft, a gracilis muscle (bone fixed with two anchors). Postoperatively, the patient slowly began to mobilize the elbow with splint protection. After a year, the patient returned for follow-up; the function was completely restored and he had no pain.


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