Management of a mutilated hand: the current trends

Mutilated upper limbs suffer loss of substance of various tissues with loss of prehension. The most important factor in salvage of a mutilated hand is involvement of a senior surgeon at the time of initial assessment and debridement. A regional block given on arrival helps through assessment and investigations in a pain-free state. Infection still remains the important negative determinant to outcome and is prevented by emergent radical debridement and early soft tissue cover. Radical debridement and secure skeletal stabilization must be achieved on day one in all situations. Dermal substitutes and negative pressure wound therapy are increasingly used but have not substituted regular soft tissue cover techniques. Ability to perform secondary procedures and the increased use of the reconstructed hand with time keeps reconstruction a better option than prosthesis fitting. Toe transfers and free functioning muscle transfers are the two major secondary procedures that have influenced outcomes.

Differences in management and treatment of traumatic adult pan brachial plexus injuries: a global perspective regarding continental variations

An expert opinion study was designed to query five countries and six brachial plexus surgeons regarding the demographics, mechanisms of injury, evaluation, timing of surgery, reconstructive strategies and controversies in adult traumatic pan brachial plexus injuries. Variations in assessing outcomes, management of neuropathic pain and future considerations were elucidated. Clear differences in regional demographics, mechanisms of injury, patient evaluation and treatment strategies were identified. The role of phrenic nerve and contralateral C7 transfer, acute use of free functioning muscle transfers, root reimplantation and amputation/myoelectric prosthetic fitting were regional/surgeon dependent. Comparison of outcomes across regions requires an understanding of the regional nuances of patient demographics, injury mechanisms, preferred reconstructive strategies and how outcomes are measured. Future studies are required to allow accurate regional comparisons.

Clinical Evaluation of Children with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenital in Pakistani Population

Background: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is a rare syndrome with multiple joint contractures. The number of studies which have been previously done on Pakistani population to investigate patients with arthrogryposis is limited. Aim: This study presents our experience with evaluation and management of children with AMC at The Children Hospital & the Institute of Child Health, Lahore. Method: During the period from January 2018 to December 2018, we evaluated 25 children with AMC. The mean age at the time of evaluation was 20.56 months (range, 5 days to 9 years). All of the included patients were evaluated in terms of their clinical state according to selected subjective and objective criteria. Result: Our results indicate that shoulders were internally rotated (20%), the elbows were extended (36%), and the wrists (76%) and digits (56%) were flexed. Thumb was adducted (36%), hands were clawed (52%) and palmar crease was absent (28%). Hips were found to be dislocated (16%) and adducted (16%). Knees having extension contracture (32%); feet were in equinocavovarus (72%). Calf muscles were atrophic (56%). Conclusion: Our experience shows that the clinical findings are highly variable between families and also within families with AMC. Joint manipulation and casting during the first few months of life may produce considerable improvement. Orthotics may help. Surgery may be needed later, but mobility is rarely enhanced. Muscle transfers may improve function. Many children do remarkably well; two thirds are ambulatory after treatment. A multidisciplinary team evaluation of the child with AMC is recommended for specific diagnosis and planning of treatment. Keywords: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), clinical evaluation

Use of the Facial Artery for Free Functioning Muscle Transfers: An Alternative Pedicle for Salvage in Brachial Plexus Lesions with Vascular Injuries

Free functional muscle transfer (FFMT) is a salvage procedure recommended in cases of brachial plexus injury with late presentations or failures of primary nerve reconstruction. The workhorse for most authors is the gracilis, and the most common indication is the restoration of elbow flexion. For successful revascularization of the muscle, donor vessels must be in proximity of the site of the muscle fixation and allow direct coaptation to a donor nerve, ideally without the use of nerve grafts. A major problem occurs when patients have sustained concomitant vascular injuries to the subclavian and/or axillary arteries and had previous surgical dissections in the area where the most common vascular pedicles are located. The authors report the use of the rerouted facial vessels as donors in these complex cases. The surgical technique is presented, along with three cases where the procedure was used. The flaps survived in all the patients and grade > 3/5 muscle contraction was observed in the two patients who had adequate follow-up. Conclusion: the use of the facial vessels as donor vessels is an option to revascularize a FFMT in the setting of severe vascular injury to the subclavian and axillary arteries.

Faster Detection of Ischemia in Free Muscle Transfer When Using Microdialysis

Background Microdialysis is a clinical method used to detect ischemia after microvascular surgery. Microdialysis is easy to use and reliable, but its value in most clinical settings is hampered by a 1- to 2-h delay in the delivery of patient data. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an increase in the microdialysis perfusion rate from 0.3 to 1.0 µL/min on the diagnostic delay in the detection of ischemia. Methods In eight pigs, two symmetric pure muscle transfers were dissected based on one vascular pedicle each. In each muscle, two microdialysis catheters were placed. The two microdialysis catheters were randomized to a perfusion rate of 0.3 or 1.0 µL/min, and the two muscle transfers were randomized to arterial or venous ischemia, respectively. After baseline monitoring, arterial and venous ischemia was introduced by the application of vessel clamps. Microdialysis sampling was performed throughout the experiment. The ischemic cutoff values were based on clinical experience set as follows: CGlucose < 0.2 mmol/L, CLactate > 7 mmol/L, and the lactate/pyruvate ratio > 50. Results The delay for the detection of 50% of arterial ischemia was reduced from 60 to 25 minutes, and for the detection of all cases of arterial ischemia, the delay was reduced from 75 to 40 minutes when the perfusion rate was increased from 0.3 to 1.0 µL/min. After the same increase in perfusion, the detection of 50% of venous ischemia was reduced from 75 to 40 minutes, and for all cases of venous ischemia, a reduction from 135 to 95 minutes was found. Conclusion When using microdialysis for the detection of ischemia in pure muscle transfers, an increase in the perfusion rate from 0.3 to 1.0 µL/min can reduce the detection delay of ischemia.

DOUBLE FREE FUNCTIONING MUSCLE TRANSFERS FOR BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURIES: A CASE REPORT

Free functional muscle transfer for brachial plexus injury is one of the alternatives to repair the upper extremity function, where usually one type of muscle is used, the gracillis. The method of using two donor muscles to restore the motor function is worth considering for a better improvement of the quality. A 36 years old man with a complete left brachial plexus injury from C5-T1 due to motorcycle accident. A double free functional muscle transfer was performed using the gracillis muscle and the adductor longus muscle with the arterial source from the thoraco-acromial artery with the phrenic and accessory nerves. The gracillis muscle is used to flex the fingers while the adductor is used for flexing the elbow. A one year post-operative evaluation showed the patient was already capable of flexing his elbow with the muscle score of 3 and also the fingers with the muscle score of 1. The double free functional muscle transfer procedure is effective in achieving the moving function of both the elbow and the hand.

Free Gracilis Muscle Transfers Compared with Nonfree Muscle Flaps for Reanimation of Elbow Flexion: A Meta-Analysis

Objectives Elbow flexion loss is a debilitating upper extremity injury. Surgical treatment options include nonfree muscle transfers (tendon transfers, nerve transfers, Steindler procedure, Oberlin transfers, and pedicled muscle transfers) or free muscle transfers. We sought to determine if free muscle transfers and nonfree muscle transfers have similar outcomes for elbow flexion reanimation. Materials and Methods A literature search for studies evaluating free and nonfree muscle transfers for elbow flexion reanimation was performed. Included studies reported on transfer failure (strength <M3, unable to flex arm against gravity), strength, range of motion (ROM), or Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score. Pooled odds ratios were used to calculate failure rate, and pooled mean differences were used to calculate differences in strength, ROM, and DASH scores. Results Six studies were included (n = 331 patients). Free muscle patients experienced lower failure rates than nonfree muscle patients. There was no significant difference in ROM. A nonsignificant trend toward better mean strength and DASH scores among free muscle patients was observed. Conclusion Free muscle transfers may be superior to nonfree muscle transfers for elbow flexion reanimation, given their lower failure rates. Well-powered future studies may reveal differences in strength and DASH scores between free and nonfree muscle transfers.