Transfer of the supinator nerve to the posterior interosseous nerve for hand opening in tetraplegia through an anterior approach

We report a retrospective series of 44 transfers in 26 patients in whom a functioning supinator nerve was transferred to a paralyzed posterior interosseous nerve through a single, anterior approach to re-animate hand opening in mid-cervical tetraplegia. Eighteen patients underwent concurrent nerve or tendon transfers to re-animate grasp and/or pinch through the same anterior incision. We evaluated the strength of the innervated muscle at mean follow-up of 24 months (range 12–27). The strength attained in our patients was equivalent to the strength after the transfer through a posterior approach reported in the literature. Nineteen of our patients were satisfied with the hand opening procedure. First webspace opening was the only variable to correlate with patient satisfaction. We conclude that the anterior approach yields similar results to the posterior approach and has the advantage of allowing easier access for simultaneously performing nerve or tendon transfers to reconstruct grasp and pinch. Level of evidence: IV

Complications After Distal Biceps Tendon Repair: A Systematic Review

Background: Distal biceps tendon injuries typically occur in the dominant arm of men in their fourth decade of life. Surgical repair restores flexion and supination strength, resulting in good functional outcome. The complication profile of each surgical approach and fixation technique has not been widely studied in the literature. Purpose: To report the rate of complications after repair of complete distal biceps ruptures, to classify them according to surgical approach and fixation technique, and to analyze risk factors and outcomes of the individual complications. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: Studies published in English on primary repair of the distal biceps between January 1998 and January 2019 were identified. Data on complications were extracted and classified as major and minor for analysis. A quantitative synthesis of data was done to compare the complication rates between (1) limited anterior incision, extensile anterior incision, and double incision and (2) 4 fixation methods. Results: Seventy-two articles including 3091 primary distal biceps repairs were identified. The overall complication rate was 25% (n = 774). The major complication rate was 4.6% (n = 144) and included a 1.6% (n = 51) rate of posterior interosseous nerve injury; 0.3% (n = 10), median nerve injury; 1.4% (n = 43), rerupture; and a 0.1% (n = 4), synostosis. Brachial artery injury, ulnar nerve injury, compartment syndrome, proximal radius fracture, and chronic regional pain syndrome occurred at a rate of <0.1% each. The majority of nerve injuries resolved with an expectant approach. The minor complication rate was 20.4% (n = 630). The most common complication was lateral cutaneous nerve injury (9.2%, n = 283). An extensile single incision was associated with a higher rate of superficial radial nerve injury when compared to limited single incision(6% vs 2.1%, P = .002). Limited anterior single incision technique had a higher rate of lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve injury compared to extensile single incision. (9.7% vs 5.2%, P = .03). Synostosis occurred only with double incision. Fixation technique had no significant effect on rerupture rate and posterior interosseous nerve injury rate. Conclusion: This is the largest analysis of complications after distal biceps repair, indicating a major complication rate of 4.6%. This study provides valuable data with regard to the choice of technique, surgical approach, and rate of complications, which is essential for surgical planning and patient consent. Registration: CRD42017074066 (PROSPERO).

Utility of Dehydrated Human Amniotic Membrane (DHAM) in Total Ankle Arthroplasty

Background: Wound complications after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) are a common postoperative complication occurring in 14% to 66% of all surgeries. Soft tissue breakdown along the anterior incision can cause exposure of anterior tendons and implant, and adhesions of the extensor tendons of the foot. Recent publications have advocated for the implantation of dehydrated human amniotic membrane (DHAM) allograft during closure of anterior ankle incisions during TAA. The goal of this study was to determine whether implantation of DHAM allograft in TAAs decreased overall postoperative wound complications. Methods: One hundred seventy patients with end-stage ankle arthritis refractory to conservative management underwent TAA with a standard anterior approach by 1 of 3 board-certified foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons. Ninety-one patients underwent closure of the anterior incision with addition of DHAM, whereas 79 patients served as the control (no addition of DHAM). The primary endpoints considered were postoperative complications and reoperation. Included in the postoperative complications was return to the operating room, postoperative plastic surgery intervention, wound communication with the implant, removal of the implant, neurolysis, tendon debridement, and extensor hallucis longus contracture/adhesions. Results: In the analysis of our demographically homogenous cohorts, there was no statistically significant difference in any postoperative complications between patients closed with DHAM and controls. Return to the operating room occurred in 8.9% of controls and 15.4% of the DHAM group ( P = .291). Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference in postoperative plastic surgery, wound communication with the implant, implant removal, neurolysis, and tendon debridement between the control and DHAM groups. Conclusion: The application of DHAM theoretically acts to decrease overall wound complications in TAA. The use of DHAM preceding wound closure in TAA did not show a statistically significant reduction in overall wound complications in our retrospective analysis. Further study, including prospective randomized studies, is needed to further investigate the effectiveness of DHAM in reducing wound complications in TAAs. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Anterior Ankle Incision Complications

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: The anterior incision is commonly used for total ankle replacement (TAR), and anterior approach ankle arthrodesis. Historically, the anterior incision has demonstrated a high incidence of complications, specifically with early generation TAR. Modern TAR designs have provided instrumentation and techniques that better respect the vulnerability of the anterior soft tissues, potentially reducing the incidence of anterior incision related complications. To our knowledge, anterior wound healing rates have not been evaluated in the context of modern anterior approach ankle arthrodesis and arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the incisional healing and complications of the anterior approach for ankle arthrodesis and arthroplasty. Methods: This was an IRB-approved retrospective review of wound healing and complications among 304 patients who underwent primary TAR or ankle arthrodesis via the anterior approach between August 1, 2011 and August 31, 2015. Of the 304 patients, 191 (62.8%) underwent TAR and 113 (37.2%) underwent arthrodesis. The surgical approach, intraoperative soft tissue handling, and postoperative protocol for the first 30 days was the same between groups. Demographics, clinical characteristics of the wound healing, and neurovascular status were analyzed using two-sample t-tests or Wilcoxon rank sum tests for continuous variables and chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables. To diminish the effect of selection bias, a subgroup analysis was performed comparing 91 TAR patients matched to an equal number of ankle arthrodesis patients based upon gender, age, diabetes, and smoking status. Results: The mean follow-up was 11.8 (range, 1.4 to 62.2) months. Overall, 19.7% of patients experienced delayed wound healing greater than 30 days, 15.8% required office-based wound care, 12.2% had a wound infection, 15.1% were prescribed antibiotics, 9.5% underwent wound debridement in the office, 4.6% had nerve injury, and 0.7% had a vascular injury. Implant revision or removal occurred in 10.5%, with a bias towards hardware removal in ankle arthrodesis. In the entire group of 304 patients, there was no difference between TAR and arthrodesis in risk of incisional wound challenges or complications nor neurovascular injury. In the subgroup matched for gender, age, diabetes status and smoking history there was no difference in outcomes. Conclusion: In this large cohort of 304 patients undergoing anterior approach to the ankle, postoperative complication rates were constant at all levels of analysis, with no difference seen between anterior ankle arthrodesis or ankle approach total ankle arthroplasty. This suggests that the primary determinates of complications were neither the demographic nor implant factors considered herein. The anterior ankle incision has a documented wound complication risk, regardless of the surgical procedure, and any modifiable risk factors remain elusive.

Anterior Incision Offloading for Primary and Revision Total Ankle Replacement: A Comparative Analysis of Two Techniques

Background: There exists a high risk of post-operative complications with primary and revision total ankle replacement surgery. Delayed wound healing of the anterior incision is common. The reason for this is multi-factorial and, to date, most of the research has focused on predisposing factors involving the patients themselves. Only recently have researchers begun to look at the post-operative dressing as a possible consideration when trying to prevent incision wound healing complications. Currently, no standard post-operative dressing for primary or revision total ankle replacement exists. However, the principles of post-operative edema reduction to improve healing, as advocated by Sir Robert Jones and demonstrated in his compressive dressing, have been known for decades. We have been using a modified Sir Robert Jones compressive dressing for both primary and revision total ankle replacements. Recently, we have added an aperture pad made of cotton cast padding over the anterior incision in order to protect the area from pressure necrosis. Methods: This is a comparison study of the post-operative wound complications involving 35 patients that received the original dressing and 33 patients that received the addition of the aperture pad. Results: With no significant difference in the patient populations, the results demonstrate a 3-fold decrease in the number of anterior incision wound healing complications with the use of the aperture pad. Conclusion: This dressing represents a simple, reproducible, easy to apply and inexpensive way to prevent post-operative edema and anterior incision wound healing complications.