Hand/Wrist News

A coupler device designed to mitigate the risk of repair rupture after zone 2 flexor tendon repairs was associated with range of motion and functional outcome scores similar to sutures, but had a lower rupture rate, a presenter said.

In-office ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release is associated with no need for added sedation or analgesia, or conversion to mini-open carpal tunnel release, a speaker said at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting.

Reversal of symptoms of sensibility and thenar atrophy after carpal tunnel release is possible based on a study of 36 patients whose 41 hands — most of which presented with both symptoms — were followed up for 12 months, a presenter said.

Ligamentous laxity in patients with thumb basal joint pain sometimes calls for surgical management. However, a presenter said she prefers and has had good results with more conservative approaches and splinting, in particular.

An effective way to predict a woman aged 25 to 31 years will develop osteoporosis is to do a check of sclerostin and possibly other blood serum markers for bone turnover at key timepoints in the woman’s life, according to a presenter.

Microneurolysis aids recovery of strength in patients with persistent anterior interosseous nerve syndrome and hourglass constrictions, leading researchers to say the constrictions may represent therapeutic targets, a presenter said.

A 22-year-old right-hand dominant woman presented to the ED with right arm and forearm pain after being struck by a car when she was on the sideline at an auto race. The car went off track, crashing into a barrier behind which she was standing.

Laws in 23 states that capped the number of days a Medicare enrollee could receive an initial opioid prescription may have had their intended effect, a recent study showed.

Patients who had their opioids tapered after receiving stable, long-term, higher-dose opioid therapy were at a significantly increased risk for overdose and mental health crisis than those who did not have reduced doses, data showed.

Published results showed radiographic metacarpophalangeal osteoarthritis was associated with mechanical factors and was especially associated with severe radiographic proximal interphalangeal joint OA.