Hand/Wrist News

The launch of collagenase clostridium histolyticum for the treatment of Dupuytren’s disease almost 10 years ago not only represented a completely new treatment approach for this difficult and still unsolved hand surgical problem, but also triggered a huge wave of related research. Surgeons were confronted with an effective non-surgical treatment that could change completely the approach to this disease.

Patients with chronic Essex-Lopresti injuries who underwent interosseous membrane reconstruction with a bone-patellar tendon-bone graft combined with ulnar shortening osteotomy experienced satisfactory clinical and functional results, according to findings published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

A single, multidisciplinary session of an individual intervention combining detailed information on functioning, activities of daily living, physical activity, nutrition, assistive devices, instructions on pain management and exercises significantly improved grip strength in patients with hand osteoarthritis, according to data published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

According to data published in Orthopedics, residents who chose a career in spine surgery, hand surgery and sports medicine at an early stage in their orthopedic surgery training obtained additional surgical exposure in their chosen field.

A 15-year-old, right-hand dominant female patient presented to our office with a history of left-sided type 3 radial longitudinal deficiency. She was initially treated in infancy at an outside hospital with centralization and pollicization procedures. Subsequent to her initial surgeries, she developed worsening of her limb-length discrepancy and bowing of her forearm secondary to damage to her distal ulnar physis during centralization. Physical examination of her left upper extremity on presentation was notable for elbow range of motion from 0° to 110° flexion. She exhibited complete absence of forearm pronation and supination, 10° arc of motion in wrist flexion and extension, and 30° radial deviation without any ulnar deviation. Her past medical history was otherwise unremarkable, and she lacked any syndromic associations with her radial longitudinal deficiency (RLD).

Major skin defects have to be treated on a daily basis in orthopaedic and trauma surgery. This EFORT Anatomical Course course teaches experienced surgeons the skills they need if plastic surgeons are not available. There are several techniques in plastic surgery that an orthopaedic or trauma surgeon should master.

NYU Langone Health announced Thomas J. Graham, MD, joined its department of orthopedic surgery as director of strategy and innovation. He also serves as associate chief of the division of hand surgery.

BOSTON — Among patients who sustained a traumatic digit amputation, investigators found less pain, better appearance, easier performance of activities of daily living and improved satisfaction for patients who underwent digit replantation compared with patients who underwent revision amputation.

BOSTON — The addition of liposomal bupivacaine to supraclavicular nerve block did not provide benefit in pain or function scores among patients with distal radius fractures, according to results presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting.

BOSTON — Implementation of an evidence-based narcotic prescription protocol may reduce the mean oral morphine equivalents per prescription given by surgical residency trainees, according to results presented here.