Hand/Wrist News

LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom — Reduction and K-wire fixation are two effective treatment options for epi basilar fractures — the kind of fractures at the base of the phalanx that are often seen in conjunction with distal radius fractures. However, how well each treatment works depends on the stability of the fracture, according to a presenter at the British Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting.

SEATTLE — Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scores are still a superior means compared with radiographic data alone in the diagnosis of osteoporosis, according to research presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting.

SEATTLE — According to data presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, suture suspension arthroplasty can provide improved function and pain relief in patients who undergo thumb carpometacarpal arthritis reconstruction.

SEATTLE — At the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, Eric Wagner, MD spoke about a study that evaluated the outcomes of intercostal nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous motor branch for restoration of elbow flexion. He said intercostal nerve transfer was found to be a reasonable nerve transfer option for patients with very limited options.

SEATTLE —Patients treated with volar plating for distal radius fractures show better functional recovery and radiographic outcomes compared to patients treated with external fixation, according to data presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, here.

SEATTLE — Patients treated with a processed nerve allograft for upper extremity repairs have meaningful recovery in both sensory function and motor function, according to data presented here.

SEATTLE — For patients with distal radial fractures, the treatment frequently aligns with that of appropriate use criteria-based recommended treatment, according to data presented here.

SEATTLE — Pediatric patients with operative supracondylar humeral fractures have poorer outcomes if nerve injuries with neurologic deficits are observed compared with patients who do not have such injuries, according to data presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, here.

SEATTLE — Scaphoid fractures likely occur more frequently than previously believed, a speaker here said. Christopher J. Dy, MD, MPH, and his colleagues searched a private commercial insurance beneficiary database for claims filed from 2006 to 2012 and identified treatment information for 8,923 closed scaphoid fractures. Subsequent claims regarding any additional treatment for nonunion or salvage procedures were also evaluated. Any changes in treatment frequency, revision procedures or salvage treatments were examined via trend analyses, while risk factors for nonunion were determined via multivariable regression analysis.

It is known by several names: same-day surgery, day-case surgery, ambulatory surgery and outpatient surgery. Whatever the name, outpatient orthopaedic surgery is now considered by many to be safe and feasible across an ever-widening array of joints — hips, knees, hands, ankles and spine. Proponents of these procedures say they have the potential to increase patient comfort and satisfaction while improving hospital efficiency and reducing health care costs.