The Journal of hand surgery, European volume
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J Hand Surg Eur Vol · Dec 2004
Treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome by frontal partial medial epicondylectomy. A retrospective series of 55 cases.
The outcomes of 55 cases of cubital tunnel syndrome treated by a partial frontal epicondylectomy are presented at a mean follow-up of 38 months follow-up. According to McGowan classification, 25 cases were grade I (45%), 12 grade II (22%) and 18 grade III (33%). The results (Wilson and Krout classification) were excellent or good in 41 patients (75%), fair in nine patients and unchanged in five, without any worsening or recurrence. ⋯ The satisfaction rate was 93%. This technique preserves bony protection, the blood supply and gliding tissues for the nerve and nerve recovery were comparable to other surgical procedures. Residual pain at the osteotomy site was not a serious problem.
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J Hand Surg Eur Vol · Dec 2004
The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT): better presentation of surgical trials in the Journal of Hand Surgery.
To assure readers that study results are scientifically valid, the methods of a clinical trial should be described adequately. Since randomization, blinding, and intention-to-treat-analysis are major bias-reducing techniques, these aspects should be reported most accurately. The Consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT) are recommendations to improve the reporting of trials. ⋯ This article presents the CONSORT recommendations and explains some of their main aspects. From now on, the Journal of Hand Surgery will use CONSORT to assist authors of randomized controlled trials in improving the description of their studies. We believe that this decision increases the scientific validity of study reports and helps readers when critically appraising articles.
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J Hand Surg Eur Vol · Aug 2004
Treatment of end-neuromas, neuromas-in-continuity and scarred nerves of the digits by proximal relocation.
This paper reports the results of treatment by proximal relocation of 104 painful nerves in 57 digits in 48 patients. These included 86 digital nerves and 18 terminal branches of the superficial radial nerve and the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve. Eighty-three were end-neuromas and 14 were neuromas-in-continuity, of which nine followed nerve repair and five occurred following a closed crush injury. ⋯ One patient had mild pain on pressure at the primary site after relocation of two nerves from this site. Over 90% of the nerves had no spontaneous pain, pain on movement or hypersensitivity of the overlying skin at the final site of relocation. However, the incidence of mild or no pain on direct pressure at the site of nerve relocation was lower at 83% as relocated nerves, although traumatized less often at the sites chosen for relocation, can still be painful on direct pressure.
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J Hand Surg Eur Vol · Aug 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialReducing the pain associated with local anaesthetic infiltration for open carpal tunnel decompression.
This prospective, randomized study assessed the effectiveness of buffering lidocaine with sodium bicarbonate for reducing the pain associated with local anaesthetic infiltration for open carpal tunnel decompression. Twenty-one patients undergoing bilateral open carpal tunnel decompression received, in a randomized manner, lidocaine 1% with adrenaline (1:200,000) in one hand and the same local anaesthetic buffered with 8.4% NaHCO3 at a 5:1 ratio in the other hand. ⋯ The buffering was effective for all patients and no adverse effects were noted. This is a safe, easy and quick method for making open carpal tunnel surgery less uncomfortable to patients.
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J Hand Surg Eur Vol · Aug 2004
Shoulder function following late neurolysis and bypass grafting for upper brachial plexus birth injuries.
Eleven children ranging in age from 9 to 21 months underwent late nerve reconstruction for persistent shoulder paralysis following an upper brachial plexus birth injury. Only neurolysis was performed in three patients. ⋯ Two patients underwent a secondary procedure before their final follow-up evaluation. All infants demonstrated significant improvement when assessed by a modified Gilbert shoulder motion scale.