The Journal of hand surgery
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
A multicenter prospective study of 3,110 consecutive cases of elective epinephrine use in the fingers and hand: the Dalhousie Project clinical phase.
To examine prospectively the incidence of digital infarction and phentolamine rescue in a large series of patients in whom local anesthesia with adrenaline was injected electively into the hand and fingers. There continues to be a commonly held belief that epinephrine injection is contraindicated in the finger despite a lack of valid evidence to support this concept in the literature. ⋯ The true incidence of finger infarction in elective low-dose epinephrine injection into the hand and finger is likely to be remote, particularly with the possible rescue with phentolamine.
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Comparative Study
Distal radius fractures: a comparison of tension band wiring versus ulnar outrigger external fixation for the management of distal radioulnar instability.
To retrospectively compare the results of immobilization of the forearm in supination with the results of tension band fixation of the ulnar styloid in 35 patients with distal radius fractures, fracture of the base of the ulnar styloid, and distal radioulnar joint instability treated with external fixation. ⋯ Our results indicate that patients in whom the ulnar styloid can be reduced and maintained in supination can be treated effectively with fixed supination outrigger external fixation. This method resulted in a statistically significant improvement in supination and a lower rate of distal radioulnar joint complications, and it required fewer secondary procedures.
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Carpal kinematics have been studied widely yet remain difficult to understand fully. The noninvasive measurement of carpal kinematics through medical imaging has become popular. Studies have shown that with radial deviation the scaphoid and lunate flex whereas the capitate moves radiodorsally relative to the lunate. This study investigated the midcarpal and radiocarpal contributions to radial and ulnar deviation of the wrist. This was accomplished through noninvasive characterization of the scaphoid, lunate, and capitate using 3-dimensional medical imaging of the wrist in radial and ulnar deviation. ⋯ Radioulnar deviation (in-plane motion) occurred mostly through the midcarpal joint, with a lesser contribution from the radiocarpal joint. The results of our study agree with previous investigations that found the scaphoid and lunate flex in radial deviation (out-of-plane motion) relative to the radius whereas the capitate extends (out-of-plane motion) relative to the scaphoid/lunate (with the converse occurring in ulnar deviation). Our study shows how these out-of-plane motions combine to produce in-plane wrist radioulnar deviation. The use of 3-dimensional visualization greatly aids in the understanding of these motions. The results of our study may be useful clinically in understanding the consequences of isolated midcarpal fusions in the treatment of wrist instability.
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To present our results in the treatment of late-presenting impaction fractures of the base of the middle phalanx treated by osteotomy with full exposure of the articular surface to restore the normal anatomy. ⋯ Favorable results have been achieved in this challenging scenario in the short- and middle-term in 9 of 10 patients. Previous surgery and moderate to severe wearing of the cartilage of the proximal phalanx head negatively affected the results.
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A compressive or conforming dressing is an important aspect of hand surgery, particularly the role of uniform pressure to the entire hand. Pediatric hand patients require special considerations with respect to appropriate postoperative dressing to maintain equal limb compression and to maintain the dressing during the postoperative period. This article describes a specific upper-limb hand dressing that can be used in the infant and young child.