The Journal of hand surgery
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To determine the effectiveness of a protocol for the treatment of fracture-dislocations of the elbow based on the concept that, if dislocation of the elbow with associated fractures can be made to resemble a simple elbow dislocation by repairing or reconstructing the fractured structures, repair of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) will not be necessary. ⋯ MCL repair is unnecessary in the treatment of dislocation of the elbow with associated intra-articular fractures, provided that the articular fractures and the LCL are repaired or reconstructed.
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients who had excision of a radioulnar heterotopic ossification (HO) as a complication of a distal biceps tendon repair. The hypothesis is that there are no measurable clinical losses that persist after excision. ⋯ When patients develop motion-limiting HO after distal biceps tendon repair, surgical resection can lead to a functional recovery of elbow and forearm motion. Biceps strength can be maintained with no measurable differences in clinical outcome when compared to individuals who do not suffer this complication following distal biceps repair.
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Unstable, dorsal, intra-articular, fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint can be difficult to treat and often lead to long-term pain, stiffness, and functional deficit. We present the outcomes of patients sustaining such injuries that were treated by a novel dynamic external fixator. This fixator uses a system of K-wires and rubber bands that maintains a concentrically reduced PIP joint while allowing for early motion. ⋯ The dynamic external fixator studied is an effective method of treating unstable, dorsal fracture-dislocation injuries. Outcomes compared favorably with those of other similar devices studied in the literature.
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Comparative Study
Biomechanical evaluation of locking plate radial shaft fixation: unicortical locking fixation versus mixed bicortical and unicortical fixation in a sawbone model.
Compression plating is a commonly accepted technique for treating diaphyseal forearm fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stabilizing effects of two hybrid fixations that replace the end screws of a locked unicortical fixation with bicortical (locked or unlocked) screws and to compare these hybrid fixations to an unlocked bicortical fixation. ⋯ Replacing a single set of unicortical locked screws with locked or unlocked bicortical screws distant from the fracture site improves torsional stability of the construct by more than 50%, giving stability equal to standard unlocked plating. The hybrid fixation, however, with locked bicortical end screws has the best stability in AP bending.
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Distal radius osteotomy in the elderly patient using angular stable implants and Norian bone cement.
To report our results after testing the combination of two technologies--angular-stable locking screw implants and Norian SRS cement--in corrective osteotomies of the distal radius in the elderly. This technique eliminates donor site bone-graft morbidity and expands the indications of corrective osteotomies to older patients with osteoporotic bone. ⋯ We believe that corrective osteotomy of the distal radius in the elderly using angular stable implants and Norian calcium phosphate cement is a safe and predictable surgical technique, even in patients with underlying osteoporosis. It eliminates donor site morbidity, and patient-rated outcome measures demonstrated acceptable daily living function return.