The Journal of hand surgery
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A retrospective study was designed to verify how often an anatomic variation caused the radial sensory nerve entrapment at the forearm (Wartenberg's syndrome). This variation, in which the superficial branch of the radial nerve emerges from under the fascia between two slips of a split brachioradialis tendon, was mentioned once in a clinical textbook as a basis for nerve entrapment but was found to occur in 5 of 150 dissected arms in 4 of 75 cadavers (3.3% of the investigated arms) in a recent anatomic study. ⋯ The variation was observed in seven patients. We conclude that any operation for Wartenberg's syndrome should include a thorough investigation of the site where the radial sensory nerve emerges from under the fascia and, if the nerve emerges through a split brachioradialis tendon, the anomalous tendon slip should be divided.
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High-resolution ultrasound is capable of detecting foreign bodies of practically any composition. The purpose of this study was to determine in a controlled manner the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in the diagnosis of foreign bodies in the hand. Each of 15 fresh-frozen cadaver hands was divided into 21 standardized sites for potential foreign body insertion. ⋯ The specificity was therefore 99%. The high specificity of ultrasound allows foreign body presence to be confirmed given a positive result. A combination of ultrasound and x-ray films should allow for diagnosis and localization of virtually all foreign bodies in the hand.
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Three-phase bone scintigraphy is used often to diagnose reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the hand. This study presents an analysis of the literature relating three-phase bone scanning to reflex sympathetic dystrophy in the upper extremity. The data show a wide variability in scintigraphic accuracy in patients with clinically obvious reflex sympathetic dystrophy. ⋯ After 26 weeks, there is a poor correlation between three-phase bone scanning and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Consequently, three-phase bone scintigraphy should not be used as a major criterion in diagnosing reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy remains a clinical diagnosis made by an experienced hand surgeon.
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Two cases of Ewing's sarcoma of the hand were treated by preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy to decrease tumor volume. Magnetic resonance images were useful in showing the soft tissue mass and in estimating the effect of the chemotherapy. The results of surgery were satisfactory with this treatment regimen.
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Historical Article
Repetition strain injury: the Australian experience--1992 update.