1/948. Articular fractures of the proximal interphalangeal joint with missing elements: repair with partial toe joint osteochondral autografts. Five cases of traumatic destruction of a condyle of the proximal interphalangeal joint repaired with a free autogenous graft of a corresponding toe condyle are presented. Precise fitting is essential: 1 patient required a second graft when the initial undersized graft was absorbed. Four of the 5 cases regained laterally stable bicondylar joints and functional fingers. Range of motion varied inversely to the magnitude of the injury and the surgery. Active range of motion at the proximal interphalangeal joint was 80 degrees in 2 digits, 45 degrees in 1, and 10 degrees in 1 complex case; 1 case was considered a failure. ( info) |
2/948. Triplane fractures in the hand. Two new cases of triplane fracture of the distal tibia are reported in the proximal phalanx of the thumb and the distal radius, respectively, of a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy. Neither fracture showed any displacement, achieving healing at 4 weeks of external immobilization. Triplane fractures can occur across growth plates other than the distal tibia. Because of the rapid physiologic physeal arrest, the potential for growth deformity is null. In cases without displacement, these fractures should be treated conservatively by external immobilization, as one would treat a one-plane fracture. ( info) |
3/948. Isolated tenosynovitis associated with psoriasis triggered by physical injury. A 60-year-old man who had been suffering from psoriasis for 20 years developed finger dactylitis and inflammatory swelling with pitting edema over the dorsum of the hand one week after a contusive trauma to the left hand. These were not followed by any other clinical manifestations of PsA. ( info) |
4/948. Salter-Harris type III and IV epiphyseal fractures in the hand treated with tension-band wiring. We present tension-band wiring in the treatment of Salter-Harris types III and IV avulsion fractures in the hand. By placing a small-gauge wire through the insertion of the ligament into the fracture fragment, accurate reduction and stability, allowing early mobilization, are achieved, avoiding many of the pitfalls and complications of other methods of internal fixation. The technique is simple and adheres to important physiological and biomechanical principles. ( info) |
5/948. replantation of fingertip amputation by using the pocket principle in adults. There are several treatment modalities for zone 1 or zone 2 fingertip amputations that cannot be replanted by using microsurgical techniques, such as delayed secondary healing, stump revision, skin graft, local flaps, distant flaps, and composite graft. Among these, composite graft of the amputated digit tip is the only possible means of achieving a full-length digit with a normal nail complex. The pocket principle can provide an extra blood supply for survival of the composite graft of the amputated finger by enlarging the area of vascular contact. The surgery was performed in two stages. The amputated digit was debrided, deepithelialized, and reattached to the proximal stump. The reattached finger was inserted into the abdominal pocket. About 3 weeks later, the finger was removed from the pocket and covered with a skin graft. We have consecutively replanted 29 fingers in 25 adult patients with fingertip amputations by using the pocket principle. All were complete amputations with crushing or avulsion injuries. Average age was 33.64 years, and men were predominant. The right hand, the dominant one, was more frequently injured, with the middle finger being the most commonly injured. Of the 29 fingers, 16 (55.2 percent) survived completely and 10 (34.5 percent) had partial necrosis less than one-quarter of the length of the amputated part. The results of the above 26 fingers were satisfactory from both functional and cosmetic aspects. Twenty of the 29 fingers, which had been followed up for more than 6 months (an average of 16 months), were included in a sensory evaluation. Fifteen of these 20 fingers (75 percent) were classified as "good" (static two-point discrimination of less than 8 mm and normal use). From the overall results and our experience, we suggest that the pocket principle is a safe and valuable method in replantation of zone 1 or zone 2 fingertip amputation, an alternative to microvascular replantation, even in adults. ( info) |
6/948. The Bone Tie. A new device for interfragmentary fixation. A new method of bone fixation is described, using a small stainless steel device to provide compression between fragments with a single drill hole. The Bone Tie uses an old architectural principle to hold bone fragments together with minimal surgical dissection for access. The technique has been used in 14 cases, and the results are presented. In ten cases the outcome was good. Complications were encountered in four, mostly through technical error, although the final outcomes were acceptable. ( info) |
7/948. Fingertip reconstruction with flaps and nail bed grafts. We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 14 fingertips reconstructed with a combination of local or regional flaps and nail bed grafts, some of which were placed wholly or partially over a de-epithelialized flap. Most of the fingertips sustained a crushing injury and were reconstructed at the time of the injury. Soft tissue coverage was provided by palmar V-Y flaps in 6 cases, thenar flaps in 4, lateral V-Y flaps in 2, a Moberg flap in 1, and a cross-finger flap in 1. Split toenail bed grafts were used in 6 cases, full-thickness nail bed grafts from the amputated part in 6, and split nail bed grafts from the injured digit in 2. There was 1 partial graft loss and 1 partial flap loss. The remaining cases had completely successful grafts and good soft tissue healing. Subsequent nail growth and adherence were good in all but the 1 digit requiring secondary composite grafting. ( info) |
| leeches are commonly used in the postoperative course of plastic surgical operations where there is venous congestion in a pedicled or free flap. They provide a temporary relief to venous engorgement whilst venous drainage is re-established. It is known that leeches can carry aeromonas hydrophila infection, and a second or third generation cephalosporin antibiotic has traditionally been given as prophylaxis against infection. We report a new observation that leeches can carry serratia marcescens and give rise to clinically significant infection. The implication for prophylaxis and treatment of leech-associated cellulitis is discussed. ( info) |
9/948. Volar dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the finger: an indication for urgent operative treatment. Two patients are described with persistent acute volar dislocation of the middle phalanx of a finger. Closed reduction was impossible due to intra-articular interposition of the lateral slip of the extensor mechanism, combined with a tear of a collateral ligament. It is important to recognize these injuries at an early stage and an operative treatment is required. ( info) |
| Three cases of complete amputation of the thumb are reported in which the amputated distal parts were not suitable for replantation. In all cases there were either complete or incomplete amputations of other digits. Two different techniques were used for thumb reconstruction: 1) pollicization of a partially amputated digit with transposition microsurgery in case 1; and 2) replantation of a less important amputated digit to the thumb stump for cases 2 and 3. These microsurgical efforts successfully restored thumb function in all three patients. ( info) |