Acute Median Neuropathy and Carpal Tunnel Release in Perilunate Injuries Can We Predict Who Gets a Median Neuropathy?

This study addressed the following null hypotheses: 1) There are no demographic differences between patients with perilunate dislocation (PLD) or fracture-dislocation (PLFD); 2) There are no factors associated with the development of median nerve symptoms in the setting of a PLD or PLFD; and 3) There are no factors associated with carpal tunnel release. Using a retrospective search of a prospective trauma database, we identified all patients who had sustained a radiologically confirmed PLD or PLFD over a 10-year period at two trauma centers. From the medical records we identified median nerve symptoms and carpal tunnel release in addition to demographic and injury characteristics. Among the 71 patients treated for PLD or PLFD, acute median neuropathy was diagnosed in 33 patients (47 %). The only significant difference between PLD and PLFD was a younger age with PLFD. No demographic or injury factors were associated with symptoms of median neuropathy. Carpal tunnel release surgery during the initial operative management was related to the presence of median nerve symptoms and the trauma center. We report a high incidence of acute median neuropathy accompanying perilunate injuries. As there are no demographic or injury factors associated with symptoms of median neuropathy; all patients with PLD/PLFD merit equally high vigilance for acute median neuropathy.Level of Evidence: Level III, prognostic study     

股骨隧道角度对兔前交叉韧带重建术后骨隧道扩大的影响

目的：探讨股骨隧道与股骨干纵轴在冠状位的角度对兔前交叉韧带重建术后骨隧道扩大的影响.方法：54只家兔随机分为A、B和C3组,每组18只.重建时股骨隧道分别在定位角为30.、45.、60.下定位并重建,于术后4周、8周和12周时测量股骨隧道的宽带,计算骨隧道扩大率.结果：各组于术后4周时,骨隧道扩大率分别为（60.90±0.65）％、（61.80±0.12）％和（61.23±0.45）％,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;术后8周时,骨隧道扩大率分别为（54.90±0.85）％、（55.33±0.87）％和（55.39±0.39）％,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;术后12周时,骨隧道扩大率分别为（51.56±0.13）％、（51.81±0.98）％和（52.11±0.14）％,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.结论：股骨隧道与股骨干纵轴在冠状位角度的变化对骨隧道的扩大无明显影响.     

Analysis of terrain effects on the interfacial force distribution at the hand and forearm during crutch gait

Forces transferred to the upper body during crutch use can lead to both short-term and long-term injuries, including joint pain, crutch palsy, and over-use injuries. While this force transmission has been studied in controlled laboratory settings, it is unclear how these forces are affected by irregular terrains commonly encountered during community ambulation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of walking speed and uneven terrain on the load magnitude, distribution, and rate of loading at the human-crutch contact surfaces. Our results show that the rates of loading were significantly increased with higher walking speeds and while negotiating certain irregular terrains, despite there being no apparent effect on the peak force transmission, suggesting load rate may be a more appropriate metric for assessing terrain effects on crutch gait. Furthermore, irrespective of the type of terrain and walking condition, the largest compressive forces were found to reside in the carpal-tunnel region of the hand, and may therefore be a primary contributor to carpal-tunnel injury.     

单节段内固定术治疗胸腰椎骨折的手术方法与临床疗效分析

目的 研究单节段内固定术治疗胸腰椎骨折的手术方法与临床疗效.方法 将90例胸腰椎骨折患者按随机数字表法分为观察组（单节段内固定术）和对照组（双节段内固定术）,每组45例,比较两组手术情况、术后疼痛程度、矫正情况、伤椎相邻椎关节病变情况等.结果 观察组手术时间、出血量、切口长度、术后疼痛发生率、上节段和下节段间盘退变发生率明显少于对照组[（107.93±2.75） min比（132.68±2.81） min、（198.44±9.17）ml比（314.18±8.73）ml、（8.36±1.15）cm比（12.33±1.08） cm、8.89％（4/45）比26.67％（12/45）、6.67％（3/45）比22.22％（10/45）和4.44％（2/45）比20.00％（9/45）],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）.两组矫正情况比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.结论 在症状适宜的情况下,单节段内固定术治疗胸腰椎骨折效果突出,术后患者恢复状况好,术后并发症少,远期不良影响轻微,建议在临床中推广应用.     

Post-operative bracing after pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures: A cost-effectiveness study

PurposeWhile frequently prescribed to patients following fixation for spine trauma, the utility of spinal orthoses during the post-operative period is poorly described in the literature. In this study, we calculated rates of reoperation and performed a decision analysis to determine the utility of bracing following pedicle screw fixation for thoracic and lumbar burst fractures.MethodsPubmed was searched for articles published between 2005 and 2015 for terms related to pedicle screw fixation of thoracolumbar fractures. Additionally, a database of neurosurgical patients operated on within the authors institution was also used in the analysis. Incidences of significant adverse events (wound revision for either dehiscence or infection or re-operation for non-union or instability due to hardware failure) were determined. Pooled means and variances of reported parameters were obtained using a random-effects, inverse variance meta-analytic model for observational data. Utilities for surgical outcome and complications were assigned using previously published values.ResultsOf the 225 abstracts reviewed, 48 articles were included in the study, yielding a total of 1957 patients. After including patients from the institutional registry, together a total of 2081 patients were included in the final analysis, 1328 of whom were braced. Non-braced patients were older then braced patients, although this only approached significance (p = 0.051). Braced patients had significantly lower rates of re-operation for non-union or clinically significant hardware failure (1.3% vs. 1.8%, p < 0.001) although the groups had comparable rates of operative wound dehiscence and infection (p = 1.000). These two approaches yielded comparable utility scores (p = 0.120). Costs between braced and non-braced patients were comparable excluding the cost of the brace (p = 0.256); hence, the added cost of the brace suggests that bracing post-operatively is not a cost effective measure.ConclusionsBracing following operative stabilization of thoracolumbar fracture does not significantly improve stability, nor does it increase wound complications. Moreover, our data suggests that post-operative bracing may not be a cost-effective measure.