Arthrodesis of the Wrist by the Method of Mannerfelt: A Follow-Up Of 19 Patients

Twenty-four wrists in 21 patients were treated with arthrodesis by the Mannerfelt method. Seventeen patients had rheumatoid arthritis and 4 osteoarthrosis. Stable radiocarpal ankylosis was obtained within 3 months in all cases. Postoperative complications were few and slight. Fusion of the carpo-matacarpal joints occurred spontaneously in a number of the patients. Minor mobility in the carpo-metacarpal joints of the transfixed digit was not the cause of essential complaints. It was not necessary to remove the osteosynthesis material in any patient. At follow-up all patients but 3 were satisfied with the position of the wrist, aimed to be close to neutral.     

Tuberculosis of the sternoclavicular joints

From May 1991 to December 1997, we treated 9 patients with tubercular arthritis in 10 sternoclavicular joints. The patients presented with a painful swelling (7 joints), painless swelling (2 joints) and a painless (?) discharging sinus (1 joint) having a mean duration of symptoms of 13 (6-32) months. The diagnosis was made with fine-needle aspiration or open biopsy. In 1 patient debridement of the joint was combined with open biopsy. All patients were initially put on a 4-drug regimen of antitubercular therapy (ATT). 2 joints not responding to closed treatment were surgically debrided after 2-3 months of ATT. Total duration of ATT was 14-18 months. At final follow-up after average 4.5 (1.5-7.5) years, all lesions had healed. 3 patients had mild limitation of shoulder motion, with no pain, and 2 patients had a cosmetically ugly scar at the site of the sinus or biopsy     

Tuberculosis of the sternoclavicular joints.

From May 1991 to December 1997, we treated 9 patients with tubercular arthritis in 10 sternoclavicular joints. The patients presented with a painful swelling (7 joints), painless swelling (2 joints) and a painless (?) discharging sinus (1 joint) having a mean duration of symptoms of 13 (6-32) months. The diagnosis was made with fine-needle aspiration or open biopsy. In 1 patient debridement of the joint was combined with open biopsy. All patients were initially put on a 4-drug regimen of antitubercular therapy (ATT). 2 joints not responding to closed treatment were surgically debrided after 2-3 months of ATT. Total duration of ATT was 14-18 months. At final follow-up after average 4.5 (1.5-7.5) years, all lesions had healed. 3 patients had mild limitation of shoulder motion, with no pain, and 2 patients had a cosmetically ugly scar at the site of the sinus or biopsy.     

Distinct distribution of periarticular erosions of the bones of the hand in chronic renal failure

The frequency of radiological changes of the bones of the hand in 142 patients on hemodialysis, 19 on CAPD, and 15 patients with advanced renal insufficiency not requiring dialysis was analyzed. Forty-seven percent of all patients had subperiostal cortical bone resorptions, 31% periarthritis calcarea, 22% periarticular erosions, 3% chondrocalcinosis and 1% aseptic necrosis. Sixty-six percent of the periarticular erosions were observed in the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints of fingers II, III, IV and V, whereas only 33% were found in the remaining joints (120 vs. 62, p less than 0.001). The distal interphalangeal joints showed about 70% more often periarticular erosions than the proximal interphalangeal joints (77 vs. 43, p less than 0.001). Since patients with chronic renal failure exhibit a decreasing incidence of periarticular erosions from the distal interphalangeal joints to the intercarpal joints, while patients with rheumatoid arthritis have their erosions preferentially localized in the proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal and wrist joints, it can be concluded that renal osteodystrophy causes a distinct distribution of periarticular erosions of the bones of the hand.     

Reconstruction of phalangeal articulations of the hand with vascularised phalangeal articulations of foot

SUMMARY: Since arthroplasty, prosthetic replacement and non-vascularised articulation autografting do not normally produce very satisfactory results for ankylosis of metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints, the authors performed reconstruction of phalangeal articulations of the hand using vascularised phalangeal articulations of the foot in 11 patients with ankylosis of the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints of hand due by trauma. Procedures included reconstruction of 9 hand metacarpophalangeal joints with vascularised grafting of pedal metatarsophalangeal joints in six patients, reconstruction of the hand metacarpophalangeal joints with grafting of vascularised proximal interphalangeal joints of foot in two patients and reconstruction of the hand proximal interphalangeal joints with grafting of vascularised proximal interphalangeal joints of foot in three patients. Early functional exercise was encouraged in all cases post-operatively. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 10 years and revealed that 9 cases had normal appearance and length of recipient area, 1 had slightly clumsy dorsal skin in the hand and 1 had slight dorsal angulation of a metacarpal bone. Recovery of joint range of motion was satisfactory. Radiographic, gross and sensation examinations also showed good operative outcomes. The authors believe that vascularised pedal metatarsophalangeal joints, with a rich blood supply, can be grafted to effectively reconstruct the finger joints with good function. A low rate of degeneration results because pedal and hand metatarsophalangeal joints are similar in anatomy and physiological function.     

The cervical zygapophysial joints as a source of neck pain

Diagnostic cervical medial branch blocks and zygapophysial joint blocks were used to test the hypothesis that the cervical zygapophyseal joints can be the source of pain in patients with idiopathic neck pain. Complete temporary relief of all symptoms was obtained in 17 out of 24 consecutive patients. Two major groups of patients were those with neck pain and headache stemming from the C2-3 joints, and those with neck pain and shoulder pain stemming from the C5-6 joints. Internal-control observations in nine of the 17 patients established the diagnostic validity of the blocks used. The high yield of positive responders in this study probably reflects the propensity of patients with zygapophysial joint syndromes to gravitate to a pain clinic when this condition is not recognised in conventional clinical practice.     

Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis for arthritis and deformity of the hind part of the foot

We devised a method for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis to treat deformities or degenerative arthritis, or both, that involve the tibiotalar and talocalcaneal joints. Satisfactory results were obtained in approximately 75 per cent of twenty-one patients; osseous union was radiographically evident in all but three patients. Secondary degenerative changes in the adjacent joints were not evident radiographically during a period of follow-up that ranged from 2.5 to seven years.     

The S-Quattro in the management of acute intraarticular phalangeal fractures of the hand

Intraarticular phalangeal fractures of the hand are difficult and challenging to manage. Dynamic external fixation devices offer the advantages of allowing distraction of the impacted fracture and early joint mobilization. We present our study of 100 patients with a variety of fractures who were treated with the S-Quattro technique over a 6-year period, with an average follow-up of 10.5 months. The mean active range of motion regained was 92 degrees for proximal interphalangeal joints (81 fractures), 82 degrees for distal interphalangeal joints (10 fractures), 91 degrees for metacarpophalangeal joints (6 fractures) and 80 degrees for interphalangeal joints of the thumb (3 fractures). Only nine patients complained of mild or moderate pain. Postoperative radiographic appearances were satisfactory in all but five out of the 100 patients. This device is a simple and effective technique for the management of these difficult fractures. It offers advantages in terms of versatility, ease of application, good tolerance by patients, few complications and good outcome.     

Early detection of avascular necrosis of the femoral head following renal transplantation

This prospective study included 43 patients undergoing renal transplantations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-rays of the hip joints were produced 3 and 12 months after transplantation. In 6 hip joints of 4 patients (9.3%), we discovered femoral head necroses just 3 months after transplantation. Three of the hip joints affected were symptomatic and 3 painless. The MR images taken 12 months after transplantation revealed no additional femoral head necrosis. A core decompression was performed on 3 joints. In contrast to those with core decompression, the femoral heads without core decompression showed a progression of the necrosis in 2 of 3 cases. All 4 patients with femoral head necroses were younger than 50 years and exhibited a premature conversion of the haematopoietic marrow to fatty marrow in the area of the proximal femoral metaphysis. A similar premature conversion to fatty marrow was seen in 6 of the 22 (27.2%) patients younger than 50 years and without femoral head necroses. The doses in long-term steroid medication and the steroid doses during the rejection periods of the patients with femoral head necroses were not significantly higher than those for the patients with premature conversion to fatty marrow. The latter had also not received significantly higher doses than the patients whose MRI findings were inconspicuous.     

壤塘县藏区成人大骨节病多个大关节受累与分度的关系研究

目的研究阿坝州壤塘县藏区大骨节病（Kashin-Beck disease,KBD）多个大关节受累与分度之间的相关关系,探索成人大骨节病的合理分级标准,指导临床治疗的可行性。方法由骨科、风湿免疫科和地方病专家联合研究组设计专用调查表,采用现场流行病学调查法,包括一般情况、关节疼痛、视觉模拟疼痛评分（visual analoguescale,VAS）、关节畸形和功能障碍等,随机调查阿坝州壤塘县6个村24～93岁藏族成人大骨节病患者81例,按我国关于成人大骨节病分度标准：Ⅰ度30例,Ⅱ度30例,Ⅲ度21例。大关节定义为肩、肘、腕、髋、膝、踝共12个关节,其中任何一个关节出现疼痛、畸形或功能障碍即为大关节受累。分别统计Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ度大骨节病患者大关节受累关节数和VAS评分。结果全部患者均存在2个以上大关节受累,其中肘关节和膝关节受累最多见,9～12个大关节受累在成人大骨节病Ⅱ度患者中比例最高,肘关节和膝关节疼痛VAS评分在成人大骨节病Ⅱ度患者中最高,踝关节受累和疼痛在Ⅲ度成人大骨节病患者中最重,肩、腕、髋关节受累及VAS评分在Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ度成人大骨节病患者间无统计学差异,4个以上大关节受累人数在Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ度成人大骨节病患者间无统计学差异。结论壤塘县藏区成人大骨节病患者常存在多个大关节受累,大关节受累的比例和程度与目前大骨节病分度之间无统一性;有必要对目前成人大骨节病分度进行合理的修订或改进、完善,使之更符合临床诊治并合理指导成人大骨节病的临床治疗。     

Pigmented villonodular synovitis: a retrospective study of seventy five cases (eighty one joints)

Purpose

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a relatively rare, benign proliferation lesion of the synovium of large joints, but there is not much information available about the disease’s aetiology, clinical history, differential diagnosis, treatment, and long-term effects. We conducted a study to analyse these aspects of PVNS.

Methods

We reviewed all clinical data for 75 patients with PVNS (81 joints) who were treated either by synovectomy alone or synovectomy plus arthroplasty.

Results

In all cases, the diagnosis of PVNS was confirmed by pathological examination. The ratio of males to females was 27:48, and the average age of patients was 46 years (range, 15–80 years). Lesions were located in the knee, hip, or ankle, and pain and swelling were the main symptoms. Of 75 patients, 42 had a history of trauma to the involved joint. Forty-one patients (43 joints) underwent synovectomy alone, and 34 patients (38 joints) underwent synovectomy and arthroplasty together. Of the 75 patients, 61 had full follow-up data. Twelve patients had recurrent legions detected by pathological examinations; four patients had more than two recurrences. Moreover, five patients developed PVNS after arthroplasty.

Conclusions

PVNS occurs most often in middle-aged women and most frequently involves the knee, followed by the hip and ankle. The disease’s etiology is varied and unclear. Surgical excision alone or with arthroplasty is an effective treatment, but there is a high rate of recurrence.     

Metacarpal shaft fractures of the fingers: treatment with interosseous loop wire fixation and immediate postoperative finger mobilisation in a wrist splint

It is widely believed that interosseous loop wire fixation of metacarpal shaft fractures alone is not rigid enough to allow immediate postoperative mobilisation. In this report, the author reviews the results in 36 cases of metacarpal shaft fractures of the fingers treated by interosseous loop wire fixation and immediate postoperative mobilisation of all finger joints. The study included 30 males and six females, with a mean age of 31 (range 12-52) years. The fracture pattern was transverse in 26 and oblique, or spiral, in the remaining 10 patients. Following loop wire fixation, the wrist was immobilised using a volar plaster splint for 3 weeks but all finger joints were mobilised immediately after surgery. After a mean follow-up of 8 weeks, all patients, except two, had regained full range of motion of the fingers and no complications were noted. It was concluded that interosseous loop wire fixation of metacarpal shaft fractures is rigid enough to allow immediate postoperative finger mobilisation in a wrist splint and achieve good functional results.     

Open reduction and varus-detorsion osteotomy with femoral shortening in treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip

In this study, we clinically and radiographically evaluated open reduction with shortening of the femur in children more than 1 year old with refractory congenital dislocation of the hip. In 19 children (aged 1–4 years), 22 joints were operated on. The patients were followed-up for an average of 8.7 years (range, 2–13 years). Functional results were satisfactory in all joints, and differences in limb length were not significant. Radiographically, good results (grades I and II) were obtained in 16 of the 22 joints, according to Severin's criteria. This surgical procedure may be indispensable for treating refractory congenital dislocation of the hip in children over 1 year old. Received for publication on May 2, 1997; accepted June 3, 1998     

陈旧性跖跗关节骨折脱位的治疗分析(附23例报告)

[目的]探讨陈旧性跖跗关节骨折脱位的手术治疗方法。[方法]2001年9月~2004年12月,手术治疗陈旧性跖跗关节骨折脱位23例,男19例,女4例。年龄18~56岁,平均37.4岁。左侧13例,右侧10例。伤后时间4~6周7例,6~8周9例,2~3个月4例,5~9个月3例,平均9周。造成陈旧性骨折脱位原因23例中4例为漏诊,14例为不恰当的非手术治疗,5例为手术治疗未复位。按Myerson分类法的X线分型A型5例,B型4例,C型2例,D型5例,E型3例,F型4例。术前除了常规拍足部正、侧和30°斜位X线片外,还要行CT扫描,更全面的了解骨折碎片及关节脱位情况。治疗方法采取切开复位、内固定术13例,足弓重建跖跗关节融合术10例。[结果]23例随访8个月~4年,平均2年2个月。治疗结果按Maryland足部评分标准测定优4例,良15例,可4例。优良率82.6%。其中采取切开复位内固定术13例均为优良,而足弓重建跖跗关节原位融合术10例良6例,可4例。无伤口感染及关节融合不愈合。[结论]早期陈旧性跖跗关节骨折脱位可行切开复位内固定术,疗效满意,而晚期的陈旧性跖跗关节骨折脱位,行足弓重建跖跗关节原位融合术,也可取得较好的治疗效果。     

Rotational instability of the patella on radiographic images

Summary In the period from 1980 to 1981, knee joint radiographs were made in 82 patients following the clinical diagnosis of patellar chondropathy. A total of 119 knee joints with patellar chondropathy and 45 with no specific complaints on the contralateral side, in addition to a control cohort consisting of 28 persons, i.e., 56 knee joints with no complaints, were evaluated. Tangential radiographic images of the patellae enabled us to measure directly the rotation of the patella around the axis perpendicular to its center. It could be established that all healthy patellae underwent medial rotation between 45 and 60 degrees of knee flexion which was maintained up to 90 degrees, whereas the affected knee joints did not rotate.     

Rotational instability of the patella on radiographic images

In the period from 1980 to 1981, knee joint radiographs were made in 82 patients following the clinical diagnosis of patellar chondropathy. A total of 119 knee joints with patellar chondropathy and 45 with no specific complaints on the contralateral side, in addition to a control cohort consisting of 28 persons, i.e., 56 knee joints with no complaints, were evaluated. Tangential radiographic images of the patellae enabled us to measure directly the rotation of the patella around the axis perpendicular to its center. It could be established that all healthy patellae underwent medial rotation between 45 and 60 degrees of knee flexion which was maintained up to 90 degrees, whereas the affected knee joints did not rotate.     

Arthrodesis of the subtalar and talonavicular joints for correction of symptomatic hindfoot malalignment

BACKGROUND: Triple arthrodesis has long been used for the treatment of painful malalignment or arthritis of the hindfoot. However, the effect of fusion on adjacent joints has sparked interest in a more limited arthrodesis in patients without involvement of the calcaneocuboid joint. METHOD: Results of 16 feet in 14 patients who had a modified double arthrodesis for symptomatic flatfoot, cavovarus deformity, or hindfoot arthritis were reviewed retrospectively with a minimum followup of 18 (range 18 to 93) months. The most common diagnosis contributing to the hindfoot deformity was pes planovalgus. All operations were done with a consistent technique using rigid internal fixation with screws. In 15 feet, a concomitant gastrocnemius recession for equinus contracture was done at the time of the primary surgery. Clinical evaluation was based on the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale in addition to subjective assessments of pain, function, shoewear, cosmesis, and overall satisfaction. Radiographic evaluation included measurements of the anterior-posterior talo-second metatarsal angle, lateral talocalcaneal angle, and lateral talo-first metatarsal angle, and notation of arthritic changes of the ankle, calcaneocuboid, and midfoot joints, as well as an assessment of time to union of all arthrodeses. RESULTS: The average AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale improved from 44.7 preoperatively to 77.0 postoperatively (p < 0.01). Subjectively, patients experienced improvements in pain, function, cosmesis, and shoewear. Overall, all patients were satisfied and would have the procedure again under similar circumstances. Radiographically, all parameters statistically improved. There was an increase in arthritic scores for six ankle, six calcaneocuboid, and five midfoot joints. One talonavicular joint nonunion occurred in a rheumatoid patient, requiring revision arthrodesis. CONCLUSIONS: We have concluded that simultaneous arthrodesis of the talonavicular and subtalar joints is a reasonable treatment in the subset of patients with symptomatic hindfoot malalignment whose calcaneocuboid joints are not involved in the primary disease.     

Shortening osteotomy for treatment of metacarpophalangeal joint deformity.

The results of a new subcapital shortening osteotomy for correction of metacarpophalangeal joint deformity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the hands are presented. Seven patients (16 joints) were followed up for a mean of 33.5 months. The mean shortening of the metacarpal bone was 4.6 mm (range, 4-8 mm), and seven joints had additional intrinsic release. Only four (25%) joints held the correction of the deformity; all other joints had recurrence of palmar subluxation with or without additional ulnar drift. The range of motion of the joints with preserved correction after surgery was 80 degrees compared with 28 degrees of the joints with recurrent deformity. The possible mechanism of failure was analyzed. The results of the current series suggest that subcapital shortening osteotomy may not be indicated for treatment of severe metacarpophalangeal joint deformity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the foot

Synovial chondromatosis rarely occurs in the foot. Five patients with synovial chondromatosis in the foot were treated with excision. There were four men and one woman with a mean age of 37 years (range, 19-58 years). Mineral densities adjacent to the joint were seen on radiographs of all patients. Synovial chondromatosis occurred in the calcaneocuboid, tibiotalar, naviculocuneiform, and metatarsophalangeal joints. A painful mass was the common initial presentation in all patients. The patients were followed up for an average of 5 years (range, 3-16 years) after arthrotomy and excision. All patients were relieved of symptoms and retained normal function. There was no clinical or radiographic evidence of recurrence.