AO-wrist arthrodesis: with and without arthrodesis of the third carpometacarpal joint

The incorporation of the third carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ-3) during wrist arthrodesis is controversial. This retrospective study of 146 consecutive wrist arthrodeses with AO plate fixation specifically addresses this question. In 79 wrist arthrodeses the CMCJ-3 was also arthrodesed, and in 67 the CMCJ-3 was simply bridged. Problems relating specifically to the CMCJ-3 could not be analyzed clearly with the plate in situ. Therefore after plate removal only 81 wrists were evaluated with respect to the CMCJ-3. Of 47 wrists that had CMCJ-3 arthrodesis and plate removal, 20 developed a nonunion. Eleven of these were painful and further surgical treatment was required. In contrast, of 34 wrists with the CMCJ-3 bridged all but one remained free of symptoms after the plate had been removed. We conclude that the CMCJ-3 must not be included in the arthrodesis when performing an AO-wrist arthrodesis.     

Percutaneous leverage pinning in the treatment of Bennett’s fracture

Twelve patients (eleven males, one female; mean age 36 years) with Bennetts fracture having a gap or a step-off of more than 2mm and in whom maintenance of the reduced position was difficult were treated by percutaneous leverage pinning. Bone union was obtained in all patients, and the wire was removed 37 days on average after the initial treatment. On the final follow-up examination, mild pain with motion was noted in two patients, and moderate to severe pain was noted in one patient. The reduction of the articular surface of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb was confirmed by radiography; it was less than 1mm in nine patients, less than 2mm in two, and more than 2mm in one. Because reduction and fixation are performed utilizing the leverage force of the wire inserted into the trapezium, percutaneous pinning has advantages, such as technical simplicity and the ability to apply tension to the fractured site.     

Anatomy and pathomechanics of ring and small finger carpometacarpal joint injuries

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to detail the pathomechanics and pathoanatomy of fracture dislocations of the ring finger and small finger carpometacarpal (CMC) joint by duplicating the pathomechanics of the fist blow. METHODS: A custom-made jig was used to position 20 fresh-frozen cadaver upper extremities in forearm neutral rotation, 90 degrees of elbow flexion, 20 degrees of wrist extension, and 20 degrees and 30 degrees of flexion at the ring and small finger CMC joint, respectively. First 7.7 kg of weight were dropped from a height of 0.76 m to 1.1 m to axially load the ring and small metacarpal (MC) heads through a custom-made apparatus. Fluoroscopic examination before and after loading, and detailed dissection after loading, were used to identify any osseous and/or ligamentous injuries. RESULTS: The most common fractures were a dorsal capitate fracture and a middle MC dorsal base fracture. The most common combinations of fractures were the dorsal capitate and dorsal hamate fractures. Multiple fractures often were identified in a number of locations including dorsally: the capitate, hamate, and index through small metacarpal bases, and volarly: the hook of the hamate and the middle through the small MC bases. CONCLUSIONS: The patterns of injuries encountered at the ring and small CMC joints can be explained by the direction and force of the applied load, position of the CMC joint at the time of loading, and the constraints imposed by specific CMC ligaments. A detailed analysis of the fracture patterns and associated ligament anatomy suggests that the typical ring and small carpometacarpal fracture dislocations are a more complex combination of fractures than identified by plain radiographs alone. The complexity of these injuries is greater than previously recognized and is most likely the result of a combination of axial load and shear stresses resulting in carpal fractures and ligament avulsions as well as fracture dislocations. This study suggests that computed tomography may be the preferred diagnostic imaging method for complete assessment of these injuries.     

Hematoma and distraction arthroplasty for thumb basal joint osteoarthritis: minimum 6.5-year follow-up evaluation

PURPOSE: Although hematoma and distraction arthroplasty has been found to be successful in the treatment of thumb basal joint arthritis in the short term, questions about its efficacy in the long term have been raised. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the results of this procedure in patients at least 6.5 years after surgery. METHODS: Twenty-two thumbs from 22 patients from a single surgeon's practice were entered into a prospective single-arm study for surgical treatment of basal thumb arthritis. Treatment consisted of piecemeal excision of the entire trapezium and 5 weeks of K-wire immobilization of the thumb metacarpal in opposition and slight distraction. No ligament reconstruction or tendon interposition was used. Motion, strength, standardized dexterity tests, stress radiographs, and outcome questionnaires including the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 were evaluated before surgery and at 6, 24, and at least 79 months after surgery. RESULTS: At 6 months after surgery, 17 of 22 patients reported complete pain relief, and at the most recent follow-up evaluation (average, 88 months after surgery) 18 patients were entirely pain free. Range-of-motion evaluation at the most recent follow-up evaluation showed 21 of 22 thumbs adducted fully into the plane of the palm, and 21 of 22 opposed to the small finger metacarpal head. Comparisons between preoperative and the recent postoperative strength measurements showed an average of 21% increase in grip strength and tip pinch strength, and an 11% increase in key pinch strength over preoperative values. Although the radiographically determined scaphoid-thumb metacarpal distance decreased with time from surgery, no correlation with strength or functional outcome measurements was found. The Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 data showed postoperative improvement in the hand and finger function and arthritis pain scales. CONCLUSIONS: After trapezial excision, K-wire immobilization in a slightly overcorrected position without formal interposition or ligament reconstruction allows for restoration and maintenance of a stable, pain-free thumb that has comparable strength and motion with published reports of more complicated interventions over comparable time periods. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level IV.     

Dislocation of the Carpometacarpal Joint of the Thumb Associated with Trapezium and Bennett’s Fractures

We report a case of a 30-year-old man with a carpometacarpal joint dislocation of the thumb associated with trapezium and Bennett’s fractures. This combined injury pattern appears to be very rare. Since, to our knowledge a similar case was not found in the literature. The lesion was managed with closed reduction and percutaneous pining, resulting in good functional outcome.     

Review of thumb carpometacarpal arthritis classification, treatment and outcomes

Thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (CMC OA) is a common disease, affecting up to 11% and 33% of men and women in their 50s and 60s, respectively, which leads to pain, laxity and weakness of the CMC joint. Based on the staging of the CMC OA, different forms of treatment can be used, including both conservative and surgical measures. Surgical options include osteotomy, trapezial excision, ligament reconstruction with or without tendon interposition, and various prosthetic interpositional implants with or without trapezial excision. The present article reviews the staging of CMC OA, the evaluation of hand function using patient-reported questionnaires, and outcomes of both conservative and surgical treatments. The present review also introduces a commercially available interpositional spacer surgical technique for CMC OA and the early evidence that the literature has shown for improving hand function, strength and stability of the thumb CMC joint postoperatively.