Intraoperative Tips for Hand Surgery: A Focus on Reducing Postoperative Scarring and Tendon Rupture.

Andrew Sephien,Katherine Peters,Christopher Shoji,Francisco A Schwartz-Fernandes

doi:10.7759/cureus.3274

Abstract

This article is a collection of intraoperative techniques performed by a single hand surgeon with literature support for these techniques for the purpose of circumventing potential limitations intraoperatively. These techniques include the use of a Beaver Blade handle (Beaver, Beaver-Visitec, Waltham, MA, US) to be used as a rasp to smooth intraosseous tunnels during tendon transfers, a Stryker (Stryker, Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI, US) or Synthes (Deputy Synthes, Johnson & Johnson, West Palm Beach, FL, US) drill as a motorized file for plate deburring, and Insorb forceps (Insorb, Incisive Surgical, Plymouth, MN, US) for skin closure. These tips serve as methods to minimize scarring and circumvent unfortunate obstacles, such as tendon rupture, and the consequential weakened repair that can occur post-operatively. These have not been previously reported in the literature but have been performed by the senior author with no resulting complications. Additionally, the common availability of the equipment allows for a potential economic benefit.

Highlights

This article is a collection of the author's innovative techniques, utilizing commonplace equipment in place of expensive and limited-use tools, for hand surgery procedures with the support of literature on the use of these techniques for the purpose of saving time and circumventing potential limitations
This paper aims to share the creativity and insights of a single hand surgeon, who is the senior author, so that fellow surgeons may use his experiences to become more productive in the surgical setting
These techniques include the use of a Beaver Blade handle (Beaver, Beaver-Visitec, Waltham, MA, US) to be used as a rasp to smooth intraosseous tunnels during tendon transfers, the use of a Stryker (Stryker, Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI, US) or Synthes (Deputy Synthes, Johnson & Johnson, West Palm Beach, FL, US) drill as a motorized file for plate deburring, and Insorb (Insorb, Incisive Surgical, Plymouth, MN, US) forceps for skin closure

Summary

Introduction

This article is a collection of the author's innovative techniques, utilizing commonplace equipment in place of expensive and limited-use tools, for hand surgery procedures with the support of literature on the use of these techniques for the purpose of saving time and circumventing potential limitations. These technical shortcuts have not been previously reported in the literature but have been performed by the senior author with no resulting complications and can be performed using commonly available tools, providing economic efficiency, in settings where the “standard” tools used may not be available These techniques include the use of a Beaver Blade handle (Beaver, Beaver-Visitec, Waltham, MA, US) to be used as a rasp to smooth intraosseous tunnels during tendon transfers, the use of a Stryker (Stryker, Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI, US) or Synthes (Deputy Synthes, Johnson & Johnson, West Palm Beach, FL, US) drill as a motorized file for plate deburring, and Insorb (Insorb, Incisive Surgical, Plymouth, MN, US) forceps for skin closure.

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion