Change In Total Range Research Articles

Clinical outcome of dorsal versus lateral plating in proximal phalangeal fracture: A retrospective study

Background: Plating of proximal phalangeal fracture is the commonly adopted fixation method. However, whether placing the implant at the dorsal or lateral aspect of the phalanx can yield a better clinical outcome is still under debate. Our study aims to compare the functional outcome of dorsal plating versus lateral plating in patients suffering from a proximal phalangeal fracture. Methods: A retrospective comparative study was performed comparing the clinical outcome of dorsal and lateral plating in proximal phalangeal fracture. Fourteen patients from our center with a total of 17 proximal phalangeal fractures (excluding the thumb) were included in this study. The total range of movement and range of movement of each finger joint together with grip strength were the main focuses of this study. Operative complications and the need for subsequent related operations were also analyzed. Results: Nine cases were treated by dorsal plating and eight cases adopted lateral plating. There was no significant difference in demographic data between the two groups with a mean follow-up period of 20.75 months. Lateral plating provided better total range of movement (dorsal plating (D): 203.9 ± 35.2 vs. lateral plating (L): 248.8 ± 23.7; p-value = 0.01) and percentage change in total range of movement (D: 79.41% ± 10.35, L: 94.47% ± 6.09; p-value < 0.01). There was less extension lag in lateral plating as evidenced by the sum of extension lag of the three finger joints being statistically significantly smaller (D: 32.8 ± 14.2 vs. L: 4.44 ± 6.2, p < 0.01). Less percentage decrease in grip strength compared with the contralateral normal hand was also noted in the lateral plating group (D: 68.17% ± 31.11 vs. L: 98.13% ± 10.88, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Based on this study, lateral plating provides better functional outcomes in terms of range of movement, extension lag, and grip strength than dorsal plating. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic, retrospective comparative study, Level III.

Upper extremity kinematic trends of fly-casting: Establishing the effects of line length

Fly-fishing is a popular form of recreation. Recent evidence has associated overhand fly-casting movements with upper extremity pain. However, little research exists on the motions and coordination common to fly-casting. The aim of this study was to establish upper extremity kinematic trends of fly-casting while casting greater line lengths. It was hypothesized that kinematic casting parameters would increase and time between peak angular velocities would decrease with greater line length. Eighteen males participated in the study. Three-dimensional motion capture was conducted to calculate shoulder, elbow, and wrist kinematics during casting conditions of 6.1, 12.2, 18.3, and 24.4 m of line. Multiple analyses of variance were used to assess the condition effect of line length on the kinematic variables (P = 0.05). Overall, total range of movement increased with increasing length of line cast. Peak angular velocity exhibited a proximal-to-distal trend: peak shoulder internal rotation followed by elbow extension, then wrist ulnar deviation. Time between peak shoulder and elbow angular velocities increased significantly as line length increased. Our findings indicate that specific changes in total range of movement accommodate the demands of casting greater lengths of line. Also, joint velocity coordination patterns of fly-casting appear to follow a proximal-to-distal pattern. These findings represent an initial foundation for connections between kinematics and upper extremity pain reported by fly-fisherman.

The effect of articular malposition after total shoulder arthroplasty on glenohumeral translations, range of motion, and subacromial impingement

The articular surface of the normal humeral head has a variable posterior and medial offset with respect to the central axis of the humeral shaft. Recreation of the normal humeral head shaft offset is postulated to be an important consideration during shoulder arthroplasty. However, the effect of humeral head malposition is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of articular malposition after total shoulder arthroplasty on glenohumeral translation, range of motion, and subacromial impingement. Twenty-one human cadavers were dissected and tested with the use of an active or passive shoulder model. Range of motion and translation were recorded by means of an electromagnetic tracking device. The experiment was performed in 2 phases. For kinematics study, 11 cadaver shoulders were positioned both passively and actively from maximum internal rotation to maximum external rotation at 90° of total elevation in the scapular plane. Three rotator cuff and 3 deltoid muscle lines of action were simulated for active joint positioning. Passive joint positioning was accomplished with the use of a torque wrench and a nominal centering force. The testing protocol was used for the natural joint as well as for 9 prosthetic head locations: centered and 2- and 4-mm offsets in the anterior, posterior, inferior, and superior directions. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to test for significant differences in the range of motion and translation between active and passive positioning of the natural joint as well as all prosthetic head positions. (2) For impingement study, 10 cadaver shoulders were used in a passive model, loading the tendons of the rotator cuff with a 30-N centering force. The humerus was passively rotated from maximum internal rotation (1500 Nmm) to maximum external rotation (1500 Nmm) by means of a continuous-recording digital torque wrench. Trials were performed with the use of centered, 4-, 6-, and 8-mm offset heads in the anterior, posterior, superior, and inferior positions before and after removal of the acromion and coracoacromial ligament. The relation between change in mean peak torque (with and without acromion), passive range of motion, and humeral head offset was analyzed by means of repeated-measures analysis of variance. In the kinematics study, total range of motion and all humeral translations were greater with passive joint positioning than with active positioning (P =.01) except for total superior-inferior translation and superior-inferior translation in external rotation. Anterior to posterior humeral head offset was associated with statistically significant changes in total range of motion (P =.02), range of internal rotation (P =.02), range of external rotation (P =.0001), and total anterior-posterior translation (P =.01). Superior to inferior humeral head offset resulted in statistically significant changes in total range of motion (P =.02), range of internal rotation (P =.0001), anterior-posterior translation during external rotation (P =.01), and total superior-inferior translation (P =.03). In the impingement study, there was a significant increase in torque from centered to 4-mm inferior offset (P =.006), 6-mm inferior offset (P <.001), and 8-mm inferior offset (P <.001). There was no significant increase in torque with superior, anterior, and posterior offsets. Glenohumeral motion significantly decreased from 129° for centered head to 119° for 8-mm superior (P =.002), 119° for 8-mm anterior (P =.014), 118° for 8-mm inferior (P <.001), and 114° for 8-mm posterior (P =.001). Humeral articular malposition of 4 mm or less during prosthetic arthroplasty of the glenohumeral joint may lead to small alterations in humeral translations and range of motion. Inferior malposition of greater than 4 mm can lead to increased subacromial contact; offset of 8 mm in any direction results in significant decreases in passive range of motion. Therefore if subacromial contact is to be minimized and glenohumeral motion maximized after shoulder replacement, anatomic reconstruction of the humeral head-humeral shaft offset to within 4 mm is desirable. (J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2001;10:399-409.)

A COMPARISON OF METACARPOPHALANGEAL JOINT SILASTIC ARTHROPLASTY WITH OR WITHOUT CROSSED INTRINSIC TRANSFER

Forty-three hands in 36 adults undergoing Silastic interposition arthroplasty of the index, middle, ring and little finger metacarpophalangeal joints for rheumatoid arthritis were randomly allocated to undergo replacement with or without crossed intrinsic transfer. The patients were reviewed at a median of 17 (range, 7–50) months after surgery. The demographic characteristics and pre-operative clinical measurements of the two groups were indistinguishable. Both groups showed improvement in ulnar drift and an altered arc, but no change in total range of motion at the metacarpophalangeal joints. Grip strength and pulp to pulp pinch were significantly and comparably improved in both groups. There was no difference in pain scores or perceived function between the treatment groups. It is concluded that crossed intrinsic transfer does not significantly affect the outcome of Silastic interposition arthroplasty of the metacarpophalangeal joints in rheumatoid patients.