Hand Fractures Research Articles

Diagnostic Accuracy and Confidence in Management of Forearm and Hand Fractures Among Foundation Doctors in the Accident and Emergency Department: Survey Study.

Accurate interpretation of radiographs is crucial for junior doctors in the accident and emergency (A&E) department (the emergency medicine department). However, it remains a significant challenge and a leading cause of diagnostic errors. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and confidence of foundation doctors (doctors within their first 2 years of qualifying) in correctly interpreting and managing forearm and hand fractures on plain radiographs. A total of 42 foundation doctors with less than 2 years of experience and no prior emergency medicine training who worked in a large district general hospital participated in a web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 3 case studies: distal radius fracture, scaphoid fracture, and a normal radiograph. Respondents were required to identify the presence or absence of a fracture, determine the fracture location, suggest appropriate management, and rate their confidence on a Likert scale. Overall, 48% (61/126) of respondents accurately identified the presence and location of fractures. The correct management option was chosen by 64% (81/126) of respondents. The median diagnostic confidence score was 4 of 10, with a mean diagnostic certainty of 4.4 of 10. Notably, respondents exhibited a significantly lower confidence score for the normal radiograph compared to the distal radius fracture radiograph (P=.01). This study reveals diagnostic uncertainty among foundation doctors in interpreting plain radiographs, with a notable inclination toward overdiagnosing fractures. The findings emphasize the need for close supervision and senior support to mitigate diagnostic errors. Further training and educational interventions are warranted to improve the accuracy and confidence of junior doctors in radiographic interpretation. This study has several limitations, including a small sample size and reliance on self-reported data. The findings may not be generalizable to other health care settings or specialties. Future research should aim for larger, more diverse samples and explore the impact of specific educational interventions on diagnostic accuracy and confidence.

The Calgary Kids’ Hand Rule: External Validation of a Prediction Model to Triage Pediatric Hand Fractures

Background: The Calgary Kids’ Hand Rule (CKHR) is a clinical prediction rule intended to guide referral decisions for pediatric hand fractures presenting to the emergency department, identifying “complex” fractures that require surgical referral and optimizing care through better matching of patients’ needs to provider expertise. The objective of this study was to externally validate the CKHR in two different tertiary pediatric hospitals in Canada. Methods: We partnered with British Columbia Children's Hospital (BCCH) and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) to externally validate the CKHR using data from retrospective cohorts of pediatric hand fractures (via electronic medical record and x-ray review). Model performance was evaluated at each site using sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and the C-statistic. Results: A total of 954 hand fractures were included in the analysis (524 at BCCH and 430 at CHEO. At BCCH, the CKHR had a sensitivity of 91.1% (133 predicted complex out of 146 total complex fractures), specificity of 71.4% (269 predicted simple out of 377 total simple fractures), and C-statistic of .81, 95% CI [0.78-0.84]. At CHEO, the CKHR had a sensitivity of 98.3%, specificity of 30.2%, and C-statistic of .64, 95% CI [0.61-0.67]. Conclusion: The CKHR performed well at two different tertiary care centres with high sensitivity, supporting its ability to facilitate hand fracture triage in other populations without further modification. This work should be followed by rigorous implementation analysis to determine its impact on patient care.

Open fractures of the hand: a new classification based on risk score to predict infection requiring re-debridement.

We developed a classification for open hand fractures based on risk score to predict the risk of infection requiring re-debridement. A total of 846 retrospectively included patients underwent multivariable analysis with backward elimination to derive the predictive risk score from independent predictors. The incidence of infection requiring re-debridement was 4%. Independent predictors include diabetes mellitus or immunocompromised condition, injuries from a bite, fractures with comminution/bone loss, neurovascular injuries and inadequate soft tissue coverage. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the prediction score was 0.79. The new classification system for open hand fractures divides patients into three groups: low-risk open fractures (Type I, score <1); moderate-risk open fractures (Type II, score 1 to 2.5); and high-risk open fractures (Type III, score >2.5), based on the risk of infection requiring re-debridement. Re-debridement and delayed primary closure are suggested for type III open fractures.Level of evidence: III.

Radiographic views for hand fractures - call for three view national uk guidelines - a quality improvement study.

A three-view radiographic examination (comprising of antero-posterior, oblique and lateral views) is crucial for the accurate assessment and subsequent decision making in hand fracture management. The superiority of a three-view examination, compared to only two-views, has been demonstrated by multiple studies, citing increased diagnostic accuracy and reduced rates of misdiagnosis. As such, the American College of Radiology (ACR) now recommend a standard three-view examination for finger and hand injuries, despite this no formal guidance exists in the United Kingdom. Out of the 235 patients referred to our tertiary hand trauma unit with a confirmed hand fracture, less than half (45%) had three-view radiographic examination performed. Less than two-thirds (57%) of metacarpal fractures had three-views available at assessment in our unit, with the lateral radiograph most commonly lacking (38%). Less than a third (30%) of phalangeal fractures had all three-views, with the oblique view most commonly absent (64% of cases). Reviewed radiology protocols from six local hospitals were inconsistent; all recommended three-views for suspected metacarpal fractures, but only two for suspected phalangeal injuries. Despite the superiority of a three-view examination and no additional cost of a third view, over half of the patients in this study lacked a three-view radiographic series. We would like to call for national published guidance advocating the use of three-view radiographic series in all patients with a high hand fracture suspicion (as defined by the presence of swelling, bruising and/ or deformity) to reduce variability in local radiology hand fracture protocols and increase availability of three-view radiographs in the primary, secondary and tertiary setting.

Pediatric Hand and Wrist Fractures in Osteogenesis Imperfecta: An Analysis of Incidence, Patient-specific Risk Factors, and Fracture-specific Characteristics.

Children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) frequently present with fractures; however, hand and wrist fractures (HWFs), those distal to the radial and ulnar diaphysis, are seldom observed. Yet, HWFs remain among the most common fractures in children with non-OI. The objective of this study was to identify the incidence of OI HWFs. Secondary objectives aimed at identifying patient-specific risk factors for HWFs in OI and comparing clinical courses to non-OI HWFs. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Database query by ICD-10 codes identified 18 patients with OI HWF, 451 patients with OI without HWFs, and 26,183 patients with non-OI HWF. Power analysis estimated appropriate sample sizes and random sampling was utilized to collect patients. Patient demographics, OI-specific variables, fracture morphology, and fracture clinical courses were recorded. Data were analyzed for patient-specific and fracture-specific factors affecting OI HWF incidence. Of patients with OI, 3.8% (18/469) sustained HWFs. Patients with OI HWF were significantly older than patients with OI without HWFs ( P = 0.002) with no differences in height, weight, ethnicity, sex, or ambulatory status. Compared with non-OI HWFs, patients with OI HWF were significantly shorter ( P < 0.001), weighed less ( P = 0.002), and were less likely to be ambulatory ( P < 0.001). OI HWFs were more commonly on the side of hand dominance ( P < 0.001) with transverse patterns ( P = 0.001). OI HWFs were less frequent in the thumb ( P = 0.048) and trended towards significance in the metacarpals ( P = 0.054). All OI HWFs were treated nonoperatively with similar union rates and refracture rates to non-OI HWFs. Multivariate regression showed that older patient age (odds ratio: 1.079, 95% CI: 1.005,1.159, P = 0.037) and OI type I (odds ratio: 5.535, 95% CI: 1.069, 26.795, P = 0.041) were significant prognosticators for HWFs in patients with OI. OI HWFs are uncommon (3.8%, 18/469) but specific HWF morphologies and locations are more common in patients with OI; however, these are not pathognomonic. Older patients with mild penetrance of type I OI are at the highest risk for HWFs. OI HWFs do well when managed nonoperatively with noninferior clinical courses compared with non-OI HWFs. Level III.

ATV-Related Trauma in the Pediatric Population.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are prevalent in Appalachia and cause significant morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. This study investigated the injury types and severity in pediatric patients over a 15-year period. A retrospective chart review was performed on pediatric ATV-related traumas presenting to our institution from 2005 to 2020. Patients were divided into 3 age groups (0-7, 8-12, and 13-17y) to evaluate differences in accident demographics, hospitalization, Glasgow Coma Scale, Injury Severity Score, substance use, characterization of orthopaedic and nonorthopaedic injuries, and procedures performed. Inclusion criteria were met by 802 patients. Males represented 71.7% (n=575) and females 28.3% (n=227); the mean age was 12.4 years. The majority (88.5%, n=710) of patients admitted following their accident had a mean stay length of 3.3 days. Of admissions, intensive care unit admission was required by 23.8%, n=191 (mean stay 4.0d). There were 7 fatalities. The vast majority of accidents occurred between May and September (79.2%, n=635). In patients with documented helmet status, 45% (n=271) were helmeted. Roughly half of all patients (n=393) sustained a fracture (excluding fractures to the head), 370 sustained an injury to the head/face, 129 sustained intra-abdominal/intra-thoracic injuries, and 29 sustained injuries to all 3 systems. The most common fractures involved the forearm (n=98), femur (n=65), and spine (n=59). The most common open fractures were the tibia (n=12), humerus (n=8), and forearm (n=8). The oldest group was more likely than the middle or younger groups to sustain spine ( P <0.0001), pelvis ( P =0.0001), hand ( P =0.0089), and foot ( P =0.0487) fractures. Ethanol testing was positive in 5.0% (n=25) of the oldest group and cannabinoids were present in 6.8% (n=34). The youngest group was significantly more likely to sustain a fracture of the humerus than the middle or older groups ( P <0.0001). Orthopaedic surgical management was required in 24.4% (n=196) of patients. Pediatric ATV accidents present a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Further intervention is necessary to minimize pediatric ATV injuries. Level IV-Retrospective Case Series.

Six-Week Radiographic Follow-up Does Not Change Management for Nonoperatively Treated Extraarticular Metacarpal Shaft Fractures.

Metacarpal fractures are common and account for over 30% of all hand fractures. Previous literature has shown similar outcomes between operative and nonoperative management of metacarpal shaft fractures. There is little information regarding the natural history of conservatively managed metacarpal shaft fractures and changes in management based on follow-up radiographs. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who presented to a single institution with an extraarticular metacarpal shaft or base fracture between 2015 and 2019. Thirty-one patients with 37 metacarpal fractures were included for review: average age 41 years, male 48%, right hand dominant 91%, and average follow-up duration 7.3 weeks. At follow-up, a change of 2.4° in angulation (P = .0005) and a change in shortening of 0.1 mm (P = .0386) were noted over the 6-week time interval. No fractures had malrotation at presentation, and none developed malrotation during the follow-up period. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analysis have suggested that metacarpal fractures treated nonoperatively had similar outcomes to surgical fixation at 12 months of follow-up. We found that extraarticular metacarpal shaft fractures that do not meet operative indications at the initial visit should be expected to heal reliably with minimal change in angulation and shortening over time. The transition to removable brace or no brace at the 2-week follow-up is likely sufficient, and additional follow-up is not necessary and will reduce cost. Level III.

Motorboat propeller-related head injuries: A systematic literature review with a case illustration.

Propeller-related injuries from motorboats are a major cause of injury in recreational water activities including severe and multiple lacerations that can promote scarring, blood loss, traumatic, or surgical amputations. The real incidence of these accidents is still unclear. The authors here present a systematic review of the literature, focusing on head injury, and related recommendations for its evaluation and management, also reporting a case of a female patient injured by a motorboat propeller. A systematic literature review was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement, with no limits in terms of publication date. The following Mesh and free text terms were identified: "motorboat and propeller and injuries" (107 results). A total of 12 papers were included in this systematic review. Only few case reports describing traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been documented. Out of a total of 90 cases analyzed, only five cases with TBI were reported. The authors also reported a case of a 12-year-old female, that during a boat trip, reported a severe polytrauma with concussive head trauma from a penetrating left fronto-temporo-parietal lesion, left mammary gland trauma and fracture of the left hand from falling into the water and impact with a motorboat propeller. She underwent an urgent left fronto-temporo-parietal decompressive craniectomy and then surgery with a multidisciplinary team. At the end of the surgical procedure, the patient was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit. She was discharged on postoperative day 15. The patient was able to walk without assistance, with mild right hemiparesis and persistence of aphasia nominum. Motorboat propeller injuries can result in extensive damage to soft tissue and bones with severe functional disability, amputations, and high mortality. There are still no recommendations and protocols for the management of motorboat propeller related injuries. Although there are several potential solutions that aim to prevent or ease motorboat-propeller injuries, there are still lack of consistent regulations.

Open hand fractures: a prospective analysis of functional outcomes and risk factors for infection after initial management in the emergency department.

Open hand fractures are common orthopaedic injuries, historically managed with early debridement in the operating room. Recent studies suggest immediate operative treatment may not be necessary but have been limited by poor follow-up and lack of functional outcomes. This study sought to prospectively evaluate these injuries treated initially in the emergency department (ED), without immediate operative intervention, to determine long-term infectious and functional outcomes using the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ). Adult patients with open hand fractures managed initially in the ED at a Level-I trauma center were considered for inclusion (2012-2016). Follow-up and MHQ administration occurred at 6weeks, 12weeks, 6months, and 1year. Logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis testing were used for analysis. Eighty-one patients (110 fractures) were included. Most had Gustilo Type III injuries (65%). Injury mechanisms most commonly included saw/cut (40%) and crush (28%). Nearly half of all patients (46%) had additional injuries involving a nailbed or tendon. Fifteen percent of patients had surgery within 30days. The average follow-up was 8.9months, with 68% of patients completing at least 12months. Eleven patients (14%) developed an infection, of which 4 (5%) required surgery. Subsequent surgery and laceration size were associated with increased odds of infection, and at one-year, functional outcomes were not significantly different regardless of fracture classification, injury mechanism, or surgery. Initial ED management of open hand fractures results in reasonable infection rates compared to similar literature and functional recovery demonstrated by MHQ score improvements over time.

Hospitalizations Are Increasing in Distal Upper Extremity Fractures.

Introduction Distal upper extremity (DUE) fractures are common and include bony fractures of the wrist, hand, and finger. DUE fractures can require hospital admission for clinical observation or surgical fixation. The trend of hospitalization rate for these injuries may more accurately predict future staffing needs, required resources, and expected revenue for orthopedicsurgery hand services. The purpose of this study is to determine the trend of hospitalization percentage from 2009 to 2018 for patients presenting to the United States (US) emergency departments (EDs) with DUE fractures. Methods The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was utilized to collect data from 138,700 patients with wrist, hand, or finger fractures presenting to the USEDs between 2009 and 2018. A total of 752 patients were excluded for ages less than two years old or no sex entry. The unadjusted and adjusted (age, sex, race, and fracture location) hospitalization rates across years were evaluated using binary logistic regression. Results From 2009 to 2018, 137,948 DUE fractures were reported, of which 4749 (3.4%) were hospitalized. Wrist fractures accounted for the highest amount (2953) and the highest proportion of hospitalized patients (62.2%). Higher hospitalization rates were seen among patients 40 years and older (p < 0.05). Together, the DUE fracture hospitalization rate increased significantly (p < 0.05) in 2016 (OR = 1.215, 95% CI = 1.070-1.380), 2017 (OR = 1.154, 95% CI = 1.016-1.311), and 2018 (OR = 1.154, 95% CI = 1.279-1.638) from 2009. The adjusted results showed hospitalization rate statistically increased (p < 0.05) in 2016 (OR = 1.184, 95% CI = 1.040-1.346) and 2018 (OR = 1.389, 95% CI = 1.225-1.575) compared to 2009. An inconsistent increase in hospitalization rate was seen across locations of fracture: wrist (2012, 2013, 2018), hand (2018), and finger (2016, 2018). Conclusions The hospitalization rate of patients with DUE fractures increased in 2016 and 2018 from 2009. These data may predict a need to increase future staffing and resources for orthopedicsurgery hand services as hospitals resume pre-pandemic practices.

O118 Timing of surgery in open hand fractures - a single centre, closed-loop audit

Abstract Introduction The British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) standards dictate the management of open hand fractures (OHFs). A wound washout and closure (WWC) in an OHF should take place within 24 hours of injury if definitive treatment is not possible in that timeframe. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional design was used to collect data from patients with OHFs. Data was taken from Cerner® EPR, Powerchart. Information was gathered about the date and type of surgery, whether surgery took place within 24 hours and, or whether WWC took place within the 24 hour timeframe. Two 3-month audit cycles were carried out: 03/12/2021–24/03/2022 (Cycle 1) and 24/03/2022–24/05/2022 (Cycle 2). Between cycles, simple interventions were implemented, including the distribution of flyers amongst departmental staff and weekly announcements in departmental meetings. Results Cycle 1 analysed 5 patients with OHFs. Of these patients, 60% (n=3) had definitive surgery within 24 hours and 40% (n=2) had neither definitive surgery nor WWC. Cycle 2 included 13 patients with OHF. Of these, 53.8% (n=7) had definitive surgery within 24 hours, 46.2% (n=6) did not have definitive surgery but had WWC and 16.7% (n=1) did not have surgery or WWC within 24 hours. Conclusion There was a 30% improvement in the cases for which BSSH guidelines were followed. Simple interventions can lead to significant change in compliance with gold-standards. We aim to conduct further cycles and include other units to assess multi-centre compliance.

Utilising 3D-printed ex vivo biomimetics to improve open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) simulation training for hand fractures.

Surgery for hand trauma accounts for a significant proportion of the plastic surgery training curriculum. The aim of this article is to create a standardised simulation training module for hand fracture fixation on open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) techniques for residents in order to create a standardised hand-training framework that universally hones their skill and prepares them for their first encounter in a clinical setting. A step-ladder approach training using three-dimensional (3D)-printed ex vivo hand biomimetics was employed on a cohort of 15 plastic surgery residents (n = 15). Assessment of skills using a score system (global rating scale) was performed in the beginning and the end of the module by hand experts in our unit. The overall average score of the cohort pre- and post-assessment were 22.08/50 (44.16%) and 41.54/50 (83.08%) respectively. Significant (p < 0.01) difference of improvement of skills was noted on all trainees. All trainees confirmed that the simulated models provided in this module were akin to the patient scenario and noted that it helped them improve their skills with regards to ORIF techniques including improvement of their understanding of the 3D bone topography. We demonstrate a standardised simulation training framework that employs 3D-printed ex vivo hand biomimetics proven to improve the skills of residents and which paves the way to more universal, standardised and validated training across hand surgery. This is, to our knowledge, the first standardised method of simulated training on such hand-surgical cases.Level of Evidence: Not ratable.

A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED MULTICENTRE TRIAL OF DISPLACED METACARPAL FRACTURES COMPARING NONOPERATIVE WITH OPERATIVE TREATMENT

Metacarpal fractures represent up to 33% of all hand fractures; of which the majority can be treated non-operatively. Previous research has shown excellent putcomes with non-operative treatment yet surgical stabilisation is recommended to avoid malrotation and symptomatic shortening. It is unknown whether operative is superior to non-operative treatment in oblique or spiral metacarpal shaft fractures.The aim of the study was to compare non-operative treatment of mobilisation with open surgical stabilisation.42 adults (≥ 18 years) with a single displaced oblique or spiral metacarpal shaft fractures were randomly assigned in a 1:1 pattern to either non-operative treatment with free mobilisation or operative treatment with open reduction and fixation with lag screws in a prospective study. The primary outcome measure was grip-strength in the injured hand in comparison to the uninjured hand at 1-year follow-up. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score, ranges of motion, metacarpal shortening, complications, time off work, patient satisfaction and costs were secondary outcomes.All 42 patients attended final follow-up after 1 year. The mean grip strength in the non-operative group was 104% (range 73–250%) of the contralateral hand and 96% (range 58–121%) in the operatively treated patients. Mean metacarpal shortening was 5.0 (range 0–9) mm in the non-operative group and 0.6 (range 0–7) mm in the operative group. There were five minor complications and three revision operations, all in the operative group.The costs for non-operative treatment were estimated at 1,347 USD compared to 3,834USD for operative treatment; sick leave was significantly longer in the operative group (35 days, range 0–147) than in the non-operative group (12 days, range 0–62) (p=0.008).When treated with immediate free mobilization single, patients with displaced spiral or oblique metacarpal shaft fractures have outcomes that are comparable to those after operative treatment, despite some metacarpal shortening. Complication rates, costs and sick leave are higher with operative treatment. Early mobilisation of spiral or long oblique single metacarpal fractures is the preferred treatment.Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03067454

Distribution and pattern of hand fractures in children and adolescents

Hand fractures represent commonly encountered injuries in pediatric patients. However, due to modern means of mobility and product safety, the occurrence and distribution of these fractures have changed during the last decades. Therefore, it was the aim of this study to present an update of the epidemiology, pattern, and treatment of hand fractures in a large pediatric cohort. All patients aged between 0 and 17 years treated in our Department in 2019 with fractures of the phalanges, metacarpus, or carpus were included. The medical records were reviewed for age, gender, injury mechanism, fracture localization, season, and treatment. Patients were divided into three different age groups (0–5, 6–12, and 13–17 years). A total of 731 patients with 761 hand fractures were treated during the 1-year study period. The mean age was 11.1 ± 3.5 years, and the majority was male (65%). Male patients were significantly older compared to female patients (p = 0.008). Also, 78.7% of the fractures affected the phalanges, 17.6% the metacarpals, and 3.7% the carpal bones. The proximal phalanges were the most commonly fractured bones (41.5%). Patients with fractures of the carpus were significantly older compared to children sustaining fractures of the metacarpus or phalangeal bones (p < 0.001). Sixteen percent of our patients were treated surgically; these patients were significantly older compared to conservatively treated patients (p = 0.011). Conclusion: The epidemiology, mechanisms of injury, distribution, and treatment of hand fractures significantly varies among different age groups. This knowledge is of importance for educational purposes of younger colleagues entrusted with care of children and adolescents as well as development of effective prevention strategies.What is Known:• Pediatric hand fractures represent the second most common fractures in children.• The epidemiology of pediatric hand fractures has changed during the last decades and therefore there is a need for an update regarding distribution and epidemiology of pediatric hand fractures.What is New:• In this retrospective cohort study, 761 pediatric hand fractures of 731 patients were analyzed in detail.• The main mechanisms of younger patients were entrapment injuries, older children most commonly sustained their fractures due to ball sport injuries. There was an increasing rate of metacarpal and carpal fractures with increasing age, and these fractures had to be treated operatively more often than phalangeal fractures.

UNCTIONAL AND CLINICAL OUTCOME OF FRACTURES OF THE HAND MANAGED BY MINI EXTERNAL FIXATOR

Introduction: Hand fractures can be worsened by deformity caused by insufcient management, stiffness caused by excessive treatment, and both deformity and stiffness caused by inadequate treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the functional and clinical outcome of mini external xator-treated hand fractures. Fifty patients suffering from hand fractures were enrol Methodology: led in the trial. All the patients underwent a comprehensive history and clinical and radiological assessment, including demographic information such as age, gender, occupation, x-ray, etc. The functional outcome was calculated using the American society for surgery of the hand and total active exion (ASSH TAF)/Duncan's criteria and clinically evaluated. Most enrolled patients were between 35-44 years (34.0%). Results: Male predominance was seen, and RTA caused 70% of injuries. Fractures of type 2 Gustilo-Anderson were prevalent among patients, with the majority occurring in the right hand. The majority of patients had a transverse shaft x-ray [8(16.00%)], followed by a comminuted p. p. [6(12.00%)] and a comminuted mid shaft [6(12.00%)]. The most prevalent problem (44.00%) was stiffness. 46.00% had a good outcome, 34.00% had an excellent outcome, 12.00% had a fair outcome, and 8.00% had a poor outcome based on Duncan's criterion. The ndings demonstrate the efcacy of MEFs in esta Conclusion: blishing union and correct alignment of hand skeletons with minimal tissue trauma while retaining a good clinical outcome even in the most complex injuries. MEFs can be considered for all hand fractures requiring surgical treatment, especially in intra-articular and comminuted fractures.

Retrospective review on tenolysis after phalangeal fractures: A Hong Kong local center experience

Background/Purpose: This is a local retrospective review on the outcomes of tenolysis after phalangeal fracture. Methods: The clinical outcome of nine patients (mean age 51.9 years) with finger fractures and subsequent tenolysis performed were reviewed. Range of motion was evaluated. Results: Extensor tenolysis, capsulotomy with or without flexor tenolysis was performed at a mean of 8.2 months after hand fracture with fracture fixation done. The total active motion (TAM) improved from 121° preoperatively to 173° postoperatively ( p = 0.02). Significant improvement of motion was observed at the proximal interphalangeal joint ( p = 0.012). All patient's range of motion improved after surgery. Conclusion: The gain of motion of 52° is comparable to other series. Release of all pathological anatomy and aggressive mobilization may improve the result further. Tenolysis can provide an encouraging improvement of active motion for stiff finger after phalangeal fractures. Recent results using WALANT technique showed satisfactory outcome. Future study on WALANT technique may further consolidate its potential benefit.

Management of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures

Hand fractures are the most common fractures in orthopedic surgery. In most cases, conservative treatment is sufficient for stable fractures, but surgical treatment is required for unstable fractures, fractures that cannot be maintained after reduction, and fractures with severe soft tissue injuries. In the management of hand fractures, the focus should be on restoring the function of the hand after fracture healing. Rapid rehabilitation exercises are an important factor in restoring the function of the hand by reducing swelling at the fracture site, preventing joint stiffness, and reducing soft tissue adhesion. Therefore, conservative treatment that can minimize soft tissue damage is usually prioritized, and in specific situations, if surgical intervention can help facilitate early rehabilitation exercises, then it could be a desirable choice. This review article aims to help readers decide on a treatment method by presenting various treatment methods for hand fractures and the academic basis for those options.

Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) Versus Bier’s Block, in Internal Fixation of Unstable Metacarpal and Phalangeal Fractures of the Hand: A Comparative Study

Hand fractures are a common injury in emergency department, and the majority of these are stable injuries that can be treated conservatively with excellent functional results. When respective injuries are characterized as unstable, surgical reduction and stabilization is necessary. Generally, these operations are conducted under regional or general anesthesia to avoid pain and tourniquet for bloodless surgical fields. Wide Awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) procedure is described as a local injection of anesthetic agent and epinephrine without tourniquet application, with scope to allow local anesthesia without other sedation and at the same time hemostasis. The purpose of the study is to compare the functional assessment of the hand function during a period of three months after surgical intervention for unstable metacarpal and phalangeal fractures under WALANT versus Biers block. Material &amp;Methods: Between May 2021 to October 2022, 43 patients with unstable metacarpal and phalangeal fractures underwent open reduction and internal fixation, 21 cases with Biers block(BB) anesthesia and rest with WALANT technique. Metacarpal fractures appeared in 29 cases and phalangeal fractures in 14 patients. Patients were operated within the first week from the injury. According to implants they employed locking plates, screws and Kirschner wires in two groups. Results: At three months postoperatively, Quick Dash Score is better in WALANT group while patients’ satisfaction does not differ between two groups. In WALANT group immediate postoperative median VA Score appeared 2/10, while in the Biers block group appeared 6/10. Patients which underwent WALANT technique were discharged on the same day after operation, while the patients with regional anesthesia the next postoperative day. Mean duration of analgesic use was sorter in WALANT group (2,3 days) than in BB group (5,7 days). Conclusion: Οbjective of surgical treatment of unstable hand fractures (metacarpal-phalangeal) is early mobilization and enhance hand functionality to avoid stiffness and tendon adhesions. Wide Awake local anesthesia no tourniquet technique is an alternative sedative procedure which immediately offers postoperative numerous advantages (low-cost technique, no complication from tourniquet, decrease sensation of intra or postoperative pain) compared with Bier’s block anesthesia. Based on our results we believe that WALANT technique offers many benefits in surgical treatment of hand fractures and is suggested as first choice anesthesiologist procedure.

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Open Hand Fractures in the Pediatric Population.

Open hand fractures are one of the most common injuries in the pediatric population. These injuries are at higher risk of infection, especially in cases of frank contamination. Several studies on adult hand fractures are available in the literature; however, pediatric open hand fractures have yet to be extensively studied. This study aimed to define pediatric open hand fracture's demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment patterns. Using the Protected Health Information database, pediatric patients (<18 y old) with the diagnosis of open hand fracture from June 2016 to June 2018 were extracted. Demographic, treatment, and follow-up data were collected. Clinical outcomes included readmission and postoperative infection rates. There were a total of 4516 patients who met the inclusion criteria; the median age was 7 years (interquartile range: 3 to 11); 60% males; 60% white. Displaced fractures occurred in 74% of patients, with the right hand (52%) and middle finger (27%) predominance. The most common mechanism of injury was a crushing injury in-between objects (56%). Associated nerve injury occurred in 78 patients (4%) and vascular injury in 43 patients (2%). Open reduction and internal fixation were performed in 30% of patients. Cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics (73%), followed by aminopenicillins (7%). Nine patients had complications related to surgical intervention (0.2%), and postoperative infection occurred in 44 patients (1%). Pediatric open hand fractures most often occur during childhood and more frequently in males. These fractures tend to be more distal and displaced; reduction and fixation are required in one-third of the cases. Despite the absence of treatment guidelines and variability, this injury exhibits low complication rates. Level III, retrospective study.

Strategies Addressing Barriers to the Implementation of a Pediatric Hand Fracture Care Pathway.

We performed a conventional content analysis of transcripts from four focus groups (parents, emergency/urgent care physicians, plastic surgeons, and hand therapists) to identify relevant concepts (facilitators and barriers). These concepts were mapped to two frameworks. Generic strategies to address the barriers were identified, and further discussions with key stakeholders resulted in tailored strategies for implementation. Five facilitators to implementation of a CKHR-based hand fracture care pathway included established rapport between hand therapists and surgeons, potential for more streamlined care, agreement on identifying another care provider, positive perceptions of hand therapist expertise, and opportunity for patient education. Two individual barriers were concern for poor outcomes and trust. Three systemic barriers were awareness and usability, referral process, and cost and resources. Strategies to address these barriers include pilot-testing of the new care pathway, ensuring closed loop communication, multiple knowledge translation activities, integration of CKHR into the clinical information system, coordinating care and development of parent handouts. Mapping barriers to established implementation frameworks has informed tailored implementation strategies, bringing us one step closer to successfully implementing a new pediatric hand fracture pathway.