Login to your account
Don’t have an account?
Create a Free AccountCurrent Concepts
The Current Concepts section provides up-to-date information on 60 essential topics on a three-year rotation. Articles provide a clinical picture, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and outcomes.
Controversies in the Management of Bicolumnar Fractures of the Distal Humerus
Bicolumnar fractures of the distal humerus pose numerous treatment challenges for upper-extremity surgeons. Although open reduction and internal fixation demonstrates advantages compared with nonsurgical treatment, restoration of osseous anatomy can be difficult, particularly for comminuted, intra-articular fractures. Despite well-recognized complications, total elbow arthroplasty remains an option for elderly patients with fractures not amenable to fixation. Although indications remain controversial, distal humerus hemiarthroplasty has emerged as a potential alternative to total elbow arthroplasty in carefully selected patients with nonreconstructable fractures.Applications of Vascular Imaging and Interventional Radiology Modalities in the Upper Extremity: A Review
Hand and upper extremity (HUE) vascular disorders are encountered frequently by hand surgeons in clinical practice. A wide array of imaging and vascular interventional radiology modalities exists for the diagnosis and treatment of HUE vascular disorders, some of which may not be familiar to the HUE surgeons. In this review article, we summarize the vascular imaging and vascular interventional radiology modalities and their relative advantages, disadvantages, and indications with respect to HUE pathology.Vascular Problems in Elite Throwing Athletes
There are approximately 880 and 3,600 major league baseball and minor league baseball players who currently are active in their respective leagues, with thousands of players in the collegiate, high school, and little league ranks. Although relatively uncommon, vascular injuries, such as thoracic outlet syndrome, axillary artery compression, quadrilateral space syndrome, and direct vascular trauma, can afflict these players. These career- and limb-threatening injuries can mimic often seen muscular sprains and strains in their early stages with nonspecific symptoms, such as exertional fatigue, which can delay diagnosis with disastrous sequelae, including thrombus propagation, aneurysm rupture, and ischemia from distal embolization.Pigmented Nail Lesions: When to Observe, When to Biopsy, When to Widely Excise, and When to Amputate?
Pigmented nail lesions are challenging problems. The differential diagnosis is broad and ranges from common self-limiting conditions, such as subungual hematoma and infection, to potentially fatal conditions, such as subungual melanoma. Clinical assessment and adjuncts, such as dermoscopy and imaging, are usually insufficient to establish a diagnosis, and a nail bed biopsy is often required. However, this is not an innocuous procedure and may result in permanent nail deformity. In addition, subjecting every patient with nail pigmentation to a biopsy will result in an unacceptably high rate of negative test results.Interpreting Electrodiagnostic Studies for the Management of Nerve Injury
Nerve injuries are common after trauma and can be life-altering for patients. Electrodiagnostic studies are the gold standard for diagnosing and prognosticating nerve injuries. However, most surgeons are not trained in the interpretation of these studies; rather, they rely on the interpretation provided by the electrodiagnostician, who in turn is unlikely to be trained in nerve reconstruction. This discrepancy between the interpretation of these studies and the management of nerve injuries can lead to suboptimal surgical planning and patient outcomes.Radiocarpal Fusion: Indications, Technique, and Modifications
Degenerative disorders of the wrist may affect isolated joints and inhibit normal functions of the wrist secondary to pain and stiffness. These processes that affect only the radiocarpal joint may be secondary to posttraumatic osteoarthritis, primary osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Radiocarpal wrist arthrodesis may help preserve some of the native wrist kinematics while alleviating pain and improving the range of motion. However, the surgeon must ensure that the patient’s pathologic process primarily affects the radiocarpal articulations while relatively sparing the midcarpal articulations.Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries in Throwing Athletes: Diagnosis and Management
Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries of the elbow are common in overhead throwing athletes. With throwing, the elbow experiences substantial valgus stress and repetitive microtrauma can lead to injury. Increasing rates of injury among both youth and professional throwers has resulted in a “UCL epidemic.” Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (“Tommy John Surgery”) became a part of the public consciousness after Tommy John returned to professional baseball after a UCL reconstruction with Dr Frank Jobe for what was once considered a career-ending injury.Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment of Dorsoradial Hand and Forearm Pain
Dorsoradial forearm and hand pain was historically considered difficult to treat surgically due to a particular susceptibility of the radial sensory nerve (RSN) to injury and/or compression. A nerve block, if it were done at all, was directed at the region of the anatomic snuff box to block the RSN in an effort to provide diagnostic information as to the pain etiology. Even for patients with pain relief following a diagnostic block, resecting the RSN often proved unsuccessful in fully relieving pain.Suture Materials, Needles, and Methods of Skin Closure: What Every Hand Surgeon Should Know
Sutures are used ubiquitously in surgery and are the most implanted materials in hand surgery. However, surgical training does not routinely include formal education on stitching materials or needles. Rather, suture familiarity is passed down by common use throughout training. We focus on a brief history and evolution of suture materials and suture needles, their material and mechanical properties, hand surgery-specific applications, other methods of skin closure (staples, skin glue, and adhesive strips), a cost analysis, and advances in musculoskeletal suturing, with a look toward the future.Sagittal Band Injuries: A Review and Modification of the Classification System
Sagittal band injuries, although relatively uncommon, can be difficult to treat. This review provides a contemporary perspective on this pathology, as well as a modification to the classification system. This modification aims to incorporate the spectrum of disease seen, guide treatment, and allow standardization when documenting and describing injuries.External Tissue Expansion in Complex Extremity Reconstruction
Skin grafting and flap-based reconstruction have been the conventional treatments for complex extremity wounds. However, these methods can be associated with relatively high complication rates and involve increasing levels of complexity. External tissue expansion has recently emerged as an attractive alternative to its conventional counterparts. It is a technically simple and low-morbidity technique for complex wound reconstruction. This article provides a review of internal and external tissue expansion with a focus on the evolution, indications, and recent successes of external expansion for soft tissue coverage.Surgical Management of Complex Adult Monteggia Fractures
Monteggia fractures classically involve a proximal ulna fracture with an associated radial head dislocation. The presence of radial head/neck fracture and comminution of the proximal ulna with coronoid involvement elevates the complexity of surgical reconstruction considerably. The Jupiter classification captures this injury pattern as a subgroup of Bado posterior Monteggia lesions. Access to the critical coronoid fragment can be problematic from the posterior approach and may result in tenuous reduction and fixation, directly affecting the functional outcome.Nerve Compression Syndromes of the Shoulder
Nerve compression syndromes of the shoulder contribute to pain, paresthesia, and weakness of the upper extremity. This review examines the recent literature regarding thoracic outlet syndrome, suprascapular neuropathy, long thoracic nerve palsy, and quadrilateral space syndrome. Overlapping features are common among shoulder pathologies, and thus, key anatomical features, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic techniques, and treatments are highlighted for all aforementioned conditions.Applying Evidence to Inform Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Care
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common problems treated by hand surgeons. As our understanding of the condition has improved and focus on quality and evidence-based care has evolved, management of CTS has shifted as well. Although for many patients the diagnosis and treatment plan are relatively straightforward, understanding how to decide what diagnostics are appropriate, how to avoid complications especially in high-risk patients, and even which surgical option to offer remains a challenge.Dry Wrist Arthroscopy for Ulnar-Sided Wrist Disorders
With the evolution of dry wrist arthroscopy, there is an ever-increasing role for its use in the treatment of disorders of the wrist including ligament repair or reconstruction, bony procedures such as distal radius corrective osteotomies or fracture fixation, and partial arthrodesis. We describe some of the tips and tricks that can be used to manage ulnar-sided wrist pain. We particularly emphasize the different technical points to perform dry wrist arthroscopy compared with previously described wet arthroscopic procedures.Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Intractable Raynaud Phenomenon
Raynaud phenomenon (RP) is a condition causing vasospasm in the fingers and toes of patients that can have a significant negative impact on quality of life. This can lead to pain, ulceration, and possible loss of digits. Several pharmacological options are available for treatment. However, RP can often be refractory to traditional modalities, leaving surgery or injections as the next available options. This article provides a review and update on the use of botulinum toxin as an effective therapy for the treatment of RP refractory to medical management.Proximal Median Nerve Compression: Pronator Syndrome
Pronator syndrome (PS) is a compressive neuropathy of the median nerve in the proximal forearm, with symptoms that often overlap with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Because electrodiagnostic studies are often negative in PS, making the correct diagnosis can be challenging. All patients should be initially managed with nonsurgical treatment, but surgical intervention has been shown to result in satisfactory outcomes. Several surgical techniques have been described, with most outcomes data based on retrospective case series.Upper Extremity Fragility Fractures
The population of elderly patients is rapidly increasing in the United States and worldwide, leading to an increased prevalence of osteoporosis and a concurrent rise in fragility fractures. Fragility fractures are defined as fractures involving a low-energy mechanism, such as a fall from a standing height or less, and have been associated with a significant increase in the risk of a future fragility fracture. Distal radius fractures in the elderly often present earlier than hip and vertebral fractures and frequently involve underlying abnormalities in bone mass and microarchitecture.Forearm Nonunion: Characterization and Management
Adult forearm nonunion should be investigated prior to developing a treatment strategy: “Why did the fracture not heal?” Optimizing the patient’s biology and the stability at the nonunion site are critical for a successful outcome. This review concisely discusses the initial work-up, including history, physical examination, imaging, and laboratory testing, as well as available surgical techniques—irrigation and debridement with deep cultures, revision open reduction internal fixation with or without biological adjuvant therapies, cancellous autograft, tricortical iliac crest, reamer/irrigator/aspirator, allograft, vascularized free-fibula and induced-membrane technique.
The content on this site is intended for healthcare professionals.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. except certain content provided by third parties.
