BACKGROUND:Lipomas are a rare cause of posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) compression. A systematic review of predictors for motor recovery has not been performed. This study sought to evaluate whether patient or lipoma characteristics are associated with motor recovery and could be used to determine when immediate tendon transfers at the time of excision should be performed. METHODS:Articles describing patients with forearm lipomas resulting in PIN compression with motor weakness were included. Patient age, gender, symptom duration, laterality and largest dimension of lipoma, surgical intervention, and motor recovery were identified. Article quality was assessed via the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies criteria. RESULTS:Thirty articles reporting on 34 patients were identified. Average age was 58.2 years. Average largest lipoma dimension was 5.7 cm. All patients underwent lipoma removal, and 2 had concomitant tendon transfers. In all, 73.5% of patients had complete motor recovery at an average of 9.7 months. Patient age and largest dimension of lipoma, and duration of symptoms were not significant predictors of motor recovery. Symptom duration was a significant predictor of motor recovery in binary regression, particularly if < 18 months. CONCLUSIONS:The majority of patients with PIN weakness secondary to lipoma are likely to have complete motor recovery after excision alone. Concomitant tendon transfers should be considered for patients symptomatic for greater than 18 months. Further, adequately powered, studies are required to stratify risk factors and evaluate other modalities to identify the minority of patients who would benefit from immediate tendon transfer.

INTRODUCTION:This study compared outcomes of soft tissue reconstruction using biodegradable temporizing matrix (BTM) and collagen-chondroitin silicone (CCS) skin substitutes.OBJECTIVE:In this study, the authors compared wound healing rates and complication rates between BTM and CCS.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This retrospective study reviewed outcomes for adult patients who underwent soft tissue reconstruction with either BTM or CCS skin substitutes between 2015 and 2020. Demographics, wound characteristics, surgical details, and complications were recorded.RESULTS:Ninety-seven patients were included, of whom 51 (52.6%) were treated with BTM graft and 46 (47.4%) with CCS bilayer graft. The mean patient age was 48.2 years (range, 18-93 years). Wound etiologies included burn, trauma, iatrogenic, compartment syndrome, skin cancer, and osteomyelitis. The median template size was 147 cm2 and 100 cm2 for BTM and CCS, respectively (P =.337). Skin grafts were applied to 39 patients (84.8%) treated with CCS compared with 28 (54.9%) treated with BTM (P =.006); the remaining wounds healing secondarily. The template-related and skin graft-related complications of infection, dehiscence, and hematoma or seroma were comparable between groups. The rate of skin graft failure was significantly higher in the CCS cohort (n = 9 [23.1%]) compared with the BTM group (n = 1 [3.6%]) (P =.006). More secondary procedures were required after CCS placement (mean ± standard deviation, 1.9 ± 1.8; range, 0-9) than after BTM (mean, 1.0 ± 0.9; range 0-4) (P =.002). There was no statistical significance in the frequency of definitive closure between BTM and CCS (n = 31 [60.8%] vs n = 28 [60.9%], respectively; P =.655).CONCLUSIONS:Compared with CCS, BTM had comparable closure and complication rates and required fewer secondary procedures and/or subsequent skin grafting.

Background:Head and neck reconstruction is challenging because of the functional requirements of movement, sensation, and cosmesis of this highly visible region. This study is the first to compare Novosorb biodegradable temporizing matrix (BTM) and Integra collagen-chondroitin silicone (CCS) skin substitutes for reconstruction of soft tissue head and neck wounds.Methods:This retrospective review included adults who underwent wound reconstruction of the head/neck with either BTM or CCS between 2015 and 2020. Patient-level data, complications, and closure rates were compared.Results:The review identified 15 patients: 5 who received BTM and 10 who received CCS. Mean age at dermal template placement was 55 (range, 28-79) years. Race, sex, smoking status, medical comorbidities, defect size, radiation history, prior surgeries, and follow-up time were not significantly different between groups. Wound etiologies for BTM and CCS included burn (40% vs 60%), trauma (20% vs 20%), surgical wounds (20% vs 20%), and skin cancer (20% vs 0%), respectively (P = .026). Skin grafts were placed in 8 (80%) wounds after CCS placement, compared with 3 (60%) after BTM (P = .670). Template reapplication was required in 2 (40%) BTM wounds and 3 (30%) CCS wounds (P = 1.0). Infection, hematoma, and seroma were comparable between groups, although skin graft failure was higher in the CCS group at 3 (37.5%) compared with 0 for BTM (P = .506). More secondary procedures were required after CCS placement (CCS, 1.9 ± 2.2; BTM, 0.9 ± 0.8; P = .090). Definitive closure in patients not lost to follow-up occurred in 4 (100%) BTM and 6 (75%) CCS cases (P = 1.0).Conclusions:Head and neck wounds treated with BTM had comparable closure and complication rates as CCS bilayer and required fewer secondary procedures and skin grafts. These findings suggest that BTM is safe and efficacious for application in head and neck wounds and may be considered as an economical alternative.

Purpose:To determine whether surgeon specialty affects complications after open operative care of distal upper-extremity fractures.Methods:We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Database from 2005 to 2016. Patients were included if they received open operative treatment by an orthopedic or a plastic surgeon for distal radius/ulna, carpal, metacarpal, or phalangeal fracture. Univariate analysis and multivariable analysis of perioperative complications were performed to identify differences between the 2 specialties. Major complications assessed were 30-day reoperation and mortality. We also assessed transfusion, thromboembolic, surgical site infections, cardiac, pulmonary, and renal complications.Results:A total of 20,512 patients were included. Most cases performed by orthopedic surgeons (71.2%) were for distal radius/ulna fractures, whereas the majority of cases performed by plastic surgeons were for metacarpal (41.0%) and phalangeal (37.9%) fractures. No difference was identified in most perioperative complications between specialties. Plastic surgeons had a higher incidence of surgical site infections (1.2% vs 0.5%) on univariate analysis. However, when controlling for variables such as patient demographics and comorbidities in multivariable analysis, surgical specialty was not significantly associated with surgical site infection. Rather, surgery on phalangeal bones (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.745; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.559-4.833), higher wound class (wound class 3 aOR = 3.630; 95% CI, 2.003-6.577), and smoking (aOR = 1.970; 95% CI, 1.279-3.032) were independent risk factors for surgical site infection. Plastic surgeons were found to operate on proportionally more smokers, patients with higher wound class, and phalangeal fractures (37.9% of all fracture cases) compared with orthopedic surgeons.Conclusions:Orthopedic and plastic surgeons achieve equivalent outcomes from a safety perspective after open operative treatment of upper-extremity fractures in terms of mortality and 30-day reoperation, which suggests that both specialties can safely perform call-related operative upper-extremity fracture care. Plastic surgeons operated on more smokers, patients with higher wound class, and phalangeal fractures, all of which were associated with increased incidence of surgical site infection, revealing differences in practice composition from their orthopedic colleagues.Type of study/level of evidence:Therapeutic III.

The Wrist and Radius Injury Surgical Trial (WRIST) collaboration is the largest clinical trial ever conducted in hand surgery. We applied data from this study to examine the relationship between functional outcomes and patient satisfaction after treatment of distal radial fractures. Patients aged 60 years and older with isolated distal radial fractures were enrolled at 24 health systems. Grip strength and the arc of wrist motion were measured after treatment. The Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire was used to measure patient satisfaction. Receiver operating characteristic curves were created using patient satisfaction as the reference standard and each functional measure as a predictor. At 12 months after treatment, mean grip strength was 82% of normal and mean arc of motion was 88% of normal. The optimal cut-off points to distinguish satisfaction from dissatisfaction occurred when patients recovered 59% of hand strength and 79% of wrist motion. Continuing therapy to increase functional gains beyond this point unnecessarily utilizes healthcare resources without additional patient-reported gains. Level of evidence: IV

IMPORTANCE Complications affect treatment outcomes and quality of life in addition to increasing treatment costs. OBJECTIVES To evaluate complication rates after the treatment of a distal radius fracture, to determine whether the rate or complication type is associated with treatment method, and to determine predictors of complications. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The multicenter Wrist and Radius Injury Surgical Trial (WRIST), a randomized clinical trial, enrolled participants from April 10, 2012, to December 31, 2016. The study included 304 adults 60 years or older with isolated unstable distal radius fractures; 187 were randomized and 117 opted for casting. The study was conducted at 24 health systems in the United States, Canada, and Singapore. Data for this secondary analysis were collected from April 24, 2012, to February 28, 2018. INTERVENTIONS Participants opting for surgery were randomized to receive the volar locking plate system (n = 65), percutaneous pinning (n = 58), or bridging external fixation with or without supplemental pinning (n = 64). Patients who chose not to have surgery (n = 117) were not randomized and were enrolled for casting. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Complication rate. RESULTS The WRIST enrolled a total of 304 participants, of whom 8 casting group participants were later found to be ineligible and were excluded from the analysis, leaving 296 participants. Randomized participants' mean (SD) age was 68 (7.2) years, 163 (87%) were female, and 165 (88%) were white. Casting participants' mean (SD) age was 75.6 (9.6) years, 93 (84%) were female, and 85 (85%) were white. The most common type of complications varied by treatment. Twelve of 65 participants (18.5%) in the internal fixation group reported a median nerve compression, while 16 of 26 participants (25.8%) who received external fixation and 13 of 56 participants (23.2%) who received pinning sustained pin site infections. Compared with the internal fixation group, complication rate for any severity complication was higher in participants who initially received casting (adjusted rate ratio, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.22-2.88), whereas the rate for moderate complications was higher in the external fixation group (adjusted rate ratio, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.25-5.09). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The distal radius fracture treatment decision-making process for older patients should incorporate a complication profile for each treatment type. For example, external fixation and pinning could be used for patients after apprising them of pin site infection risk. Internal fixation can be done in patients with high functional demands who are willing to receive surgery. Internal fixation use should be substantiated owing to the time and cost involved. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01589692

Purpose Current evidence on predictors of outcomes after distal radius fracture is often based on retrospective analyses or may be confounded by fracture type. Using data from the Wrist and Radius Injury Surgical Trial (WRIST), a 24-site randomized study of distal radius fracture treatment, in which all fractures are severe enough to warrant surgery, we set out to perform a secondary data analysis to explore predictors of better or worse hand outcomes. Methods The primary outcome measure was the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) summary score 12 months after treatment. We used a regression tree analysis with recursive partitioning to identify subgroups of participants who experienced similar outcomes (ie, MHQ score) and to determine which baseline or treatment factors they had in common. Results Factors most predictive of 12-month MHQ score were pain at enrollment, education, age, and number of comorbidities. Specifically, participants who had a high school education or less and also reported severe pain had the lowest MHQ scores. Conversely, participants with less pain and more education and who were age 87 years or younger with one or no comorbid condition had the highest MHQ scores. Treatment type or radiographic measurements assessed on post-reduction films did not affect 12-month outcomes. Conclusions These results identified patient characteristics that can be used by surgeons to identify subgroups of patients who may experience similar hand outcomes. Copyright (C) 2019 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND:This study maps the course of the lesser occipital nerve and its potential compression sites in the posterior scalp.METHODS:Twenty sides of 10 fresh cadaveric heads were dissected. Two fixed anatomical landmarks were used: the y axis was the vertical midline in the posterior scalp through the midline of the cervical spine. The x axis was a horizontal line drawn between the most anterosuperior points of the external auditory meatus. A topographic map of the lesser occipital nerve and its potential compression points was created.RESULTS:The lesser occipital nerve emerged from the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle at an average of 6.4 ± 1.4 cm lateral to the y axis and 7.5 ± 0.9 cm caudal to the x axis. Branches of the occipital artery were found to interact with the lesser occipital nerve in 11 of the 20 hemiheads (55 percent). The mean location of the artery-nerve interaction was 5.1 ± 0.9 cm lateral to the y axis and 2 ± 1.45 cm caudal to the x axis. Two patterns of artery-nerve interaction were seen: a single site of artery crossing over the nerve in nine of 20 hemiheads (45 percent) and a helical intertwining relationship in two of 20 of hemiheads (10 percent). A fascial band was identified to compress the lesser occipital nerve in four of 20 hemiheads (20 percent).CONCLUSION:This anatomical study traced the lesser occipital nerve as it courses through the posterior scalp and mapped its potential decompression sites.