PURPOSE: We reviewed the results of cross finger flaps after surgical release and vigorous postoperative exercises for long-standing, severe flexion contractures of the Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) joints of fingers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 9 patients, all contracted tissue was sequentially released and the resultant skin defect was covered with a cross-finger flap. The cause of the contracture was contact burn in 4, skin graft in 3, and a previous operation in 2. The mean follow-up period was 41.2 months. RESULTS: The mean flexion contracture/further flexion in the joints were improved from 73.4/87.8degrees to 8.4/95.4degrees at the last follow-up. A mean of 19.5degrees of extension was achieved with vigorous extension exercise after the operation. The mean gain in range of motion (ROM) was 79.4degrees. Near full ROM was achieved in 3 cases. There were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS: In severe flexion contractures with scarring of the PIP joints of fingers, cross finger flaps after sufficient release and vigorous postoperative exercise seems to be a reasonable option to obtain satisfactory ROM of the joints.

PURPOSE: We report our results of arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic avulsion fracture of the malleolus in chronic ankle pain, and also analyzed the clinical and radiological features for evaluating the good candidate for arthroscopic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients who were diagnosed with intra-articular avulsion fractures of the malleolus received arthroscopic surgery and were followed up for at least a year. The clinical and radiological characters including MRI and arthroscopic findings were reviewed. Clinical assessments were done according to the AOFAS score system. RESULTS: There was a history of inversion type of the injury in most cases and local tenderness of lesion site was a unique. MRI study showed thickened anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) in 8 cases (57%) and discontinued ATFL in 3 cases (21%). Enhanced signal surrounding soft tissue corresponding to synovial inflammation and impingement was found in 12 cases (86%). Preoperative score of all patients were 74.0+/-5.5, which improved to 89.3+/-6.7 at the follow-up after the treatment (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Most patients had history of injury and localized tenderness in the area coinciding with radiological findings. Thickened ATFL and contrast enhancement around the ossicle were frequently found. Symptomatic avulsion fractures of the malleolus associated with the clinical and radiological findings above could be a good candidate for arthroscopic treatment.
Ankle* ; Arthroscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

PURPOSE: We report our results of arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic avulsion fracture of the malleolus in chronic ankle pain, and also analyzed the clinical and radiological features for evaluating the good candidate for arthroscopic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients who were diagnosed with intra-articular avulsion fractures of the malleolus received arthroscopic surgery and were followed up for at least a year. The clinical and radiological characters including MRI and arthroscopic findings were reviewed. Clinical assessments were done according to the AOFAS score system. RESULTS: There was a history of inversion type of the injury in most cases and local tenderness of lesion site was a unique. MRI study showed thickened anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) in 8 cases (57%) and discontinued ATFL in 3 cases (21%). Enhanced signal surrounding soft tissue corresponding to synovial inflammation and impingement was found in 12 cases (86%). Preoperative score of all patients were 74.0+/-5.5, which improved to 89.3+/-6.7 at the follow-up after the treatment (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Most patients had history of injury and localized tenderness in the area coinciding with radiological findings. Thickened ATFL and contrast enhancement around the ossicle were frequently found. Symptomatic avulsion fractures of the malleolus associated with the clinical and radiological findings above could be a good candidate for arthroscopic treatment.
Ankle* ; Arthroscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

PURPOSE: To present our experience of distal chevron osteotomy utilizing one BOLD screw(R) as an alternative fixation method which has advantages over the Kirschner (K)-wire fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2001 and June 2003, 19 patients with a symptomatic hallux valgus deformity underwent 20 distal metatarsal chevron osteotomies with one BOLD screw(R) fixation. The mean age was 55.6 years with a minimum follow up period 12 months. For radiographical evaluation, hallux valgus angle (HVA) and intermetatarsal angle (IMA) were used. For clinical evaluation, we used AOFAS hallux metatarsophalangeal interphalangeal scale and overall satisfaction of the patients. RESULTS: The AOFAS scores improved from mean 47.5 points to mean 68.1 points at postoperative 3 months and mean 86.0 points at last follow-up. The average HVA corrected from 25.3 degrees to 12.7 degrees. The IMA was corrected from 11.6 degrees to 7.6 degrees. The overall satisfaction of the patients was 85%. There was no major complication. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that distal chevron osteotomy with one BOLD screw(R) fixation has advantages such as no additional procedure, no loss of correction, early rehabilitation, no prominent hardware and skin irritation. This method also showed excellent bone union, correction and patient satisfaction.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hallux Valgus* ; Hallux* ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; Osteotomy* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Rehabilitation ; Skin

PURPOSE: To present our experience of distal chevron osteotomy utilizing one BOLD screw(R) as an alternative fixation method which has advantages over the Kirschner (K)-wire fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2001 and June 2003, 19 patients with a symptomatic hallux valgus deformity underwent 20 distal metatarsal chevron osteotomies with one BOLD screw(R) fixation. The mean age was 55.6 years with a minimum follow up period 12 months. For radiographical evaluation, hallux valgus angle (HVA) and intermetatarsal angle (IMA) were used. For clinical evaluation, we used AOFAS hallux metatarsophalangeal interphalangeal scale and overall satisfaction of the patients. RESULTS: The AOFAS scores improved from mean 47.5 points to mean 68.1 points at postoperative 3 months and mean 86.0 points at last follow-up. The average HVA corrected from 25.3 degrees to 12.7 degrees. The IMA was corrected from 11.6 degrees to 7.6 degrees. The overall satisfaction of the patients was 85%. There was no major complication. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that distal chevron osteotomy with one BOLD screw(R) fixation has advantages such as no additional procedure, no loss of correction, early rehabilitation, no prominent hardware and skin irritation. This method also showed excellent bone union, correction and patient satisfaction.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hallux Valgus* ; Hallux* ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; Osteotomy* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Rehabilitation ; Skin

PURPOSE: Conservative treatment of displaced ipsilateral compound fractures of clavicle and scapula neck or gleonoid cavity, causing a floating shoulder, cannot expect satisfactory results in all of them. We reviewed 9 operative cases of floating shoulders and analyzed the results with review of literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine patients with floating shoulders were operated from July 1996 to August 2000 were reviewed. Patient's age was in average 38.3 years old. Associated injuries were 4 cases of rib fractures and 1 case of humerus shaft fracture. Other injuries included 3 hemothorax, 2 pneumothorax, 1 brachial plexus injury, and 1 ulnar nerve injury. Operation for both clavicle and scapula fracture was done in 6 cases, and surgery was done for only clavicle in 3 cases. Internal fixation for clavicle was done with 3.5 mm AO reconstruction plate in 4 cases and Dynamic Compression Plate in 5 cases. RESULTS: Clinical results by Hardegger method showed 7 cases of excellent, 1 case of good, and 1 case of poor. Complications include 2 cases of limitation of motion of shoulder joint and one case of residual pain. CONCLUSION: Floating Shoulder is caused by high-energy trauma, therefore initial assessment of associated injuries should be done carefully. In evaluating the articular surface of the glenoid and positions of the fracture fragment, CT evaluation is very useful in planning the surgical treatment. Clinical results after surgery can give satisfactory results.
Brachial Plexus ; Clavicle ; Fractures, Open ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Humerus ; Neck ; Pneumothorax ; Rib Fractures ; Scapula ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder* ; Ulnar Nerve

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the patterns and results of treatment of fractures of the hand and wrist after punching injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 91cases of fractures of the hand and wrist after punching injury in 67 patients from January 1998 to September 2002. The mean follow-up was 18 months. The mean age was 25.7 years old, ranging from 11 years old to 41 years old. The results were evaluated by modified criteria of Bruce and Maudsley. RESULTS: The most common fractures were metacarpal base fractures (42.9%), and the second most common fractures were distal metacarpal fractures (19.8%). Metacarpal base fractures were usually combined with dislocation of carpometacarpal joint, especially in the fourth and fifth metacarpal bone and single fifth metacarpal bone (29.7%). There were a few complications of limitation of motion (4 cases), pain (1 case), angular deformity of distal metacarpal bone (1 case), malunion of metacarpal shaft (2 cases) and nonunion of metacarpal shaft (1 case). There were excellent results in 84 cases, good in 4 cases and fair in 3 cases. CONCLUSION: The most common fractures after punching injury were metacarpal base fractures, especially the forth and fifth metacarpal bone. Distal metacarpal and metacarpal shaft fractures were mostly single fractures. There were diverse patterns of fracture-dislocation of the hand and wrist after punching. We must be careful to evaluate combined injury when a patient visits after punching injury.
Adult ; Carpometacarpal Joints ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Wrist*

PURPOSE: Retrospectively, to evaluate the result of treatment by curettage only, enchondroma of the digits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine cases in 30 patients (male 11, female 19), from July 1997 to Febuary 2002, were reviewed with a minimum follow up of 1 year. Thirty patients were treated for enchondroma of the digits (including Ollier's disease 9, and Maffucci syndrome 2) by curettage only, and the degree of healing was evaluated radiologically. The average duration of follow up was 28.6 months (12-65 months). RESULTS: The radiologic results were evaluated according to the degree of new bone formation by the criteria suggested by Tordai. Group I achieved 79.7% overall and 89.5% for solitary enchondroma, meaning complete healing with normal cortical thickness and a bone defect of less than 3 mm. The average duration of consolidation was 12.4 months, and 8.1months for solitary enchondorma. No recurrence or other complication occured. CONCLUSIONS: Curettage alone is a good treatment option for enchondroma of the digits as comparing with autogenous bone graft, which has the disadvantages of pain, infection, and immobilization.
Chondroma* ; Curettage* ; Enchondromatosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Osteogenesis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

A 28-year-old man presented with a palmar divergent dislocation of the scaphoid and lunate. He was treated with an open reduction and an internal fixation with two Kirschner's wires after the 25th day of trauma due to a neurological injury. The results were satisfactory after 18 months follow up without any evidence of avascular necrosis and traumatic arthritis of the scaphoid and lunate. The patient had no limitation in motion or intermittent wrist pain. We reported this case with a brief review of relevant literatures.
Adult ; Arthrography ; Bone Wires ; Dislocations/*etiology/radiography/*surgery ; *Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Human ; Male ; *Scaphoid Bone ; *Semilunar Bone ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Wrist Injuries/*complications

PURPOSE: To compare postoperative outcomes in tardy ulnar nerve palsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1997 and June 2000, 31 patients with the tardy ulnar nerve palsy, who have received operative treatment were divided into a traumatic group and an idiopathic group, and were analyzed with respect to preoperative factors, severity, nerve conduction velocity and postoperative result retrospectively. RESULTS: The traumatic group was composed of 17 cases and the idiopathic group of 14 cases. The average age was 35.7 years in the traumatic group, and 50.6 years in the idiopathic group, and this was statistically different (p=0.001). Other factors were not statistically different between the two groups. The improvement rate, which excluded mild degree patients, was 58.3% (7 in 12 cases) in the traumatic group and 90.9% (10 in 11cases) in the idiopathic group, and this was statistically different (p=0.048, ) and favorable in the idiopathic group. CONCLUSION: In cases of tardy ulnar nerve palsy of the elbow joint, the symptoms and the nerve conduction velocity were statistically no different between the two groups. The postoperative result in the traumatic elbow deformity patients was poorer than that in the idiopathic group.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Elbow ; Elbow Joint ; Humans ; Neural Conduction ; Retrospective Studies ; Ulnar Nerve* ; Ulnar Neuropathies*