OBJECTIVE: To discuss the elbow skin fold extension line in Kirschner wire internal fixation of extended supracondylar humeral fractures in children. METHODS: The clinical data of 58 children with extended supracondylar fractures of the humerus who met the selection criteria between August 2021 and July 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. In 28 cases, needle placement of medial epicondyle of humerus was performed with the assistance of the elbow skin fold extension line (study group), and 30 cases were assisted by routine touch of the medial epicondyle of the humerus (control group). There was no significant difference in baseline data such as gender, age, side, cause of injury, Gartland type, Kirschner wire configuration, and time from injury to operation between the two groups ( P>0.05). The closed reduction rate, total operation time, time of medial humeral condyle pin placement, fluoroscopy times during medial pin placement, rate of one-time determination of medial entry point, ulnar nerve injury incidence, and fracture healing time were recorded and compared between the two groups. At the same time, the closed reduction rate of patients with the time from injury to operation ≤24 hours and >24 hours was compared. The elbow function was evaluated by Mayo elbow function score. RESULTS: The closed reduction rate of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05). Among all patients, the closed reduction rate of patients with the time from injury to operation ≤24 hours [73.3% (22/30)] was significantly higher than that of patients >24 hours [42.9% (12/28)] ( χ ²=5.545, P=0.019). The total operation time, medial needle placement time, and fluoroscopy times in the study group were significantly less than those in the control group, and the one-time determination rate of medial needle entry point in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P<0.05). There were 4 cases of ulnar nerve injury in the control group, and no ulnar nerve injury in the study group, but there was no significant difference in the incidence of ulnar nerve injury between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 8 months). There was no bone nonunion in both groups, and the fracture healing time of the study group was significantly shorter than that of the control group ( P<0.05). Volkmann ischemic contracture, heterotopic ossification, myositis ossificans, and premature epiphyseal closure were not observed after operation. No complications such as loosening or fracture of Kirschner wire occurred. At last follow-up, the Mayo elbow joint function score was used to evaluate function, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION In the treatment of extended supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children, the elbow skin fold extension line can help to quickly locate the medial epicondyle of the humerus, quickly insert Kirschner wire, and reduce the operation time and trauma.
Humans ; Humeral Fractures/surgery* ; Bone Wires ; Male ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Elbow Joint/physiopathology* ; Child, Preschool ; Treatment Outcome ; Fracture Healing ; Ulnar Nerve/injuries* ; Adolescent ; Range of Motion, Articular

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release in the treatment of non-traumatic elbow stiffness. METHODS: The clinical data of 15 patients with non-traumatic elbow stiffness treated with arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release between April 2019 and September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 6 males and 9 females with an average age of 46 years ranging from 34 to 56 years. The causes included rheumatoid arthritis in 3 cases, gouty arthritis in 2 cases, loose bodies in 3 cases, and elbow osteoarthritis in 7 cases. There were 4 cases with ulnar neuritis and 3 cases with synovial osteochondromatosis. The duration of elbow stiffness ranged from 6 to 18 months, with an average of 10 months. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The effectiveness was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score, range of elbow motion (maximum flexion, maximum extension, and total flexion and extension), Mayo score, and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) elbow score. RESULTS: The operation time was 60-90 minutes, with an average of 65 minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 40-100 mL, with an average of 62 mL. All patients were followed up 13-18 months, with an average of 14 months. There was no complication such as vascular and nerve injury, poor wound healing, collateral ligament injury, elbow joint space narrowing, osteophyte proliferation, or loose body formation around the joint. At last follow-up, the elbow range of motion (maximum flexion, maximum extension, and total flexion and extension), VAS score, and Mayo score significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The HSS elbow score was 85-95, with an average of 92; 12 cases were excellent, 3 cases were good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. CONCLUSION Arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release is an effective way to treat non-traumatic elbow stiffness, which has the advantages of small trauma, short operation time, and good effectiveness. It can carry out early elbow rehabilitation training and significantly improve elbow function.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Arthroscopy/methods* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Elbow Joint/physiopathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Treatment Outcome ; Ulnar Nerve/surgery* ; Operative Time

PURPOSE: Simple decompression of the ulnar nerve has outcomes similar to anterior transposition for cubital tunnel syndrome; however, there is no consensus on the proper technique for patients with an unstable ulnar nerve. We hypothesized that 1) simple decompression or anterior ulnar nerve transposition, depending on nerve stability, would be effective for cubital tunnel syndrome and that 2) there would be determining factors of the clinical outcome at two years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with cubital tunnel syndrome underwent simple decompression (n=30) or anterior transposition (n=11) according to an assessment of intra-operative ulnar nerve stability. Clinical outcome was assessed using grip and pinch strength, two-point discrimination, the mean of the disabilities of arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) survey, and the modified Bishop Scale. RESULTS: Preoperatively, two patients were rated as mild, another 20 as moderate, and the remaining 19 as severe according to the Dellon Scale. At 2 years after operation, mean grip/pinch strength increased significantly from 19.4/3.2 kg to 31.1/4.1 kg, respectively. Two-point discrimination improved from 6.0 mm to 3.2 mm. The DASH score improved from 31.0 to 14.5. All but one patient scored good or excellent according to the modified Bishop Scale. Correlations were found between the DASH score at two years and age, pre-operative grip strength, and two-point discrimination. CONCLUSION: An ulnar nerve stability-based approach to surgery selection for cubital tunnel syndrome was effective based on 2-year follow-up data. Older age, worse preoperative grip strength, and worse two-point discrimination were associated with worse outcomes at 2 years.
Adult ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome/*diagnosis/physiopathology/*surgery ; Decompression, Surgical/*methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand/surgery ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures/*methods ; Prospective Studies ; Recovery of Function ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome ; Ulnar Nerve/physiopathology/*surgery ; Young Adult

Adult ; Aged ; Elbow ; innervation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Recovery of Function ; Ulnar Nerve ; physiopathology ; surgery

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of the proximal nerve stump, in end-to-side nerve repair, to functional recovery, by modifying the classic end-to-side neurorrhaphy and suturing the proximal nerve stump to a donor nerve in a rat model of a severed median nerve. METHODS: Three experimental groups were studied: a modified end-to-side neurorrhaphy with suturing of the proximal nerve stump (double end-to-side neurorrhaphy, Group I), a classic end-to-side neurorrhaphy (Group II) and a control group without neurorrhaphy (Group III). Twenty weeks after surgery, grasping testing, muscle contractility testing, and histological studies were performed. RESULTS: The grasping strength, muscle contraction force and nerve fiber count were significantly higher in group I than in group II, and there was no evidence of nerve recovery in group III. CONCLUSIONS: The contribution from the proximal nerve stump in double end-to-side nerve repair might improve axonal sprouting from the donor nerve and help achieve a better functional recovery in an end-to-side coaptation model.
Anastomosis, Surgical/methods ; Animals ; Axons/pathology ; Forelimb ; Hand Strength ; Male ; Median Nerve/pathology/*surgery ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology ; Nerve Regeneration ; Nerve Transfer/*methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; Ulnar Nerve/pathology/*surgery