BACKGROUND: Hand injuries caused by chain saws, electric saws, and hand grinders range from simple lacerations to tendon injuries, fractures, and even amputations. This study aimed to understand the distribution of various types of hand and upper extremity injuries caused by power tools, in order to help prevent them, by investigating the incidence and cause of power tool injuries treated over a 4-year period at a single institution in Korea. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients who visited a single institution for power tool-induced injuries from 2011 to 2014. The distribution of sex, age, injured body part, type of injury, and mechanism of injury sustained by patients who received hand and upper extremity injuries from using an engine saw, electric saw, or hand grinder was evaluated. RESULTS: Among 594 subjects who were injured by power tools, 261 cases were hand and upper extremity injuries. The average age was 53.2 years. Tendon injury was the most common type of injury. An electric saw was the most common type of power tool used. More injuries occurred in non-occupational settings than in occupational settings. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, power tool-induced hand and upper extremity injuries were mostly caused by direct contact with electric saw blades. More injuries occurred due to non-occupational use of these tools, but the ratios of amputations and structural injuries were similar in the non-occupational and occupational groups.
Amputation ; Arm Injuries ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hand Injuries ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lacerations ; Medical Records ; Occupational Groups ; Tendon Injuries ; Upper Extremity

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility of transanal total mesorectal excision in difficult cases including obese patients or patients with bulky tumors or threatened mesorectal fascias. METHODS: We performed laparoscopy-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision in patients with biopsy-proven rectal adenocarcinoma located 3–12 cm from the anal verge as part of a prospective, single arm, pilot trial. The primary endpoint was resection quality and circumferential resection margin involvement. Secondary endpoints included the number of harvested lymph nodes and 30-day postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients (9 men and 3 women) were enrolled: one obese patient, 7 with large tumors and 8 with threatened mesorectal fascias (4 patients had multiple indications). Tumors were located a median of 5.5 cm from the anal verge, and all patients received preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Median operating time was 191 minutes, and there were no intraoperative complications. One patient needed conversion to open surgery for ureterocystostomy after en bloc resection. Complete or near-complete excision and negative circumferential resection margins were achieved in all cases. The median number of harvested lymph nodes was 15.5. There was no postoperative mortality and 3 cases of postoperative morbidity (1 postoperative ileus, 1 wound problem near the stoma site, and 1 anastomotic dehiscence). CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed that transanal total mesorectal excision is also feasible in difficult laparoscopic cases such as in obese patients or those with bulky tumors or tumors threatening the mesorectal fascia. Additional larger studies are needed.
Adenocarcinoma ; Arm ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Conversion to Open Surgery ; Fascia ; Humans ; Ileus ; Intraoperative Complications ; Laparoscopy ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mortality ; Pilot Projects ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Transanal Endoscopic Surgery ; Wounds and Injuries

Brown-Séquard syndrome (BSS) is an incomplete spinal cord injury caused by damage to one-half of the spinal cord. Most cases of BSS result from penetrating trauma or tumors, and acute cervical disc herniation is a relatively rare cause of BSS. In this case, a 34-year-old man with a sudden onset posterior neck pain and left side motor weakness was admitted to the local spine hospital. Pain and temperature sensation of pain was decreased below the right C4 dermatome. The left arm and leg motor grade was 0. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a huge trans-ligamentous herniated disc rupture from the center to the left at the level of C3–4, and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion were performed. After emergency surgery, left arm and leg motor grade recovered to 2, and normal voiding function returned. MRI verified complete removal of the cervical herniated disc. This case describes the approach to rapid diagnosis in a patient with characteristic clinical symptoms of BSS and radiological findings of a herniated cervical disc. Rapid and accurate diagnosis and immediate decompressive surgery increased the possibility of a good surgical outcome, even if the neurologic deficits are grave at the time of admission.
Adult ; Arm ; Brown-Sequard Syndrome ; Diagnosis ; Diskectomy ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neck Pain ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Rupture ; Sensation ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spine

PURPOSE: In the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture, the aim of optical treatment is to lower the recurrence rate and reduce complications. This paper reports the results of subtotal fasciectomy in Dupuytren's contracture, extending the excision of palmar fascial structures from the diseased to normal appearing adjacent fascial structure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2007 to 2017, 45 patients with Dupuytren's contracture treated by subtotal fasciectomy were reviewed retrospectively. The mean follow-up period was 45.9 months. Ninety-two digits were involved (index: 2, middle: 10, ring: 44, little: 36). The predisposing factors and affected joint were reviewed and the preoperative and postoperative contracture was measured. For clinical results, quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (quick DASH) were used. Complications, including wound or skin problems, nerve injuries, hematoma, and complex regional pain syndrome, were assessed. RESULTS: Preoperative flexion contracture was 43.2° in the proximal interphalangeal joint and 32.9° in the metacarpophalangeal joint. In nine cases, patients had residual contracture of 9.7° (range, 5°–20°) on average and if the total number of cases were included, the mean residual contracture was 2.3° on average. The quick DASH score at the 12 months follow-up was 12.4. The overall complication rate was 26.6%. CONCLUSION: Subtotal fasciectomy can be a good surgical treatment option for Dupuytren's contracture with a low recurrence and low complication rate compared to other open procedures.
Arm ; Causality ; Contracture ; Dupuytren Contracture ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Joints ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Skin ; Wounds and Injuries

Local flaps exhibit excellent color matching that no other type of flap can compete with. Moreover, surgery using a local flap is easier and faster than surgery using a distant or free flap. However, local flaps can be much more difficult to design. We designed 2 templates to plan a V-Y rotation advancement flap. The template for a unilateral V-Y rotation advancement flap was used on the face (n=5), anterior tibia (n=1), posterior axilla (n=1), ischium (n=1), and trochanter (n=2). The template for a bilateral flap was used on the sacrum (n=8), arm (n=1), and anterior tibia (n=1). The causes of the defects were meningocele (n=3), a decubitus ulcer (n=5), pilonidal sinus (n=3), and skin tumor excision (n=10). The meningocele patients were younger than 8 days. The mean age of the adult patients was 50.4 years (range, 19–80 years). All the donor areas of the flaps were closed primarily. None of the patients experienced wound dehiscence or partial/total flap necrosis. The templates guided surgeons regarding the length and the placement of the incision for a V-Y rotation advancement flap according to the size of the wound. In addition, they could be used for the training of residents.
Adult ; Arm ; Axilla ; Femur ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Ischium ; Meningocele ; Necrosis ; Pilonidal Sinus ; Pressure Ulcer ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Sacrum ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Surgeons ; Surgical Flaps ; Tibia ; Tissue Donors ; Wounds and Injuries

Although uncommon, shark attacks can lead to devastating outcomes for victims. Surgeons also face unique challenges during operative management such as exsanguination, shock, specific injury patterns and infections. This case report presents the management of a 39-year-old previously healthy female attacked by a shark while on vacation in Mexico. The patient sustained severe injuries to her left arm and her left thigh. She was transferred to a Canadian institution after ambiguous operative management in Mexico and presented with no clear antibiotic coverage and a Volkman's contracture of the left upper extremity. In total, the patient underwent four washouts of wounds, two split-thickness skin grafts, one free anterolateral thigh flap, and one free transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap for the reconstruction and salvage of the left lower extremity. This article highlights the specifics of this case and describes important points in managing these devastating injuries.
Adult ; Arm ; Contracture ; Exsanguination ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Mexico ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Sharks ; Shock ; Skin ; Surgeons ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Thigh ; Transplants ; Upper Extremity ; Wounds and Injuries ; Wounds, Penetrating

A 25-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with a painful and swollen right forearm. She had just sustained an injury from an accident during which her arm was tightly wound by a rope as she was lowering a net from a fishing boat. Before being released, her arm was rigidly trapped in the rope for approximately ten minutes. Radiographs revealed anterior dislocation of the radial head that was accompanied by plastic deformation of the proximal ulna, manifested as a reversal of the proximal dorsal angulation of the ulna (PUDA); suggested a Monteggia equivalent fracture. With the patient under general anesthesia, we reduced the radial head by posterior compression at 90° of elbow flexion and at neutral rotation of the forearm. However, the reduction was easily lost and the elbow re-dislocated with even slight supination or extension of the arm. After the osteotomy of the ulnar deformity to restore the PUDA to normal, the reduction remained stable even with manipulation of the arm. We found that the patient could exercise a full range of motion without pain at the 3-month follow-up, and neither residual instability nor degenerative changes were observed at the final 3-year follow-up.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Arm ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dislocations ; Elbow ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Head ; Humans ; Monteggia's Fracture ; Osteotomy ; Plastics ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Ships ; Supination ; Ulna ; Wounds and Injuries

The elbow and shoulder in young baseball players are prone to injuries. The internal factors of sports injuries are the fragility of the bones and joints of growing children and adolescents. The main external factors of injuries are the competition and eagerness of adolescent players and the motivation of hard-work. Baseball injuries have many causes, including fast rotation and movement of a load from the trunk to arm, repetitive incorrect placement of the arm in the throwing position, too-many throwing practices, etc. Orthopedic surgeons have generally focused on surgical procedure to cure, but it is time to consider and share the methods of injury prevention.
Adolescent* ; Arm ; Athletic Injuries ; Baseball* ; Child ; Elbow ; Humans ; Joints ; Motivation ; Orthopedics ; Shoulder ; Surgeons ; Upper Extremity*

Virtual reality (VR) therapy has many benefits to promote neurological and functional recovery in the field of neurorehabilitation after brain injury. VR-assisted neurorehabilitation can be applied in motor, sensori-motor, cognitive, activities of daily living (ADL), and telerehabilitation. Recent reports found that VR therapy appears to be a safe intervention that is effective at improving arm function and ADL function following stroke. Greater improvements were seen at a higher VR therapeutic dose. There has been insufficient evidence that VR therapy improved lower extremity gait speed, balance, and cognitive function after brain injury. As a result, the number of commercially available devices have increased and large-scale controlled trials have reported positive effects recently. Interface devices, various feedback methods, and the advancement of augmented reality technology are quickly developing, therefore, the potential value of VR therapy in neurorehabilitation will be high and its clinical application will be diversified.
Activities of Daily Living ; Arm ; Brain Injuries ; Cognition ; Gait ; Lower Extremity ; Neurological Rehabilitation* ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke ; Telerehabilitation

BACKGROUND: Volar plate avulsion fracture of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint is one of the most common hand injuries. In this study, we divided patients into two groups: patients with pure volar plate avulsion fracture, and patients with volar plate avulsion fracture concomitant with collateral ligament rupture. The purpose of this study was to compare long-term surgical outcomes between the two groups. As a secondary measure, the Mitek bone anchoring and polydioxanone (PDS) bone suturing techniques were compared. METHODS: A single-institutional retrospective review of the surgical treatment of volar plate avulsion fracture was performed. The cases were divided into those with pure volar plate avulsion fracture (group A, n=15) and those with volar plate avulsion fracture concomitant with collateral ligament rupture (group B, n=15). Both groups underwent volar plate reattachment using Mitek bone anchoring or PDS bone suturing followed by 2 weeks of immobilization in a dorsal protective splint. RESULTS: The average range of motion of the PIP joint and extension lag were significantly more favorable in group A (P < 0.05). Differences in age; follow-up period; flexion function; visual analog scale scores; disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand scores; and the grip strength ratio between the two groups were non-significant. No significant differences were found in the surgical outcomes of Mitek bone anchoring and PDS bone suturing in group A. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the surgical outcomes of volar plate reattachment were successful irrespective of whether the collateral ligaments were torn. However, greater extension lag was observed in cases of collateral ligament injury.
Arm ; Collateral Ligaments* ; Finger Joint ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Hand Injuries ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Joints* ; Polydioxanone ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture* ; Shoulder ; Splints ; Suture Anchors ; Visual Analog Scale