Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Owing to the scaphoid's retrograde blood supply, fractures can compromise perfusion to the proximal pole, making it vulnerable to avascular necrosis (AVN) or irreversible bone death. Despite their differing prognoses, both conditions are evaluated using the same diagnostic methods. This review aims to determine the most reliable method of distinguishing between AVN and irreversible bone death, considering factors such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), intraoperative findings, and histology. METHODS:A comprehensive literature search was conducted until November 2024. The diagnostic methods and criteria for AVN were collected, and the outcome was measured dichotomously as either resolution of AVN or irreversible bone death. Each AVN diagnostic method was categorized and the healing outcomes of all patients diagnosed with AVN in the study were compared. RESULTS:This systematic review included 27 studies and 423 patients. With regard to AVN healing, 195 out of 223 patients diagnosed with AVN via MRI eventually healed. Of those diagnosed with AVN via CT, nine out of 21 went on to heal, as did 308 out of 356 patients with no intraoperative punctate bleeding. Histologic evaluation had the lowest incidence of AVN resolution, with only six out of 19 patients healing. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:All diagnostic methods identified AVN resolution and irreversible bone death. However, all patients were solely diagnosed with AVN. There is no standardized method for diagnosing irreversible bone death because the existing literature conflates irreversible bone death with AVN, despite their distinct pathologies and prognoses. Consequently, our understanding of AVN and the point at which irreversible bone death occurs in the scaphoid is limited.

BACKGROUND:Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the proximal pole is a well-known complication of scaphoid fractures. Avascular necrosis is poorly understood, including the transition from ischemia to necrosis, optimal treatment, and why some AVN heals but others do not. The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate patient-related factors that are associated with healing outcomes in individuals with proximal pole AVN following scaphoid fractures. METHODS:This is a retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with scaphoid proximal pole AVN secondary to a fracture from 2018 to 2024 in a single center. Patient baseline characteristics and comorbidities at time of diagnosis were collected. If the patient underwent surgical management, procedural factors were collected. The primary outcome was AVN healing after 4 months of follow-up. RESULTS:= .886, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:Hyperlipidemia, elevated BMI, and advanced age are patient factors negatively associated with scaphoid proximal pole AVN healing-key information for accurately assessing patient prognosis. For surgical management, the choice of a vascularized bone, nonvascularized bone graft, or no graft does not significantly impact AVN healing.

BACKGROUND:This study examined whether the timing of total hip or knee arthroplasty (TJA) relative to elective hand surgery (HS) is associated with perioperative TJA outcomes, as both are among the most common orthopaedic procedures in the United States. METHODS:A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients who underwent elective HS and TJA between 2011 and 2024. Patients were grouped by surgical order: HS first (HSF, n = 645) and TJA first (TJAF, n = 785). Differences between HSF and TJAF were assessed. Multivariable logistic regressions, Cox proportional hazards regressions, and linear regressions were used to adjust for patient demographics and comorbidities. The HSF patients were older (67.1 versus 64.3 years, P < 0.001), more prone to be discharged home (90.7 versus 83.8%, P < 0.001), and had a shorter length of stay (45.6 versus 60.4 hours, P < 0.001) compared to TJAF patients. RESULTS:Surgical order showed no association with 90-day emergency department visits and readmissions. Multivariable Cox regressions revealed that HSF was associated with a significantly higher hazard of aseptic revision (hazard risk (HR) = 2.65, P = 0.012). Functional TJA outcomes did not differ (P > 0.05) between groups. Although both groups improved in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurements Information System (PROMIS) Pain Intensity and Pain Interference scores after TJA, HSF patients showed significantly less improvement in Pain Intensity at all timepoints (P < 0.05). Surgical order was not associated with improvement in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement, Hip Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement, or PROMIS Pain Interference scores. CONCLUSIONS:The timing of these elective surgeries is associated with TJA outcomes. While HSF is linked to a higher adjusted risk of aseptic revision, it is also independently associated with less adjusted improvement in PROMIS Pain Intensity. These findings suggest that although surgical order impacts specific recovery metrics, a patient's comorbidities may be the primary driver of complications.

The scapholunate ligament (SLL) is a critical stabilizer of the wrist joint. Disruption of the SLL leads to altered wrist kinematics, including scaphoid flexion, lunate extension, and increased stress on surrounding cartilage and ligaments, which can progress to dorsal intercalated segment instability and scapholunate advanced collapse. Despite predictable biomechanical changes, clinical outcomes vary widely because some patients develop significant functional limitations, whereas others remain asymptomatic. Nonoperative management, including immobilization, therapy, and bracing, remains the first-line treatment for partial tears or stable injuries. Surgical intervention, such as SLL repair with capsulodesis or reconstruction, is indicated for cases with persistent pain, instability, or functional deficits. Capsulodesis is a commonly used adjunct to SLL repair. Multiple surgical techniques exist for SLL repair in the acute setting and for reconstruction in the chronic setting when SLL is deemed irreparable. Although several surgical techniques are available for chronic injuries, a gold standard has not yet been established.

BACKGROUND:While radiographic outcomes after distal radius fractures (DRFs) are emphasized in clinical guidelines, several studies demonstrated that radiographic measures do not correlate with patient-reported outcomes (PROs), especially in patients aged ≥65 years. This study aims to determine whether fracture severity and radiographic parameters following fracture healing are prognostic of PROs, hypothesizing no strong association exists between these factors. METHODS:This study retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Upper Extremity Function (PROMIS UE) scores in patients sustaining acute DRF between January 2016 and January 2023 with a 6-month minimum follow-up. Independent variables were patient demographics, comorbidities, Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) fracture classification, and radiographic parameters following treatment. Multivariate linear regression analyzed associations between nonradiographic and radiographic parameters and PROMIS UE score. We performed subanalyses of patients treated operatively and nonoperatively and patients above and below the cohort's median age. RESULTS:In total, 385 patients were included, of which 193 were treated conservatively and 192 operatively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated no association of PROMIS UE score with AO/OTA fracture classification, ulnar variance, volar tilt, or radial inclination at 6 months. A subanalysis of patients aged ≤62 years showed that every degree increase in radial inclination was associated with 0.3-point decrease in PROMIS UE. CONCLUSIONS:This study found no robust relationship between patient-reported function and radiographic outcomes following DRF. Initial fracture severity, similarly, did not predict mid-term patient-reported function. Our findings support prior evidence that achieving reduction within the established range of radiographic parameters is sufficient for patient function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:3, prognostic retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND:This study aimed to evaluate the risk of fracture with weight-bearing after medial femoral condyle (MFC) harvest with varying harvest size and location using finite element analysis (FEA). METHODS:FEA evaluated the potential impact of MFC harvest on donor femur strength. Donor flaps were modeled as cubes of corticocancellous defects within the descending genicular angiosome (DGA). Stress and safety factors were recorded during simulated single-leg stance as a function of harvest size and location within the DGA. An S-N curve was used to determine the number of cycles to failure due to stress. RESULTS:cycles). CONCLUSIONS:Our results suggest that small corticocancellous flaps centered no more than 0.5 cm proximal to the medial epicondyle are the most favorable for harvest, resulting in physiologically tolerable stress values on the donor femur during single-leg stance. Caution and potential weight-bearing restrictions should be considered when harvesting larger and more proximally based flaps. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Biomechanical study.

BACKGROUND:Severe proximal interphalangeal (PIP) contractures in Dupuytren disease significantly impair hand function and quality of life. Surgical correction is common, but the relationship between improved joint mobility and patient-reported outcomes remains unclear. This study evaluated surgical outcomes for severe PIP contractures and assessed patient-reported function using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). METHODS:< .05). RESULTS:The study included 60 digits from 48 patients. Significant contracture reductions were observed across all groups, averaging more than 60%. However, PROMIS scores did not consistently reflect improvements in pain, activity interference, or upper extremity function. A significant decrease in upper extremity function was noted in group 3 (60°-89°). No operative complications or reoperations occurred. CONCLUSIONS:Surgical correction markedly improves joint contracture but does not consistently enhance PROMIS-reported outcomes. These results question PROMIS applicability in this context and highlight the need for alternative assessment tools to better address functional recovery in patients with severe PIP contractures.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:. In this video article, we present the exploration of a complex BPI in which the creation of a gracilis free flap is executed for elbow flexion reconstruction. We provide a comprehensive guide from markings, flap elevation, microsurgical technique, and inset, with educational operative pearls at every step. DESCRIPTION/UNASSIGNED:The procedure involves harvesting the gracilis muscle as a free functioning muscle transfer. The gracilis, which will become a type-II muscle flap, is carefully dissected with its pedicle and nerve preserved. The muscle is then transferred to the upper extremity, where its proximal origin is anchored to the clavicle and its distal tendon is inserted into the biceps tendon with use of a Pulvertaft weave. Vascular anastomoses are performed utilizing branches of the thoracoacromial trunk and venous couplers under a microscope. The muscle is innervated with the spinal accessory nerve and tensioned to ensure optimal elbow flexion. ALTERNATIVES/UNASSIGNED:Surgical alternatives include nerve transfers (e.g., Oberlin transfer), tendon transfers, or other free muscle transfers (e.g., latissimus dorsi transfer). Nonsurgical alternatives include orthotic devices to compensate for elbow flexion loss, and physical therapy to maximize existing function. RATIONALE/UNASSIGNED:. Unlike orthotic devices, this technique provides active elbow flexion, critical for functional independence. The long tendon and reliable vascular pedicle make the gracilis ideal for this purpose. EXPECTED OUTCOMES/UNASSIGNED:. These findings suggest that free gracilis muscle transfer provides reliable functional improvements, enabling meaningful elbow flexion restoration and enhancing quality of life. IMPORTANT TIPS/UNASSIGNED:Utilize Doppler ultrasound to confirm the location of a skin perforator over the gracilis to aid in postoperative monitoring.Preoperative markings are key. Mark the orientation of the gracilis muscle belly and pedicle preoperatively for efficient harvesting.The gracilis inserts distal to the knee, so extending the knee can help distinguish it from the adductor longus.Preserve all fascia over the gracilis muscle to optimize muscle gliding.Ensure proper resting tension during gracilis insertion to prevent over- or under-tightening, optimize function, and avoid complications like hyperextension or limited flexion.Position the elbow at 90° of flexion and the forearm in supination when tensioning.Make accommodation for any vessel size mismatch between the gracilis pedicle and recipient vessels to minimize complications.Confirm intraoperative vessel patency with use of Doppler flow checks after completing the anastomoses.Confirm nerve viability intraoperatively with use of nerve stimulation, ensuring a strong muscle contraction response.Secure the nerve repair without tension and with the appropriate coaptation in order to maximize reinnervation success.Utilize drains to avoid fluid collections that can create pressure on the pedicle.Place the gracilis tendon insertion precisely with use of the Pulvertaft weave technique, ensuring secure fixation and proper alignment with the biceps tendon. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS/UNASSIGNED:BPI = brachial plexus injuryDASH = Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and HandDVT = deep vein thrombosisEMG = electromyographyFFMT = free functioning muscle transferFGMT = free gracilis muscle transferICN = intercostal nerve transferM3/M4 = muscle strength grade 3 or 4MCA = medial circumflex arteryMCN = musculocutaneous nerveNCS = nerve conduction studyPPX = prophylaxisSAN = spinal accessory nerveSF-36 = Short Form-36.

The perception of patient reliability may create surgical decision-making biases amongst hand surgeons. In this study, anonymous surveys were distributed to hand surgeons to understand how patient 'reliability' is defined and how it alters treatment decisions. Participants rated the importance of patient factors in assessing reliability, then completed fictional clinical vignettes detailing histories of patients undergoing elective surgery. Suspected substance usage and history of mental illness were rated as important factors in determining reliability, while gender and race were rated as not important. Physicians were significantly less likely to recommend surgery and exhibited less confidence in their recommendations when presented with a patient with a history of mental illness (p < 0.001) or suspected substance usage (p = 0.003). These findings suggest that while race and gender may not explicitly impact surgical decision-making, biases related to mental illness and substance use do affect treatment decisions and confidence levels. Recognizing these biases is critical for ensuring equitable care, and future efforts should explore strategies to mitigate their impact on surgical recommendations. Level of evidence: IV.