To Örebro University

BACKGROUND: Arthrodesis of finger joints is often the last line of treatment of severe pain due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or mallet finger. At the Department of Orthopedic and Hand Surgery, Örebro University Hospital (ÖUH) in Sweden, the Kirschner-wire technique was standard until 2020, when the headless compression screw technique was introduced as a complement. There is no consensus on which method is superior. The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes and complications associated with distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint and thumb interphalangeal (IP) joint arthrodesis, and to see whether these correlated with patient-dependent and treatment-related factors.

METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, we evaluated a total of 149 consecutive arthrodeses (118 DIP joint and 31 thumb IP joint) performed between 2012 and 2022. The primary outcome was risk factors for complications after arthrodesis.

RESULTS: Osteoarthritis was the most common indication (56%) for arthrodesis. The majority of the patients were females (74%), and the median age was 62 (range 18-86). The complication frequency was 35%, with infection being the most common (25%). Time to completed follow up was < 12 weeks in the majority of the cases (58%). There were no significant differences in complication rate between the 136 joints operated using Kirschner wire and the 13 joints operated using headless compression screws. There was no significant increased risk of complications among smokers or patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Diabetes and surgeon experience had a significant influence on the risk of complication (p = 0.036 and p = 0.006, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Osteoarthritis was the most common indication for arthrodesis and postoperative complications occurred at a rate similar to that reported in the existing literature. Diabetes and surgeon experience were identified as factors increasing the risk of postoperative complications in these DIP/thumb IP joint arthrodeses. However, there was no significant difference between the two techniques (Kirschner wire and headless compression screws) regarding complications. Further studies are needed in order to determine the optimal type of operation and choice of implant.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Researchweb CRIS #280,998, 26th of July 2023.

BACKGROUND: Adequate postoperative pain treatment is important for quality of life, patient satisfaction, rehabilitation, function, and total opioid consumption, and might lower both the risk of chronic postoperative pain and the costs for society. Prolonged opioid consumption is a well-known risk factor for addiction. Previous studies in upper extremity surgery have shown that total opioid consumption is a third of the amount prescribed, which can be explained by package size. The aim of this study was to examine whether implementation of prepacked takehome analgesia bags reduced the quantity of prescribed and dispensed opioids.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We introduced prepacked take-home analgesia bags for postoperative pain treatment in outpatient surgery. The bags came in two sizes, each containing paracetamol, etoricoxib, and oxycodone. The first 147 patients who received the prepacked analgesia bags were included in the study, and received a questionnaire one month after surgery covering self-assessed pain (visual analog scale of 0-10) and satisfaction (0-5), as well as opioid consumption. Prescription data after introducing the analgesia bags were compared with data before the bags were introduced.

RESULTS: Of the 147 patients included in the study, 58 responded. Compared to standard prescription (small bag group: 14 oxycodone immediate release capsules (5 mg), large bag group: additional 28 oxycodone extended release tablets (5 mg), based on the smallest available package), the patients in the small analgesia bag group received 50% less oxycodone and 67% less for the large bag group. Patients with small bags consumed a median of 0.0 mg oxycodone and those with large bags consumed a median of 25.0 mg oxycodone. The median satisfaction was 5.0 (range: 2-5) and the median pain score was acceptable at the first postoperative day. Prescription data showed a significant reduction of 60.0% in the total amount of prescribed opioids after the introduction of prepacked analgesia bags.

CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of prepacked analgesia bags dramatically reduced the quantity of opioids prescribed after outpatient hand surgery. Patient satisfaction was high and the postoperative pain level was acceptable.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term clinical, subjective, and radiographic results of pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty for proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) arthritis at a single institution.

METHODS: Patients treated with a pyrolytic carbon hemiarthroplasty between 2005 and 2015 were contacted for a clinical follow-up visit. Patients were assessed before surgery, one year after surgery, and again after a mean of 11 years (range: 6-16 years). Objective outcomes were assessed with grip strength, pinch strength, and range of motion (ROM). Subjective outcomes were assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (performance and satisfaction), and Visual Analog Scale pain scores at rest and during activity. Radiographic assessments were completed according to Sweets and Stern as modified by Wagner et al.

RESULTS: A total of 68 fingers in 52 patients underwent PIPJ hemiarthroplasty. Thirty-six arthroplasties in 29 patients were available for the long-term follow-up, five patients had died, and the remaining cases were contacted by phone. Three cases were lost to follow-up. Preoperative diagnoses included 41 fingers with osteoarthritis or posttraumatic arthritis, and 27 fingers with inflammatory arthritis. Eight cases had undergone revision at the time of follow-up, and the 10-year implant survival was 72%. The revisions were performed after a mean of two years after surgery. Three patients had undergone soft-tissue procedures. Visual Analog Scale pain scores, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure scores improved significantly compared with that before surgery. Grip strength and pinch grip remained unchanged. However, PIPJ ROM deteriorated significantly one year after surgery, when compared with that before surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: Pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty of the PIPJ has an acceptable long-term implant survival, and the significant improvement in pain scores and patient-reported outcomes is maintained over time. Pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty could be a viable option in the management of PIPJ arthritis. Patients should be advised that PIPJ ROM deteriorates over time.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

This study aimed to investigate the association of socioeconomic factors, country of birth and comorbidities with poor patient-reported outcome 1 year after a distal radial fracture. The patient population was obtained from the Swedish Fracture Register. In the study, 17,468 patients 18 years or older were included. Poor outcome was the dependent variable in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. The factors with the strongest association with poor outcome were country of birth outside the European Union (odds ratio (OR) = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.91-2.73), high-energy trauma mechanism (OR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.46-2.12), a history of anxiety or depression (OR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.26-1.70), and a Charlson comorbidity index ≥3 (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.17-1.94). Alleviating the effects of these factors could potentially decrease the proportion of patients with a disability after a distal radial fracture.Level of evidence: III.

Background: Volar locking plate fixation (VLPF) is the most common method for operative fixation of distal radius fractures (DRF). The dorsal ulnar corner (DUC) can be difficult to stabilize as the fragment is small and not exposed when using the volar approach. The purpose of this study was to study fracture fragment migration after VLPF of AO type C DRF, using a volume registration technique of paired CT scans with special focus on the DUC fragment.

Materials and Methods: This pilot study included ten patients with AO type C DRF, all operated with VLPF. The primary outcome was radiographic outcome. Postoperative and 1-year scans were compared and analyzed. Fragment migration was assessed with CT-based micromotion analysis (CTMA), a software technique used for volume registration of paired CT scans.

Results: All plates were stable over time. Two patients showed signs of screw movement (0.2-0.35 mm and 0.35- > 1 mm respectively). Postoperative reduction was maintained, and there was no fragment migration at the 1-year follow-up except for one case with increased dorsal tilt. The DUC fragment was found in 8/10 cases, fixated in 7/8 cases, and not dislocated in any case at the 1-year follow-up.

Conclusion: The CTMA results indicate that variable-angle VLPF after AO type C DRF can yield and maintain a highly stable reduction of the fracture fragments. The DUC fragment remained stable regardless of the number of screws through the fragment. CT volume registration can be a valuable tool in the detailed assessment of fracture fragment migration following volar plate fixation of DRFs.

BACKGROUND: Distal radius fracture (DRF) is the most common type of fracture in children. There is no clear consensus on primary treatment for complete DRFs. Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation has been recommended, to avoid the risk of redislocation. However, recent studies have indicated that casting can be sufficient, at least for children with two or more years left to grow. There is no recent study regarding pediatric DRFs and the extent of K-wire fixations in the Swedish population. The purpose of this study was to investigate epidemiology and treatment of pediatric DRFs registered in the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR).

METHODS: In this retrospective study, based on data from SFR for children aged 5-12 years with DRF between January 2015 and October 2022, we investigated epidemiology and choice of treatment. Sex, age, type of DRF, treatment, cause and mechanism of injury, were analyzed.

RESULTS: In total, 25,777 patients were included, 7,173 (27%) with complete fractures. Number and peak age of girls vs. boys with fractures were 11,742 (46%), 10 years, and 14,035 (54%), 12 years, respectively. Odds ratio (OR) for a K-wire fixation in girls vs. boys was 0.81 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-0.89, p < .001). With age 5 -7 years as reference, OR for age group 8-10 years was 0.88 (95% CI 0.80-0.98 p = .019) and OR for age group 11-12 years was 0.81 (95% CI 0.73-0.91 p =  < .001.

CONCLUSION: Casting only was the preferred treatment for all fractures (76%). Boys acquired DRFs more often than girls, with a peak age of 12 years. Younger children and boys with a complete fracture were more likely than older children and girls to receive a K-wire. Further research regarding indications for K-wiring of DRFs in the pediatric population is needed.

INTRODUCTION: Several factors can influence the outcome after a distal radius fracture (DRF). The aim of this study was to assess whether postoperative pulp-to-palm (PTP) distance correlated with functional outcomes after plate fixation of DRF. MATERIALS &

METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of plate fixation in patients with type-C fractures. Subjects (N = 135) were divided into 2 groups based on PTP distance (equal to or higher than 0 cm) at 4 weeks postoperatively. Outcome measures were collected prospectively at 3, 6 and 12 months and included Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), Quick Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) scores, wrist range of motion (ROM), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, and hand grip strength.

RESULTS: Overall, at 3 and 6 months patients with PTP > 0 cm had significantly worse outcomes (PRWE, QuickDASH, wrist ROM) than those with PTP =0 cm. At 12 months, QuickDASH and wrist ROM were still significantly worse. In the volar-plating subgroup, patients with PTP > 0 cm had significantly worse wrist ROM and grip strength at 3 months, but no significant differences were found in subsequent follow-ups. In the combined-plating group, patients with PTP > 0 cm had significantly worse QuickDASH, wrist ROM and grip strength at 3 months. At 6 and 12 months, wrist ROM was still significantly worse.

CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of PTP distance appears to be useful to identify patients likely to have worse outcome after plating of a DRF. This could be a tool to improve the allocation of hand rehabilitation resources.

The function of the hand is of substantial importance, and injuries have an impact on daily life. Distal radius fracture (DRF) is the most common fracture among adults. The annual incidence is 26 per 10,000 inhabitants, and the incidence is increasing because of an aging population. There has been a shift from conservative and other operative treatments, toward volar plate fixation to restore the anatomy and improve results. Operative treatment is often considered for displaced and unstable fractures. The optimal choice of treatment and fixation is still debated. The aim of this thesis was to study results after internal fixation of DRF AO type C.

Study I (retrospective study, n=74) assessed outcomes after combined plating (CP) of DRFs AO type C, with 1-year follow-up. CP restored the anatomy and achieved a good functional outcome. The radiographic outcome did not correspond to the clinical or functional outcome.

Study II (prospective study, n=97) assessed the prevalence of post-traumatic arthritis (PA) following CP of DRFs AO type C. CP yielded a good clinical outcome 7 years postoperatively and the prevalence of PA was low (29%). The presence of PA did not correlate with fracture group, radio-graphic, clinical, or functional outcome. 

Study III (randomized controlled trial, n=147) assessed the radiographic and clinical outcome following surgical treatment of DRFs AO type C, comparing volar plating (VP) with CP. Fixation with VP yieldedthe same radiographic and functional results as CP, but with a lower frequency of complications in the VP group.

Study IV (prospective pilot study, n=10) assessed fragment migration with CTMA (CT-based micromotion analysis) after osteosynthesis with VP after DRF AO type C. The CTMA technique indicated that variable angle volar locking plate fixation can yield and maintain a stable reduction of the fracture fragments. CT volume registration could be a valuable tool in the detailed assessment of fracture fragment migration following VP fixation of DRFs.