Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F D Burke.
In a prospective study, eight patients with 15 hands affected by both vibration white finger and carpal tunnel syndrome were treated by surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel. On review six months later, the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome were improved in all cases and the symptoms of white finger were improved in half of the cases. Nerve conduction studies and palmar skin histology are discussed.
Thirty-five patients who had thirty-seven mucous cysts excised from the distal interphalangeal joints were reviewed not less than one year later. Seven out of 25 which had been treated by simple excision recurred, whereas only one out of twelve treated by excision and skin closure with a rotation flap recurred.
Extensor indicis proprius has been used as a transfer to overcome passively correctable camptodactyly. The transferred tendon is accessible, expendable and synchronous. Early results are encouraging.
We report a prospective, randomised, controlled trial of 50 severely displaced comminuted Colles' fractures treated by either external fixation or manipulation and plaster. Each patient was assessed radiographically throughout treatment, and functionally by an independent observer at three and six months. The functional result correlated with the anatomical result, which was significantly better in patients treated by external fixation. This resulted in significantly improved function especially in young patients, and also a lower complication rate. We recommend the use of external fixation for young patients with comminuted displaced Colles' fractures unless manipulation and plaster show excellent reduction.
We have reviewed seven patients who had triceps transfer after an old brachial plexus injury. All patients had a useful functional improvement with a good range of powerful elbow flexion; five patients could manage to bring their hand to their mouth. The basis of patient selection and the relative advantages of triceps transfer are discussed.
Nineteen consecutive patients claiming compensation for vibration white finger were reviewed. The cold provocation test was found to be of no value in confirming a diagnosis of vibration white finger. Small cysts were apparent on the radiographs in 61% of patients' wrists but none had developed significant degenerative changes of the wrist or digits. In this group of claimants, 63% had carpal tunnel syndrome on nerve conduction studies.
Raynaud's phenomenon was a presenting feature of a cavernous haemangioma of the median nerve. The role of excision by interfascicular microdissection is discussed against the background of a 25 year follow-up.
A case of posterior interosseous nerve syndrome presented with difficulty in extending the metacarpophalangeal joint of the little finger. Compression was caused by a bicipital bursa. Surgical decompression led to a complete recovery.
Thirty-six patients were treated for 38 phalangeal fractures using 1.5 mm and 2 mm A. O. screws. Plates were not used in the fingers. Oblique fractures of the condyles, shafts or bases of the proximal or middle phalanges were treated by internal fixation because of instability, displacement or rotation. 40% of fractures had associated skin wounds, were comminuted or had damage to the extensor mechanism. The mean duration of post-operative immobilization was 9 days and the mean time off work was 6 weeks. Total active movement in the involved ray was 220 degrees or greater in 24 cases, 180 degrees to 215 degrees in eight cases, and less than 180 degrees in two patients at follow up. The patients were reviewed between three and 54 months after treatment and the mean duration of follow up was 24 months. The most frequent complication was 10 degrees to 30 degrees of flexion deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint after internal fixation of condylar fractures. Results were satisfactory in 90% of cases.
Twenty-two patients with 26 fractured metacarpals were treated by internal fixation using A. O. mini-fragment screws and plates. This form of internal fixation was reserved for metacarpal fractures which were multiple, unstable, displaced or rotated. Nine patients had open fractures, two had divided extensor tendons and four had multiple fractures. Fractures consistently united without infection or deformity. The mean duration of postoperative immobilization was seven days and mean time off work was six weeks. All but one patient did manual work. No patients had persistent symptoms which caused difficulty with work or sport. Fourteen patients regained full movement. Four had total active movement of 220 degrees or more in the involved ray and 6 patients had total active movement of between 180 and 220 degrees. Restricted movement was present in patients with open fractures and divided extensor tendons or intra-articular fractures of the metacarpal head. Uniformly satisfactory results were found after mini-screw and plate fixation of metacarpal fractures.
A questionnaire on the use of splintage before and after operations for Dupuytren's contracture has been completed by 45 hand surgeons and ten hand therapists. None considered that preoperative splintage was beneficial, but nearly all used some form of splintage after operation. The types of splint and programmes for using them varied widely, and these are discussed.
A 31-year-old man was found to have a diffuse infection of the wrist and osteomyelitis of the scaphoid caused by Mycobacterium kansasii. The 3-year delay in establishing the diagnosis is characteristic of hand infections caused by atypical mycobacteria. We treated the patient surgically and with antituberculous chemotherapy. This is the only case of M. kansasii osteomyelitis of the scaphoid recorded in the medical literature.
We have reviewed 22 patients with scaphoid fractures treated by internal fixation with the Herbert screw. Three patients had trans-scaphoid perilunar dislocations, one had an oblique displaced fracture of the waist of the scaphoid and 18 had fractures with delayed or non-union. Corticocancellous bone grafts were added in nine of the cases of non-union. Results were excellent or good in 80% of cases after a mean duration of postoperative immobilisation of four weeks. The technical difficulties are analysed and the problems of applying the jig and of operative exposure are discussed.
Four patients with displaced fractures of the capitellum (capitulum humeri) were treated by open reduction and internal fixation using Herbert screws. The mean follow-up was 16 months (range from 12 to 21 months). All fractures united without evidence of avascular necrosis. Postoperatively, the range of motion was excellent, except in one patient who had a comminuted open fracture and other injuries. Three cadaveric dissections demonstrated that the Herbert screw could be inserted without detaching the lateral collateral ligament. The Herbert screw is useful in treating displaced capitellar fractures since the jig maintains the reduction and the screw, compressing the fracture site, is buried beneath the articular cartilage and does not have to be removed.
Two forms of treatment of Kienböck's disease were compared in a total of thirty-seven wrists. Sixteen had been treated conservatively and were followed-up for an average of twenty years. Twenty-one had undergone silicone replacement arthroplasty an average of five years prior to review. Clinical results of conservative treatment showed four (25%) good, six (37.5%) fair and six (37.5%) with a poor result. Radiological deterioration was seen in only a quarter of cases. After silicone replacement there were nine (43%) good and seven (33%) fair. Five (24%) cases had a very poor result associated with dislocation of the prosthesis but design improvements have made this less frequent. Radiological abnormalities were noted in more than half of cases treated by silicone replacement arthroplasty. These included carpal collapse, scapho-lunate diastasis and generalised degenerative changes in the carpus. There were two cases with cyst formation in the capitate which closely resembled previous reports of silicone synovitis.
The elbow joint is frequently affected by rheumatoid arthritis causing pain and disability which limits the use of the upper limb. Excisional or interpositional arthroplasties of the elbow have failed to provide satisfactory results. The design of a total elbow prosthesis in early 1970's followed the principles and evolution of joint replacement in the lower limb. In this study twenty-two Liverpool elbow prostheses (non-constrained) in nineteen patients were reviewed with an average follow-up of 26.5 months. Postoperatively the arc of flexion-extension improved with no change in pronation-supination range. Pain was significantly improved postoperatively. Rheumatoid patients were very pleased, but patients with secondary osteoarthritis were less satisfied. Two prostheses became loose and three had deep infection and were removed. Five patients had postoperative symptoms of ulnar neuritis and in three the symptoms gradually resolved. Early results of total elbow arthroplasty are promising in carefully selected patients.
Three patients have been reported who developed metastatic tumour within the neural tissue of the brachial plexus three years, four years and fourteen years respectively after treatment of breast carcinoma by simple mastectomy and postoperative radiotherapy. A fourth patient who developed bilateral upper limb paralysis after radiotherapy for a lymphoma is also reported. At exploration of the brachial plexus extensive fibrosis was present in all cases with metastases only diagnosed through biopsy of neural tissue. The clinical features and the role of surgery are discussed in the light of our experience and a review of available literature.
A prospective radiological and functional assessment has been performed on 235 consecutively treated displaced Colles' fractures. The age and sex of the patients, as well as the initial displacement, involvement of articular surface and the adequacy of reduction of the fracture, were all analysed. Because of their greater potential for collapse, the better reduced fractures tended to lose more position during treatment. Despite this, in general, the better the reduction, the better was the final anatomical position of the fractures. The functional result at 3 months was related to the severity of initial displacement of the fracture and, to a lesser extent, to the anatomical result. Involvement of the radiocarpal and the distal radioulnar joints did not seem to affect adversely the patients' rehabilitation, but this was slower and less complete in the elderly. At 6 months, 60 per cent of patients had good or excellent function in the hand and wrist.