Search

Background and objective. Scar contractures in the hand are a sequela of burns that can lead to functional impairment. The perforator flap from the digital artery, taken from the lateral aspect of the fingers, represents an excellent therapeutic option for managing these injuries. We present our experience with this surgical technique and our morphological and functional results. Methods. We present our experience with 14 flaps in 7 patients affected by web contractures in the hand. These flaps, based on perforators from the digital artery, use the adjacent lateral aspect of the proximal phalanx as the donor site. The donor area was covered with full-thickness skin grafts. Patients underwent early rehabilitation, pressure therapy, and nighttime splinting. Results. The survival of the flaps was successful in all 14 cases. One case experienced graft necrosis in the donor site of the flap, which resolved with conservative treatment. Commissural contractures were resolved in 85.7% of the cases (13 out of 14 cases). The mean follow-up period was 27.3 months (range 12-45 months). In 1 case, partial recurrence occurred at 10 months and it was successfully managed with Z-plasty. Patients reported subjective improvement in hand functionality and aesthetics. The interdigital space angle, measured in degrees, improved from a mean of 22.5 degrees preoperatively (range 15°-35°) to a mean of 36.8 degrees postoperatively (range 25°-45°). Conclusions. In our experience, the perforator flap from the digital artery represents a rapid, straightforward, and effective therapeutic option for treating contractures after burns in the second to fourth interdigital spaces. Adequate postoperative care, rehabilitation, pressure therapy and splinting are essential for optimal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective. Osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint remains one of the main reasons for visiting a Hand Centre. Whenever the conservative treatment fails, the surgical approach will be offered. This treatment should be indicated individually for each patient, depending on various factors as the age, the degeneration degree, the functional demand and so on. In this paper the author analyse the outcomes of different techniques, based on his own surgical experience. Methods. Between April 2011 and February 2015, 97 cases of thumb arthritis have been treated surgically. The average age of the patients was 54.01 years, with predominance of females (85.5 %). The most frequently used technique was the ligament reconstruction tendon interposition technique, as Weilby's recomends with 79 cases. In 9 cases an arthroscopic arthroplasty was performed (ATK); in 4 patients a CMC fusion; and in 5 a ligamentoplasty. Results. Out of the 97 patients, 49 have been controlled with an average follow up of 18.3 months. Patients referred an improvement in pinch strength of 24.28% in theWeilby's technique group; 18.74% in the ATK group; 45.75 % in the CMC fusion group; and 31.42 % in the ligamentoplasty group. Focus on the pain, assessed by the visual analog scale, the improvement was 5.50, 5.1, 6.34 and 6.33 points respectively, compared to the preoperative situation. Conclusions. These outcomes confirm the usefulness of the suspension - interposition arthroplasty as an ideal technique for the common patient of rizarthrosis. In some cases, some factors such as age, functional demand or the degree of joint degeneration, lead us to look for other techniques in order to satisfy needs patient's request. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]