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Nerve injury is the most feared complication of upper limb surgery. In about 17% of cases, the injury is iatrogenic and the potential for recovery is poor. In this context, patients file for compensation in about a quarter of cases. Defective patient installation or locoregional anaesthesia are rarely the cause of nerve injury. Nerves may be injured during creation of the surgical approach, implantation of the material or reduction of a traumatic injury. The injury is usually related to nerve release, retractor positioning or inappropriate limb-segment lengthening. Stretching and/or compression of a nerve trunk or branch is thus often the main cause. Among diagnostic tools, imaging studies (ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging) provide information on nerve structure but not on the potential for recovery. Electromyography combined with a neurological examination establishes the diagnosis, guides the management strategy, allows nerve-function monitoring, and indicates when nerve repair or palliative surgery is indicated. Electromyography also has prognostic value, both at diagnosis and during follow-up, by showing whether nerve regeneration is taking place. When creating the surgical approaches, thorough familiarity with anatomic safe zones and nerve trajectories is crucial to ensure full control of the zones at highest risk for nerve injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Purpose: To compare outcomes, between stemmed and stemless reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) at a minimum follow-up of 5 years., Methods: The authors retrospectively assessed a consecutive series of 45 patients that underwent RSA between September 2014 and October 2018 (23 stemless and 22 stemmed). All patients underwent plain anteroposterior and scapular Y-view radiographs for assessment immediately post-operatively and at final follow-up. At a minimum follow-up of 5 years, an independent observer assessed the clinical scores, including Constant score, QuickDASH score, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score., Results: Of the 45 patients that underwent RSA, 5 patients died (11%), 2 were revised due to infection (4%), and 4 patients were lost to follow-up (9%). This left a final cohort of 34 patients (18 stemless and 16 stemmed). Significant differences between groups were found immediately post-operatively for lateralisation shoulder angle (LSA) (p = 0.021), but at 5 years post-operative for distalisation shoulder angle (DSA) (p = 0.017) and QuickDASH scores (p = 0.041) (Table 4), while the outcomes were comparable for absolute Constant scores, ASES score, and range of motion. Finally, stemless RSA had a 17% complication rate, while stemmed RSA had a 31% complication rate., Conclusion: Stemless RSA had significantly more lateralisation, and significantly less distalisation, compared to stemmed RSA. Furthermore, at a 5-year follow-up, stemless RSA granted significantly greater QuickDASH scores. Finally, stemless RSA had comparable complication rates as stemmed RSA. The clinical relevance of this study is that stemless RSA is a safe alternative to stemmed RSA, while granting comparable or greater scores. Level of Evidence: III, Comparative Study., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Background: Perceived safety has received attention in the digital transformation of healthcare. However, the impact of perceived safety on the future of digital transformation has not been fully elucidated., Aim: To investigate perceived safety in the context of the digital transformation of healthcare while considering relevant needs, influencing factors and impacts, including crisis events, to provide recommendations for action based on a participatory, multiperspective, strategic 5-year foresight viewpoint., Methods: A strategic foresight study is conducted via a participatory mixed-methods design to understand the present related factors that are likely to be relevant to future developments in the digital transformation of healthcare., Results: We observed that feeling safe plays a complex role in the digital transformation of healthcare. How perceived safety is considered has and will continue to impact the individual, organisational and system levels. Regarding a potential crisis event, controversial consequences have been observed. At its core, digital (health) literacy related to equity of access and human support is one of the crucial aspects in the context of perceived safety related to the successful implementation of digital technologies in healthcare., Conclusions: The scenarios showed that a continuation of the current situation over the next 5 years may result in partly desirable and partly undesirable outcomes. Concrete key factors should be used in practice to support both education and healthcare quality development and research. The essence of the scenarios should serve as a starting point for research agenda setting and political decision-making in the future. However, additional research is needed to quantify the correlations among the relevant factors., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: Emotional and psychological safety is important during the use of digital technologies in healthcare. We aimed to gain comprehensive insight into needs, influencing factors and outcomes in the context of perceived safety and digital technologies in healthcare., Methods: We employed a participatory, design ethnographic research approach with 16 participants in 10 use cases. The methods included in an iterative process were, think-aloud, guideline-based interviews, process mapping, storyboard creation, and photo documentation. A qualitative, primarily inductive data analysis and synthesis was performed., Results: Perceived safety is influenced by various factors and unmet needs. Increased perceived safety can positively support the use of digital technologies, whereas low perceived safety can limit or even hinder its use., Conclusion: The needs of the different target groups should be considered throughout the entire process of digital technology development and healthcare provision to support their implementation. These findings support further research by providing specific aspects of emotional and psychological safety regarding target groups, settings, and ages and those with different levels of affinity for digital technologies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Vöcking, Karrenbrock, Beckmann, Vondeberg, Obert, Hemming, Minartz, Bleck, Cürlis and Kuske.)

Background: Surgery and non-operative treatment produce similar 1-year functional outcomes in patients older than 65 years. Data are lacking for patients older than 75 years. The main objective of this study was to compare surgical vs. non-operative treatment regarding short-term outcomes in patients older than 75 years. In addition to an overall analysis, sub-group analyses were done in patients with displacement and severe displacement (>20 ° posterior tilt)., Hypothesis: Surgery provides better clinical and radiological outcomes than does non-operative treatment., Patients and Methods: Patients older than 75 years at the time of a distal radius fracture were included prospectively over a 2-year period. A follow-up duration of at least 6 months was required. Treatment choices were based on displacement, Charlson's Co-morbidity Index, and patient autonomy. Surgery consisted in open fixation using an anterior locking plate and non-operative treatment in a short arm cast without reduction. The main assessment was based on clinical criteria: range of motion, strength, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, the short version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand tool (QuickDASH), the Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The secondary assessment criteria were the radiological outcomes and the complications., Results: 74 patients were included, among whom 24 were treated surgically and 50 non-operatively. At 1.5 months, surgery was associated with significantly better results for flexion, ulnar inclination, and supination, with range increases of at least 7 ° vs. non-operative treatment, and with greater dorsal angle and ulnar variance values (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). At 6 months, pronation and the radio-ulnar index were better with surgery (p < 0.05 for both comparisons). In the patients with displacement or severe displacement, surgery was associated with 10° gains vs. conservative treatment for flexion, ulnar inclination, and supination at 1.5 months (p < 0.05 for all comparisons)., Discussion: In patients older than 75 years, surgery for distal radius fracture was associated with significantly better clinical and radiological outcomes within 6 months. Surgery is recommended for displaced and severely displaced distal radius fractures to expedite the recovery of joint motion ranges. Beyond 6 months, the outcomes are similar., Level of Evidence: III., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

The humeral bone is subject to torsional forces. In case of displaced shaft fractures, internal fixation remains the standard of care. This retrospective two-center study assessed the fracture union rate and complications after dual 3.5 mm locking compression plate (LCP) fixation using an anterolateral approach. Over a 9-year period, 38 patients underwent surgery in two centers. They had a mean age of 53.7 years (15-97, ± standard deviation (SD) 26) and there were three open fracture cases (7.9 %). The dominant side was affected in 21 cases (55.3 %) and there were 11 polytrauma patients (29 %). Mean operative time was 78 min (40-124, ± 19.8 SD). Patients were treated with dual 3.5 mm LCP fixation (6 screws on either side of the fracture line, anterolateral approach without a tourniquet). The first two orthogonal views showing at least 3 cortical bridges out of 4 determined fracture healing, as assessed by two independent raters. Pre- and postoperative complications were tabulated. Clinical outcomes included range of motion (ROM) and return to activities, while functional outcomes were assessed with the Disability of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH), the Constant score, the Subjective Shoulder Score (SSV) and the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS). Minimum follow-up was 1 year. Four patients were given a shoulder immobilizer to wear for 3 weeks; immediate mobilization was the standard of care for the other patients. Fracture union was achieved in all cases within a mean of 11.7 weeks (6-28 ± 7.1 SD) without any heterotopic ossification of the brachialis muscle. There were eight patients with preoperative radial nerve palsy and two cases of postoperative palsy. There was one surgical site infection (2.6 %). Return to work for active patients was possible in 87 % of cases within a mean of 23 weeks (6-72 ± 11 SD). The Constant score was 84.6 (35-100, ± 13.4 SD), the SSV score was 80.7 (60-100, ± 8.2 SD), the DASH score was 13.5 (0-38.3, ± 8.8 SD) and the MEPS score was 85 (55-100, ± 11.9 SD). Traditional fixation methods provide little control over torsional forces, leading to non-union rates between 3 % and 12 % and delayed union (12 to 20 weeks). The simplicity of the technique described here, and the short operative time, may help explain the low infection rate. Dual plate fixation makes it possible to use more screws and allows nerve exploration and decompression in case of preoperative nerve palsy. Dual plate fixation to treat humeral shaft fractures is a simple and reliable technique., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have declared no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: A fracture classification system should provide a reliable and reproducible means of communication between different parties. It should be logical and understandable, with few categories to memorize. The aim of this study was to determine the intra- and interobserver reliability of the Schatzker and Mayo classification systems for the assessment of proximal ulna fractures., Materials and Methods: Intra- and interobserver reliability studies were conducted on 39 X-rays of injured elbows drawn randomly from 74 cases previously used in a series on predictors of ulnohumeral osteoarthritis in proximal ulna fractures. Ten observers independently reviewed these X-rays on 2 separate occasions 3 months apart. The fracture type was assessed according to the Schatzker and Mayo classification systems during each reading session. Cohen's and Fleiss' kappa were used to measure the intra- and interobserver reliability., Results: The Schatzker classification had a fair interobserver reliability for the first (Schatzker R 1 , Fleiss' κ: 0.394) and second (Schatzker R 2 , Fleiss' κ: 0.351) readings. The mean intraobserver reliability value between the 10 reviewers for the Schatzker classification was rated as substantial (0.61). The Mayo classification had a fair interobserver reliability for the first (Mayo R 1 , Fleiss' κ: 0.278) and second (Mayo R 2 , Fleiss' κ: 0.292) readings. The mean intraobserver reliability value between the 10 reviewers for the Mayo classification was rated as fair (0.52)., Discussion: The classification systems for proximal ulna fractures showed poor reproducibility between the different observers since they had low interobserver agreement values. Nevertheless, their use remained reliable since the measured intraobserver agreement value was deemed substantial., Level of Evidence: IV; retrospective., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Distal humerus fractures are a contemporary problem because the life expectancy, autonomy and functional demands of older patients continue to grow. This is combined with surgical advances in bone reconstruction, especially in fragile patients. A distal humerus fracture in an older adult is a serious injury with an uncertain prognosis. In fact, damage to the elbow joint in this complex anatomical area overwhelmed by low-quality bone occurs in patients who often have unfavorable characteristics (fragile skin, low physiological reserves, organ failure) combined with pharmaceutical treatments that can be iatrogenic. The treatment indication must not be based solely on the conventional radiographs used for classification purposes; the fracture and bone quality must be analyzed in three dimensions. Also, the surgeon must understand the patient's needs, worries and risks fully to decide between conservative treatment and anatomical locking plate fixation or elbow arthroplasty (hemi or total). In the end, the chosen treatment must allow at least 100̊ and preferably 120̊ of flexion-extension at the elbow. In this age range, the choice between arthroplasty and plate fixation is definitive; the surgical approach must make it possible to carry out either option, with arthroplasty implants available in case the trochlear fracture cannot be plated. The aim of this lecture is to provide a fresh perspective on the anatomy of the distal humerus, its fracture and the best surgical approaches, discuss how to decide on the indication, outline the safest and most reliable ways to reconstruct and stabilize the elbow, and lastly, summarize the expected outcomes and potential complications of each treatment option. Level of evidence: V; expert opinion., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Transosseous reinsertion has been used to complement the Bunnell pull-out technique in the repair of zone I deep flexor tendon injuries. The aim of this study is to compare the different devices on the market in terms of complication, functional recovery and ease of use., Material and Method: This is a single-center study including all patients who underwent transosseous anchor reinsertion from 2010 to 2021 with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up. Twenty-seven patients were included. The anchors used were of different types: Microfix® Quickanchor plus® and Miniquick anchor® from DePuy Mitek; Juggerknot® Soft Anchor 1.0mm from Zimmer-Biomet; or Kerifix® 4.0 from KeriMedical. We analyzed intraoperative data, complications and functional recovery by quickDASH score., Results: The average age was 38.6 years (± 16.1), the demographic characteristics were identical in the different groups. There was a significant difference in the number of anchors used intraoperatively before definitive placement (P=0.02), to the disadvantage of the Juggerknot® anchors. There was no significant difference in terms of complications and functional recovery evaluated by the quickDASH., Conclusion: Our study did not find significant differences between the different anchors in terms of complications and functional recovery. Some anchors seem to have a better grip during placement than others., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)