Search

Background: The modified Kocher and extensor digitorum communis (EDC)-splitting intervals are commonly utilized to approach the lateral elbow. Iatrogenic injury to the lateral ulnar collateral ligament may result in posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI). in the present cadaveric study, we (1) evaluated lateral elbow stability following the use of these approaches and (2) assessed the accuracy of static lateral elbow radiographs as a diagnostic tool for PLRI. Methods: Tenmatched-pair cadaveric upper-extremity specimens (n = 20) were randomly assigned to Kocher or EDC-splitting approaches. Specimens underwent evaluation pre-dissection, post-dissection, and following repair of the surgical interval. Clinical evaluation of lateral elbow stability was performed with the lateral pivot-shift maneuver. Radiographic radiocapitellar displacement was evaluated with the fully extended hanging arm test and on lateral elbow 30° flexion radiographs. Paired Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with Bonferroni correction were utilized to compare groups. Results: AllKocher group specimens (10 of 10) developed PLRI on the pivot-shift maneuver following dissection.No EDC-splitting group specimens (0 of 10) developed instability with pivot-shift testing. The fully extended hanging arm test showed no difference in radiocapitellar displacement between groups (p > 0.008). Lateral elbow 30° flexion radiographs in the Kocher group showed an increased radiocapitellar displacement difference (mean, 8.46 mm) following dissection compared with the pre-dissection baseline (p < 0.008). Following repair of the Kocher interval, the radiocapitellar displacement (mean, 6.43 mm) remained greater than pre-dissection (mean, 2.26 mm; p < 0.008). In the EDC-splitting group, no differences were detected in radiocapitellar displacement on lateral elbow radiographs with either the fully extended hanging arm or lateral elbow 30° flexion positions. Conclusions: The Kocher approach produced PLRI that did not return to baseline conditions following repair of the surgical interval. The EDC-splitting approach did not cause elbow instability clinically or radiographically. The hanging arm test was not reliable for the detection of PLRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand and Wrist, sports teams, Professional athlete, practice management Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review 30.4 - Athletic Injuries to the Hand and Wrist Chapter 2: Preparing Your Practice (and Family) for Your Role in the Care of Professional Sports Teams Keywords: Hand and Wrist; Professional athlete; sports teams; practice management EN Hand and Wrist Professional athlete sports teams practice management 24 26 3 12/27/22 20230301 NES 230301 Although every orthopedist is a "sports doctor" to some degree, special considerations are warranted when preparing to care for professional and other elite athletes. [Extracted from the article]

Case: A 33-year-old man presented with a painful instability of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint of the little finger after recurrent sports-related traumatic injuries. Stress testing and radiography demonstrated the instability of the ulnar collateral ligament. We performed an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction of the DIP joint using the palmaris longus tendon. One year after surgery, the patient reported a painless and stable DIP joint with good functional outcome. Conclusion: This procedure could be a viable treatment option for active, high-demand patients experiencing chronic symptomatic instability of the DIP joint because of a longstanding tear of the collateral ligament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of ulnar collateral ligament injuries has increased over the past few decades with greater participation in overhead throwing sports; however, optimal postoperative management following surgery remains unclear. This systematic review summarizes the latest evidence, on postoperative rehabilitation protocols for patients undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR). Studies published in the English language from the year 2000 to 2019 with a level 1 to 4 grade of evidence and examined rehabilitation protocols following UCLR were eligible for inclusion. A multidatabase search was conducted. Two blinded reviewers screened and graded articles for inclusion and a third independent reviewer resolved any conflicts. Ten of the original 139 studies identified were used for analysis. Surgical techniques as well as rehabilitation protocols varied across studies. Analysis gave strong evidence that a 4-phase postoperative rehabilitation protocol utilizing milestone-based goals is effective in returning athletes back to preinjury levels of activity and sport within 1 year following UCLR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injuries and disorders of the elbow in athletes are common especially among throwing athletes. Common injuries encountered in the throwing athlete include ulnar collateral ligament injuries, ulnar neuritis, capitellar osteochondritis dissecans, valgus extension overload with posterior olecranon impingement, olecranon stress fracture, and loose bodies. A thorough knowledge of both the functional anatomy as well as throwing biomechanics are required to properly diagnosis and treat these problems. Nonoperative and surgical techniques have continued to advance over the last 25 years allowing for improved prognosis and return to play for athletes affected with elbow pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I t has been a pleasure to review the landmark article of Ostergaard etal.[9],whichisavaluablereport of 114 patients whom the authors attempted to follow after reconstructive operations for terrible triad injuries (TTIs) of the elbow from January 2000 to June 2017. CORR Insights®: What Factors Are Associated with Reoperation after Operative Treatment of Terrible Triad Injuries? Downloaded from https://journals.lww.com/clinorthop by BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD3i3D0OdRyi7TvSFl4Cf3VC4/OAVpDDa8K2+Ya6H515kE= on 02/26/2021 Downloaded from https://journals.lww.com/clinorthop by BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD3i3D0OdRyi7TvSFl4Cf3VC4/OAVpDDa8K2+Ya6H515kE= on 02/26/2021 Clin Orthop Relat Res (2021) 479:126-128 DOI 10.1097/CORR.0000000000001446 CORR Insights Published online: 10 August 2020 Copyright © 2020 by the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons CORR Insights®: What Factors Are Associated with Reoperation after Operative Treatment of Terrible Triad Injuries? Ifthesurgeonrefers the patient to a team with more experience, it is likely that the patient will be eternally grateful and the surgeon will not lose sleep at night worrying about the outcome of a procedure that became too challenging while performing the operation. [Extracted from the article]

One cannot overstate the importance of a thorough history and physical examination, supplemented with directed imaging, to help pinpoint the exact cause of the athlete's elbow pain. Although plain radiographs should not be overlooked, advanced imaging plays a critical role in diagnosis and management of pathology in the thrower's elbow, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and stress ultrasound. By judiciously combining these elements, the clinician can appropriately manage these injuries in order to successfully return the athlete to their preinjury level of play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the hypercompetitive environment of year round youth baseball, arm pain is commonplace. Although much research has been done about injuries in the overhead throwing athlete, the emphasis has been on the more elite levels, where athletes have reached full development. The anatomy of the skeletally immature athlete, including open physeal plates and increased tissue laxity, raises unique issues in the presentation and treatment of repetitive throwing injuries of the elbow and shoulder. With a focus on ''little leaguers,'' this discussion evaluates five of the most common elbow and shoulder injuries--Little Leaguer's elbow, ulnar collateral ligament sprain or tear, osteochondritis dissecans/Panner's disease, Little Leaguer's shoulder, and multidirectional instability. In the developmentally distinct pediatric athlete, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment may differ from that established for adults. Offering early diagnosis and treatment appropriate to a child's level of development will enable youth to not only continue to play sports but to also maintain full functionality as active adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL) reconstruction is a commonly used surgical procedure to treat posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI) of the elbow. We report a 17-year-old right-handed pitcher with symptomatic PLRI after an injury to his LUCL during a baseball game. Having failed 8 months of conservative treatment, a LUCL reconstruction using the modified O'Driscoll technique was performed with the contralateral gracilis autograft. At 5-year follow-up, an excellent patient-reported outcome was achieved and the patient continued to play baseball at the recreational level. This type of injury is rarely reported in adolescent baseball players, and improving our knowledge of the long-term outcomes is crucial to assist clinicians in counseling patients about expectations after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI) is the most common cause of residual instability following a simple elbow dislocation. PLRI may result from trauma or iatrogenic injury to the radial ulnohumeral ligament during treatment for other conditions, such as lateral epicondylitis. PLRI can be identified through a combination of history and physical examination, and confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging arthrography. Once diagnosed, surgery is necessary to correct persistent instability. Instability can be confirmed arthroscopically through several findings, including subluxation of the radial head on the capitellum and the arthroscopic "drive through sign of the elbow." Acute repairs, both open and arthroscopic, heal with excellent patient outcomes. In the chronic setting, graft reconstruction may be required. This report describes arthroscopic repair of the radial ulnohumeral ligament and open reconstruction with associated outcomes. A high index of suspicion is necessary to correctly diagnosis this condition in patients with lateral elbow pain and feelings of instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries are most commonly reported in baseball players (particularly in pitchers) but have also been observed in other overhead athletes including javelin, softball, tennis, volleyball, water polo, and gymnastics. Partial injuries have been successfully treated with appropriate nonoperative measures but complete tears and chronic injuries have shown less benefit from conservative measures. In these cases, surgical reconstruction has become the treatment modality for overhead athlete who wishes to continue to play. This article discusses the functional anatomy and biomechanics of the UCL as related to the pathophysiology of overhead throwing, as well as the important clinical methods needed to make accurate and timely diagnosis. It also gives an updated review of the current clinical outcomes and complications of surgical reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is a frequent injury of the hand. When untreated, this injury may lead to decreased pinch strength, pain, instability, and osteoarthritis. There is currently no consensus on treatment of acute or chronic UCL injuries. Our primary purpose was to compare nonoperative treatment with surgical repair and surgical reconstruction of thumb UCL injuries. A secondary purpose was to compare graft choice and surgical technique for reconstruction. Data Sources: A systematic review of multiple medical databases was performed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Clinical outcome studies after nonoperative or operative treatment of thumb UCL injuries, with a minimum of 2 years mean follow-up, were included. Pain, range of motion, key-pinch strength, and stability testing were used as outcome measures. Main Results: Fourteen articles were included and analyzed (293 thumbs). All but 2 were level IV evidence. Mean Quality Appraisal Tool score was 13.1 (55% overall rating study methodological quality). Thirty-two thumbs were treated nonoperatively and 261 operatively. Mean subject age was 33.9 years. There were 200 acute injuries and 93 chronic injuries. Mean study follow-up was 42.8 months. Nonoperative treatment often failed, necessitating surgery. Acute UCL repair and autograft UCL reconstruction for chronic injury led to excellent clinical outcomes, without a significant difference between the 2 groups. After significant delay to treatment or even failed nonoperative treatment, excellent clinical outcomes can be achieved, without a difference between initially treating the injury surgically. Complications after surgery were rare. Conclusions: This review has demonstrated excellent clinical outcomes after surgical treatment of both acute and chronic UCL injury, without any significant difference between repair and reconstruction for acute and chronic injury, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical diagnosis of thumb ulnar collateral ligament disruption has been based on joint angulation during valgus stress testing. This report describes a definitive method of distinguishing between complete and partial ulnar collateral ligament injuries by quantifying translation of the proximal phalanx on the metacarpal head during valgus stress testing. Methods: Sixty-two cadaveric thumbs underwent standardized valgus stress testing under fluoroscopy with the ulnar collateral ligament intact, following an isolated release of the proper ulnar collateral ligament, and following a combined release of both the proper and the accessory ulnar collateral ligament (complete ulnar collateral ligament release). Following complete ulnar collateral ligament release, the final thirty-seven thumbs were also analyzed after the application of a valgus force sufficient to cause 450 of valgus angulation at the metacarpophalangeal joint to model more severe soft-tissue injury. Two independent reviewers measured coronal plane joint angulation (in degrees), ulnar joint line gap formation (in millimeters), and radial translation of the proximal phalanx on the metacarpal head (in millimeters) on digital fluoroscopic images that had been randomized. Results: Coronal angulation across the stressed metacarpophalangeal joint progressively increased through the stages of the testing protocol: ulnar collateral ligament intact (average [and standard deviation], 20° ± 8.1°), release of the proper ulnar collateral ligament (average, 23° ± 8.3°), and complete ulnar collateral ligament release (average, 30° ± 8.9°) (p < 0.01 for each comparison). Similarly, gap formation increased from the measurement in the intact state (5.1 ± 1.3 mm), to that following proper ulnar collateral ligament release (5.7 ± 1.5 mm), to that following complete ulnar collateral ligament release (7.2 ± 1.5 mm) (p <0.01 for each comparison). Radial translation of the proximal phalanx on the metacarpal head did not increase after isolated release of the proper ulnar collateral ligament (1.6 ± 0.8 mm vs. 1.5 ± 0.9 mm in the intact state). There was a significant increase in translation following release of the complete ulnar collateral ligament complex (3.0 ± 0.9 mm; p <0.01) and an additional increase after forcible angulation of the joint to 45° (4.1 ± 0.9 mm; p <0.01). Translation 2mm greater than that in the stressed control was 100% specific for complete disruption of the ulnar collateral ligament complex. Conclusions: While transection of the proper ulnar collateral ligament leads to an increase in metacarpophalangeal joint angulation and gapping on stress fluoroscopic evaluation, only release of both the accessory and the proper ulnar collateral ligament significantly increases translation of the proximal phalanx on the metacarpal head. Clinical Relevance: A finding of phalangeal translation on a stress fluoroscopic image distinguishes partial from complete tears of the thumb ulnar collateral ligament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the management of thumb metacarpophalangeal ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries. It discusses long-term pain and functional limitations caused by untreated UCL injury of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ). Recommendation of MCP arthrodesis is also considered as the treatment for chronic UCL insufficiency in the joints in which arthrosis is present.

The article focuses on the anatomy, diagnosis, and treatment of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury of the thumb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. It states that UCL injury, which is commonly encountered by sports physicians, is a chronic injury in which the UCL is weakened through the recurrence of stress. It states that valgus stress testing can be used to diagnose complete UCL rapture which can be administered with operative treatment, while partial UCL rapture needs nonoperative treatment.

Medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries are common and are seen most frequently in baseball pitchers. Appropriate recognition, treatment, and rehabilitation are necessary to ensure the best chance for return to preinjury levels of participation. Participation in competitive sports may be disrupted for 6 months to 1 year when treated optimally. Abstinence from play may be prolonged when treatment is delayed or if conservative treatment fails; this delay carries significant consequences to the professional, collegiate, and high school athlete. The orthopedic literature is replete with recommendations for the care of these athletes. These recommendations are generally based on retrospective reviews. The purposes of this paper are 3-fold: to provide background knowledge on this injury, to synthesize the current knowledge on the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletes with medial UCL injuries, and lastly, to provide a treatment algorithm for athletes with UCL injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the natural history of the triangular fibrocartilage complex tear without distal radioulnar joint instability. It mentions that Ulnar-sided wrist pain is a common problem with lunotriquetral ligament injury. It mentions that distal radioulnar joint instability is found in the clinical examination and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows a triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) lesion.

The article lists the commentary and perspective articles on bone and joint surgery topics including the femora neck-body junction, the human bone morphogenetic protein 2, and the ulnar collateral ligment injuries.