Surgical menopause and nonvertebral fracture risk among older US women

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether older postmenopausal women with a history of bilateral oophorectomy before natural menopause (surgical menopause) have a higher risk of nonvertebral postmenopausal fracture than women with natural menopause.

METHODS

We used 21 years of prospectively collected incident fracture data from the ongoing Study of Osteoporotic Fractures, a cohort study of community-dwelling women without previous bilateral hip fracture who were 65 years or older at enrollment, to determine the risk of hip, wrist, and any nonvertebral fracture. χ(2) and t tests were used to compare the two groups on important characteristics. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models stratified by baseline oral estrogen use status were used to estimate the risk of fracture.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics differed significantly among the 6,616 women within the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures who underwent either surgical (1,157) or natural (5,459) menopause, including mean age at menopause (44.3 ± 7.4 vs 48.9 ± 4.9 y, P < 0.001) and current use of oral estrogen (30.2% vs 6.5%, P < 0.001). Fracture rates were not significantly increased for surgical versus natural menopause, even among women who had never used oral estrogen (hip fracture: hazard ratio [HR], 0.87; 95% CI, 0.63-1.21; wrist fracture: HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.78-1.57; any nonvertebral fracture: HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.93-1.32).

CONCLUSIONS

These data provide some reassurance that the long-term risk of nonvertebral fracture is not substantially increased for postmenopausal women who experienced premenopausal bilateral oophorectomy, compared with postmenopausal women with intact ovaries, even in the absence of postmenopausal estrogen therapy.

Avulsion fracture of the extensor carpi radialis longus tendon: case report and literature review

Isolated avulsion fracture of the index finger metacarpal is rare. There have been only a few noted in the English literature. A review of literature shows that these injuries occur as a result of avulsion of the tendon of extensor carpi radialis longus. In our report we present a case of such an avulsion injury where the proximal fragment was pulled about 2 cm down. The patient was treated conservatively with early mobilisation.

[Treatment of carpal fractures. Recommendations of the Hand Surgery Group of the German Trauma Society]

The primary goal in the treatment of carpal fractures is the preservation of a painless wrist function. Scaphoid fractures are the most common carpal fractures and when such a fracture is clinically suspected CT or MRI scans are usually advisable. Only stable and non-displaced scaphoid fractures can be treated conservatively, all other fractures require internal fixation with restoration of normal anatomy. Second most common are fractures of the triquetrum which can occur as chip avulsions of the dorsal rim and are usually treated symptomatically. Fractures of the body of the triquetrum should be treated according to the degree of instability and displacement. This is virtually true for all carpal bones. Perilunate fracture dislocations of the carpus deserve special attention. In these severe injuries a fracture line can run through all carpal bones but the scaphoid is mostly affected. Accurate reduction and internal fixation by screws and K-wires are indicated not only in these cases, but also in carpometacarpal fracture dislocations.

[Fractures of the hamate bone and metacarpal bone: a rare combination]

BACKGROUND

Fractures of the hamate bone are rare, but are being seen more frequently due to the increasing popularity of racket sports and golf.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 43-year-old man presented at our emergency department with a swollen, painful left hand after hitting a concrete wall with his fist. X-rays and CT scans revealed comminuted fracture of the hamate bone and the base of the fourth metacarpal bone. Open reduction and internal fixation, using screws and Kirschner wires, were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. At one-year follow-up the patient had regained full use of his hand.

CONCLUSION

On conventional X-rays, 60% of wrist fractures are missed. If the clinical picture indicates a fracture of the hamate bone but conventional X-rays reveal no abnormalities then a supplementary CT-scan is advisable. Non-displaced fractures, or fractures with little displacement, can be treated conservatively, but surgical treatment is preferred in the case of displacement or non-union.

Comparison between proximal row carpectomy and four-corner fusion for treating osteoarthrosis following carpal trauma: a prospective randomized study

OBJECTIVE

To compare the functional results of carpectomy and four-corner fusion surgical procedures for treating osteoarthrosis following carpal trauma.

METHODS

In this prospective randomized study, 20 patients underwent proximal row carpectomy or four-corner fusion to treat wrist arthritis and their functional results were compared. The midcarpal joint was free of lesions in all patients.

RESULTS

Both proximal row carpectomy and four-corner fusion reduced the pain. All patients had a decreased range of motion after surgery. The differences between groups were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional results of the two procedures were similar as both reduced pain in patients with scapholunate advanced collapse/scaphoid non-union advanced collapse (SLAC/SNAC) wrist without degenerative changes in the midcarpal joint.

Current concepts review: carpal injuries - fractures, ligaments, dislocations

An overview about current concepts in treating carpal injuries is presented. These injuries are more commonly seen in young, active individuals after a fall on an outstretched hand. Conventional radiographs and a thorough examination are important. The scaphoid is the most affected bone. Scaphoid fractures can be classified in accordance to OTA, AO, and other classification systems, but mostly to Herbert. It can be treated non-operatively if undisplaced, however a percutaneous internal fixation can be discussed to achieve earlier return to work and shorter time to union, but hazarding the consequences of an operation. Unstable, proximal pole, or delayed diagnosed scaphoid fractures should be treated surgically. Nonunion is seen in 5 - 40% of scaphoid fractures depending mainly on displacement and localization of the fracture. The gold standard in non-osteoarthritic scaphoid nonunion is debridement of the nonunion site, bone grafting, realignment, stable fixation and rehabilitation. The treatment of scaphoid-nonunion advanced collapse is more complex. Proximal row carpectomy or arthrodesis (four-corner or complete wrist) can be mandatory. Other carpal bone fractures are rare. Perilunate dislocations are also uncommon but can be disabling. They usually originate in high-energy trauma. The Mayfield stages help to understand the injury pattern. Open reduction through both volar and dorsal approaches, repair of the volar capsule as well as volar and dorsal ligaments, and internal fixation is commonly the standard treatment. However osteoarthritis and carpal instability are often encountered.

Trans-scaphoid transcapitate transhamate fracture of the wrist: case report

We describe a new pattern of upper limb injury: a combination of fractures of both radius and ulna, with a rare type of trans-scaphoid transcapitate transhamate greater arc injury of the wrist and fractures of metacarpals, managed successfully.

Scaphoid dislocation associated with axial carpal dissociation during volar flexion of the wrist: a case report

We present the first report of a patient with an isolated scaphoid dislocation with axial carpal dissociation sustained during volar flexion of the wrist. The scaphoid was dislocated to the radial side of the radial styloid process and was slightly shifted to the dorsal side. It was shown that the position of the wrist played an irrelevant role for occurring scaphoid dislocation.

Volar scaphotrapezial dislocation

We present a case of volar luxation of the scaphotrapezial bone, in which radiographs suggested luxation of the scaphoid, but unclear relations to the other carpal bones. Computer tomographic reconstruction showed an isolated scaphotrapezial luxation. This was treated by closed reduction and a plaster cast, after which the patient regained normal function of her wrist.

Outcome of proximal row carpectomy

Fifty-one patients who had had proximal row carpectomy between 1992 and 2002 with a minimum follow-up of one year were followed up clinically and radiologically retrospectively. Their diagnoses included Kienböck disease (n=21), avascular necrosis of the scaphoid (n=4), nonunion of the scaphoid with osteoarthritis (n=9), and scapholunate advanced collapse (n=17). The mean follow-up was 5 years, 8 months. The mean "disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand" (DASH) score was 18. The mean patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) score list was 25% of maximum disability for the function and pain score. Thirty-four patients (87%) were able to return to work a mean of six months after operation (range 3 weeks - 35 months). Nine patients (11%) required arthrodesis of the wrist and are considered as failures. Mean flexion of the wrist was 66%, extension 73%, radial deviation 74%, ulnar deviation 76%, and grip force 70% of the opposite side. Excision of the proximal row provided predictable and durable pain relief, restored functional movement and grip strength, and allowed returned to gainful employment in most of the patients.

Pancarpal and partial carpal arthrodesis

Arthrodesis can be an effective procedure to restore acceptable function and alleviate pain when other medical or surgical treatments are not possible. A thorough knowledge of carpal anatomy and strict adherence to the principles of arthrodesis are essential to success. The most important factor in determining whether a partial carpal arthrodesis can be performed is the stability of the antebrachiocarpal joint. Multiple techniques, including plating, pinning, and external skeletal fixation, have proven successful, and this article discusses these techniques and the complications of each.

Relationship of body mass index with main limb fragility fractures in postmenopausal women

Body mass index (BMI) has been found to be related to the risk of osteoporotic hip fractures in women, regardless of bone mineral density (BMD). The same relationship is under debate for other limb fragility fractures. Very few studies have investigated the comparison of fracture risk among BMI categories, classified according to the WHO criteria, despite the potential usefulness of such information for clinical purposes. To address these issues we studied 2,235 postmenopausal women including those with fragility fractures of the hip (187), ankle (108), wrist (226) and humerus (85). Statistical analyses were performed by logistic regression by treating the fracture status as the dependent variable and age, age at menopause, femoral neck BMD and BMI as covariates. BMI was tested as a continuous or categorical variable. As a continuous variable, increased BMI had a protective effect against hip fracture: OR 0.949 (95% CI, 0.900-0.999), but carried a higher risk of humerus fracture: OR 1.077 (95% CI, 1.017-1.141). Among the BMI categories, only leanness: OR 3.819 (95% CI, 2.035-7.168) and obesity: OR 3.481 (95% CI, 1.815-6.678) showed a significantly higher fracture risk for hip and humerus fractures, respectively. There was no relationship between ankle and wrist fractures and BMI. In conclusion, decreasing BMI increases the risk for hip fracture, whereas increasing BMI increases the risk for humerus fractures. Leanness-related low BMD and obesity-related body instability might explain the different BMI relationships with these two types of fracture.

Treatment for scaphoid fracture and nonunion--the application of 3.0 mm cannulated screws and pedicle vascularised bone grafts

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

Scaphoid fractures are very common in wrist trauma, and scaphoid nonunions with avascular necrosis are frequent complications of a fractured scaphoid. The purpose of these two retrospective studies was to examine the clinical and x-ray results of treatments for acute scaphoid fracture and scaphoid nonunion. The surgical techniques of cannulated screw fixation and pedicled vascularised bone graft are described.

METHODS

From 2001-2004, 80 patients with scaphoid fractures were treated with 3.0 mm cannulated screws and 5.5 mm threaded washers in our hospitals. The average age was 35 years, and the average time from injury to surgery was 16.5 hours. Outcomes were assessed by x-ray and the modified Mayo wrist score system. During the 6-year period of 1998-2004, 72 patients with scaphoid nonunions were treated using pedicled vascularised bone graft (VBG)in our hospitals. The average age was 38.5 years, and the average time from injury to surgery was 9.5 months.

RESULTS

The union rate was 96.25% and satisfactory function rate was 93.75% in acute scaphoid fractures with an average follow-up of 3.5 years. The union rate (90.28%) and satisfactory function rate (81.94%) achieved in scaphoid nonunions were acceptable, with an average follow-up of 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Our studies suggested that appropriate application of a cannulated screw and threaded washer was able to produce satisfactory results in scaphoid fracture, and that pedicled vascularised bone graft was effective for treating scaphoid nonunion.

[Limb fractures: ultrasound imaging features]

US, a non-irradiating imaging modality, is complementary to radiographs in the evaluation of limb fractures. US may in some cases demonstrate or suggest the presence of a fracture without corresponding abnormality on radiographs, or confirm or exclude a possible fracture detected on radiographs. Knowledge of the US features of fractures is necessary. In this article, the different direct and indirect US findings of fractures will be reviewed, with radiographic correlation. Direct findings include cortical discontinuity or irregularity. Indirect findings include subperiosteal or juxtaphyseal hematoma suggesting cortical or physeal fractures respectively.

Surgical treatment of carpal and hand injuries in children

Most carpal and hand injuries in children are treated nonsurgically. However, surgical treatment is often required for certain clinical situations. Complications resulting from pediatric hand fractures, dislocations, and soft-tissue injuries are most commonly caused by a failure to identify and treat an injury requiring surgery.

[Fractures of the wrist and hand. Principles of conservative treatment]

Over the last years, many special instruments and implants were designed for operative treatment of fractures of the wrist and hand. Therefore, conservative treatment of these injuries became old-fashioned in the eyes of most patients and surgeons. Nevertheless, conservative treatment of nondislocated stable fractures of the wrist and hand usually shows better clinical results than operative treatment does. On the other hand, conservative treatment of displaced fractures is very difficult. The key to success is thorough knowledge of the use of casts, splints, and functional therapy and good patient compliance to avoid complications. Opportunities for conservative treatment of fractures of the wrist and hand are herein described.

Neglected, open, multiple carpal-metacarpal fracture dislocations of the hand--an unusual entity and its management

A rare case of neglected, open, multiple carpal-metacarpal fracture dislocations complicated by wound infection, soft-tissue contractures, and Sudeck's dystrophy is reported. Satisfactory cosmetic and functional results at 2 years were achieved with staged distraction using Ilizarov's fixator to stretch soft tissues and gain length, followed by open reduction and internal fixation.