Ultrasound-Guided de Quervain's Tendon Release, Feasibility, and First Outcomes

Background  de Quervain's syndrome is one of the main tendonitis of the wrist. The hypothesis of authors was that de Quervain's syndrome could be successfully treated with a specific ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedure, as it is for trigger finger. Surgical Technique  Identification of the subcompartmentalization of the first extensor compartment was performed first, using the Hiranuma's classification, prior to the surgery. Then, we assessed precisely the positions of the sensory branches of the radial nerve and drew the landmarks. Through a continuous ultrasound in-plane control, we performed a percutaneous retrograde section of each part of the first compartment of the extensors, using a dedicated surgical blade. Methods  In a cadaveric study, authors proposed to assess the feasibility and safety of a new and specific procedure and then assessed their first clinical cases. Fourteen specimen wrists were analyzed with ultrasound and the procedure was performed prior to an open control of the efficiency of the release, and safety for the superficial nerves. Then, we reported the results of the 22 first patients included in the clinical series. Results  In a cadaver laboratory, authors were able to identify with ultrasound the type of first compartment septation (subcompartmentalization) in 13 cases ( n  = 14). The misidentification induced one incomplete release. No damages of the superficial radial nerve were observed despite close relationship. In the small series ( n  = 22), the duration of surgery was 8 minutes (range: 4-18 minutes). It was performed in office surgery and no morbidities were noticed. All patients improved, from quickDASH preoperative score of 59 (range: 28-71) to quichDASH postoperative score of 9 (range: 0-25). Conclusion  Ultrasound-guided percutaneous release in the de Quervain's disease is a safe and reliable procedure without specific morbidity. Great care should be taken to avoid sensory nerve injuries and to identify the correct type of subcompartmentalization with a precise ultrasound evaluation.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Symptomatic Congenital Lunotriquetral Coalition

Symptomatic lunotriquetral coalition is very rare and need open surgery after failure of conservative treatment. We report a case of a symptomatic congenital lunotriquetral coalition type 1 according to the Minaar classification, at the left wrist of a 14-year-old boy. We performed an arthroscopic treatment with two compression screws and without cancellous bone grafting. Healing was obtained at 2 months postoperatively.

Wide-awake ultrasound-guided percutaneous extensor central slip tenotomy for chronic mallet finger: A prospective study of 14 cases (with videos)

The central slip tenotomy described by Fowler is an effective option for treating chronic mallet finger in order to avoid swan neck deformity of the finger. In a prospective study of 14 cases (13 failures of conservative treatment and one case of untreated mallet finger), we performed percutaneous ultrasound-guided central slip tenotomy with a 19 G needle using the wide-awake local anesthesia and no tourniquet (WALANT) technique. The mean extensor lag before surgery was 28° (range 20°-40°) and three patients had a swan neck deformity. The anesthesia and tenotomy were guided with a 15MHz high frequency probe. Patient were asked to grade their pain between 0 (no pain) and 10 (extreme pain) with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), to flex and extend their finger immediately after the tenotomy and to be reviewed at 1month's follow-up. The mean pain score on VAS during the procedure was 1/10 (range 0-3). After several movements of the finger after the procedure, two patients immediately regained full extension of the distal interphalangeal joint. At 1month follow-up, the correction was complete for 10 patients, three patients had a residual deformity of 10° and one had a poor result with a 30° deformity. Two patients had a persistent painless synovitis of the proximal interphalangeal joint. Thirteen patients were fully satisfied and one was a disappointed, but did not want another treatment. There are no published reports of percutaneous central slip tenotomy. In this preliminary report, central slip tenotomy for chronic mallet finger with ultrasonography was painless, effective and safe under WALANT technique. Larger clinical studies are needed to confirm the outcomes of this study.

The uses of computer-assisted surgical navigation in trans-nasal pituitary gland surgery

OBJECTIVES

To examine the use of computer-assisted surgery in transnasal pituitary gland surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty cases of transnasal pituitary gland surgery using a computer-assisted navigation system, carried out between 2002 and 2004, were retrospectively studied. The subjects consisted of 7 men and 13 women aged between 27 and 77 years of ages. The pituitary tumours included 18 macroadenomas, a microadenoma and a craniopharyngioma. Ten of the cases presented with visual field and/or visual acuity disturbances. Seven of the cases presented with endocrine disorders. A computed tomography scanner destined for navigation purposes was carried out 24 hours before the operation. The computer-assisted system used was the Digipointeur (Collin ORL) based on a system of spatial localization in electromagnetic fields.

RESULTS

Tumour removal was complete in 50% of cases and partial, as judged by MRI 3 months after the procedure, in 45% of the cases. In 40% of cases, the preoperative visual disturbances had completely disappeared at 3 months. A considerable clinical improvement was observed in all of the other cases. Peroperative complications were limited to two breaches of the meninges and one peroperative hemorrhage during the excision of a macroadenoma invading the cavernous sinus, necessitating the suspension of the operation.

CONCLUSION

In our experience, the use of a computer-assisted system in transseptal pituitary surgery gives reliable millimetric surgical precision in the localization of vital internal anatomical structures, optimizes surgical resection and increases levels of safety.

[Use of a bilobed flap for the treatment of mucous cysts]

INTRODUCTION

In the case of mucous cysts with attenuated skin, the authors suggest radical excision of the cyst together with the overlying skin. The skin defect is repaired with a bilobed flap whose donor site is left to heal by secondary intention. This surgical procedure also allows exploration of other areas of mucoid degeneration and repair of the proximal nail fold when necessary.

METHOD

Twenty-six patients with an average age of 59 years (27 cysts), were operated with this procedure. Nail bed deformities were present in 55% of the cases. The cyst and the overlying skin were radically excised in conjunction with a dorsal capsulectomy; the use of the bilobed flap made the dissection easier, and flap translation allowed cover of the capsulectomy area and simultaneous repair of the nail fold in eight cases.

RESULTS

Patients were reviewed with an average follow-up of 13.7 months. Seventy percent of the patients had no pain, and in 85% of the cases there was no loss of motion. Cosmetic appearance was satisfactory, and nail bed deformities disappeared or clearly subsided in 86% of the cases. One patient developed recurrence.

DISCUSSION

Many surgical procedures have been described for mucous cysts treatment. This simple procedure allows radical excision of the cyst and the attenuated skin with low risk for the germinal matrix, precise location of cyst origin, repair of the nail fold and good skin cover in the capsulectomy area.

Bone-retinaculum-bone reconstruction for chronic posttraumatic instability of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb

PURPOSE

This study presents an autograft technique for the surgical management of chronic posttraumatic instability of the thumb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint by using a bone-retinaculum-bone graft from the second compartment of the extensor retinaculum.

METHODS

The bone-retinaculum-bone graft was harvested from the second compartment. The graft ends were fixed into the host site with screws. Fourteen patients (12 ulnar, 2 radial collateral ligament tears) had the procedure. All patients were reviewed by an independent observer using objective and subjective criteria, the mean follow-up time was 20 months.

RESULTS

Results were satisfactory overall (8 excellent, 4 good, 1 fair, 1 poor that subsequently was fused). All patients returned to their former jobs. All but one had a clinically stable first MCP joint; grasp was 87%, pinch was 80%, MCP joint range of motion (ROM) was 91%, and interphalangeal joint ROM was 98% of the unoperated side.

CONCLUSIONS

Early results are encouraging. This procedure preserves ROM of the MCP and interphalangeal joints of the thumb, improves strength, and gives the stability required for proper thumb function.