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The wrist joint is often involved early in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is regarded as one of the main targets of the disease. As the wrist plays a key role in the chain of the articulations in the upper extremity, treatment of this joint preserves the patient's ability to work and to remain independent. When surgical therapy is considered, evaluation of the stage of the disease is as important as the type of rheumatoid involvement. This can be achieved by an extensive clinical and functional assessment of the whole extremity. Moreover, adequate understanding of the radiological findings helps to recognize the type of rheumatoid destruction, possible further development of the disease and its direct consequences on surgical decisions. Several classifications exist that describe the rheumatoid wrist involvement and present possible treatment algorithms. The success of surgical management depends on a well-considered strategy in timing the different procedures. Prophylactic surgery may prevent further destruction and deformation. This includes synovectomy of the tendons in order to prevent attrition rupture, to avoid challenging tendon reconstruction. Together with synovectomy of the wrist, including the distal radio-ulnar joint, long-lasting pain relief can be observed. In later stages of the disease, it is the extent of destruction at the radiocarpal level which has great implications in reconstructive surgery. Possible options are partial joint fusion, combined with an ulnar head resection, total wrist fusion or wrist arthroplasty. In cases of severe destruction, however, definitive stabilization by total wrist fusion is indicated. A pain-free, stable wrist joint often outweighs the disadvantage of the lack of mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this Delphi study was to provide a diagnostic and treatment algorithm for patients with persistent or recurrent symptoms after trapeziometacarpal joint resection arthroplasty. Three Delphi rounds were conducted in which surveys were sent to 182 experienced hand surgeons worldwide. Responses were received from 140 participants. A consensus threshold was set at 67% agreement. Diagnostic tools and treatment approaches for six common revision scenarios achieved consensus. Radiographs are appropriate as primary (97%) and CT scans as secondary (76%) diagnostic tools. For scaphometacarpal impingement, 67% of respondents agreed that revision interposition is appropriate, with 93% recommending autologous tendon for the interposition. Additional suspension was considered appropriate by 68% of the participants. The diagnostic and treatment algorithm can help the surgeon to identify the reason for persistent symptoms after trapeziometacarpal joint resection arthroplasty and to choose an appropriate treatment strategy. Level of evidence: V., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: The aim of this systematic literature review was to describe current indications and interventions for revisions after trapeziometacarpal joint (TMJ) resection arthroplasty., Methods: The literature search was conducted by an experienced librarian in the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The authors included all articles that investigated any TMJ arthroplasty procedure in which the trapezium was completely resected and if any subsequent revision procedure including joint-related and soft-tissue operations was mentioned. Two independent reviewers selected the articles and were involved in data extraction., Results: Sixty-two articles reporting on 5284 operated thumbs and 434 revision operations were included. Twenty-four indications for revision and 31 revision techniques were extracted. Most revisions were performed because of subsidence/impingement of the first metacarpal bone ( n = 194 thumbs) followed by unspecified pain ( n = 53), metacarpophalangeal joint problems ( n = 28), and scaphotrapezoidal osteoarthritis ( n = 17). Eleven treatment strategies were found for subsidence/impingement of the first metacarpal, the most frequent being revision of the existing interposition using autologous tendon ( n = 46) and soft-tissue interposition with distraction pinning ( n = 28)., Conclusions: There are a wide variety of indications and even more surgical techniques described in the literature to treat persisting or recurrent pain after TMJ resection arthroplasty. Currently, there is no uniform treatment guideline available on how to diagnose and treat such cases. Therefore, the results of this literature review will form the basis for a Delphi study aiming to develop recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of persistent/recurrent pain after TMJ resection arthroplasty., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

We compared the effects of capsule resection versus capsule suturing in patients treated with a dual-mobility trapeziometacarpal joint prosthesis. We included 131 patients with capsular resection and 57 patients with repair. The mean scores for pain and the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire were similar between the groups preoperatively and at 6 weeks and 1 year postoperatively. Mean key pinch strength was also similar in both groups before surgery and at 1 year, but higher in the capsular resection than in the suture group at 6 weeks. The incidence of complications reported throughout the 1-year postoperative period was not significantly different between the groups. One implant in the capsular resection group was revised for reasons most likely unrelated to capsule management. We conclude that the capsule can be safely resected during trapeziometacarpal joint implant arthroplasty. Level of evidence: III., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: DBH and SS have speaker contracts with KeriMedical, which obliges them to hold training courses on the surgical technique of the Touch® prosthesis. MM and DBH have contracts with KeriMedical regarding other studies in our clinic. All other authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often undergo multiple surgical interventions throughout their lives, underscoring the importance of collaboration between surgeons and rheumatologists to stay abreast of medical advancements and ensure comprehensive patient care. The author aims to share insights into approaches and procedures that have proven effective overtime, while acknowledging those with less predictable outcomes. These insights are gleaned from the collective wisdom of hand surgery luminaries whose technical prowess and compassionate care have shaped our practice. The care of the rheumatoid hand represents the intersection of art and science in hand surgery, where skillful execution meets patient-centered care., Competing Interests: Disclosure The author has nothing to disclose. ChatGPTv3.5. was used to help editing the text., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We invited 14 women who had undergone implant arthroplasty in one thumb and resection-suspension-interposition arthroplasty (RSIA) in the other to a follow-up visit at a median time of 2.2 and 6.2 years after implant and RSIA, respectively. In total, 12 patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the outcome after implant arthroplasty, while eight patients reported this level of satisfaction for RSIA. Of the patients, 10 would choose an implant again, one would choose RSIA and three patients were undecided. The brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire score and key pinch and grip strengths were significantly higher at follow-up for the thumb with the implant arthroplasty. Two revision operations were done 1.5 years after RSIA. Patients were satisfied with both procedures, but if they had to choose again, they would prefer implant arthroplasty. Level of evidence: III., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: DBH has a speaker contract with KeriMedical, which obliges him to hold training courses on the surgical technique of the Touch® prosthesis; MM has contracts with KeriMedical regarding other studies. All other authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: There is ongoing discussion about the level of symptoms patients with proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint osteoarthritis should have to undergo surgery. The aims of our study were to determine the minimal important change (MIC) and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) for PIP joint range of motion (ROM), and define clinically relevant thresholds of preoperative pain and function at which patients have the greatest chance to achieve a MIC and PASS in these outcomes 1 year after PIP arthroplasty., Methods: We analyzed registry data that included patients with PIP joint osteoarthritis who underwent an arthroplasty for this condition and had a 1-year follow-up. Patients indicated pain on a numeric rating scale (0-10) and completed the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ). Active total PIP ROM was measured. The preoperative thresholds, predictive of achieving the MIC and PASS for each outcome measure of pain, function, and ROM, were determined using receiver operating characteristics curves., Results: We included 196 patients who experienced a relevant improvement in ROM (= MIC) when there was an increase by ≥8° compared with the ROM preoperatively. Patients were satisfied with their postoperative ROM (= PASS) if they achieved PIP mobility of at least 66°. Pain at rest and during activities was predictive for achieving a MIC but not a PASS. Due to an insufficient area under the curve for the brief MHQ and ROM, their baseline values cannot predict the postoperative achievement of MIC or PASS. We suggest that patients with preoperative pain at rest ≥4.5 or pain during activities ≥5.5 have the greatest chance of achieving a subjectively relevant change 1 year after surgery., Conclusions: The determined thresholds may support surgeons in the preoperative process of deciding for or against a surgical intervention and explain the probability of achieving sufficient postoperative symptom relief for the patient., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Prognostic I., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We evaluated the 1-year postoperative clinical and patient-reported outcomes in patients who had a 3-dimensional planned corrective osteotomy of their distal radius, radial shaft, or ulnar shaft using a printed, anatomical, patient-tailored plate to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of this methodology., Methods: Simulations in computer-assisted preoperative planning of corrective osteotomies resulted in 3-dimensionally printed surgical guides, surgical models, and anatomically customized plates for application at the distal radius and forearm. Patients with malunions of the distal radius or forearm who underwent fixation with the custom-made plates were documented in our registry. Grip strength and range of motion assessments were made before surgery (baseline), as well as at 6 weeks and 3 and 12 months. Additionally, patients rated their wrist-related pain and disability using the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation., Results: Fifteen patients underwent corrective surgery, and the 1-year follow-up data of 14 patients with a median age of 56 years (interquartile range, 24-64 years) were available for analysis. The median baseline Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation score improved from 47 to 7 after 1 year. The flexion-extension arc of motion of the wrist increased from 90° at baseline to 130° at 1 year and the pronation-supination arc of motion of the wrist increased from 135° to 160° in the same time period. Differences in radiological measurements for palmar and radial inclinations, as well as for ulnar variance between the affected and contralateral wrists, were reduced with the osteotomy. In 1 case, the plate was removed 11 months after the osteotomy. No severe adverse events were reported., Conclusions: Three-dimensionally planned and printed patient-tailored plates offer a reliable method for correcting even complex malunions of the distal radius and forearm., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Therapeutic IV., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The management of complications after surgery for basal thumb arthritis is sometimes challenging, and there are no clear recommendations on how to evaluate and manage patients with residual symptoms. The aim of the present article was to review the most common complications after surgery for basal thumb arthritis, with an emphasis on resection arthroplasty, joint replacement and joint fusion. In addition, possible management strategies for the different types of complications will be highlighted., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: DBH has a speaker contract with KeriMedical, which obliges him to hold training courses on the surgical technique of the Touch® prosthesis.

Objectives: The aim was to evaluate patient satisfaction with online video consultations in assessing hand disorder., Material and Methods: This prospective study included patients who attended a video consultation, either as an initial meeting to assess the need for further evaluation or treatment or as an early postoperative follow-up consultation. After the consultation, they completed a satisfaction questionnaire. Regression models were used to reveal determinants of patient satisfaction., Results: We included 100 patients, with a mean age of 55 years (range 17-81 years). 95% were satisfied or very satisfied. The main reasons for choosing this form of consultation were shorter travel and wait times. Age, gender and educational level did not determine satisfaction. Significant factors for dissatisfaction were insufficient video and sound quality., Conclusion: Online video consultation in hand surgery is a valuable alternative to in-clinic appointments for all age groups. However, it is crucial to ensure adequate video and audio quality., (Copyright © 2023 SFCM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

We compared the short-term recovery of patients treated with trapeziometacarpal joint (TMJ) implant arthroplasty versus resection-suspension-interposition (RSI) arthroplasty. Implant patients ( n  = 147) had a better 3-month postoperative brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) score (mean 82) compared to RSI patients ( n  = 127), who had a mean score of 69. Key pinch strength at 3 months was also higher in the implant group compared to the RSI group (6.8 kg vs. 3.1 kg). At 1 year, both groups had similar brief MHQ scores, but key pinch remained higher in the implant group (7.0 kg vs. 3.9 kg [RSI]). After implant arthroplasty, employed patients returned to work after a mean of 44 days, which was significantly faster than the 84 days for RSI patients. Patients after TMJ implant arthroplasty recover significantly faster in the first 3 postoperative months compared to RSI patients. However, 1-year postoperative outcomes are similar for both cohorts, with key pinch strength remaining higher for patients with TMJ implant arthroplasty. Level of evidence: II., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: DBH and SS have speaker contracts with KeriMedical, which obliges them to hold training courses on the surgical technique of the Touch® prosthesis. Other studies in our institution are funded by KeriMedical.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the 1-year outcomes after combining a surface replacing proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty and a distal interphalangeal screw arthrodesis and to compare the combined surgery with proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty alone. To obtain two groups with similar baseline data from our prospective registry, propensity score matching was used to match 23 fingers with the combined operations with 115 fingers with proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty alone. One year after surgery, the mean ranges of motion were 60° (95% CI: 53° to 67°) in the combined group and 63° (95% CI: 60° to 66°) in the control group and did not differ significantly. Grip strength, the brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire and pain also did not differ between the groups 1 year after surgery. All the proximal interphalangeal implants in patients treated with a distal interphalangeal screw arthrodesis remained in situ. Combining proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty with distal interphalangeal arthrodesis leads to 1-year outcomes that are similar to those achieved by proximal interphalangeal joint replacement alone. Level of evidence: III., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: S. Schindele and D. B. Herren were involved in the development of the CapFlex-PIP prosthesis and receive royalties from KLS Martin Group, Tuttlingen, Germany.

We analysed complications, revision surgeries, and patient-reported and clinical outcomes 2 years after trapeziometacarpal joint implant arthroplasty using the Touch® prosthesis. Of 130 operated patients with trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis, four had to be revised owing to implant dislocation, loosening or impingement, leading to an estimated 2-year survival rate of 96% (95% confidence interval: 90 to 99). Of 101 patients available for the 2-year follow-up, complications occurred in 17, with the most frequent being de Quervain stenosing vaginosis ( n  = 6) and trigger thumb ( n  = 5). Pain at rest decreased significantly from a median value of 5 (interquartile range [IQR]: 4 to 7) before surgery to 0 (IQR: 0 to 1) at 2 years. Key pinch strength increased significantly from 4.5 kg (IQR: 3.0 to 6.5) to 7.0 kg (IQR: 6.0 to 8.0). We recommend surgery with the Touch® prosthesis as the standard procedure for patients with isolated trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis because of the high survival rate and promising outcomes at 2 years. Level of evidence: IV., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Daniel B. Herren and Stephan Schindele have speaker contracts with KeriMedical, which obliges them to hold training courses on the surgical technique of the Touch® prosthesis. All other authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. Other studies in our institution are funded by KeriMedical.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to define radiological measurements for quantifying the position of a surface replacing implant (CapFlex-PIP) in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, to test the reliability of these measurements, and to explore whether implant position influences patient-reported and clinical outcomes one year after surgery., Material and Methods: We developed 7 radiographic measurements to quantify the position of the proximal and distal implant components. Two independent surgeons analyzed the 1-year postoperative radiographs of 63 fingers documented in our registry. Inter-rater reliability of these measurements was calculated with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Correlations between the radiographic measurements and PIP range of motion (ROM), the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ), and pain were determined using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Radiographic measurements of patients with the worst and best postoperative ROM were compared using the Mann-Whitney-U test., Results: Inter-rater reliability was only good for 1 measurement (ICC = 0.89), but poor to moderate for the other measurements (ICC ranging from 0.34 to 0.69). These measurements neither correlated with ROM, brief MHQ nor pain based on correlation coefficients ranging from 0.00 to 0.31. There were no relevant differences in the radiographic measurements between patients with the worst and best ROM., Conclusion: The position of the CapFlex-PIP implant could not be reliably quantified on plain radiographs. The lack of correlations between implant position and postoperative outcomes can be attributed either to the unreliable measurements or the actual lack of influence of the implant position on pain and function., (Copyright © 2023 SFCM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the 2-year clinical and patient-reported outcomes of thumb interphalangeal (IP) joint arthroplasty., Methods: In this prospective pilot study, we included patients who received a surface replacing implant at the thumb IP joint. Patients rated their pain at rest on a numeric rating scale (0-10) and completed the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire. The range of motion of the IP joint was also measured. If the patient acceptable symptom state was inadequate (i.e., pain at rest ≤ 1.5), the reasons for the remaining symptoms were descriptively presented., Results: Of the 13 patients who underwent arthroplasty, 1 withdrew participation and 1 was considered for arthrodesis because of a dislocated implant. Therefore, the study included 11 patients with a median age of 67 years. The median pain at rest decreased from 6 preoperatively to 0 at 2 years, and the preoperative brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire score increased from 38 to 58 at follow-up. The total range of motion of the IP joint was 45° at 2 years. Patient acceptable symptom state was not achieved in 4 patients including a heavy manual worker and a patient with severe systemic lupus erythematosus., Conclusions: Based on the inconsistency of the results, we conclude that thumb IP joint arthroplasty with a surface replacing implant is rarely indicated; it could be an alternative in patients who place great importance on precision tasks. For patients who either have high demands for a powerful pinch grip, the high physical demands of a manual job, or rheumatoid disease, IP joint arthrodesis should be preferred., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Therapeutic IV., (Copyright © 2022 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

COVID-19 has affected us all. The following collection of short essays highlights various aspects of the pandemic and how it has impacted hand surgery and lessons learned, from the perspective of the Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH) Executive Committee members. A range of topics were individually chosen by each of the five committee members and presented.

Purpose: Knowledge about the costs and benefits of hand surgical interventions is important for surgeons, payers, and policy makers. Little is known about the cost-effectiveness of surgery for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to examine patients' quality of life and economic costs, with focus on the cost-utility ratio 1 year after surgery for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis compared with that for continued nonsurgical management., Methods: Patients with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis indicated for resection arthroplasty were included in a prospective study. The quality of life (using European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Level), direct medical costs, and productivity losses were assessed up to 1 year after surgery. Baseline data at recruitment and costs sustained over 1 year before surgery served as a proxy for nonsurgical management. The total costs to gain 1 extra quality-adjusted life year and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were calculated from a health care system and a societal perspective., Results: The mean European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Level value for 151 included patients improved significantly from 0.69 to 0.88 (after surgery). The productivity loss during the preoperative period was 47% for 49 working patients, which decreased to 26% 1 year after surgery. The total costs increased from US $20,451 in the preoperative year to US $24,374 in the postoperative year. This resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of US $25,370 per quality-adjusted life year for surgery compared with that for simulated nonsurgical management., Conclusions: The calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was clearly below the suggested Swiss threshold of US $92,000, indicating that thumb carpometacarpal surgery is a cost-effective intervention., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Economic and Decision Analyses II., (Copyright © 2022 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report the case of a 69-year-old female patient, who developed an impressive foreign body reaction around broken metacarpophalangeal silicone implants, including serious axillary lymphadenopathy 3 years after surgery. Possible revision arthroplasties were evaluated but, due to poor bone stock, no regular implants could be used. Instead, a double RegJoint™ (Scaffdex Oy, Finland), a bioabsorbable poly-L/D-lactide implant, was used for each of the 4 metacarpophalangeal joints. At follow-up, we observed no recurrence of synovitis, lymphadenopathy, or any other adverse events. The patient was highly satisfied with the results of the surgery, and painless functional joint movement could be achieved. The restorable RegJoint™ implant seems to be a valid revision option in case of failed silicone arthroplasty., (Copyright © 2021 SFCM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

This review describes the different possibilities for arthroplasties at the proximal interphalangeal joint, thumb carpometacarpal joint, distal radioulnar joint, metacarpophalangeal joint and the wrist. For each joint, the indication for arthroplasty is explained, the surgical technique with the suitable implant is described and a brief summary of the outcomes reported in the literature is given.

This study investigated revision surgery for the thumb after failed trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition and defined a revision concept. Twenty-four patients with 25 affected thumbs were examined at a mean of 5.5 years after their last revision operation. Pain during daily activities was 2.7 on a 0-10 numeric rating scale, pain at rest was 1.6 and the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire score was 63. Although 68% of patients indicated that their thumb was better than before primary surgery, the outcome after revision surgery was less favourable than that reported for primary trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition. We defined a revision algorithm to use as a guide for patients with residual symptoms after resection arthroplasty. The main reason for revision, symptomatic impingement of the thumb metacarpal, should be treated with resection of the metacarpal base and scaphotrapezoidal joint. An existing interposition should be revised, or a new interposition should be used, preferably with an autologous tendon or alternately with an allograft. Level of evidence: IV.

Purpose: The objective was to measure the intraoperative load tolerance of the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint after trapeziectomy, tendon suspension, and interposition., Methods: In this single-center prospective study, preoperative pinch grip, thumb mobility, and hypermobility of the thumb CMC joint were determined by 2 hand surgeons. Patients completed the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire. During surgery and upon removal of the trapezium, the surgeon subjectively rated the degree of thumb CMC load tolerance as "stable," "medium stable," or "unstable." A measurement system with an integrated force sensor was used to measure intraoperative thumb CMC load tolerance. The thumb ray was displaced manually by 10 mm toward the scaphoid, and the counteracting force was measured over the entire displacement. The objective load tolerance was determined as the maximal measured force after trapezium resection, tendon suspension, and interposition. Analysis of variance was used to test for the differences in load tolerance between the surgical steps. Spearman's coefficient was used to find correlations between load tolerance and clinical or patient-reported variables., Results: Twenty-nine patients with a mean age of 70 years (SD, 8.1 years) were available for analysis. The measured intraoperative load tolerance after trapeziectomy was 15.5 N (SD, 5.4 N) and significantly increased to 18.7 N (SD, 5.5 N) after suspension. Load tolerance only slightly increased after tendon interposition, increasing the force to 20.3 N (SD, 6.7 N). Neither the surgeon's subjective stability rating nor the clinical or patient-reported variables correlated with the measured load tolerance after trapeziectomy., Conclusions: Our results show that tendon suspension leads to the highest increase in thumb CMC load tolerance during resection-suspension-interposition arthroplasty., Clinical Relevance: Tendon suspension appears to be the most important step in stabilizing the metacarpal base after trapeziectomy, whereas tendon interposition does not seem to have a relevant additional effect regarding load tolerance, at least immediately after surgery., (© 2021 The Authors.)

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the 5-year outcomes in patients after proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty using the surface replacing implant, CapFlex-PIP. Ninety-two prosthesis were implanted and 65 patients with 68 implants were available for follow-up. The brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire score improved significantly from 45 (SD 15) before surgery to 71 (SD 17) at 5 years. On the numeric rating scale, pain during activities decreased significantly from 6.4 (SD 1.9) to 1.8 (SD 1.9). Range of motion of the joints increased significantly from 45° (SD 21) to 54° (SD 24). An axis deviation of more than 5° was found in 65% of the joints before surgery, but only in 25% at 5 years. Soft tissue reoperations were performed on eight patients. Four out of 92 implants underwent revision for stiffness or implant loosening. In three implants, the distal component migrated without needing revision. Overall, the CapFlex-PIP implant demonstrates favourable medium-term results in surface replacing arthroplasty of the proximal interphalangeal joint. Level of evidence: IV.

Introduction: The aim was to analyse complications after surface replacing and silicone proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthroplasty., Materials and Methods: All complications, reoperations (subsequent intervention without implant modification) and revisions (subsequent surgery with implant modification or removal) were extracted out of our registry for two cohorts: (1) Patients who received a surface replacing arthroplasty at the PIP joint using the CapFlex-PIP prosthesis and (2) patients who received a PIP silicone implant. Furthermore, radiographs were evaluated for deviations from the longitudinal finger axis., Results: In our registry, 279 surface replacing implants and 424 silicone implants have been documented. The overall complication rate was 20% for surface replacements and 11% for silicone arthroplasties (p ≤ 0.01) with soft tissue-related events being the most prevalent in both groups. Reoperations were significantly more frequent after surface replacement (5.4%) than silicone arthroplasty (0.5%; p ≤ 0.001), while the revision rates did not differ significantly (4.4% and 3.3%, respectively; p = 0.542). Postoperative axis deviations were significantly less frequent in the surface replacement group (19% versus 58% for silicone arthroplasty; p ≤ 0.001)., Conclusion: We recommend using a surface replacing implant in fingers with preoperative axis deviations and correctable anatomical situation, bearing in mind the higher risk of a second surgery. However, treatment outcomes also need to be considered before choosing one implant over another.

The aim was to identify determinants of satisfaction in patients with inflammatory diseases who underwent hand reconstruction using silicone metacarpophalangeal (MCP) arthroplasty. We hypothesized that patients taking biologic drugs would be more satisfied with the outcome. Patients who underwent silicone arthroplasty and had a minimum follow-up of 1 year were included. Patients rated their satisfaction with the treatment result and hand appearance on a 5-point Likert scale with a score of 5 indicating "very satisfied" and 1 indicating "very dissatisfied" and completed the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes questionnaire (MHQ). MCP range of motion (ROM), ulnar drift and grip strength were measured. Ordered logistic regression modelling and the Mann-Whitney U test were used. Forty-one patients with 118 operated fingers were available for follow-up at an average of 5.6 years after surgery. Patients were satisfied with the overall treatment result (score 4.4; SD 0.8), but only somewhat satisfied (score 3.3; SD 1.5) with their hand's appearance. Total MCP ROM was 61° (SD 21) with an ulnar deviation of 10° (SD 14). Appearance and ulnar deviation were significant determinants of satisfaction (R 2 =0.35). There was no difference in outcomes between patients using biologics and those who were not. Our hypothesis that patients taking biologics are more satisfied after surgery could not be proven. Hand appearance and ulnar drift are the most important determinants of satisfaction after reconstruction of MCP deformity., (Copyright © 2020 SFCM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

We sought to investigate the reliability, validity, responsiveness, and interpretability of the German version of the Unité Rhumatologique des Affections de la Main (URAM) scale in patients with Dupuytren's disease. Patients with Dupuytren's disease were evaluated before receiving an injection of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum or undergoing surgical treatment and again 1 year later. Patients completed the URAM, the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (brief MHQ), and the 5-level EuroQol version (EQ-5D-5L). Flexion contracture was measured. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), construct validity (Spearman's correlation coefficient, r), responsiveness (effect size), and the minimally important change (MIC) and minimally important difference (MID) were determined. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the structural validity of the questionnaire. We included 231 patients (273 cases) with a mean age of 67 (SD, 9) years. Cronbach's alpha was 0.91. Correlations between the URAM and the brief MHQ, EQ-5D-5L and flexion contracture were r=-0.76, r=-0.46 and r=0.53, respectively. The URAM effect size was 0.96 and the MIC and MID were 6 and 7 points, respectively. The factor analysis revealed unidimensionality but indicated that one item (pick up small objects) could be removed. The German URAM has high reliability, good construct validity and excellent responsiveness. However, the questionnaire could be shortened by one item to increase its structural validity. We recommend using the URAM as a specific tool for evaluating the treatment effect in patients with Dupuytren's disease in daily practice and for research purposes., (Copyright © 2020 SFCM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to quantify the lateral stability of healthy proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints using a three-dimensional motion capture system and compare it to affected joints after surface replacement or silicone arthroplasty. Three study groups comprised healthy participants, patients with PIP joint osteoarthritis treated with a surface replacing implant (CapFlex-PIP) and those with a silicone arthroplasty. All participants were matched on gender and finger, and the two patient groups were also matched on length of follow-up. An optical tracking system was used to measure lateral stability. Radial and ulnar stability of the PIP joint was measured as the maximal lateral deviation angle of the middle phalanx under loads of 40 g, 90 g and 170g at 0°, 20° and 45° PIP joint flexion. Measurement reliability was evaluated with a test-retest trial [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)]. A total of 30 joints were assessed with 5 index and 5 middle fingers per test group. Lateral deviation increased proportionally with applied weight. Silicone arthroplasty joints had a higher median lateral deviation angle of 5.1° (range 0.7-7.9) than healthy [3.0° (0.5-11.0)] and surface replacement joints [3.3° (0.3-7.4)] at 45° flexion and under 170g load. Test-retest reliability was high with an ICC of 0.93. Lateral PIP joint stability is highly variable in both healthy participants and patients after PIP joint arthroplasty. PIP joint surface replacement arthroplasty tends to achieve better anatomical stability compared to flexible silicone implants., (Copyright © 2020 SFCM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate patient satisfaction after distal interphalangeal joint silicone arthroplasty and compare this outcome to that achieved with screw arthrodesis. On average 4.4 years after surgery, range of motion of the distal interphalangeal joint, pain on a numeric rating scale, satisfaction, and hand appearance of 48 patients (78 treated fingers) were assessed. For arthroplasty patients, mean distal interphalangeal joint motion was 28° with an extension deficit of 17°. Pain was low for arthroplasty and arthrodesis patients with scores of 0.2 and 0.6 out of a total of 10 points, respectively. The patients in both groups were satisfied with their outcomes, but arthroplasty patients were less satisfied with the appearance. Twenty-one per cent of the arthroplasties and 15% of the arthrodeses underwent reoperation. We suggest the motion-preserving distal interphalangeal arthroplasty as an alternative to distal interphalangeal arthrodesis for patients with higher functional demands and whose joints are stable preoperatively. In patients attaching importance to hand aesthetics and for unstable joints, distal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis is preferable. Level of evidence: III.

The objective was to compare outcomes of the volar, Chamay and tendon splitting approaches for proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty using a surface-replacing implant (CapFlex-PIP). One-hundred prospectively documented patients with a 2-year follow-up were included. Range of proximal interphalangeal joint motion, the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire and complications were analysed. Between baseline and follow-up, mean proximal interphalangeal joint motion increased for the volar (53° to 54°), Chamay (38° to 53°) and tendon splitting (40° to 61°) approaches. The volar approach yielded the greatest flexion and the highest extension deficit. The mean brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire scores at baseline and 2 years were 45 and 74 (volar), 45 and 66 (Chamay) and 41 and 75 (tendon splitting). Seven patients in the Chamay group and two in the volar group required a reoperation consisting of teno-/arthrolysis. The tendon splitting approach tended to result in the best outcomes that were associated with fewer complications compared with the volar and Chamay approaches. Level of evidence: IV.

The severity of preoperative symptoms at which patients are likely to achieve a minimal important change and patient acceptable symptom state after surgery may help the decision to perform surgery for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis. The study objective was to define these thresholds for pain at rest and during activities as well as for the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire. One hundred and fifty-one patients were examined before surgery and 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. The minimal important change after surgery was 1.9, 3.9 and 16 scores for pain at rest, pain during activities and the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire, respectively. The respective patient acceptable symptom state values were 1.5, 2.5 and 70 after surgery. Our results show that patients with baseline pain values between 3.5 and 5.5 at rest, between 6.5 and 7.5 during activities and a presurgery brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire score of about 47, have the greatest chance of achieving a relevant symptom change and an acceptable symptom state. The information from this study may help surgeons in deciding the surgical indications and help patients in their expectation in symptom relief after surgery. Level of evidence: IV.

Introduction: Several studies have investigated the clinical outcome after collagenase treatment for Dupuytren's disease in terms of range of motion of the affected finger. However, good objective clinical outcome defined by a small remaining flexion contracture does not necessarily translate into satisfactory patient-subjective hand function. The aim of the present study was to identify predictors of patient-reported as well as objective clinical outcome in patients 1 year after collagenase treatment for Dupuytren's disease., Materials and Methods: Socio-demographic and disease-related data of 92 Dupuytren patients were collected prior to the intervention. Flexion contracture of the most affected finger was measured at baseline and 1 year after treatment. Patients also completed the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (brief MHQ) before the intervention and at 1-year follow-up. First, univariate correlations using Pearson's correlation coefficient of the baseline variables with the two target variables were investigated. All variables with r > 0.35 were selected for a multivariate linear stepwise backwards regression model., Results: The mean brief MHQ score increased between baseline (72 ± 14) and the 1-year follow-up (85 ± 15) (p ≤ 0.001) and baseline flexion contracture decreased from 76° (± 26) to 33° (± 31) (p ≤ 0.001). Higher hand function at baseline (R 2  = 0.31) and less flexion contracture (R 2  = 0.46) were identified as positive predictors for the outcome 1 year after collagenase treatment for Dupuytren's disease. Other variables such as age, gender, manual work and if the MCP or PIP joint was affected did not determine outcome in our patient series., Conclusions: Collagenase treatment resulted in considerable improvement in flexion contracture as well as patient-reported hand function at the 1-year follow-up. Clinicians can expect better outcome after collagenase infiltration in patients with less flexion contracture and in patients showing good initial self-reported hand function.

Our aim was to determine the minimal important change and patient acceptable symptom state for pain and the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire in patients 1 year after proximal interphalangeaI joint arthroplasty. We analysed data of 100 patients from our prospective registry. The minimal important change and patient acceptable symptom state were determined with anchor-based methods, and patients with better or worse baseline status were examined. The minimal important change for pain at rest and during activities, and the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire was -1.2, -2.8 and 18, respectively, with corresponding patient acceptable symptom state values of 1.5, 2.5 and 64. Patients with higher baseline symptoms rated more severe postoperative symptoms as acceptable, whereas patients with lower baseline symptoms were only satisfied with a low level of pain and high level of hand function. The minimal important change and patient acceptable symptom state are useful estimates for patient outcomes and study results. Level of evidence: IV.

Purpose: The objective was to investigate the clinical and subjective outcomes of patients after 4-corner arthrodesis (FCA) for scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) or scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse (SNAC) and to analyze complications. Furthermore, we compared the long-term results of a first-generation nonlocking plate (Spider) and a plate with a locking screw design (Flower plate)., Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, we included 39 patients with stage II or III SLAC or SNAC who underwent FCA. Twenty wrists were treated with a nonlocking plate and 19 with a locking plate. Patients completed the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) and the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ). Active range of wrist motion, radiological signs such as impingement, and signs of implant loosening and nonunion, as well as postoperative complications, were assessed., Results: After a median postoperative follow-up time of 4.1 years, the PRWE score was 18 and the total MHQ score 79. Patient-reported and clinical outcomes were similar for the 2 plate types. Wrists fixed with the nonlocking plate had more dorsal impingements and loosening than wrists fixed with a locking plate. One nonunion was noted in the nonlocking plate group, and a single case of implant failure was seen for each plate type. A total of 5 patients with a nonlocking plate incurred postoperative complications that required further medical treatment., Conclusions: FCA for patients with stage II or III SLAC or SNAC yields positive clinical and subjective outcomes. Based on the high complication rate following FCA with a nonlocking plate, we no longer use this implant and recommend fixation with a locking screw plate., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Therapeutic IV., (Copyright © 2018 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rheumatoid arthritis is one common form of inflammatory arthritis that affects about 1% of the population. Few conditions in hand surgery have undergone such fundamental changes within the last two decades as rheumatoid arthritis has with regard to clinical presentations and treatments. This article provides a personal practice-guided review of the author's decision making and treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the past two decades.

Purpose: The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the 12-month postoperative Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) total score between patients with osteoarthritis (OA) at the first carpometacarpal (CMC I) joint who underwent trapeziectomy with suspension-interposition arthroplasty using the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) tendon and those receiving a human dermal collagen template (allograft)., Methods: We included 60 patients with CMC I OA who met the indications for surgery. They were randomized into 1 of 2 groups: trapeziectomy using the FCR tendon or trapeziectomy with the allograft for suspension-interposition. Patients completed a set of questionnaires including the MHQ and were clinically assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Complications were recorded., Results: We operated on 29 patients using the FCR tendon; 31 patients received an allograft. Baseline MHQ total scores significantly increased from 51 (95% confidence interval [CI], 46-56) to 83 (95% CI, 78-87) and 53 (95% CI, 47-58) to 76 (95% CI, 69-84) by 12 months in the FCR and allograft groups, respectively. We found similar outcomes for both groups at all follow-up assessments. Five complications occurred in the FCR group, and 10 in the allograft group. Revision surgery was required for one allograft patient., Conclusions: The use of the FCR tendon or allograft for trapeziectomy with suspension-interposition arthroplasty in patients with CMC I OA leads to similar outcomes with more complications, mainly tendon irritations, associated with the latter. Therefore, we only use the allograft in cases of severe instability requiring a larger amount of suspension-interposition material or for revision procedures after failed suspension-interposition with the FCR tendon., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Therapeutic I., (Copyright © 2017 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)