Explorative study of the sensitivity and specificity of the pronator quadratus fat pad sign as a predictor of subtle wrist fractures

Objective: To investigate the value of post-traumatic pronator quadratus (PQ) fat pad sign as a reliable predictor of subtle wrist fractures. Materials and methods: This was a prospective study of 68 patients undergoing X-ray for traumatic wrist injuries and subsequent MRI. The reliability of a positive PQ fat pad sign on X-ray, defined as either raised, interrupted or obliterated, was evaluated in detection of subtle wrist fractures. Results: Out of 68 patients, 28 had a positive PQ sign without any obvious bony injuries on plain radiographs; of these, the PQ fat pad was obliterated in 11, disrupted in 12, and raised in five cases. Fractures defined as cortical interruption or trabecular fractures were revealed in 13/28 (46 %) patients with a positive PQ sign but only in 7/40 (18 %) patients with a negative sign. With regards to different types of abnormal PQ fat planes, fractures were present in 7/12 patients with a disrupted plane (58 %), 6/11 patients with an obliterated plane (54 %), and none of the patients with a raised plane. The overall sensitivity and specificity of a positive PQ sign in the prediction of occult wrist fractures were 65 and 69 %, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that a positive pronator quadratus (PQ) fat pad sign is not a reliable predictor of subtle fractures of the wrist, although we believe that it is a useful radiographic sign in justifying MRI for further clarification of possible joint abnormalities including occult fracture and cortex interruption

Early MRI diagnostics for suspected scaphoid fractures subsequent to initial plain radiography

Aim In the United Kingdom, diagnostic management of patients presenting to emergency department with a scaphoid injury varies. Follow-up plain radiographs, after an initial inconclusive X-ray, are common practice. We optimised the diagnostic pathway for these patients by focusing on the most appropriate diagnostic modality and on minimising the time to follow-up diagnostics. Materials and methods A baseline audit in the period 2008–2009 involving a total of 184 patients was conducted, and after the introduction of new local guidelines for scaphoid injury diagnostics, a follow-up audit involving 79 patients was undertaken in 2010–2012. Results In the original audit, 130 patients had only scaphoid radiographs, of which 23 underwent initial and follow-up X-rays, and 107 initial-only radiographs. Of those 23, just one single patient (4 %) displayed a scaphoid fracture. Others underwent three imaging procedures: initial radiographs, follow-up radiographs and either bone scan (41 patients) or MRI (13 patients). A further 6/41 (15 %) and 4/13 (31 %) fractures were detected by bone scan and MRI, respectively. In the re-audit, when MRI replaced follow-up X-rays and bone scans, 7 out of 77 (9 %) patients were diagnosed with scaphoid fracture. Time from initial plain radiograph to follow-up MRI was reduced from an original mean of 36 to 14 days during the re-audit period. Conclusion The introduction of early MRI enhances scaphoid injury diagnostics and accelerates patient management. We therefore endorse the introduction of this approach on a wider scale through an update of the clinical guidelines for scaphoid injuries

Scaphoid Fracture in a Patient with a Scaphotrapezial Synostosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction. Scaphotrapezial synostosis has been rarely reported in the literature and only one case underwent surgical treatment for scaphoid fracture. Presentation of Case. A 15-year-old male presented with a painful left wrist following a fall. The initial radiographs showed a displaced scaphoid proximal pole fracture and a Scaphotrapezial synostosis. The fracture was then fixed percutaneously with satisfactory outcome. Discussion. Scaphotrapezial synostoses are very rare and most found in patients with multiple congenital anomalies or as part of a hereditary syndrome. They have previously been reported; however, we found only one case reporting a concomitant scaphoid fracture. Conclusion. This is the second case of its kind to report surgical treatment of scaphoid fracture associated with a congenital Scaphotrapezial synostosis

OPTY-LINE remote-controlled adjustable intramedullary device implantation in open-wedge high tibial osteotomy: a prospective proof-of-concept pilot and comparison with Tomofix fixed-plate device method

Purpose: The objective was to evaluate the clinical and patient-related short- to medium-term performance of the OPTY-LINE nail device for high tibial osteotomy (HTO), comparing a case series of the said device to the established Tomofix fixed-plate device. Patients and Methods: Males with symptomatic medial compartmental osteoarthritis and no serious (co-morbid) knee pathology were followed up, five Tomofix and six OPTY-LINE patients. Patients underwent computed tomography assessment and completed Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome score (KOOS) and osteotomy surgery patient satisfaction questionnaires, 3 and 6 months post-surgery. A radiologist impression score and a quantitative digital bone density analysis were performed by two independent radiologists. Mann–Whitney U test was applied for inferential statistical tests. Results: At 6 months post-surgery, for Tomofix, the median radiologists’ healing impression score was ‘progressive healing’ versus ‘union virtually complete’ for the OPTY-LINE nail; bone healing quotient was 1.30 (standard deviation (SD) 1.74) versus 1.78 (SD 1.58), p = 0.18. The post-operative absolute surgical accuracy was a mean 12 (7.5) for Tomofix versus 4.1 (2.3) for OPTY-LINE, p = 0.052. At baseline, however, Tomofix patients had more knee symptoms, as determined by KOOS symptom sub-score, when compared to the OPTY-LINE cohort ( p = 0.009). Conclusion: This initial, non-randomized, comparative evaluation of the OPTY-LINE device for HTO has produced similar outcomes to patients treated with the established Tomofix device. In particular, the rate of post-surgical bone regeneration and surgical accuracy achieved with the OPTY-LINE device are encouraging. Large-scale randomized controlled studies with longer follow-up are indicated to further evaluate the clinical and patient-related outcome performance for OPTY-LINE

Patients' oral hydration levels and incidence of immediate to short-term mild side-effects in contrast agent enhanced MRI diagnostics

Aim: Gadolinium-based contrast agents for radiodiagnostic purposes can lead to side effects, including nephrotoxicity in patients with renal insufficiency. This study evaluated whether the occurrence of mild side effects from gadolinium-based contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlates to patients' oral hydration levels. Methods: Oral fluid intake levels 24 h pre- and 24 h post-MRI, as well as incidence of mild side-effects experienced 30 min and 24 h post-MRI were recorded by using a patient self-reporting questionnaire. Results: A total of 174 patients, 29 controls, 98 administered Prohance and 47 receiving Dotarem, were enrolled. Overall, the most frequently reported side-effect was headache; nausea only occurred in patients receiving contrast agent. One or more side-effects experienced 24 h following the MRI scan were reported by 10% (controls), 24% (Prohance) and 22% (Dotarem) of patients, respectively. Multivariate ordinal regression analysis showed that only male gender (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.11–0.53) was statistically significantly associated with a decreased incidence of side-effects 30 min after MRI. At 24-h post MRI, a lack of contrast agent (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.09–1.74) and male gender (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.19–1.09) were associated with fewer side-effects. Conclusions: The level oral fluid intake before and after undergoing gadolinium-based contrast-enhanced MRI does not appear to markedly affect the incidence of common undesirable mild symptoms experienced shortly after the procedure. Confounding differences between patients in reporting side-effects may contribute to these findings

Scaphoid Fracture in a Patient with a Scaphotrapezial Synostosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction. Scaphotrapezial synostosis has been rarely reported in the literature and only one case underwent surgical treatment for scaphoid fracture. Presentation of Case. A 15-year-old male presented with a painful left wrist following a fall. The initial radiographs showed a displaced scaphoid proximal pole fracture and a Scaphotrapezial synostosis. The fracture was then fixed percutaneously with satisfactory outcome. Discussion. Scaphotrapezial synostoses are very rare and most found in patients with multiple congenital anomalies or as part of a hereditary syndrome. They have previously been reported; however, we found only one case reporting a concomitant scaphoid fracture. Conclusion. This is the second case of its kind to report surgical treatment of scaphoid fracture associated with a congenital Scaphotrapezial synostosis

The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of occult scaphoid fractures

Background: Ultrasonography is widely utilized by emergency physicians and radiologists to diagnose various orthopaedic diseases, including fractures. We aim to derive a definitive estimate of the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in clinically suspected scaphoid fractures. Methods: We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of included diagnostic cohort studies that discussed the use of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of occult scaphoid fractures. We searched the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence database using the Healthcare Databases Advanced Search tool. In addition, we utilized the PubMed database to search the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Excerpta Medica database, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health and Allied and Complimentary Medicine databases. Studies were included if they discuss the role of ultrasound imaging in the diagnosis of scaphoid fractures based on cortical interruption, radio-carpal effusion and scapho-trapezium-trapezoid effusion. Quality assessment was performed using the methodological index for non-randomized studies scoring system. Results: 6 non-randomized control studies met the inclusion criteria. Collectively, these included 236 patients with a mean age ranging from 18 to 41.2 years. The quality of these articles ranged between moderate and high based on the methodological index for nonrandomized studies score. The mean sensitivity was 88.95% (standard deviation 10.03) and mean specificity was 89.50% (standard deviation 12.21). Conclusion: The current literature reveals high sensitivity and specificity in the use of ultrasonography in scaphoid fracture diagnosis. However, multiple factors including technical differences in ultrasound machines and probes, small sample sizes and variability of subsequent confirmatory tests have created a challenge in determining the ultimate reliability of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of occult scaphoid fractures. Considering these factors and limitations, large-sample and high-quality clinical trials are needed to adequately assess its reliability for this purpose. One stop clinics, in the authors’ opinion, would be an ideal setting for its introduction as well as for future trials

OPTY-LINE remote-controlled adjustable intramedullary device implantation in open-wedge high tibial osteotomy: A prospective proof-of-concept pilot and comparison with Tomofix fixed-plate device method

Purpose:The objective was to evaluate the clinical and patient-related short- to medium-term performance of the OPTY-LINE nail device for high tibial osteotomy (HTO), comparing a case series of the said device to the established Tomofix fixed-plate device.Patients and Methods:Males with symptomatic medial compartmental osteoarthritis and no serious (co-morbid) knee pathology were followed up, five Tomofix and six OPTY-LINE patients. Patients underwent computed tomography assessment and completed Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome score (KOOS) and osteotomy surgery patient satisfaction questionnaires, 3 and 6 months post-surgery. A radiologist impression score and a quantitative digital bone density analysis were performed by two independent radiologists. Mann–Whitney U test was applied for inferential statistical tests.Results:At 6 months post-surgery, for Tomofix, the median radiologists’ healing impression score was ‘progressive healing’ versus ‘union virtually complete’ for the OPTY-LINE nail; bone healing quotient was 1.30 (standard deviation (SD) 1.74) versus 1.78 (SD 1.58), p = 0.18. The post-operative absolute surgical accuracy was a mean 12 (7.5) for Tomofix versus 4.1 (2.3) for OPTY-LINE, p = 0.052. At baseline, however, Tomofix patients had more knee symptoms, as determined by KOOS symptom sub-score, when compared to the OPTY-LINE cohort ( p = 0.009).Conclusion:This initial, non-randomized, comparative evaluation of the OPTY-LINE device for HTO has produced similar outcomes to patients treated with the established Tomofix device. In particular, the rate of post-surgical bone regeneration and surgical accuracy achieved with the OPTY-LINE device are encouraging. Large-scale randomized controlled studies with longer follow-up are indicated to further evaluate the clinical and patient-related outcome performance for OPTY-LINE.</jats:sec