Project description:IntroductionThe aim of this study was to address and enhance our ability to study the clinical outcome of limb salvage (LS), a commonly referenced but ill-defined clinical care pathway, by developing a data-driven approach for the identification of LS cases using existing medical code data to identify characteristic diagnoses and procedures, and to use that information to describe a cohort of US Service members (SMs) for further study.MethodsDiagnosis code families and inpatient procedure codes were compiled and analyzed to identify medical codes that are disparately associated with a LS surrogate population of SMs who underwent secondary amputation within a broader cohort of 3390 SMs with lower extremity trauma (AIS > 1). Subsequently, the identified codes were used to define a cohort of all SMs who underwent lower extremity LS which was compared with the opinion of a panel of military trauma surgeons.ResultsThe data-driven approach identified a population of n = 2018 SMs who underwent LS, representing 59.5% of the combat-related lower extremity (LE) trauma population. Validation analysis revealed 70% agreement between the data-driven approach and gold standard SME panel for the test cases studied. The Kappa statistic (κ = 0.55) indicates a moderate agreement between the data-driven approach and the expert opinion of the SME panel. The sensitivity and specificity were identified as 55.6% (expert range of 51.8-66.7%) and 87% (expert range of 73.9-91.3%), respectively.ConclusionsThis approach for identifying LS cases can be utilized to enable future high-throughput retrospective analyses for studying both short- and long-term outcomes of this underserved patient population.
Project description:BackgroundVascular thrombosis secondary to frostbite can lead to ischemic tissue damage in severe cases. Threatened extremities may be salvaged with thrombolytics to restore perfusion; however, current data are limited to single institution case series. The authors performed a systematic review to determine the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy in treating upper extremity frostbite.MethodsPubMed, EBSCO, and Google Scholar were queried using the keywords "thrombolytics," "frostbite," "fibrinolytics," and "tPA." Exclusion criteria were failure to delineate anatomic parts injured, failure to report number of limbs salvaged, animal studies, and non-English language publications. Thrombolytic therapy was defined as intraarterial (IA) or intravenous (IV) administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), alteplase, urokinase, streptokinase, or any tPA derivative.ResultsA total of 42 studies were identified, with 13 satisfying inclusion criteria. Eight studies reported catheter-directed IA thrombolysis, four reported systemic IV administration, and 1 reported both methods. A total of 157 patients received thrombolytics. In all, 73 upper extremity digits were treated by IA route and 136 digits were treated by IV route. Overall upper extremity digit salvage rate was 59%. There was a significantly higher salvage rate in digits treated by the IA route compared to the IV route.ConclusionsThrombolytics, particularly when administered by the intra-arterial route, are emerging as a promising treatment of severe frostbite of the upper extremity, increasing digit salvage rates.
Project description:BackgroundMangled extremities are one of the most difficult injuries for trauma surgeons to manage. We compare limb salvage rates for a limb-threatening lower extremity injuries managed at Level I vs Level II trauma centers (TCs).Study designWe identified all adult patients with a limb-threatening injury who underwent primary amputation or limb salvage (LS) using the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Trauma Quality Improvement Program database at ACS Level I vs II TCs between 2007 and 2017. A limb-threatening injury was defined as an open tibial fracture with concurrent arterial injury (Gustilo type IIIc). Multivariable analysis and propensity score matching were performed to minimize confounding by indication.ResultsThere were 712 records for analysis; 391 (54.9%) LS performed and 321 (45.1%) underwent amputation. The rate of LS was statistically higher among patients treated at Level I TCs vs those treated at Level II TCs (47.4% vs 34.8%; p = 0.01). Patients with penetrating injuries (13% vs 9.5%; p = 0.046) and tibial/peroneal artery injury (72.9% vs 50.4%; p < 0.001), as opposed to popliteal artery injury (30.8% vs 58.8%; p < 0.001), were more likely to have LS. The risk-adjusted odds of LS was 3.13 times higher at Level I TCs vs Level II TCs (95% CI, 1.59 to 6.34; p = 0.001). Limb salvage rates were significantly higher at Level I TCs compared with Level II TCs (53.0% vs 34.8%; p = 0.004), even after propensity matching.ConclusionsIn patients with a mangled extremity, limb salvage rates are 50% higher at Level I TCs compared with Level II TCs, independent of case mix and injury severity.
Project description:Post traumatic lymphedema (PTL) is a known complication of extremity trauma that is detrimental to limb form and function, healing, and quality of life. In cases of complex lower extremity trauma with vascular and extensive soft tissue injury, the risk of PTL is increased. However, many trauma patients are lost to follow-up, making the risk and potential management of these patients' lymphedema difficult to characterize. The purpose of this report is to describe the successful surgical management of PTL secondary to significant lower extremity trauma requiring complex limb salvage reconstruction. A 43-year-old woman involved in a motorcycle accident presented with a Gustilo IIIB right tibial fracture and single-vessel leg. She underwent successful limb salvage with serial debridement, bony fixation, creation of an arteriovenous loop with a contralateral saphenous vein graft, and a chimeric latissimus dorsi-serratus anterior muscle flap. At the 5-month follow-up, she presented with significant right lower extremity lymphedema. She underwent lymphovenous bypass surgery guided by preoperative indocyanine green lymphography, which resulted in a 62% improvement in functional outcome measures, eliminated her prior need for compression garments and inability to wear regular shoes, and sustained improvement at two years follow-up. This case illustrates a near circumferential traumatic defect reconstructed with a muscle flap and successful delayed lymphatic reconstruction with lymphovenous bypass in the same patient.
Project description:Context: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is common among athletes and should be considered as being of arterial origin only if patients have "clinical symptoms due to documented symptomatic ischemia." We previously reported that upper limb ischemia can be documented with DROPm (minimal value of limb changes minus chest changes) from transcutaneous oximetry (TcpO2) in TOS. Purpose: We aimed to test the hypothesised that forearm (F-) DROPm would better detect symptoms associated with arterial compression during abduction than upper arm (U-) DROPm, and that the thresholds would differ. Methods: We studied 175 patients (retrospective analysis of a cross-sectional acquired database) with simultaneous F-TcpO2 and U-TcpO2 recordings on both upper limbs, and considered tests to be positive (CS+) when upper limb symptoms were associated with ipsilateral arterial compression on either ultrasound or angiography. We determined the threshold and diagnostic performance with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and calculation of the area under the ROC curve (AUROC) for absolute resting TcpO2 and DROPm values to detect CS+. For all tests, a two-tailed p < 0.05 was considered indicative of statistical significance. Results: In the 350 upper-limbs, while resting U-TcpO2 and resting F-TcpO2 were not predictive of CS + results, the AUROCs were 0.68 ± 0.03 vs. 0.69 ± 0.03 (both p < 0.01), with the thresholds being -7.5 vs. -14.5 mmHg for the detection of CS + results for U-DROPm vs. F-DROPm respectively. Conclusion: In patients with suspected TOS, TcpO2 can be used for detecting upper limb arterial compression and/or symptoms during arm abduction, provided that different thresholds are used for U-DROPm and F-DROPm. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04376177.
Project description:BackgroundTraffic accidents and musculoskeletal injuries represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Costa Rica. To inform capacity building efforts, we conducted a survey study of hand and upper extremity (UE) fellowship-trained surgeons in Costa Rica to evaluate the epidemiology, complications, and challenges in care of UE trauma.MethodsAiming to capture all hand and UE trained surgeons in Costa Rica, we compiled a list of nine surgeons and sent a survey in Spanish using Qualtrics. Assessment questions were developed to understand the burden, complications, practice patterns, challenges, and capacity associated with care of UE trauma. Questions were designed to focus on opportunities for future investigation. Questions were translated and adapted by two bilingual speakers. Data were reported descriptively and open-ended responses were analyzed using content analysis.ResultsNine (100%) surgeons completed the survey. Distal radius fractures, hand and finger fractures, and tendon injuries are the most frequently noted conditions. Stiffness and infection are the most common complications. About 29% of patients are unable to get necessary therapy and 13% do not return for follow-up care with monetary, distance, and transportation limitations being the greatest challenges.ConclusionsThe burden of UE trauma in Costa Rica is high. Identifying common conditions, complications, challenges, and capacity allows for a tailored approach to partnership and capacity building (e.g. directing capacity building and/or research infrastructure toward distal radius fractures). These insights represent opportunities to inform community-driven care improvement and research initiatives, such as Delphi consensus approaches to identify priorities or the development of outcome measurement systems.
Project description:BackgroundA crush injury to the upper extremity with a MESS (Mangled Extremity Severity Score) more than or equal to 10 carries a poor salvage prognosis and functional outcome. Usually performing multiple staged surgeries in these patients make the follow up and rehabilitation regimen long and complicated. This means either the patient doesent return or fails to gain any function. In order to overcome this problem we have done a single stage functional reconstruction in a mangled upper extremity.CaseA young female presented with a crush injuiry of the upper limb where a functional reconstruction with an LD (Latissimus Dorsi) flap was done 48 hrs after limb salvage surgery. The flap provided cover to the shoulder and elbow joint and also acted as a motor for elbow flexion.ResultAfter 6 months following surgery, the patient had regained active motion in her elbow and shoulder joint, and at 1 year she was able to carry out activities of daily living without any external help.ConclusionOur case demonstrates that the mangled upper extremity can have varied presentations but the surgeon should use every knowledge and technique at their disposal to achieve the maximum chance of autologous functional reconstruction.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-022-00700-w.
Project description:ImportanceCervical spinal cord injury (SCI) causes devastating loss of upper extremity function and independence. Nerve transfers are a promising approach to reanimate upper limbs; however, there remains a paucity of high-quality evidence supporting a clinical benefit for patients with tetraplegia.ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical utility of nerve transfers for reanimation of upper limb function in tetraplegia.Design, setting, and participantsIn this prospective case series, adults with cervical SCI and upper extremity paralysis whose recovery plateaued were enrolled between September 1, 2015, and January 31, 2019. Data analysis was performed from August 2021 to February 2022.InterventionsNerve transfers to reanimate upper extremity motor function with target reinnervation of elbow extension and hand grasp, pinch, and/or release.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was motor strength measured by Medical Research Council (MRC) grades 0 to 5. Secondary outcomes included Sollerman Hand Function Test (SHFT); Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire (MHQ); Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH); and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores. Outcomes were assessed up to 48 months postoperatively.ResultsTwenty-two patients with tetraplegia (median age, 36 years [range, 18-76 years]; 21 male [95%]) underwent 60 nerve transfers on 35 upper limbs at a median time of 21 months (range, 6-142 months) after SCI. At final follow-up, upper limb motor strength improved significantly: median MRC grades were 3 (IQR, 2.5-4; P = .01) for triceps, with 70% of upper limbs gaining an MRC grade of 3 or higher for elbow extension; 4 (IQR, 2-4; P < .001) for finger extensors, with 79% of hands gaining an MRC grade of 3 or higher for finger extension; and 2 (IQR, 1-3; P < .001) for finger flexors, with 52% of hands gaining an MRC grade of 3 or higher for finger flexion. The secondary outcomes of SHFT, MHQ, DASH, and SF36-PCS scores improved beyond the established minimal clinically important difference. Both early (<12 months) and delayed (≥12 months) nerve transfers after SCI achieved comparable motor outcomes. Continual improvement in motor strength was observed in the finger flexors and extensors across the entire duration of follow-up.Conclusions and relevanceIn this prospective case series, nerve transfer surgery was associated with improvement of upper limb motor strength and functional independence in patients with tetraplegia. Nerve transfer is a promising intervention feasible in both subacute and chronic SCI.
Project description:Reconstruction of tendons following complex trauma to the upper limb presents unique clinical and research challenges. In this article, the authors review the principles guiding preoperative assessment, surgical reconstruction, and postoperative rehabilitation and management of the upper extremity. Tissue engineering approaches to address tissue shortages for tendon reconstruction are also discussed.