Neurovascular complications due to the Hippocrates method for reducing anterior shoulder dislocations

In spite of the fact that the Hippocrates method hardly has been evaluated in a scientific manner and numerous associated iatrogenic complications have been reported, this method remains to be one of the most common techniques for reducing anterior shoulder dislocations. We report the case of a 69-year-old farmer under coumarin anticoagulant therapy who sustained acute first time anterior dislocation of his dominant right shoulder. By using the Hippocrates method with the patient under general anaesthesia, the brachial vein was injured and an increasing hematoma subsequently caused brachial plexus paresis by pressure. After surgery for decompression and vascular suturing, symptoms declined rapidly, but brachial plexus paresis still was not fully reversible after 3 mo of follow-up. The hazardousness of using the Hippocrates method can be explained by traction on the outstretched arm with force of the operator's body weight, direct trauma to the axillary region by the physician's heel, and the topographic relations of neurovascular structures and the dislocated humeral head. As there is a variety of alternative reduction techniques which have been evalu-ated scientifically and proofed to be safe, we strongly caution against the use of the Hippocrates method as a first line technique for reducing anterior shoulder dislocations, especially in elder patients with fragile vessels or under anticoagulant therapy, and recommend the scapular manipulation technique or the Milch technique, for example, as a first choice.

Development of an internally braced prosthesis for total talus replacement

Total loss of talus due to trauma or avascular necrosis,for example,still remains to be a major challenge in foot and ankle surgery with severely limited treatment options.Implantation of a custom made total talar prosthesis has shown promising results so far.Most important factors for long time success are degree of congruence of articular surfaces and ligamentous stability of the ankle.Therefore,our aim was to develop an optimized custom made prosthesis for total talus replacement providing a high level of primary stability.A custom made hemiprosthesis was developed using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging data of the affected and contralateral talus considering the principles and technology for the development of the S.T.A.R.prosthesis(Stryker).Additionally,four eyelets for fixation of artificial ligaments were added at the correspondent footprints of the most important ligaments.Two modifications can be provided according to the clinical requirements:A tri-articular hemiprosthesis or a bi-articular hemiprosthesis combined with the tibial component of the S.T.A.R.total ankle replacement system.A feasibility study was performed using a fresh frozen human cadaver.Maximum range of motion of the ankle was measured and ligamentous stability was evaluated by use of standard X-rays after application of varus,valgus or sagittal stress with 150 N.Correct implantation of the prosthesis was technically possible via an anterior approach to the ankle and using standard instruments.Malleolar osteotomies were not required.Maximum ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion were measured as 22-0-28 degrees.Maximum anterior displacement of the talus was 6 mm,maximum varus tilt 3 degrees and maximum valgus tilt 2 degrees.Application of an internally braced prosthesis for total talus replacement in humans is technically feasible and might be a reasonable procedure in carefully selected cases with no better alternatives left.

Hallux rigidus: Joint preserving alternatives to arthrodesis- a review of the literature

Hallux rigidus describes the osteoarthritis of the firstmetatarsophalangeal joint. It was first mentioned in 1887. Since then a multitude of terms have been introduced referring to the same disease. The main complaints are pain especially during movement and a limited range of motion. Radiographically the typical signs of osteoarthritis can be observed starting at the dorsal portion of the joint. Numerous classifications make the comparison of the different studies difficult. If non-operative treatment fails to resolve the symptoms operative treatment is indicated. The most studied procedure with reproducible results is the arthrodesis. Nevertheless, many patients refuse this treatment option, favouring a procedure preserving motion. Different motion preserving and joint sacrificing operations such as arthroplasty are available. In this review we focus on motion and joint preserving procedures. Numer-ous joint preserving osteotomies have been described. Most of them try to relocate the viable plantar cartilage more dorsally, to decompress the joint and to increase dorsiflexion of the first metatarsal bone. Multiple studies are available investigating these procedures. Most of them suffer from low quality, short follow up and small patient numbers. Consequently the grade of recommendation is low. Nonetheless, joint preserving procedures are appealing because if they fail to relief the symptoms an arthrodesis or arthroplasty can still be performed thereafter.

Syndesmotic Internal Brace^(TM) for anatomic distal tibiofibular ligament augmentation

Reconstruction of unstable syndesmotic injuries is not trivial, and there is no generally accepted treatment guidelines. Thus, there still remain considerable controversies regarding diagnosis, classification and treatment of syndesmotic injuries. Syndesmotic malreduction is the most common indication for early re-operation after ankle fracture surgery, and widening of the ankle mortise by only 1 mm decreases the contact area of the tibiotalar joint by 42%. Outcome of ankle fractures with syndesmosis injury is worse than without, even after surgical syndesmotic stabilization. This may be due to a high incidence of syndesmotic malreduction revealed by increasing postoperative computed tomography controls. Therefore, even open visualization of the syndesmosis during the reduction maneuver has been recommended. Thus, the most important clinical predictor of outcome is consistently reported as accuracy of anatomic reduction of the injured syndesmosis. In this context the Tight Rope~?system is reported to have advantages compared to classical syndesmotic screws. However, rotational instability of the distal fibula cannot be safely limited by use of 1 or even 2 Tight Ropes~?. Therefore, we developed a new syndesmotic Internal Brace^(TM) technique for improved anatomic distal tibiofibular ligament augmentation to protect healing of the injured native ligaments. The Internal Brace^(TM) technique was developed by Gordon Mackay from Scotland in 2012 using Swive Locks~? for knotless aperture fixation of a Fiber Tape~? at the anatomic footprints of the augmented ligaments, and augmentation of the anterior talofibular ligament, the deltoid ligament, the spring ligament and the medial collateral ligaments of the knee have been published so far. According to the individual injury pattern,patients can either be treated by the new syndesmotic Internal Brace^(TM) technique alone as a single anterior stabilization, or in combination with one posteriorly directed Tight Rope~? as a double stabilization, or in combination with one Tight Rope~? and a posterolateral malleolar screw fixation as a triple stabilization. Moreover,the syndesmotic Internal Brace^(TM) technique is suitable for anatomic refixation of displaced bony avulsion fragments too small for screw fixation and for indirect reduction of small posterolateral tibial avulsion fragments by anatomic reduction of the anterior syndesmosis with an Internal Brace^(TM) after osteosynthesis of the distal fibula. In this paper, comprehensively illustrated clinical examples show that anatomic reconstruction with rotational stabilization of the syndesmosis can be realized by use of our new syndesmotic Internal Brace^(TM) technique. A clinical trial for evaluation of the functional outcomes has been started at our hospital.