Review and update on the management of triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries in professional athletes

Triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries are common in amateur and professional sports.These injuries are mainly caused by acute or chronic repetitive axial loads on the wrist,particularly on the ulnar side and in association with rotations or radial/ulnar deviations.In order to treat professional athletes,a detailed specific knowledge of the pathology is needed.Moreover,the clinician should fully understand the specific and unique environment and needs of the athletes,their priorities and goals,the type of sport,the time of the season,and the position played.An early diagnosis and appropriate management with the quickest possible recovery time are the uppermost goals for both the athlete and the surgeon.A compromise between conservative vs surgical indications,athletes’needs and expectations,and financial implications should be achieved.Arthroscopic procedures should be timely planned when indicated as they could allow early diagnosis and treatment at the same time.Conservative measures are often used as first line treatment when possible.Peripheral lesions are treated by arthroscopic repair,whilst central lesions are treated by arthroscopic debridement.Further procedures(such as the Wafer procedure,ulnar osteotomies,etc.)have specific indications and great implications with regard to rehabilitation.

Upper extremity vascular injuries:Etiology,management and outcome

BACKGROUND Vascular injuries of the upper extremities are considered relatively rare injuries affecting mostly the young population.They often are complex injuries accompanied by other musculoskeletal trauma or trauma in other anatomic locations.Their management is challenging since they can lead to disabilities with major socioeconomic effects.AIM To analyze data about the mechanism of injury,the management algorithm and functional outcomes of vascular injuries of the upper extremity.METHODS One hundred and fifteen patients(96 males and 19 females)with arterial injuries of the upper extremity treated in a tertiary trauma center from January 2003 to December 2022 was conducted.Mean patients’age was 33.7 years and the mean follow up time was 7.4 years.Patients with Mangled Extremity Severity Score≥7 and Injury Severity Score≥20,previous upper limb surgery or major trauma and any neuromuscular or psychiatric disease were excluded,from the study.RESULTS A penetrating trauma was the most common cause of injury.The radial artery was the artery injured in most of the cases(37.4%)followed by the ulnar(29.5%),the brachial(12.1%)and the axillary(6%).A simultaneous injury of both of the forearm’s arteries was in 15.6%of the cases.In 93%of the cases there were other concomitant musculoskeletal injuries of the extremity.Tendon lacerations were the most common,followed by nerve injuries.The postoperative functional scores(full Disabilities of the Arm,Shoulder,and Hand and VAS)had very satisfactory values.CONCLUSION Although vascular injuries of the upper extremity are rare,they may occur in the context of major combined musculoskeletal trauma.Although a multidisciplinary approach is essential to optimize outcome,the ability of trained hand surgeons to repair all injuries in combined vascular and musculoskeletal upper extremity trauma,excluding isolated vascular injuries,ensures shorter operative times and better functional outcomes.

Clinical study on the surgical treatment of atypical Lisfranc joint complex injury

BACKGROUND Lisfranc injuries have not received much attention by orthopedic doctors in the past,and there is little related research on the diagnosis and treatment of these injuries.In recent years with the rise in foot and ankle surgery,doctors are now paying more attention to this type of injury.However,there is still a high rate of missed diagnosis due to insufficient attention causing treatment delays or inadequate treatments,which eventually result in greater sequelae;including long-term pain,arthritis,foot deformity etc.In particular,for cases with a mild Lisfranc joint complex injury,the incidence of sequelae is higher.AIM To select an active surgical treatment for an atypical Lisfranc joint complex injury and to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the surgical treatment.METHODS The clinical data of 18 patients,including 10 males and 8 females aged 20-64 years with Lisfranc injuries treated in our department from January 2017 to September 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were treated with an open reduction and internal fixation method using locking titanium mini-plates and hollow screws or Kirschner wires.X-ray images were taken and follow-up was performed monthly after the operation;the internal fixation was then removed 4-5 mo after the operation;and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS)score was used for evaluation on the last follow-up.RESULTS All patients were followed up for 6-12 mo.A good/excellent AOFAS score was observed in 88.9%of patients.CONCLUSION For atypical Lisfranc joint complex injuries,active open reduction and internal fixation can be performed to enable patients to obtain a good prognosis and satisfactory functional recovery.