The tip of an excessively long ulnar styloid can impinge upon the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) against the triquetrum. The subtleties in biomechanics of the wrist joint and their role in the production of the symptoms are presented as five cases from a retrospective study. The relationship of the symptoms to the patients' job activities is also discussed. The embryological and anatomical studies show that the tip of the ulnar styloid is covered by the TFCC. Therefore, the term "ulnar styloid impingement syndrome" is adopted for the entity in cases in which the TFCC has remained intact.
Acute anterior shoulder dislocations are extremely painful conditions that force patients to present to emergency rooms or physicians' offices immediately. The diagnosis usually is established through a careful history and examination, and may be confirmed by appropriate radiography. The immediate treatment objective is to achieve reduction as early as possible, preferably through a closed reduction method with the least discomfort. Current methods of reduction are based on either traction or leverage maneuvers, with each having its own merits and disadvantages. This article, however, revisits the subject by a comprehensive literature review. It addresses obstacles to reduction and reports a closed reduction technique for the acute anterior dislocations of the shoulder that uses both traction and leverage maneuvers simultaneously. In addition, the technique eliminates failing factors of current reduction methods such as the surgeons' weakening or slippery grip when using traction methods. It is expected, by virtue of the method, that it would reduce the chances for complications such as humeral shaft fractures as can occur in leverage maneuvers. This method addresses all potential anatomical and pathological features of acute anterior dislocations of the shoulder to facilitate an earlier and more comfortable reduction.
Background: Idiopathic osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint is common. Spontaneous attenuation of either the anterior oblique ligament (Beak ligament) or the dorsoradial ligament has been reported as the cause of the joint laxity, resulting in subsequent wear and tear of the articular cartilages. So far, no cause has been reported for the spontaneous attenuation of these key supporting ligaments of the TMC joint and no effective method of prevention or treatment has been reported for the early stages of the condition. Objectives: The authors reported a conservative method for the prevention as well as reversal of the early stages of the joint instability before the process of wear and tear sets in and the condition progresses towards osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 17 patients with early stages of idiopathic TMC joint osteoarthritis. The patients were treated through a conservative management protocol with an average follow-up of 28.4 months. The protocol consisted of performing specifically devised isometric exercises and a functional abduction brace. Results: The result of the conservative treatment was postural correction of the thumb, anatomical stability of the TMC joint and resolution of the symptoms as well as findings including pain, swelling and joint dorsoradial translation. The mean pain score of the patients was 3.6 before the treatment was begun and was zero after the treatment was completed.
Conclusions:The presented conservative method is recommended for either prevention or reversal of the early stages of TMC joint instability before the osteoarthritic changes set in.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.