Jun 15–21, 2026 · 23 new studies, 10 reviews · Hand & Upper Extremity archive · All weeks
The new Hand & Upper Extremity research The Reduction sent the week of Jun 15–21, 2026, with the week’s most recent reviews, each with a one-line summary.
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At 10-year follow-up, radial shortening osteotomy provided better patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction than proximal row carpectomy for Kienbock's disease, even in late-stage disease.
Transferring the opponens pollicis branch to the ulnar nerve's terminal division reliably restores roughly half of normal pinch strength after traumatic ulnar nerve injury.
Upper Limb Reconstruction in Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita: A Systematic Review.
Systematic review supports posterior elbow release, elbow flexion muscle transfers, humeral rotational and carpal wedge osteotomies, and thumb stabilization to improve function in arthrogryposis.
CMC denervation had significantly lower 2-year reoperation rates than trapeziectomy, suggesting it deserves earlier consideration in the surgical treatment algorithm for thumb basal arthritis.
Association of Extrinsic Ligament Injury with Diastasis in Scapholunate Ligament Injury.
In MRI-confirmed scapholunate injury, either volar or dorsal extrinsic ligament injury independently predicted SL diastasis, so reconstruction should address both volar and dorsal structures.
Recycling Implementation in Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet Hand Surgery.
Adding recycling to WALANT hand surgery diverted 16% of waste with minimal workflow change, supporting feasible sustainability gains, especially in high-volume clinics.
In 84 cases, the single-incision SPOC distal biceps repair had no reruptures and a 26% mostly minor complication rate, supporting its use for partial and complete tears.
Effect of Orthopedic Resident Surgical Education on Surgical Case Length and Healthcare Costs.
Resident participation in hand surgery significantly lengthened operative and room times for most procedures, costing the hospital ~$71,000 over three years, highlighting the real economic burden of training.
SETS AIN-to-ulnar motor nerve transfer achieved intrinsic recovery (MRC≥3) in 81% of patients, with best results in traumatic injuries and early surgery, supporting its use for high ulnar nerve lesions.
In 1,082 hands, ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release gave 3-day return to activity, 90% satisfaction, and a 0.1% reoperation rate at 6 months, confirming strong real-world outcomes.
Hemi-hamate arthroplasty for delayed, severely comminuted PIP fracture-dislocations restored ~82° motion and 86% grip in four patients, suggesting it salvages injuries unsuitable for ORIF.
Cadaveric study found intramedullary phalangeal nailing damages only ~9% of extensor tendon and ~5% of articular cartilage, supporting it as a viable fixation technique.
Negative Angiography Does Not Exclude Ulnar Artery Aneurysm in Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome.
In hypothenar hammer syndrome, normal angiography doesn't rule out ulnar artery aneurysm—clinical judgment should drive surgical exploration despite nondiagnostic imaging.
Early Results of a Novel Method to Treat Bidirectional Elbow Instability: A Pilot Study.
A novel bilateral ligament reconstruction for bidirectional elbow instability stabilized 3 of 4 pilot patients, but early force application risks failure—a promising yet unproven technique needing more data.
At 10+ years after unilateral carpal tunnel release, 40% of patients needed contralateral surgery (median ~11 months), most strongly predicted by preexisting contralateral symptoms—useful for counseling.
Distinguishing characteristics of carpal osteoid osteoma versus osteoblastoma: a comparative study.
Worsening night pain, NSAID relief, small lesion size, and high mineralization suggest carpal osteoid osteoma, while large lesion-to-carpal ratio favors osteoblastoma, aiding diagnosis without biopsy.
Generalized joint hypermobility (Beighton ≥4) was a strong independent risk factor for wrist ganglion cysts (OR 7.1), suggesting connective tissue traits drive their development.
Aseptically predrawn corticosteroid-lidocaine syringes stayed sterile in 97.5% of samples over two weeks, supporting extended use to cut waste and cost.
Among 6,639 patients, neighborhood disadvantage, Spanish-speaking status, higher comorbidity, and Medicare were independently linked to delayed distal radius fracture fixation beyond 14 days, revealing access disparities.
Treatment of Perilunate Injuries With Radial-sided Fixation.
In 36 perilunate injuries, fixing only the radial-sided injury (scaphoid/scapholunate) restored stable carpal alignment without lunotriquetral pinning, suggesting a simplified surgical approach works.
The full 20-monofilament Semmes-Weinstein kit showed acceptable intra- and inter-rater reliability for hand tactile sensitivity in healthy adults, except at the dorsal thumb base.
Postoperative median nerve cross-sectional area changes after carpal tunnel release don't correlate with outcomes, and metabolic syndrome predicts persistent nerve swelling.
Button autograft suture suspension UCL reconstruction in a simulated osteolysis model is weaker than native ligament but comparable to established techniques, informing cautious postoperative rehabilitation.
Current Concepts in Ring Avulsion Injuries.
Modern microsurgical techniques support finger salvage in ring avulsion injuries distal to the FDS insertion with 80-85% survival, while proximal injuries still favor amputation for function.
Amyloidosis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: An Update on Diagnostic and Management Considerations.
Hand surgeons should recognize carpal tunnel syndrome as a possible early marker of cardiac amyloidosis, though screening biopsy thresholds and costs during carpal tunnel release remain undefined.
Total Wrist Arthrodesis: Open Versus Arthroscopic.
Review of total wrist fusion indications and open versus arthroscopic techniques, emphasizing careful patient selection given loss of wrist motion for pain relief.
Brachial plexus birth injury: classification, natural history and shoulder external rotation.
Recent brachial plexus birth injury studies introduce a surgical-findings classification, show most regain shoulder abduction, but external rotation recovery remains poor regardless of graft versus transfer.
Training and Integrating Advanced Practice Providers in Pediatric Hand Surgery.
A practical framework for training and integrating advanced practice providers into pediatric hand surgery teams to boost efficiency and care delivery.
Bone Graft and Fixation Options in the Surgical Management of Scaphoid Nonunion.
Review outlines bone graft and fixation choices for scaphoid nonunion, guiding selection of nonvascularized, vascularized, or osteochondral grafts based on proximal pole viability and deformity.
Brachial plexus birth injury: advances and controversies.
Review of brachial plexus birth injury covers imaging, timing of nerve exploration, nerve transfers, and physiotherapy, though evidence remains limited and uncertain.
Alternative Flap Options for Upper Extremity Reconstruction.
Review of alternative pedicled and free flap options for major upper extremity reconstruction, demonstrating favorable functional and aesthetic outcomes with appropriate technique selection.
Development of a core outcome set for traumatic brachial plexus injury.
International consensus established pain, voluntary movement, and daily routine as the core outcomes to measure in adult traumatic brachial plexus injury.
Vascularized Medial Femoral Condyle Flap Reconstruction for Osseous Defects of the Hand and Wrist.
Vascularized medial femoral condyle flaps from the descending genicular artery are effective for reconstructing recalcitrant bone defects and nonunions in the hand and upper extremity.
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