Oct 19–25, 2026 · 1 randomized trial, 21 new studies, 10 reviews · Hand & Upper Extremity archive · All weeks
The new Hand & Upper Extremity research The Reduction sent the week of Oct 19–25, 2026, with the week’s most recent reviews, each with a one-line summary.
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A Bayesian re-analysis of the CROSSFIRE distal radius fracture trial shows that at 3 months the probability of meaningful benefit varies widely (0-47%) with the reader's prior belief, but all priors converge on no meaningful difference by 12 months.
In this retrospective series of 152 thumb MP fusions, tension band wiring achieved higher union (90% vs 74%) than intramedullary screws, though hardware removal drove reoperations with wiring while re-arthrodesis did with screws.
Composite Cap Grafting for Fingertip Amputations in Pediatric Patients: Does Patient Age Matter?
In 61 pediatric fingertip amputations treated with composite cap grafts, success was 67% with no age threshold for success, and failures typically declared themselves around two weeks postoperatively.
In a 98-child case-control study, serum vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus did not differ between children with distal radius fractures and controls, though most children were vitamin D insufficient overall.
In 119 patients, a machine-learning model found wrist-level CMAP amplitude (≥6.6 mV) and preoperative clinical severity (McGowan grade ≤IIA) were the key predictors of good outcome after anterior subcutaneous ulnar nerve transposition for cubital tunnel syndrome.
ChatGPT simplification cut pediatric orthopaedic discharge documents from about an 8.9 to a 5.0 grade reading level, but 14 of 15 documents contained flagged errors including safety-critical ones, so clinician review is essential.
Medicare data show total wrist arthroplasty volumes rising, with revisions (283 in 2022) projected to reach about 3262 annually by 2060, growing faster than primary procedures.
In 30 terrible triad elbow injuries fixed without radial head prostheses, 77% had good-to-excellent function, but instability (40%), arthritis (50%), and K-wire olecranon fractures were notable; low follow-up limits conclusions.
In a mouse model of chronic denervation, injecting human stem cell-derived motor neuron progenitors into muscle was associated with preserved motor endplate structures, more so at higher dose, suggesting a possible adjunct for delayed nerve repair.
A 5-year decision model found selective first CMC denervation cheaper (about $1,580 less) and slightly more effective than trapeziectomy for persistent thumb CMC arthritis, making it a cost-effective surgical option.
Single case report of capitate avascular necrosis reconstructed with a free vascularized second metatarsal head graft after failed pedicled bone graft, with pain-free function and maintained joint congruity at over 5 years.
In 72 wrists after scaphoidectomy with partial wrist fusion, 43% showed clinically meaningful carpal collapse (≥2 mm), mainly linked to dominant-hand surgery and smoking, warranting closer postoperative monitoring.
Exploring the Incidence of Immediate Suicidality Among Hand Surgery Clinic Patients.
About 1.8% of new hand clinic patients endorsed active suicidal ideation, and these patients had worse pain, function and socioeconomic disadvantage, supporting routine depression screening and surgeon awareness.
In four patients followed about 6 years, distal scaphoid resection with Mini-TightRope suspensionplasty for STT osteoarthritis improved pain and function with no complications, though asymptomatic DISI developed in all.
A Simple Slotted Guide for Instrument Passage in Wrist Arthroscopy.
This technical note describes a cheap slotted guide made from disposable IV tubing that eases repeated instrument passage between arthroscopic portals while limiting soft-tissue trauma.
In four brachial plexus injury patients, a da Vinci Xi robotic Oberlin transfer was completed minimally invasively in three (one converted to open), with no complications and biceps recovery to MRC grade 4 or better.
In cadaver-free bench models, HoloLens mixed-reality navigation cut angular error of guidewire placement for trapeziometacarpal cup positioning from roughly 7-9 degrees freehand to under 1 degree, with clinical validation still needed.
Pulp pinch strength norms from 514 healthy Japanese adults are presented, with sex-specific five-grade classifications that can serve as reference values for assessing hand pathology and pinch recovery.
In three patients with DRUJ instability from forearm deformity, 3D simulation and patient-matched guides for corrective osteotomy plus TFCC repair restored alignment and rotation, with union and pain relief in all.
ChatGPT models recognized supplied CPT codes nearly perfectly and ICD-10 category codes well but struggled with exact codes, and their patient education text exceeded recommended reading levels in hand surgery.
In six complex MCP joint dislocations with sesamoid entrapment, arthroscopic reduction succeeded in half, with good stability, grip, and minimal pain afterward, suggesting a minimally invasive alternative to open reduction.
In a propensity-matched database study of distal radius ORIF, preoperative antibiotics were linked to higher early infection, oral antibiotic use, and reoperation, likely reflecting baseline risk differences; infection rates were low and efficacy of prophylaxis remains unproven.
Review concludes radial head prosthesis diameter should match the reconstructed native head (or CT capitellar width) and height should align with the lesser sigmoid notch, since mismatch causes pain, stiffness, and arthritis.
Optimizing the Transradial Amputation.
Careful bone and soft tissue handling improves prosthesis wear and limits neuropathic and phantom pain after transradial amputation; resect 7-8 cm of bone, use pronator quadratus, and place TMR/RPNI sites deep and distal.
An international Delphi panel of 98 trauma surgeons agreed on 43 scored assessment parameters for judging technical competence in tension band wiring of transverse olecranon fractures, with anatomical reduction rated most important.
This review covers the multi-tissue damage of hand gunshot injuries and the staged, individualized reconstructive options for bone, tendon, nerve, and skin, illustrated by a case focused on restoring function.
Artificial Intelligence in Detection of Distal Radius Fractures in Adults: A Scoping Review.
This scoping review finds AI models, mainly convolutional neural networks, increasingly match specialist physicians in detecting distal radius fractures on radiographs but still struggle with complex fracture patterns.
Review of opioid-free analgesia for anticoagulated patients having soft tissue hand surgery, weighing the bleeding risk of short-course NSAIDs against alternatives and identifying gaps needing further research.
Military Ballistic Injuries of the Upper Extremity.
Outlines management of military ballistic upper extremity injuries, stressing early tourniquet use, damage control orthopedics, temporary revascularization, debridement, and multidisciplinary planning for limb preservation, reconstruction, and soft tissue coverage.
Review of upper-extremity arteriovenous malformations covering etiology, presentation, and management, noting controversy over embolization, sclerotherapy, and resection extent, and proposing a refined classification that incorporates lesion location and current treatment options.
Atraumatic Disorders of the Pediatric Spinal Cord and Brachial Plexus.
This review covers nonobstetric pediatric brachial plexus and spinal cord disorders (trauma, thoracic outlet, acute flaccid myelitis, Parsonage-Turner, tumors) and offers a framework for managing their complex treatment decisions and unpredictable outcomes.
Describes how the OHDSI program and OMOP Common Data Model could enable privacy-preserving, large-scale multicenter hand surgery research, overcoming single-center limitations through standardized data and open-source analytic tools.
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