H J Belcher

..There were no complications. We conclude that endoscopic carpal tunnel release can be safely performed in selected patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The absence of a palmar scar can be a great advantage to these disabled patients...

..Permacol patients reported greater pain and were less satisfied with their operations than control patients. We conclude that interposition of Permacol is detrimental to the results of trapeziectomy...

..We conclude that CCU results in more comfortable stumps but causes greater loss of sensitivity. It is a simple and worthwhile adjunct to digital amputation...

..Surgeons should be aware that ECTR is likely to be more difficult in small patients with small wrists and should have a higher threshold for conversion to the open technique to avoid neurological complications...

..These results confirm that surgery for arthritis of the hand relieves pain and improves ADL. However, it has a greater effect in patients with localized osteoarthritis than in those with rheumatoid arthritis...

..This permits a graded dilatation of the path. We believe it creates a track of more uniform width. It also provides more accurate information about the tightness of the carpal tunnel. Its adoption may reduce the chance of nerve injury...

..We report a simple method of splinting the interphalangeal joints that we have employed as our standard technique without complication...

..Simple trapeziectomy is an effective operation for osteoarthrosis at the base of the thumb and the addition of a ligament reconstruction was not shown to confer any additional benefit...

..Median nerve contusion occurred in two patients treated by endoscopic carpal tunnel release. We discuss the possible cause of this complication and how to avoid it...

..It is concluded that crossed intrinsic transfer does not significantly affect the outcome of Silastic interposition arthroplasty of the metacarpophalangeal joints in rheumatoid patients...