Suture-Button Device Stabilization Following Ring Finger Ray Amputation: A Comparative Cadaver Study. 2018

Emily N Morgan, and Kenneth R Means, and Adrian G Paez, and Brent G Parks, and Peter C Innis
1 Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether placing the suture-button device between the long and small finger metacarpals following ring finger ray amputation may better close the intermetacarpal gap and allow early range of motion without increasing the risk of malrotation than soft tissue repair alone. We performed ray amputation of the ring finger of 14 cadaver specimens by performing an osteotomy of the base of the ring finger metacarpal and then excising the remainder of the digit. We first performed a soft tissue repair of the transverse metacarpal ligaments and then cycled the fingers in simulated active flexion and extension on a custom computer-controlled device to re-create 6 weeks of range of motion. We then placed a suture-button device across the long and small finger metacarpals and tested the specimens again, thereby using each hand as an internal control. The distance between the ring and small finger metacarpals was reduced following suture-button device placement compared with the initial control; this spacing was maintained following complete cycling of the fingers. The angle between the metacarpals was divergent following soft tissue repair, and then became slightly convergent after insertion of the suture-button device. None of the hands developed clinically relevant scissoring of the digits before or after application of the suture-button device. The suture-button device provides stable fixation to withstand early range of motion following ring finger ray amputation and significantly closes the gap and angle between the adjacent metacarpals without causing scissoring.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009984 Orthopedic Fixation Devices Devices which are used in the treatment of orthopedic injuries and diseases. Device, Orthopedic Fixation,Devices, Orthopedic Fixation,Fixation Device, Orthopedic,Fixation Devices, Orthopedic,Orthopedic Fixation Device
D002102 Cadaver A dead body, usually a human body. Corpse,Cadavers,Corpses
D005260 Female Females
D005385 Fingers Four or five slender jointed digits in humans and primates, attached to each HAND. Finger
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000369 Aged, 80 and over Persons 80 years of age and older. Oldest Old
D000671 Amputation, Surgical The surgical removal of part of, or all of, a limb or other appendage or outgrowth of the body. Amputation,Amputation, Multiple, Surgical,Multiple Amputation, Surgical,Surgical Amputation Procedures,Amputation Procedure, Surgical,Amputation Procedures, Surgical,Amputation, Surgical Multiple,Amputations,Amputations, Surgical,Amputations, Surgical Multiple,Multiple Amputations, Surgical,Procedure, Surgical Amputation,Procedures, Surgical Amputation,Surgical Amputation,Surgical Amputation Procedure,Surgical Amputations,Surgical Multiple Amputation,Surgical Multiple Amputations

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