Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a common benign bone tumour, usually affecting young people. Typically, it is localised to the diaphyses or metaphyses of long bones. The classical manifestation includes distinctive night pain, almost always present, responding well to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sometimes accompanied by complaints due to physical activity, and a typical picture on additional tests. A characteristic of osteoid osteoma is the presence of a nidus, usually visible on imaging tests. The nidus generally presents as a single, round lytic lesion up to 1 cm in diameter, surrounded by an area of reactive ossification. However, OO is a multifaceted neoplasm, and its diagnosis can cause numerous difficulties. OO can mimic multiple diseases and vice versa, which often leads to a prolonged diagnostic and therapeutic path and associated complications. There are few literature reviews about the differentiation and diagnostic difficulties of osteoid osteoma. Very effective therapies for this tumour are known, such as ablation and resection. Enhanced detection of osteoid osteoma could result in faster diagnosis and less suffering for the patient, avoidance of complications, and reduced costs of incorrect and prolonged treatment.

Kienböck’s disease is a rare disease described as progressive avascular osteonecrosis of the lunate. The typical manifestations include a unilateral reduction in wrist motion with accompanying pain and swelling. Besides recent advances in treatment options, the etiology and pathophysiology of the disease remain poorly understood. Common risk factors include anatomical features including ulnar variance, differences in blood supply, increased intraosseous pressure along with direct trauma, and environmental influence. The staging of Kienböck’s disease depends mainly on radiographic characteristics assessed according to the modified Lichtman scale. The selection of treatment options is often challenging, as radiographic features may not correspond directly to initial clinical symptoms and differ among age groups. At the earliest stages of Kienböck disease, the nonoperative, unloading management is generally preferred. Patients with negative ulnar variance are usually treated with radial shortening osteotomy. For patients with positive or neutral ulnar variance, a capitate shortening osteotomy is a recommended option. One of the most recent surgical techniques used in Stage III Kienböck cases is vascularized bone grafting. One of the most promising procedures is a vascularized, pedicled, scaphoid graft combined with partial radioscaphoid arthrodesis. This technique provides excellent pain management and prevents carpal collapse. In stage IV, salvage procedures including total wrist fusion or total wrist arthroplasty are often required.

Background: Studies examining preoperative anxiety in patients awaiting hand surgery are scarce. Preoperative anxiety is a common reaction and can have a negative impact on treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the level of anxiety in patients undergoing hand surgery as a one-day procedure and to investigate the associations between patients’ preoperative anxiety and selected sociodemographic, psychological, and clinical variables. Methods: We examined 121 patients (77.7% women) who were operated on in an ambulatory setting. The mean age was 52.6 years (range: 24–84 years). Preoperative anxiety was assessed according to the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). The Visual Analogue Scale was used to assess irritability, depression, and pain. Results: Univariate analyses showed significant correlations between patients’ preoperative anxiety and increased age, surgery within a year since diagnosis, the presence of rehabilitation in their medical history, higher irritability, and living in rural areas. Multivariate analyses showed significant associations between patients’ anxiety level and diagnosis of up to a year, a history of rehabilitation and the level of irritability. Conclusions: Patients undergoing hand surgery in an ambulatory surgery setting experience some preoperative anxiety. Younger patients, those with a shorter duration of disease, with a history of rehabilitation, those presenting intense irritability, and those living in rural areas may demand special attention.

Background/Objectives: Health-related quality of life has come to the forefront of the process of treatment. As a non-quantitative value, it requires the use of specialized tools to be measured. Despite the availability of general HRQoL assessment tools in Polish, a specific instrument for children with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders has not been developed. This study aims to describe the linguistic validity and reliability of the Polish version of the PedsQL™ Gastrointestinal Symptoms Module, which measured health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Methods: The PedsQL™ module, originally in English, was translated according to a structured process. Professional medical translators conducted the translations, and cognitive debriefing was performed with 35 respondents. Field testing involved 371 completed questionnaires (203 adults and 168 children). Results: Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, with values generally exceeding 0.8 indicating high reliability. Conclusions: The final Polish version of the PedsQL™ GI Symptoms Module exhibits strong linguistic and content validity, making it suitable for both clinical trials and routine practice. Its use enables a comprehensive, culturally sensitive assessment of HRQoL in pediatric patients with GI disorders, thereby supporting individualized patient care and enhancing the physician–patient communication that is essential for effective treatment.

Background. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common neuropathies worldwide. Diagnosis is often reliant on clinical examination and history. The role of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for evaluating postoperative changes is still underutilised. Aim. This study aimed to assess the use of ultrasound in measuring changes in the median nerve following carpal tunnel release (CTR). Materials and methods. A prospective study involving 29 patients with clinically diagnosed CTS. Ultrasound examination was performed preoperatively and three months after CTR, assessing the cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the entrance of the carpal tunnel (CT) and the pronator quadratus muscle (PQ). Paired t-tests and two-way ANOVA were used to evaluate changes after CTR and across demographic variables. Results. A significant reduction in the median nerve cross-sectional area was observed at the CT level (15.45 ± 4.93 mm² preoperatively vs 12.25 ± 3.69 mm² postoperatively; p < 0.001), with an approximate 21% decrease. No significant change was observed at the PQ level (p = 0.097). The two-way ANOVA test showed a significant effect of CTR at the CT (p = 0.011), with no significant effects of sex, age, physical activity, or affected side. No significant changes were observed at the PQ level. Conclusions. Ultrasound is a useful tool for diagnosing and assessing postoperative changes in CTS, particularly at the carpal tunnel level. Changes distal to the compression site were inconsistent and of limited clinical value. Demographic factors did not significantly influence outcomes, suggesting a uniform response to CTR.

Background/Objectives: In two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction, a biomechanically strong connection between the tendon graft, the motor unit, and the distal phalanx of the finger is essential to enable active rehabilitation after surgery. However, the available literature contains few biomechanical studies concerning the strength of this connection. In this study, we tested a new model of this connection involving suturing the tendon graft to the phalanx using an anchor and to the flexor digitorum profundus stump with a three-level continuous suture (palmaris longus—flexor digitorum profundus—anchor (PL-FDP-A)). Methods: For this study, we used eight fingers from patients with injuries that were unsuitable for replantation, as well as eight palmaris longus tendons harvested from cadavers. Eight specimens simulating the PL-FDP-A connections were prepared and tested on a tensile testing machine. The elongation of the specimens under a 20 N load (the minimum for active loading) and the force at rupture were assessed. Results: The mean rupture strength was 44.53 N (SD 16.27, min. 16.50, max. 64.60), with elongation at 20 N of 4.28 mm (SD 2.65, min. 1.49, max. 9.14). Conclusions: Based on our findings, we recommend the PL-FDP-A connection for use in two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction due to (1) rupture values which significantly exceeded the force required for active rehabilitation, and (2) minimal elongation at 20 N, so that motion transmission was not impaired.