Double entrapment neuropathy of the ulnar nerve at the elbow and the wrist : double crush syndrome?

BACKGROUND: Double crush syndrome refers to a nerve in the proximal region being compressed, affecting its proximal segment. Instances of this syndrome involving ulnar and cubital canals during ulnar neuropathy are rare. Diagnosis solely through clinical examination is challenging. Although electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) can confirm neuropathy, they do not incorporate inching tests at the wrist, hindering diagnosis confirmation. We recently encountered eight cases of suspected double compression of ulnar nerve, reporting these cases along with a literature review. METHODS: The study included 5 males and 2 females, averaging 45.6 years old. Among them, 4 had trauma history, and preoperative McGowan stages varied. Ulnar neuropathy was confirmed in 7 cases at both cubital and ulnar canal locations. Surgery was performed for 4 cases, while conservative treatment continued for 3 cases. RESULTS: In 4 cases with wrist involvement, 2 showed ulnar nerve compression by a fibrous band, and 1 had nodular hyperplasia. Another case displayed ulnar nerve swelling with muscle covering. Among the 4 surgery cases, 2 improved from preoperative McGowan stage IIB to postoperative stage 0, with significant improvement in subjective satisfaction. The remaining 2 cases improved from stage IIB to IIA, respectively, with moderate improvement in subjective satisfaction. In the 3 cases receiving conservative treatment, satisfaction was significant in 1 case and moderate in 2 cases. Overall, there was improvement in hand function across all 7 cases. CONCLUSION: Typical outpatient examinations make it difficult to clearly differentiate the two sites, and EMG tests may not confirm diagnosis. Therefore, if a surgeon lacks suspicion of this condition, diagnosis becomes even more challenging. In cases with less than expected postoperative improvement in clinical symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome, consideration of double crush syndrome is warranted. Additional tests and detailed EMG tests, including inching tests at the wrist, may be necessary. We aim to raise awareness double crush syndrome with ulnar nerve, reporting a total of 7 cases to support this concept.

Septic arthritis associated with systemic sepsis.

PURPOSE: Septic arthritis presents with good joint function, but sometimes leads to poor outcomes. Concurrent systemic sepsis has been regarded as the poor outcome, and the exact cause remains unclear. This paper was performed to identify factors associated with concurrent systemic sepsis and to research results to predict poor outcomes in patients with septic arthritis. METHODS: Laboratory and medical data were reviewed for 137 adults with acute septic arthritis who underwent open or arthroscopic surgical debridement at our institution between January 2005 and December 2014. The patients were divided according to whether they had septic arthritis alone (Group A) or in combination with systemic sepsis (Group B). Systemic sepsis was defined as two more systemic inflammatory signs in response to an infectious process. Patient characteristics, laboratory findings, synovial fluid findings and cultures, and surgical results were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Of the 137 patients, 41 (29.9%) had initial systemic sepsis at the diagnosis of septic arthritis. Independent t test revealed that duration of prodromal symptom (p = 0.012), serum neutrophil percent (p = 0.008), C-reactive protein (p = 0.001), Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.001), positive culture in synovial fluid (p = 0.001), and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolate in synovial fluid (p = 0.001) had significant correlations with the group B. Repeated debridement was performed for those who had recurrence of infection, and this procedure was more often in group B (23 versus 21 joints, 23.9 versus 51.2%, p = 0.012). Progression of arthritis occurred more often in group B (16 versus 17 joints, 16.7 versus 41.5%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Septic arthritis combined with systemic sepsis was related to duration of prodromal symptom, serum neutrophil percent, C-reactive protein, Charlson comorbidity index, positive culture in synovial fluid, and a MSSA isolate in synovial fluid. Concurrent systemic sepsis led to poor outcomes in patients with septic arthritis in terms of recurrence of infection and progression of arthritis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III Case control study.

Lung injury caused by greenstick fracture of the scapular body in a 6-year-old boy.

Complications caused by a scapular body fracture are rare, and usually occur due to concomitant injuries or nonunion. Intrathoracic displacement of a fractured scapula has only been described in two reports involving adolescents. In this report, we describe a 6-year-old boy with a parenchymal lung injury caused by a greenstick fracture fragment of the scapular body after being struck by a dump truck. Three-dimensional CT (3D CT) scan showed an incomplete fractured fragment impaling the left lung parenchyma resulting in pneumothorax, parenchymal contusion, and pneumatocele in the left upper lobe. The patient underwent emergency open reduction of the scapular fracture and chest tube insertion. A rare subtype of scapular fracture with resultant fragment rotation and intrathoracic penetration can injure the lung parenchyma. To the best of our knowledge, lung injury caused by incomplete fracture of the scapula in patients younger than 10 years has not been reported previously.

Comparison of lateral opening wedge calcaneal osteotomy and medial calcaneal sliding-opening wedge cuboid-closing wedge cuneiform osteotomy for correction of planovalgus foot deformity in children.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the clinical and radiographic results between 2 procedures, lateral opening wedge calcaneal osteotomy (LCL) and medial calcaneal sliding-opening wedge cuboid-closing wedge cuneiform osteotomy (3C) in patients with planovalgus foot deformity. A total of 38 patients who underwent either LCL (18 patients, 28 feet) or 3C (20 patients, 32 feet) were included in the present study. The etiology of the planovalgus foot deformity was idiopathic in 16 feet and cerebral palsy in 44 feet. The 2 procedures used in the present study were indicated in symptomatic (pain or callus) children in whom conservative treatment, such as shoe modifications or orthotics, had been applied for more than 1 year but had failed. The patients were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow-up visit, both clinically and radiologically, and the interval to union and postoperative courses were compared between the 2 groups. In the LCL group, 19 of the 28 feet (68%) showed a satisfactory outcome and 9 (32%) an unsatisfactory outcome. In the 3C group, 28 of the 32 feet (88%) showed a satisfactory outcome and 4 (12%) an unsatisfactory outcome. The clinical results were not significantly different between the 2 groups, with mild to moderate pes planovalgus deformity. However, the clinical results were better in the 3C group with severe pes planovalgus deformity than in the LCL group with severe pes planovalgus deformity. All 4 radiographic parameters were improved at the last follow-up visit in both groups. In particular, the talar-first metatarsal angle and the calcaneal pitch angle on the weightbearing lateral radiographs were significantly improved in the 3C group with mild to moderate planovalgus foot deformity. All 4 parameters were significantly improved in the 3C group with severe planovalgus foot deformity. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of the interval to union and postoperative care. No case of postoperative deep infection or nonunion was encountered in either group. 3C is a more effective procedure than LCL for the correction of pes planovalgus deformity in children, especially severe pes planovalgus deformities.

Giant extra-articular synovial osteochondromatosis of the sinus tarsi: a case report.

A 32-year-old male presented with painful swelling of the sinus tarsi that occurred during daily activities. Diagnostic imaging suggested the presence of a large synovial osteochondromatosis that blocked subtalar motion with deformity of the adjacent bone. The large bony mass was excised, and normal subtalar motion was achieved.

Autosomal recessive multiple epiphyseal dysplasia in a Korean girl caused by novel compound heterozygous mutations in the DTDST (SLC26A2) gene.

Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia is caused by heterogeneous genotypes involving more than six genes. Recessive mutations in the DTDST gene cause a phenotype of recessive multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (rMED). The authors report a 9-yr old Korean girl with the rMED phenotype having novel compound heterozygous mutations in the DTDST gene, which were inherited from both parents. This is the first Korean rMED case attributed to DTDST mutations, and expands the spectrum of diseases caused by DTDST mutations.

Angular deformity correction by asymmetrical physeal suppression in growing children: stapling versus percutaneous transphyseal screw.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of angular deformity correction by hemiepiphyseal stapling versus percutaneous hemiepiphysiodesis using transphyseal screw in growing children. METHODS: Forty-three physes in 19 patients underwent hemiepiphyseal stapling, and 37 physes in 23 patients underwent percutaneous transphyseal screw placement. All cases were followed up to skeletal maturity or for more than 1 year after hardware removal. Amounts and rates of angular deformity correction, physeal behaviors after hardware removal, and postoperative courses were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The goal of angular correction was achieved in all except 2 patients, who reached skeletal maturity precociously. The mean rates of angular correction were not significantly different between the 2 groups, in both distal femur and proximal tibia. Hardware was removed before skeletal maturity from 56 physes. Angular change remained within 3 degrees for 43 physes (76.8%) at more than 1 year postoperatively, and the rebound phenomenon was observed in 12 (21.4%). No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups in terms of physeal behavior after hardware removal. Patients in the screw group were administered less postoperative pain medication, had shorter hospital stays, and smaller operation scars. In the stapling group, 1 case was complicated due to an extruded staple, and another case experienced premature physeal arrest at 1.5 years postoperatively. One case in the screw group experienced correction failure, probably because of a technical error during screw placement. CONCLUSIONS: Hemiepiphysiodesis using percutaneous transphyseal screw is as effective as hemiepiphyseal stapling in terms of angular deformity correction. Furthermore, hemiepiphysiodesis using transphyseal screw has the advantage of being a minimally invasive procedure, and in this series, did not cause permanent physeal arrest. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Unusual osteocartilaginous prominence or bump causing femoroacetabular impingement after septic arthritis of the hip: a report of 2 cases in preadolescence.

BACKGROUND: Few data are available concerning the indications, outcomes, or optimum timing of femoral osteochondroplasty in patients with late sequelae of septic arthritis of the hip. METHODS: This paper presents 2 unusual cases of Choi type II sequelae associated with a large osteocartilaginous prominence or bump of the femoral head, responsible for cam-type femoroacetabular impingement in preadolescence. RESULTS: Two active preadolescents presented with groin pain after activity, a slightly antalgic gait, and difficulty squatting fully. On physical examination, both had less than 20 degrees of internal rotation with the hip in 90 degrees of flexion and a positive impingement sign, whereby groin pain was provoked by hip flexion, adduction, and internal rotation. One patient underwent osteochondroplasty and femoral valgus osteotomy, and the other osteochondroplasty alone, through surgical dislocation. Postoperatively, both had markedly improved free hip motion and no impingement sign. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with type II sequelae before reaching skeletal maturity may present with femoroacetabular impingement symptoms. These 2 cases show that impingement-free hip motion through surgical dislocation improves symptoms.

Calcaneal Insufficiency Fracture after Ipsilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Insufficiency fracture of the calcaneus is a rare entity. In the absence of trauma, evaluating a painful ankle in an elderly patient can be difficult and also it might be overlook the insufficiency fracture. We experienced a case of insufficiency calcaneus fracture that occurred after ipsilateral total knee arthroplasty. Here, we report our case with a review of literatures.

Vascular Malformations Corresponding to Sclerotomes in Multifocal Melorheostosis: Painful Hip and Knee Contractures Treated with Total Joint Arthroplasty.

CASE: A forty-three-year-old male patient complained of difficulty walking due to severe hip and knee pain and stiffness, which had persisted for twenty years. He was found to have multifocal melorheostosis involving the axial skeleton and the entire left lower limb, along with complex vascular and lymphatic malformations corresponding to the sclerotomes related to the skeletal anomalies. Total hip and knee arthroplasties were performed. He was eventually free of pain during walking, and joint motion of the hip and knee was substantially improved after surgery. CONCLUSION: Hip and knee pain and contracture resulting from multifocal melorheostosis were successfully treated with total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Vascular Malformations Corresponding to Sclerotomes in Multifocal Melorheostosis: Painful Hip and Knee Contractures Treated with Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Case Report.

CASE: A forty-three-year-old male patient complained of difficulty walking due to severe hip and knee pain and stiffness, which had persisted for twenty years. He was found to have multifocal melorheostosis involving the axial skeleton and the entire left lower limb, along with complex vascular and lymphatic malformations corresponding to the sclerotomes related to the skeletal anomalies. Total hip and knee arthroplasties were performed. He was eventually free of pain during walking, and joint motion of the hip and knee was substantially improved after surgery. CONCLUSION: Hip and knee pain and contracture resulting from multifocal melorheostosis were successfully treated with total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Treatment for symptomatic os subtibiale in a preadolescent athlete: a report of 3 cases in preadolescence.

The os subtibiale is a rare accessory bone, which should be distinguished from fracture of the medial malleolus because misinterpretation leads to the unnecessary surgery and immobilization. Herein, we report 3 cases of a symptomatic os subtibiale in preadolescent athlete with a review of the relevant literature.

Primary Ewing sarcoma of lumbar spine in an 8-year-old boy: a case report.

Primary Ewing's sarcoma of the mobile spine is rare, but nevertheless, is the second most common primary malignant bone neoplasm in children. Furthermore, in contrast to long bone involvement, delays may occur because symptoms may not be present until neurological deficits occur. Here, we report a case of an 8-year-old boy with lower back pain and radicular pain on the posterior lower extremities with tingling and progressively reduced sensation in both feet. The patient initially seemed to have muscle sprain but was eventually diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma of the L5 vertebra with intraspinal extension.

Use of tissue expansion to allow reconstruction of the back after wide resection of a diffuse neurofibroma.

Diffuse neurofibroma presents as a diffuse overgrowth of subcutaneous tissue, and usually involves the face, scalp, neck, or chest, but rarely occurs in the back. The management of large soft tissue defects after wide resection of a diffuse neurofibroma is a major surgical challenge. We report the case of a diffuse neurofibroma of the back that required reconstruction after wide resection of the tumour using an expanded myocutaneous advancement flap and a tissue expander. Tissue expansion is essentially a simple technique for expanding available normal skin, and it provides optimally matched skin in terms of colour, texture, hair-bearing qualities, and sensation.

Severe Perthes' disease or late avascular necrosis after successful closed reduction of developmental dysplasia of the hip.

A 5-month-old boy was treated with an adductor tenotomy, closed reduction, and a hip spica cast 2 months after failure of the Pavlik harness for developmental dysplasia of the hip. Satisfactory development of the hip was achieved at the age of 3 years. However, Perthes' disease with Catterall's type IV developed in the same hip at the age of 3 years and 7 months. A proximal femoral varus derotational osteotomy combined with greater trochanter epiphysiodesis was performed at 6 years and 1 month. The Stullberg classification at follow-up, at 10 years of age, was type II.

Concurrent bilateral patellar tendon rupture in a preadolescent athlete: a case report and review of the literature.

Concurrent bilateral patellar tendon rupture in preadolescence is a very rare condition. It is mostly associated with systemic disease or steroid use in adults. We report a case of 12-year-old boy, who had bilateral patellar tendon rupture, treated with nonabsorbable synthetic suturing with titanium osseous anchors. Moreover, we discuss the causes of patellar tendon rupture, diagnostic clues and surgical options.

Application of Ganz surgical hip dislocation approach in pediatric hip diseases.

BACKGROUND: Ganz surgical hip dislocation is useful in the management of severe hip diseases, providing an unobstructed view of the femoral head and acetabulum. We present our early experience with this approach in pediatric hip diseases. METHODS: Twenty-three hips of 21 patients with pediatric hip diseases treated using the Ganz surgical hip dislocation approach were the subjects of this study. The average age at the time of surgery was 15.7 years. There were 15 male and 6 female patients who were followed for an average of 15.1 months (range, 6 to 29 months). Diagnoses included hereditary multiple exostoses in 9 hips, slipped capital femoral epiphysis in 7, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in 4, osteoid osteoma in 1, pigmented villonodular synovitis in 1, and neonatal septic hip sequelae in 1. Medical records were reviewed to record diagnoses, principal surgical procedures, operative time, blood loss, postoperative rehabilitation, changes in the range of hip joint motion, and complications. RESULTS: Femoral head-neck osteochondroplasty was performed in 17 patients, proximal femoral realignment osteotomy in 6, open reduction and subcapital osteotomy for slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) in 2, core decompression and bone grafting in 2, hip distraction arthroplasty in 2, and synovectomy in 2. Operative time averaged 168.6 minutes when only osteochondroplasty and/or synovectomy were performed. Hip flexion range improved from a preoperative mean of 84.7 degrees to a mean of 115.0 degrees at the latest follow-up visit. Early continuous passive motion and ambulation were stressed in rehabilitation. No avascular necrosis of the femoral head was noted up to the time of the latest follow-up visit, except for in one SCFE patient whose surgical intervention was delayed for medical reasons. CONCLUSIONS: Ganz surgical hip dislocation provides wide exposure of the femoral head and neck, which enables complete and precise evaluation of the femoral head and neck contour. Hence, the extensive impinging bump can be excised meticulously, and the circulation of the femoral head can be monitored during surgery. The Ganz procedure was useful in severe pediatric hip diseases and allowed for quick rehabilitation with fewer complications.

Management of periprosthetic femoral fractures.

We followed up 37 periprosthetic fractures to assess the factors related to the outcomes and the loosening of prostheses. The average union time is 3.1 months (range, 2-6.2 months). The most common types were fractures around the stem tip and displaced (89.1%). In our study, the loosening rate (32.4%) was low compared with other reports. These might be due to the cementless stem, but the difference was not significant (P>.05). After management of the fracture with a plate, we noted 5 complications: 2 nonunion and 3 refractures. The causes of these complications were related to screw in the level of the stem tip. Therefore, in the management of fractures with plates, we do not recommend using a screw in the area of the stem tip but rather using a cerclage proximally and bone graft. If stem was unstable or stability was uncertain, and the arthroplasty did not function well previously, revision with a distal fluted stem showed an early bony union.