The prevalence of neovascularity in rotator cuff tendinopathy: comparing conventional Doppler with superb microvascular imaging.

AIMS: To determine the prevalence of neovascularity in the supraspinatus tendon of patients presenting with clinically painful unilateral rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCT) using conventional colour Doppler ultrasound (CDU), power Doppler ultrasound (PDU), and superb microvascular imaging (SMI). The association between Doppler findings and clinical scores was also assessed. METHODS: The bilateral supraspinatus of consecutive patients presented with unilateral RCT clinically were evaluated with grey-scale ultrasound (tendon thickening, heterogeneous echotexture, and hypoechogenicity), CDU, PDU, and SMI. The prevalence of neovascularity and grey-scale changes on duplex imaging techniques were analysed. The relationship between neovascularity on CDU, PDU, SMI, and pain/disability as determined using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) were assessed. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients (mean age 53 years, 39 women) were recruited. Of the symptomatic supraspinatus tendons, 42.4% (25/59) demonstrated neovascularity on SMI, compared to 6.8% (4/59) on PDU and 5.1% (3/59) on CDU. Of the asymptomatic supraspinatus tendons, 5.1% (3/59) depicted neovascularity on SMI but not on conventional Doppler techniques. SMI showed a significant correlation with the VAS (r2 = 0.560, p<0.001) and OSS (r2 = 0.62, p<0.001). PDU weakly correlated with the VAS and OSS (r2 = 0.312, p=0.016; r2 = 0.260, p=0.047, respectively) while CDU did not show a significant relationship. CONCLUSION: SMI is superior in demonstrating neovascularity and shows better correlation with pain and functional deficit compared to conventional Doppler in patients with painful RCT. SMI also showed vascularity to a lesser degree in the asymptomatic tendon. Further large-scale studies are needed to prove the diagnostic value of SMI in the assessment of RCT.

Natural history of incomplete atypical femoral fractures in patients after a prolonged and variable course of bisphosphonate therapy-a long-term radiological follow-up.

Understanding the natural history of lateral femoral stress fractures helps to guide their management. Improvement in their radiographic characteristics is rare. Progression was generally sequential, most developing an incomplete fracture line before fracture displacement. Stopping bisphosphonates decreased the fracture rate, a feasible management option for lesions without incomplete fracture lines. INTRODUCTION: Retrospective study evaluating the natural history of lateral femoral stress fractures (FSF) by serial radiography over a variable period of time in a cohort of patients treated for some time with bisphosphonates for osteoporosis, whilst also identifying the fracture response in cases where bisphosphonates were discontinued. METHODS: The radiographs of 76 consecutive patients (92 femurs) with 161 FSF were reviewed to document their change over time. Femurs were classified into the following: A-normal, B-focal cortical thickening, C-dreaded black line and D-displaced fracture. Bisphosphonate history was recorded. RESULTS: 66.5% FSF showed group stability between the first and last radiographs: group B (79.1%), group C (45.7%). 28.6% progressed, mostly following an ordered sequence starting from group A, progressing to B, then C, before culminating in D. Progression rate was as follows: A-100% (11/11), B-18.3% (21/115), C-40% (14/35). Regression in FSF was uncommon-5.6% (8/161). 34.8% (32/92) sustained displaced fractures. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed statistically significant difference between the groups; median survival (95% CI): A-4189 (-), B-3383.0 (-), C-1807 (0.0-3788.6) and progression to displaced fracture when bisphosphonate had been stopped for at least 6 months. The group without recent bisphosphonates had a lower group progression rate (17.1%, 12/70). Nevertheless, 10.9% (5/46) progressed to displaced fracture. This group also had the highest proportion of stable (77.1%, 54/70) and regressive lesions (5.7%, 4/70). CONCLUSIONS: In FSF, there is natural progression from normal bone, to focal cortical thickening, to dreaded black line and eventually to displaced fracture. Most lesions persist, remaining static or progressing, especially if a dreaded black line is present and bisphosphonates are continued. Regression is uncommon and more frequent when bisphosphonates are discontinued. Despite stopping bisphosphonates, there remains a 10.9% risk of progression to displaced fracture.

What triggers in trigger finger? The flexor tendons at the flexor digitorum superficialis bifurcation.

To define the role of the flexor tendons in trigger finger, a high-resolution ultrasound examination was performed in 20 trigger fingers and 20 normal contralateral digits in three digital postures: full extension, mid-flexion and near-full flexion. Precise measurements of diameter and cross-sectional area of the combined tendon mass were recorded at five clearly defined locations: summit of the metacarpal head, proximal lip of the proximal phalanx (PP) and at 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 length of the PP. In the normal tendons, there was an anatomical thickening, not previously appreciated at 1/4 length PP, in the region of the FDS bifurcation. This anatomical region moved proximally on finger flexion to the A1 pulley. In trigger fingers, the flexor tendons had greater diameter (sagittal view) and cross-sectional area than the normal side at all locations (p < 0.01, p < 0.001), with an even greater increase in diameter in the FDS bifurcation area (p < 0.001). Trigger fingers also had thicker A1 pulleys (p < 0.001). Triggering occurs on flexing the finger when the enlarged combined flexor tendon mass at the specific anatomical region of the FDS bifurcation impacts on the thickened A1 pulley, resisting its excursion.

Post-operative outcomes of atypical femoral subtrochanteric fracture in patients on bisphosphonate therapy.

Management of bisphosphonate-associated subtrochanteric fractures remains opinion- or consensus-based. There are limited data regarding the outcomes of this fracture. We retrospectively reviewed 33 consecutive female patients with a mean age of 67.5 years (47 to 91) who were treated surgically between May 2004 and October 2009. The mean follow-up was 21.7 months (0 to 53). Medical records and radiographs were reviewed to determine the post-operative ambulatory status, time to clinical and radiological union and post-fixation complications such as implant failure and need for second surgery. The predominant fixation method was with an extramedullary device in 23 patients. 25 (75%) patients were placed on wheelchair mobilisation or no weight-bearing initially. The mean time to full weight-bearing was 7.1 months (2.2 to 29.7). The mean time for fracture site pain to cease was 6.2 months (1.2 to 17.1). The mean time to radiological union was 10.0 months (2.2 to 27.5). Implant failure was seen in seven patients (23%, 95 confidence interval (CI) 11.8 to 40.9). Revision surgery was required in ten patients (33%, 95 CI 19.2 to 51.2). A large proportion of the patients required revision surgery and suffered implant failure. This fracture is associated with slow healing and prolonged post-operative immobility.

Distribution of atypical fractures and cortical stress lesions in the femur: implications on pathophysiology.

INTRODUCTION: Some authors have hypothesised that atypical femur fractures occur due to tensile mechanism of failure. We studied the distribution of such lesions along the femur shaft to determine if they concentrate in regions that are subject to tensile loading. METHODS: From May 2004 to March 2010, radiological reviews of 48 patients aged 69 +/- 10.4 (range 47-92) years with atypical femoral fractures and lesions were performed. The absolute distance of each lesion from the greater trochanter and the ratio of the distance of each lesion from the greater trochanter expressed as a percentage of the entire femur length were measured. RESULTS: All periosteal reactions and cortical stress lesions occurred in the lateral cortex. There were 35 right femoral lesions (28 complete fractures and seven cortical stress reactions), with a median distance of 108.3 +/- 54.0 (range 67.0-270.4) mm from the greater trochanter and a median ratio of 23.9 +/- 11.7 (range 15.7-58.6) percent of the entire femoral length. There were 38 left femoral lesions (27 complete fractures and 11 cortical stress reactions), with a median distance of 109.9 +/- 43.1 (range 73.6-246.2) mm from the greater trochanter and a median ratio of 24.4 +/- 9.1(range 16.3-51.1) percent of the entire femoral length. CONCLUSION: Based on previously established femoral shaft loading characteristics, atypical lesions were clustered at the region of maximal tensile loading. No lesion occurred in regions that were subject to compressive loading. This unique distribution supports a tensile mechanism of failure in such lesions.

Meniscal cyst causing periarticular tibial erosion.

Meniscal cysts causing bone erosions are rare. The majority of meniscal cysts are associated with tears of the menisci and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearances are usually diagnostic. The MR images of a 34-year-old man showed a well-defined cystic mass that communicated with a horizontal cleavage tear of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus and caused pressure erosion of the lateral tibial condyle. We believe this to be the first locally reported case of tibial erosion related to a meniscal cyst. This entity should be included in the differential diagnosis for a well-defined periarticular erosion.

Spontaneous lumbar subdural haematoma--a case report.

Spinal subdural haematomas are a rare cause of spinal cord or cauda equina compression. These are usually seen in association with lumbar puncture or coagulopathy. Spontaneous spinal subdural haematomas are even rarer. This report presents one such case diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) together with a review of the literature. The patient presented with low back pain of acute onset after minimal trauma. MRI showed high signal intensity on both T1-weighted and T2-weighted sequences in the posterior subdural space indicative of a subacute lumbar subdural haematoma. There was no history of bleeding diasthesis. The patient was treated conservatively and recovered spontaneously.

Remote consultation for computerized tomography and magnetic resonance studies by means of teleradiology--experience at the Singapore General Hospital.

A teleradiology link was established between Singapore General Hospital in Singapore and Stanford University in California, USA. Over eight months, a total of 28 cases (involving 27 magnetic resonance investigations and three computerized tomography scans) were transmitted by ISDN to California. Our initial experience with teleradiology for remote consultation was encouraging, although the data transmission cost was higher than we anticipated. however, costs could be reduced by using data compression. Long-distance telecommunication charges continue to fall, so intercontinental teleradiology of this type may be financially viable in future.