Differential diagnoses and therapeutic features of giant cell tumor of the bone in an elderly patient: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Giant cells tumor (GCT) of the bone is usually seen in young adults between the ages of 20 and 40. When occurring in older patients, diagnosis and therapeutic specific feature are to be considered. We underline those aspects through this case report. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 73-year-old man presenting with a painful swelling knee. The diagnosis of GCT of proximal tibia was retained and the patient underwent extensive curettage, subchondral bone grafting and cementation of the residual cavity. The long-term results show a good functional outcome and no recurrence. DISCUSSION: In this age group, other lesions have similar clinical and radiological presentations as GCT of bone. The diagnosis of a metastatic carcinoma is to be carefully ruled-out in this situation. While the option of large resection with joint arthroplasty is better accepted in ageing patients as a treatment of GCT of bone, this case suggests that jointpreserving methods should also be considered especially when there are no signs of osteoarthritis. While polymethylmethacrylate cementation is an efficient adjuvant in order to reduce recurrences, it may cause secondary osteoarthritis. Subchondral grafting seems to be a good alternative to prevent this complication. CONCLUSION: Malignancies should be ruled-out before retaining the diagnosis of GCT of the bone after the age of 50. Conservative surgical treatment is always an option in this age group.

Cleavage Intercondylar Fracture of the Femur: A Case Report.

Distal femur fractures account for less than 1% of all fractures and about 3 to 6% of all femoral fractures. Several classifications have been described but some types of distal femur fractures escape them such as the cleavage intercondylar fracture of the femur. To our knowledge, there have been only four cases reported in the literature. The authors report a case of a 32-year-old woman who presented at the emergency department with a cleavage intercondylar fracture of the left femur. The patient was treated with a long leg cast for 6 weeks, followed by physiotherapy and full weight-bearing. After 4 months, the evolution was favorable: the patient was asymptomatic and regained full knee range of motion. After 10 years of follow-up, there was no clinical or radiological evidence of knee osteoarthritis.

Tenosynovial giant cell tumour in Hoffa fat pad: a case report.

Giant cell tumour is a benign lesion classified as a fibrocystic tumour whose localization in Hoffa's fat pad is very rare. Clinical symptoms are insidious and non-specific causing a frequent confusion and delay in diagnosis therefore it should be distinguished radiologically from other similar conditions such as Hoffa´s disease and lipomas. We report a case of a 37-year-old patient, with no relevant history, who complained of a right knee pain for 5 years. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a small nodular mass in Hoffa's pad which was excised through a direct approach. Histologic examination of the specimen revealed a giant cell tenosynovial tumour. One year after surgery, the patient was asymptomatic with no local recurrence. The surgical removal of the tumour is the ideal treatment. The choice between open surgery and endoscopy depends on the site, size, and extent of the tumour.

Primary giant hydatid cysts of the thigh and the gluteal region: a case report.

Primary musculoskeletal echinococcosis is rare and accounts for 2-3% of the patients with hydatid disease. We report a case of giant primary hydatid cysts of the thigh and the gluteal region in an 82-year-old female, who presented with a painful multiple palpable mass. The diagnosis was confirmed by imaging and serology. Total resection was performed through an extended lateral approach of the thigh and intraoperative findings revealed infected giant hydatid cysts. The postoperative outcome was uneventful. Albendazole drug (400mg per day) was given for the next 3 months. At 6 months follow-up, the patient was satisfied with no complications or recurrence.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthopedic and Trauma Departments in Tunisia.

OBJECTIVE: Measure the effect of the strategy to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, based on containment, on the practice of orthopedic and trauma surgery in Tunisia. METHODS: This is a comparative study, concerning the impact of Covid-19 on the flow of patients, operated in orthopedic surgery and trauma departments, during the containment period from March 12, 2020 to April 30, 2020, comparing it to the same period of the year 2019, in the Central-East region of Tunisia (Kairouan, Sousse, Mahdia, Monastir). RESULTS: A significant decrease of 27% in the flow of patients admitted to orthopedic surgery departments in central-eastern Tunisia, during the 2020 containment period, compared to the same period of the previous year was documented. This decrease was generally widespread, notified in three orthopedic departments: Sousse (39%; p<10-3), Monastir (29%; p<10-3) and Mahdia (27%; p<10-3). It focused on the following three groups: infections (45%; p<10-3), wounds (30%; p<10-2), and fractures (20%; p<10-3). CONCLUSION: The collateral effects of the strategy to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, are "obvious" in orthopedic surgical practice. A health crisis management plan (including disasters and pandemics) should be better prepared in orthopedic surgery departments.

COVID-19 and Management of Orthopedic Emergencies. Producing a Consensus of Experts.

OBJECTIVE: Report the results of a participatory approach in Tunisian orthopedic surgery, for the development of a consensus of experts, on the identification of the list of pathologies to always be considered as non-postponable emergencies, during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study of the opinions of Tunisian experts covered all orthopedic morbidities classified into three homogeneous groups: trauma, infections and tumors of the musculoskeletal system. The attitudes of the interviewees were collected using the "Delphi" method, using a "Google-Form" questionnaire, sent by email to all of the Tunisian university orthopedic surgeons in practice, and registered at the SOTCOT. Consensus has been established for an item, if validated by at least 80% of the experts. The analysis of the results focused on the first 30 responses to this "online" form. RESULTS: Tunisian experts agreed on the continuity of the urgency of taking in charge all the items of orthopedic morbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic, apart from the following affections: aseptic nonunions in the upper and lower limbs, aggressive giant cell tumors, and hyperalgesic disc herniations, where agreement rates were only at 8%, 12%, 58% and 77%. CONCLUSION: Relative to its disciplinary and professional specificities, the majority the of orthopedic conditions were still considered as emergencies, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which did not lend to postponement of the surgery. However, their management should obey to the recommendations of "Sorting" and the " COVID-19 Patient Pathway ", established by national authorities.

Tranexamic acid in joint replacement : a randomized trial comparing intravenous oral and topical routes.

Various plating systems are available to fix distal radius fractures, each with a specific design. The purpose of this study was to compare radiological outcome and complications of the Variable Angle LCP Plate 2.4-mm (DePuy Synthes) with the VariAx volar locking plate (Stryker). One hundred patients (103 wrists) operated on for a distal radius fracture were retrospectively reviewed with a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. Seventy-three wrists were treated with a DePuy Synthes plate and 30 with a VariAx plate. The overall complication rate was 32%. Nineteen cases underwent revision surgery, 18 had malunion and 3 complex regional pain syndrome. Complicaton rate was 43% with DePuy Synthes plates and 27% with Variax plates, but the difference was not significant.

Uncommon Floating Knee in a Teenager: A Case Report of Ipsilateral Physeal Fractures in Distal Femur and Proximal Tibia.

INTRODUCTION: The concomitance of ipsilateral physeal fractures of the distal femur and the proximal tibia is an extremely scarce entity. It is conceptually similar to floating knee in pediatric population. CASE REPORT: One case with this injury is reported in a 16-year-old teenager. He was treated surgically by close reduction and internal fixation. The diagnosis of the tibial fracture was initially missed and the fracture was seen on the post-operative radiographs. Orthopedic treatment was made for this injury. 2 years after, no angular deformity neither shortening of the limb were found. CONCLUSION: These rare injuries could have serious immediate and remote complication with a considerable functional impact. The diagnosis of proximal tibia physeal fracture could be missed in the context of a concomitant more impressive distal femur fracture. The possibility of a combination of these two injuries should then be kept in mind. Anatomic reduction should be made as soon as possible using a gentle technique and attention should be given to the diagnosis of the neurovascular complications.

Uncommon Floating Knee in a Teenager: A Case Report of Ipsilateral Physeal Fractures in Distal Femur and Proximal Tibia.

INTRODUCTION: The concomitance of ipsilateral physeal fractures of the distal femur and the proximal tibia is an extremely scarce entity. It is conceptually similar to floating knee in the pediatric population. CASE REPORT: One case with this injury is reported in a 16-year-old teenager. He was treated surgically by close reduction and internal fixation. The diagnosis of the tibial fracture was initially missed, and the fracture was seen on the post-operative radiographs. Orthopedic treatment was made for this injury. 2 years after, no angular deformity neither shortening of the limb were found. CONCLUSION: These rare injuries could have serious immediate and remote complication with a considerable functional impact. The diagnosis of proximal tibia physeal fracture could be missed in the context of a concomitant more impressive distal femur fracture. The possibility of a combination of these two injuries should then be kept in mind. Anatomic reduction should be made as soon as possible using a gentle technique, and attention should be given to the diagnosis of the neurovascular complications.

Dislocation of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint: A Case Report and Suggested Classification System.

Dislocation of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is a relatively rare and still poorly known injury. The current classification includes only the dorsal variety of this lesion; thus, as further cases of other varieties are reported, a larger understanding of this entity is required. We report the case of a young male with dorsal dislocation of the first metatarsophalangeal joint treated by closed reduction. The clinical outcome at the 2-year follow-up point is reported. A review of the published data of the variations of this injury reported to date is included, and a new summarizing classification is suggested.