Factors affecting Baker cyst volume, with emphasis on cartilage lesion degree and effusion in the young and middle-aged population.

BACKGROUND: The principal aim of this study was to investigate the presence of factors affecting Baker's cyst volume in young and middle-aged populations. METHODS: Open cyst excision with valve and capsule repair, as well as knee arthroscopy, were used to treat eighty-five patients. The cases were categorized in terms of age, effusion, chondral lesion degree, meniscal tear degree, and Lindgren scores. An ultrasonography (USG) device was used to calculate the cyst volume. The IBM-SPSS 22 program was used for statistical analysis and to assess the relationships between variables using Spearman's correlation tests. RESULTS: The degree of chondral lesion was moderately and positively correlated with cyst volume in the total population (correlation coefficient: 0.469; p < 0.05). The degree of the chondral lesion was moderately and positively correlated with the degree of effusion (correlation coefficient: 0.492; p < 0.005). The cyst volume was weakly and positively correlated with the degree of effusion (correlation coefficient: 0.20; the correlation was at the limits of statistical significance p = 0.07 < 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that an increase in chondral lesion severity increases the amount of effusion and cyst volume.

Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in patients with recurrent tonsillitis and elevated anti-streptolysin O titers.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with elevated anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titers (ASOT) and recurrent tonsillitis episodes are known to be at higher risk for rheumatic heart disease (RHD). However, there is no data regarding prevalence of RHD in this high risk population. In this study, we aimed to screen ambulatory patients with elevated ASOT and recurrent tonsillitis episodes using echocardiography for identification of RHD. We hypothesized that prevalence of RHD is higher in this patient group compared to general population. METHODS: 102 patients (10.33 ± 4.01 years, 50.98% female) who were diagnosed with recurrent tonsillitis and had elevated ASOT were included this study. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed by an experienced cardiologist. RESULTS: Echocardiographic examination revealed definite RHD in 2/102 (1.96%) patients and borderline RHD in 3/102 (2.94%) patients. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates a high prevalence of RHD in patients with recurrent tonsillitis episodes and high ASOT. Screening with echocardiography is beneficial to improve the detection rates of subclinical RHD in such high-risk populations.

Two- and three-dimensional reformatted computed tomography imaging analysis of the lumbosacropelvic structure in degenerative anterolisthesis.

AIM: To evaluate the differences in the lumbosacropelvic structure between normal individuals and those with pseudospondylolisthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The renal stone protocol abdominal CT images of 452 patients were retrospectively analysed. Twenty individuals who had degenerative anterolisthesis at the L5-S1 level were included in the study. Moreover, a control group of individuals was formed, similar in age and gender to the study group. A number of linear and angular lumbosacral morphological parameters were evaluated using two- and three-dimensionally reformatted CT images. The data of the two groups were compared using the t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: There was an association between spondylolisthesis and decreased thickness of the transverse process (p=0.01), the height of the iliac crest (p=0.028), lumbar angle (p=0.041), sacral table angle (p=0.033), sacral table index (p=0.0001), sacral kyphosis (p=0.025), sacral slope (p=0.007), and width of the transverse process (p=0.038), and increased transverse articular dimension of the facet joint (p=0.003), axial angle of the facet joint (p=0.002), sagittal angle of the facet joint (p=0.012), S1 vertebra interfacet index (p=0.003), the distance between the L5 vertebral transverse process and the iliac crest (p=0.003), pelvic incidence (p=0.016), L5 vertebra posterior angle (p=0.001), and intersacroiliac joint angle (p=0.024). CONCLUSION: The lumbosacropelvic morphology in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis is quite different from that of normal individuals. These abnormalities should be revealed using imaging methods as they can be defining for pseudospondylolisthesis development and have important effects on therapy planning.