Short-term follow-up of embolization of hip synovitis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most frequent joint disease, affecting 10% of men and 18% of women older than 60 years worldwide. Traditionally, treatment is based in pain management with joint replacement of end-stage disease. In this setting, transcatheter embolization has emerged as an alternative in reduction of pain in patients with OA. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77 years-old female presenting with two previous deep vein thrombosis and 10 years of hip pain. Magnetic resonance demonstrated a focal area of enhanced pericapsular signal near the superolateral margin of the acetabulum. Embolization of branches of the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery was performed, with decrease of the pain and improvement in the image and her walking ability in a four-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case report have shown that embolization of hip synovitis is feasible with early clinical success, in tune with the findings of genicular and shoulder embolization. Studies with more patients and long-term results are necessary to corroborate this finding. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament by means of an anteromedial portal and femoral fixation using Rigidfix.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a series of patients who underwent surgery for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with flexor tendons, by means of the anteromedial transportal technique using Rigidfix for femoral fixation, and to analyze the positioning of the pins by means of tomography. METHODS: Thirty-two patients were included in the study. The clinical evaluation was done using the Lysholm, subjective IKDC and Rolimeter. All of them underwent computed tomography with 3D reconstruction in order to evaluate the entry point and positioning of the Rigidfix pins in relation to the joint cartilage of the lateral condyle of the femur. RESULTS: The mean Lysholm score obtained was 87.81 and the subjective IKDC was 83.72. Among the 32 patients evaluated, 43% returned to activities that were considered to be very vigorous, 9% vigorous, 37.5% moderate and 12.5% light. In 16 patients (50%), the distal entry point of the Rigidfix pin was located outside of the cartilage (extracartilage); in seven (21.87%), the distal pin injured the joint cartilage (intracartilage); and in nine (28.12%), it was at the border of the lateral condyle of the femur. CONCLUSION: The patients who underwent ACL reconstruction by means of the anteromedial transportal using the Rigidfix system presented satisfactory clinical results over the length of follow-up evaluated. However, the risk of lesions of the joint cartilage from the distal Rigidfix pin needs to be taken into consideration when the technique via an anteromedial portal is used. Further studies with larger numbers of patients and longer follow-up times should be conducted for better evaluation.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar uma série de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior com tendões flexores pela técnica transportal anteromedial com o uso de Rigidfix para fixação femoral e analisar o posicionamento dos pinos por meio de tomografia. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 32 pacientes. A avaliação clínica foi feita com os escores de Lysholm, IKDC subjetivo e Rolimeter. Todos foram submetidos a tomografia computadorizada com reconstrução em 3D para avaliação do ponto de entrada e do posicionamento dos pinos do Rigidfix em relação à cartilagem articular do côndilo lateral do fêmur. RESULTADOS: A média do escore de Lysholm obtido foi de 87,81 e do IKDC subjetivo, de 83,72. Dos 32 pacientes avaliados, 43% retornaram a atividades consideradas muito vigorosas, 9% a vigorosas, 37,5% a moderadas e 12,5% a leves. Em 16 pacientes (50%), o ponto de entrada do pino distal do Rigidfix foi localizado fora da cartilagem (extracartilagem), em sete (21,87%) o pino distal lesou a cartilagem articular (intracartilagem) e em nove (28,12%) ficou na borda da cartilagem articular do côndilo lateral do fêmur. CONCLUSÃO: Os pacientes submetidos à reconstrução do LCA com o sistema Rigidfix pela técnica transportal anteromedial apresentaram um resultado clínico satisfatório no tempo de seguimento avaliado. Entretanto, o risco de lesão da cartilagem articular pelo pino distal do Rigidfix deve ser considerado quando a técnica via portal anteromedial é usada. Outros estudos com maior número de pacientes e com um tempo de seguimento mais longo devem ser feitos para melhor avaliação.