Intramedullary arachnoid cyst of the dorsal spine: Report of a rare spinal cord condition.

Arachnoid cysts are rare subtypes of spinal cord tumors, usually found in extradural or intradural extramedullary locations. Intramedullary arachnoid cysts are exceedingly rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature. Although these cysts are histologically benign, they can cause significant functional impairment and lead to severe neurological deficits if left untreated. Their rarity presents challenges in diagnosis and management, highlighting the need for awareness and early intervention. We present a new case of a thoracic spinal cord intramedullary arachnoid cyst in a patient who displayed progressive neurological symptoms. Diagnosis was facilitated by detailed clinical evaluation and advanced imaging techniques, such as MRI. The patient underwent surgical intervention, resulting in marked postoperative improvement. This case is discussed in relation to the existing literature, offering a comprehensive review of the etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, radiological characteristics, and therapeutic strategies for intramedullary arachnoid cysts. We emphasize the need for a tailored surgical approach to effectively decompress the spinal cord, alleviate symptoms, and minimize the risk of recurrence.

Comparative analysis of two double-plate fixation techniques for intercondylar fractures of the distal humerus.

This study was aimed to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with intercondylar fractures of the humerus treated with orthogonal and parallel plating methods via precontoured plates. This was a retrospective comparative study conducted on 50 adult patients with intercondylar humerus fractures that were surgically treated over an eleven-year period. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A underwent internal fixation via parallel plating, whereas Group B received orthogonal plating. Clinical outcomes were evaluated via the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), and the radiographic assessments included time to consolidation, pseudoarthrosis, malunion and hardware removal. Both groups presented similar demographic and preoperative characteristics. The functional outcomes assessed by the MEPS were not significantly different between the groups. Radiographically, comparable healing times and rates of complications, including pseudoarthrosis, malunion and hardware removal, were observed. The study findings suggest that both orthogonal and parallel plating methods yield comparable clinical and radiographic outcomes in the treatment of intercondylar humerus fractures. These results underscore the effectiveness of both techniques and emphasize the importance of further research to elucidate the optimal plating method for specific fracture patterns.

Solitary plasmocytoma of the thoracic spine: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Solitary spinal plasmacytoma (SSP) is an uncommon neoplasm originating from bone marrow plasma cells. Although infrequent in the thoracic region, it has the potential to induce substantial damage. In this study, we present the case of a patient with thoracic spine SSP treated through surgical intervention. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 38-year-old female who presented with progressive mid-back pain, numbness, weakness in both lower limbs and gait disturbance. Imaging showed an osteolytic lesion with vertebral collapse of T11. MRI was strongly suggestive of solitary plasmocytoma. Hematologic tests were normal. Surgery was carried out. At the first stage, a posterior approach with laminectomy and fixation were performed. Biopsy of tumor cells confirmed the diagnosis of SSP. At the second stage, a trans-thoracic approach was performed, the tumor was resected in a single block and anterior interbody fusion was done. After the surgery the patient fully recovered from the paraparesis and at two years follow up no recurrence of tumor cells was detected. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Spinal malignant bone tumors are rare, with solitary plasmacytoma being the most common. Diagnosis of SSP is based on bone biopsy findings. MRI and CT scans assess tumor extent and spinal stability. Prognosis relates to the likelihood of progressing into multiple myeloma. Though radiotherapy is common, surgery offers local control, especially for instability and neurological issues. CONCLUSION: SSP in the thoracic spine is a rare condition that requires a multidisciplinary approach and a prompt treatment.

Heterotopic ossification of the shoulder after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Heterotopic ossification (HO) often arises in response to trauma, prior surgical procedures, neurological injuries, or burns. However, its presentation as a complication of shoulder arthroscopy is uncommon and can sometimes lead to functional impairment. In our study, we report a case of HO complicating rotator cuff repair, along with details of the surgical treatment and subsequent progression. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 45-year-old man with no medical history, who had undergone a rotator cuff arthroscopic repair of his left shoulder. Despite initial improvements, he developed intense pain and stiffness of the operated shoulder. X-rays revealed an extensive HO. Surgical revision and excision of the ossification, followed by high-dose indomethacin in combination with proton pump inhibitors and specialized physiotherapy, resulted in remarkable improvement in shoulder function. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Studies investigating HO in shoulder arthroplasty have unveiled a diverse range of formation rates, spanning from 15 % to 62 %. Nonetheless, it's noteworthy that the prevalence of HO around the shoulder remains less common in comparison to other anatomical sites, especially in the context of arthroscopic surgical procedures. The exact mechanism and pathophysiology that leads to HO formation remains unknown. It is believed to stem from a combination of multiple factors and is associated with various contributors. Arthroscopic intervention, coupled with high-dose Indomethacin, offers an effective approach for managing HO. CONCLUSION: While HO remains an uncommon complication after shoulder arthroscopy, it is crucial for clinicians to consider it in patients experiencing post-surgery stiffness and pain.

Tunnel enlargement after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Tunnel enlargement following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has been frequently reported since the nineties, yet its etiologies remain unclear. AIM: To elucidate the factors favoring this phenomenon and to investigate its clinical and anatomical consequences. METHODS: This was a descriptive retrospective study conducted on 37 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery using single-bundle hamstring tendons with fixation using absorbable interference screws at the Traumatology Department of the Kassab National Institute of Orthopedics. The patients were collected between January 2014 and September 2016. Tunnel enlargement, footprint, and tunnel orientation were assessed using standard knee radiographs. At follow-up, patients were evaluated using functional scores (Lysholm, Tegner, and IKDC), clinical examination, and Telos radiographs. RESULTS: The average global Tunnel enlargement was 51.7% in the femur and 48.88% in the tibia. Femoral tunnel enlargement values were higher than tibial tunnel enlargement at all measurement levels, and it appeared to be a time-evolving phenomenon. Factors favoring tunnel enlargement seemed to include advanced age, male gender, delayed surgery, accelerated rehabilitation protocols, non-compliant placement of transplant footprints, and tunnel horizontalization. Tunnel enlargement did not influence functional scores (Lysholm, Tegner, and IKDC). However, based on the differential study of Telos radiographs, femoral and tibial tunnel enlargement in the lax knees group (38% of cases) was higher than in the stable knees group (62%). Nonetheless, our results were statistically non-significant with respective p-values of 0.584 and 0.53. CONCLUSION: Several modifiable factors such as delayed surgery, accelerated rehabilitation protocols, incorrect footprint placement, and tunnel orientation appeared to influence the tunnel enlargement phenomenon. However, prospective studies with a larger sample would be necessary to confirm these findings.

High failure rate after medial meniscus bucket handle tears repair in the stable knee.

BACKGROUND: It is nowadays recommended to "Save the meniscus". This paradigm is based on the affirmation that an extended meniscectomy exposes to the risk of long-term secondary osteoarthritis and the global failure rate of a longitudinal tear repair remains low, whether it is the medial or lateral meniscus, with or without anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. However, each kind of lesion has to be studied separate. PURPOSE: The study aimed to focus on a homogeneous population of isolated repair of the bucket handle tear (BHT) of the medial meniscus (MM) in patients with stable knees to evaluate failure rate at a minimum of three years of follow-up. The secondary objectives were to evaluate any risk factors or protective factors of failure, clinical outcomes, and secondary amount of meniscectomy in failure cases compared to the amount of meniscus fixed in the first surgery. METHODS: All patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of a BHT of the MM situated in the red-on-red or red-on white (RW) zone on a stable knee between January 2010 and December 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Failure was defined as a need for reoperation for recurrence of meniscal symptoms (pain, locking) on the medial side with per-operative confirmation of the absence of healing. The following parameters were studied: demographics (age, gender, BMI), time from injury to surgery, clinical scores (Tegner, Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC]), surgical findings (extent and zone of the tear), surgical management (number and type of suture). RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were included. The mean follow-up was 77.2±24.4 [36-141] months. Twenty-seven (69%) failures were recorded. In 56% (15/27) of the reoperations, the meniscectomy amount was smaller than what it would have been done in the first surgery. All clinical scores improved significantly from pre- to post-operatively; all patients met minimal clinically important differences for all the scores. No risk factors were found significant in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Repairing an isolated BHT of the MM is associated with a high failure rate. Despite the failure, we observed that the meniscectomy area was smaller than documented in the primary surgery in most of the cases and repair must still be considered as the first option. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; retrospective cohort series.

Bioactive glass grants equivalent fusion compared to autologous iliac crest bone for ALIF: a within-patient comparative study.

PURPOSE: To determine within-patient fusion rates of chambers filled with bioactive glass versus autologous iliac crest bone on computed tomography (CT) following anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). METHODS: A consecutive series of 40 patients (58 levels) that underwent single-level (L5-S1 only) or two-level (L5-S1 and L4-L5) ALIF were assessed. Indications for fusion were one or more of the following: degenerative disc disease with or without Modic changes, spondylolisthesis, and stenosis. Each intervertebral cage had a middle beam delimiting two chambers, one of which was filled with bioactive glass and the other with autologous iliac crest bone. CT scans were graded using the Bridwell classification (grade I, best; grade IV, worst). Patients were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and by rating pain in the lower back and legs on a Visual Analog Scale (pVAS); complications and reoperations were noted. RESULTS: At 15 ± 5 months follow-up, there were no significant differences in fusion across chambers filled with bioactive glass versus chambers filled with autologous bone (p = 0.416). Two patients with Bridwell grade III at both chambers of the L4-L5 cages required reoperation using posterior instrumentation. Clinical assessment of the 38 remaining patients (54 levels) at 25 ± 2 months, revealed ODI of 15 ± 12, lower back pVAS of 1.4 ± 1.5 and legs pVAS of 1.9 ± 1.6. CONCLUSIONS: For ALIF at L5-S1 or L4-L5, within-patient fusion rates were equivalent for bioactive glass compared to autologous iliac crest bone; thus, bioactive glass can substitute autologous bone, avoiding increased operative time and blood loss, as well as donor site morbidity.

Risk of Graft Rupture After Adding a Lateral Extra-articular Procedure at the Time of ACL Reconstruction: A Retrospective Comparative Study of Elite Alpine Skiers From the French National Team.

BACKGROUND: Elite alpine skiing is associated with a particularly high risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, including graft ruptures. Despite a considerable focus on prevention, a reduction in injury rates has not been observed since the 1980s. PURPOSE: To determine whether elite alpine skiers undergoing ACL reconstruction (ACLR) with a lateral extra-articular procedure (LEAP) had a lower rate of ACL graft rupture when compared with those who underwent isolated ACLR. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Elite skiers from the French ski team who had undergone ACLR, with or without a LEAP, and had a minimum follow-up of 2 years were identified from the national ski team database. Rates of secondary ACL injury were determined via interrogation of the database, review of medical notes, and a final telemedicine interview. A multivariable analysis using the penalized Cox model was performed to explore the relationship among graft rupture, surgical procedure type, and any potential explanatory variables. RESULTS: Among 81 ACLR procedures analyzed, 50 were isolated and 31 were combined with a LEAP, which was performed using modified Lemaire or anterolateral ligament reconstruction. Graft rupture rates were 34.0% in the isolated ACLR group and 6.5% in the ACLR + LEAP group. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that adding a LEAP was associated with a significant reduction in risk of ACL graft rupture when compared with isolated ACLR (hazard ratio [HR], 5.286 [95% CI, 1.068-26.149]; P = .0412). Age (HR, 1.114; P = .1157), sex (HR, 1.573; P = .3743), and ACL graft type (HR, 1.417; P = .5394) were not significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: Combined ACLR and LEAP were associated with a significant reduction in the rate of ACL graft rupture in elite alpine ski athletes. Those treated with isolated ACLR remain at extremely high risk of a second ACL injury.

Postoperative pain due to an occult spinal infection: A case report.

BACKGROUND: A high degree of vigilance is warranted for a spinal infection, particularly in a patient who has undergone an invasive procedure such as a spinal injection. The average delay in diagnosing a spinal infection is 2-4 mo. In our patient, the diagnosis of a spinal infection was delayed by 1.5 mo. CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old male patient with a 1-year history of right-sided lumbar radicular pain failed conservative treatment. Six weeks to prior to surgery he received a spinal injection, which was followed by increasing lumbar radicular pain, weight loss and chills. This went unnoticed and surgery took place with right-sided L4-L5 combined microdiscectomy and foraminotomy via a posterior approach. The day after surgery, the patient developed left-sided lumbar radicular pain. Blood cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Magnetic resonance imaging showed inflammatory aberrations, revealing septic arthritis of the left-sided L4/L5 facet joint as the probable cause. Revision surgery took place and S. aureus was isolated from bacteriological samples. The patient received postoperative antibiotic treatment, which completely eradicated the infection. CONCLUSION: The development of postoperative lower back pain and/or lumbar radicular pain can be a sign of a spinal infection. A thorough clinical and laboratory work-up is essential in the preoperative evaluation of patients with spinal pain.