Complex Variant of Paediatric Conjoint Bicondylar Hoffa Fracture: A Rare Entity.

Isolated, closed, conjoint bicondylar Hoffa fracture in a child is extremely rare with only three cases reported in literature till date. We report a complex variant of this very rare injury. An 11-year-old male child reported 2-week post-trauma with history of fall from a tree and injury to his right knee. Radiographs revealed a coronal plane fracture of the distal femur. The patient was operated using the swashbuckler approach, which revealed a sagittal split of the lateral femoral condyle along with a conjoint bicondylar Hoffa fracture. Fixation was done using multiple lag screws and fracture went on to uneventful union. Patient was followed up for 3 years and except for limb shortening of around 1.5 cm secondary to premature physeal closure as a consequence of the injury, he had excellent outcome with full range of motion at the knee, without any deformity.

Diagnosis and Management of Osteoarticular Tuberculosis: A Drastic Change in Mind Set Needed-It is Not Enough to Simply Diagnose TB.

BACKGROUND: In the era of increasing drug resistance in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), it is prudent to assess causes of poor response to anti tubercular therapy (ATT) and drug sensitivity pattern (DSP) in osteoarticular TB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As a part of Bombay Orthopaedic society's research project, members were asked to refer non responders to ATT to our institute. Cases were enrolled from October 2010 to March 2014. Deep tissue samples were obtained in all but five cases and subjected to a battery of tests including histopathology (HPE) and TB culture and sensitivity. The DSP was compared with the study performed by the principle author from 2004 to 2007 and published in 2009. RESULTS: 39 male and 50 female patients with a mean age of 24.85 years (2-66) were included and classified in four groups after results. (1) Culture and HPE positive-36. 24 had MDR and three XDR TB. Primary resistance to even second line drugs and deterioration of DSP since last study was noted, (2) culture negative and HPE positive-21. The cause of poor response was surgical in more than half cases, (3) non representative samples or lost to follow-up-15, (4) TB mimics-16. CONCLUSION: There is increasing incidence of primary resistance to second line drugs, primary resistance in children and worsening of resistance patterns as compared to older studies. ATT initiation is a fateful decision and every attempt should be made to rule out TB mimics and establish DSP before initiation.

Triceps tendon rupture: an uncommon orthopaedic condition.

Triceps tendon disruption is a rare orthopaedic injury that can lead to poor outcomes if misdiagnosed or managed inappropriately. This case report illustrates the importance of early, precise diagnosis of triceps rupture by clinical and radiological examination with appropriate management. A weightlifter who had fallen while riding his bike presented with pain, swelling around the posterior aspect of the left arm just above the elbow. Physical examination revealed ecchymosis and weakness in elbow extension. A radiograph of the elbow showed a small fleck of bone proximal to the tip of the olecranon. The patient was initially stabilised. Early intervention in the form of primary tendon repair was performed within 3 days and rehabilitation was started. The patient improved significantly to his best possible functional status with Mayo elbow score of 85. Early intervention was the key to better prognosis.