Pedobarographic measurements after repair of Achilles tendon by minimal invasive surgery.

The aim of the current study was to assess the changes of plantar foot pressures with pedobarography in -patients with Achilles tendon repair by minimally -invasive surgical technique. This retrospective study consisted of 15 consecutive patients who were treated for acute Achilles' tendon repair with minimally invasive technique in our clinic in a two year period between 2010 and 2012. All patients were male. The mean age was 28.7 years (24-42) and the mean follow-up time was 2.3 years (1.5- 3). All patients had sports related Achilles' tendon rupture and all had undergone surgery in 24-48 hours. After surgery, extremity was immobilized with short leg cast for 6 weeks. Peak and mean heel and forefoot pressures in injured extremity were measured by -pedobarograph and compared with noninvolved foot. There wasn't any complication associated with -surgery such as wound problems, re rupture or -neurologic injury. Only three patients had some numbness at the incision site. When we compare the mean foot pressures between the operated foot and the normal foot, there was no statistical difference about peak and mean heel and forefoot plantar pressure between involved site and non involved site. As a result, Achilles tendon repair with minimal invasive technique and early rehabilitation may prevent changes of plantar foot pressure distribution.

Outcomes of acute arthroscopic repair and conservative treatment following first traumatic dislocation of the shoulder joint in young patients.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare patients who had arthroscopic repair done following the first traumatic dislocation with patients who were treated conservatively, in terms of stability and function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute arthroscopic Bankart repair with absorbable tack was used in 30 shoulders after the first dislocation, while 32 patients who sustained traumatic anterior dislocation were treated conservatively at Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology between March 1997 and April 2001. Preoperative and postoperative range of motion of the shoulder and Constant score of all patients were recorded. RESULTS: In the conservative group, the average pretreatment Constant score was 46.8 (range, 30 to 70) and the average post-treatment Constant score was 71.4 (range, 30 to 95). In the surgical group, the average preoperative Constant score in cases with Bankart lesion was 44.7 (range, 30 to 60) and the average postoperative Constant score was 92.3 (range, 65 to 100), (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results support the use of acute arthroscopic repair of traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations with absorbable tacks. Arthroscopic repair is the treatment of choice in young and active patients who are having their first traumatic dislocation.

Treatment of tibial bone defects with the Ilizarov circular external fixator in high-velocity gunshot wounds.

One of the applications for circular external fixators is the treatment of large-bone defects which may be difficult to manage with conventional methods. Successful results have been reported with the use of circular external fixators, particularly in the treatment of infected tibial pseudoarthroses and those with bone loss. In this study, a total of 43 cases with tibial bone defects (18 infected) as a result of high-velocity gun-shot injuries were treated with circular external fixators between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1995. The mean follow-up period was 50 months (range: 28-98 months) after the removal of the Ilizarov device. Satisfactory union was obtained in 40 cases without any major complication or additional surgical intervention, in spite of the large and in some cases infected defects. We conclude that this is a safe method for the treatment of infected or noninfected tibial bone defects.