Echinococcosis of the spine.

Echinococcosis or hydatid disease affecting the spine is an uncommon manifestation of Echinococcus granulosus infection of the spine.More commonly found in endemic areas, it causes significant morbidity and mortality as it grows slowly and produces symptoms mainly by compressing the spinal cord.As diagnostic methods are non-specific, diagnosis and management are usually delayed until the disease is advanced, thereby therapy is usually unlikely.Treatment is usually surgical, aiming at cyst excision, spinal cord decompression and spinal stabilization.This article summarizes the clinical findings of echinococcosis of the spine, discusses the specific laboratory and diagnostic findings, lists the current treatment options, and reviews the patients' outcomes.The aim is to prompt clinicians to be aware of the possibility of echinococcosis as a possible diagnosis in endemic areas. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:288-296. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200130.

The association of spinal osteoarthritis with lumbar lordosis.

BACKGROUND: Careful review of published evidence has led to the postulate that the degree of lumbar lordosis may possibly influence the development and progression of spinal osteoarthritis, just as misalignment does in other joints. Spinal degeneration can ensue from the asymmetrical distribution of loads. The resultant lesions lead to a domino- like breakdown of the normal morphology, degenerative instability and deviation from the correct configuration. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a relationship exists between the sagittal alignment of the lumbar spine, as it is expressed by lordosis, and the presence of radiographic osteoarthritis. METHODS: 112 female subjects, aged 40-72 years, were examined in the Outpatients Department of the Orthopedics' Clinic, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete. Lumbar radiographs were examined on two separate occasions, independently, by two of the authors for the presence of osteoarthritis. Lordosis was measured from the top of L1 to the bottom of L5 as well as from the top of L1 to the top of S1. Furthermore, the angle between the bottom of L5 to the top of S1 was also measured. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 49 women were diagnosed with radiographic osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, while 63 women had no evidence of osteoarthritis and served as controls. The two groups were matched for age and body build, as it is expressed by BMI. No statistically significant differences were found in the lordotic angles between the two groups CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference in lordosis between those affected with lumbar spine osteoarthritis and those who are disease free. It appears that osteoarthritis is not associated with the degree of lumbar lordosis.

Fixation of Mitchell's osteotomy with bioabsorbable pins for treatment of hallux valgus deformity.

We hypothesised that the use of bioabsorbable pins in Mitchell's osteotomy would improve the outcome of patients treated for hallux valgus deformity. A total of 68 patients underwent Mitchell's osteotomy to correct hallux valgus deformity: 33 patients (group A) underwent Mitchell's osteotomy augmented with bioabsorbable pins and 35 patients were treated with the classic operative procedure (group B). Hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal scale and the visual analogue score (VAS) for pain were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups as far as the improvement of the IMA, HVA and AOFAS scale were concerned. Patients of group A had significantly less postoperative pain and returned to their previous activities earlier than patients of group B. The use of the pins did not improve the final outcome of the osteotomy. However, it allowed for faster rehabilitation due to less postoperative pain.

Pathophysiology and biomechanics of the aging spine.

AGING OF THE SPINE IS CHARACTERIZED BY TWO PARALLEL BUT INDEPENDENT PROCESSES: the reduction of bone mineral density and the development of degenerative changes. The combination of degeneration and bone mass reduction contribute, to a different degree, to the development of a variety of lesions. This results in a number of painful and often debilitating disorders. The present review constitutes a synopsis of the pathophysiological processes that take place in the aging spine as well as of the consequences these changes have on the biomechanics of the spine. The authors hope to present a thorough yet brief overview of the process of aging of the human spine.

Recurrent intra-articular osteoid osteoma of the hip after radiofrequency ablation: a case report and review of the literature.

We present a case of a 53-year-old woman with recurrent intra-articular osteoid osteoma of the hip 6 months after initial treatment with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. En bloc surgical excision of the osteoid osteoma and prophylactic internal fixation for impending stress fracture was performed. The patient is pain free, has returned to normal function and there is no sign of recurrence at the one-year follow-up. Intraarticular osteoid osteoma, present a diagnostic challenge and often they are misdiagnosed. Minimally invasive ablation techniques can fail in significant percentage and then surgical excision with histological confirmation remains the definitive treatment of choice.