Histological changes in the symptomatic mediopatellar plica.

One of the causes of anterior knee pain may be symptomatic mediopatellar plica. The pain is usually attributed to the mechanical damage caused by the plica inside the joint, or, more precisely, to the synovitis induced as a result. Recent observations seem to suggest, however, that the pain is, in addition, likely to be engendered by an increased number of nerve-elements present in the substance of the plica. The present study used up-to-date histochemical methods to reveal in the symptomatic mediopatellar plicae nerve-elements that may be made responsible for the pain. Semi-quantitative methods were used to establish the number of nerve-elements in the tissue samples obtained from 21 symptomatic mediopatellar plicae (Group 'A'), exposing them to view with the aid of synaptophysin and neurofilament serum, coupled with routine light microscope as well as polarising microscope examinations following H&E and van Gieson staining. Tissue samples taken from the asymptomatic mediopatellar plica of 11 patients served as control (Group 'B'). A significantly larger number of nerve-elements were found in the substance of the plicae of Group 'A' 6.9 (S.D.+/-2.9) than in Group 'B' 3 (S.D.+/-1.2). Within Group 'A', more nerve-elements were revealed in trauma-related case histories than in those with no recollections of trauma (an average of 9.6 vs. 5.2, respectively). Similarly, the reduction of pain achieved by surgery was greater in the trauma-related group than in the non-traumatic one (3.0 vs. 1.8, respectively). Relying on our observations, we claim that the painfulness of the knee joint plicae is in all probability also attributable to the fact that their tissue substance contains an increased number of nerve-elements. A major trauma in a particular case history contributes, in all likelihood, to an increase in the number of nerve-elements, but further examinations are required to clarify the pathomechanism involved.

[Reconstructive surgery of the upper limbs in the rehabilitation of tetraplegia--case report]. / A felsó végtag rekonstrukciós mútétjének szerepe a tetraplegiás beteg rehabilitációjában.

As part of the rehabilitation of tetraplegic patients, movement improving operations have been carried out for more than 30 years. The scant results of the early 70's caused such a standstill and division among professionals, that operations on the upper limbs on tetraplegic patients became questionable. The authors started operating upper limb reconstructions on tetraplegia patients for achieving a basic hand function i.e. key pinch, grasping etc. in 2001. Three cases are quoted and one of them, operated ten months ago is described in details. The postoperative treatment of the other two patients has not finished yet. In 1998, a twenty-three years old girl had her fifth and sixth cervical vertebra broken in a car accident. The rugged break of the fifth vertebral body damaged the spinal chord. After the accident all four limbs became ataxic and a complete numbness occurred distally from the thoracic level of the chest. The patient went through a CV corpectomia, a corpus complementation, a CIV-V dissectomia and a CIV-VII ventrofixation. After the operation the movements of the upper limbs improved but those of the lower limbs did not. Her general condition stabilised after the treatments at the intensive care and the laryngological, the urological and the plastic surgery as well as the complex therapy at the rehabilitation department. She moved around in a wheelchair. After a para-coordinational treatment she was able to lift up small objects, but because of her paralysed bending and stretching finger muscles she was not able to hold heavier objects with her hands. In March 2002 a grip improving operation was carried on her dominant right hand. Twelve weeks after the operation she could lift up a weight of 2 kg and she was able to key pinch and grip with force.