Minimal Invasive Percutaneous Osteosynthesis for Elderly Valgus Impacted Proximal Humeral Fractures with the PHILOS.

There is a growing concern about elderly valgus impacted proximal humeral fractures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment and clinical outcomes following minimal invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) with the proximal humeral internal locking system (PHILOS) for the treatment of elderly valgus impacted proximal humeral fracture. Between May 2008 and May 2012, 27 patients (average age 67.3, range 61-74) with valgus impacted proximal humeral fractures were enrolled in the study. The patients were treated with MIPPO using PHILOS-plate through the anterolateral delta-splitting approach. Rehabilitation exercises were done gradually. The NEER score and Constant-Murley score were used to evaluate shoulder function. All the patients were followed up by routine radiological imaging and clinical examination. There were 15 cases of II-part greater tuberosity fractures, 10 cases of III-part greater tuberosity fractures, and 2 cases of IV-part fractures according to the NEER classification. The surgery was successful in all patients with an average follow-up of 20.8 (range: 11-34) months. The fractures united in an average of 7.2 (6-14) weeks without implant loosening. According to NEER score, there were 17 excellent, 7 satisfactory, 2 unsatisfactory, and 1 poor. The mean Constant-Murley score was 89.4 ± 4.35. No complication including axillary nerve damage, postoperative nerve or vessel damage, infections, DVT, or death was observed. In conclusion, the MIPPO technique with the PHILOS through the anterolateral delta-splitting approach seems to be a safe and easy treatment for elderly valgus impacted proximal humeral fractures. A case-control study and longer follow-up time are needed.

Anteroinferior acetabular rim damage due to femoroacetabular impingement.

BACKGROUND: The most common location of labral tears and chondral damage in the hip is the anterosuperior region of the acetabulum, which is associated with pain in flexion and rotation. We describe a case series of patients with labral tears, ganglion formation, and chondromalacia isolated to the anteroinferior acetabulum. Clinically, patients had pain in extension and internal rotation. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: Isolated anteroinferior labral hypertrophy and ganglion were first observed in a patient with coxa valga. We retrospectively reviewed clinical and radiographic records and identified nine hips in seven patients with isolated anteroinferior damage. One patient with bilateral valgus femoral head tilt after slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) had impingement of the anteromedial metaphysis on the acetabulum from 3 to 6 o'clock. Five of seven had valgus neck-shaft angles and all had acetabular anteversion with damage isolated to the anteroinferior acetabular rim. LITERATURE REVIEW: Series on the diagnostic efficacy of MR arthrogram have noted anteroinferior damage adjacent to superior acetabular rim lesions. However, these do not describe isolated anteroinferior rim damage. In addition, available case series of patients with valgus SCFE do not describe a location of impingement or intraarticular damage. PURPOSES AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In this small case series of patients with isolated anteroinferior chondrolabral damage, there are two potential causative mechanisms: (1) primary anteroinferior impingement with femoral extension and internal rotation and (2) posterior extraarticular ischiotrochanteric impingement causing secondary anterior instability of the femur. The pathoanatomy appears to be multifactorial, necessitating an individualized treatment approach.

Correction of distal femoral valgus deformities in adolescents and young adults using minimally invasive fixator-assisted locking plating (FALP).

The treatment of distal femoral valgus deformities in skeletally mature patients might be a challenging surgical problem with significant morbidity. Treatment options are various and include osteotomy and external fixation, intramedullary nailing, and plating using standard and locking plates. We describe technical notes of minimally invasive technique of fixator-assisted plating using a supracondylar locking plate. During a period of 3 years, we operated on six patients (seven femurs) with distal femoral valgus deformities of different etiologies. All patients achieved correction of the deformities and started full weight bearing with radiographic evidence of union 6 weeks after correction. We believe that fixator-assisted locking plating has advantages over correction using external fixation and intramedullary nailing. This method of correction can be performed by a minimally invasive technique, precisely, and with minimal morbidity.

Knee malalignment is associated with an increased risk for incident and enlarging bone marrow lesions in the more loaded compartments: the MOST study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of knee malalignment with occurrence of incident and enlarging bone marrow lesions (BMLs) and regression of BMLs. METHODS: Subjects from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study aged 50-79 years with or at high risk of knee osteoarthritis were studied. Full-limb radiographs were taken at baseline and hip-knee-ankle mechanical axis was measured. Baseline and 30-month magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of knees (n = 1782) were semiquantitatively assessed for BMLs. Outcome was defined as a change in BML score in femoral/tibial condyle in medial/lateral compartments. Medial compartment in varus alignment and lateral compartment in valgus alignment were combined to form 'more loaded' compartment, while lateral compartment in valgus and medial compartment in varus were combined to form 'less loaded' compartment. Relative risk (RR) of BML score increase or decrease in relation to malalignment was estimated using a log linear regression model with the Poisson assumption, adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, physical activity scale for the elderly, race and clinic site. Further, results were stratified by ipsilateral meniscal and cartilage status at baseline. RESULTS: Baseline varus alignment was associated with higher risk of BML score increase from baseline to follow-up in the medial compartment [adjusted RRs (95%CI): 1.5 (1.2-1.9)] and valgus alignment in the lateral compartment [1.4 (1.0-2.1)]. Increase in BML score was more likely in the more loaded compartments [1.7 (1.4-2.0)] in malaligned knees. Regardless of ipsilateral cartilage or meniscus status, adjusted RR for BML score increase was higher in the more loaded compartments of malaligned knees than those with neutral alignment. Decrease in BML score was less likely in the more loaded compartments in malaligned knees [0.8 (0.7-1.0)]. CONCLUSION: Knee malalignment is associated with increased risk of incident and enlarging BMLs in the more loaded compartments of the tibiofemoral joint.

Hip pathology in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome: a report of two children.

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare genetic disorder. The estimated incidence is one in 4 million births. Orthopaedic manifestations include abnormality of the hips occurring early in the disease process. Severe coxa valga can be apparent by the age of 2 years. We report two cases of HGPS, one in a 7-year-old girl with avascular necrosis of the left hip and the second in a 13-year-old girl with recurrent traumatic hip dislocations. We demonstrate the pathoanatomical changes in the hip with HGPS using a combination of imaging modalities including radiographic, computed tomographic and MRI scans. These include coxa magna, coxa valga and acetabular dysplasia. We also comment on how these would affect the surgical management of this high-risk group of patients.

Recurrence of axial malalignment after surgical correction in congenital femoral deficiency and fibular hemimelia.

PURPOSE: Recurrent genu valgum deformity complicates treatment of congenital femoral deficiencies (CFD) and fibular hemimelia (FH). We analysed factors influencing recurrence. METHODS: Patients who underwent limb lengthening or deformity correction for CFD and/or FH were reviewed. Radiographs after surgery and after a minimum of a further six months were analysed. Change in parameters of mechanical axis deviation per month (∆ MAD/month) and of angle per month were calculated. These parameters were tested against cofactors patient age, baseline MAD, type of CFD and FH, severity of ball-and-socket joints, ankle-joint stiffness, absence of cruciate ligaments and resection of the fibular anlage. RESULTS: Recurrent valgus deformity was found in 23 of the 42 limbs included with a mean change of MAD of 23.4 mm (5-60 mm). There was no significant difference between patients with ∆ MAD/month <0.5 mm versus >1 mm regarding MAD in the first radiograph and patient age. CFD cases Pappas types VII and VIII showed a ∆ MAD/month of 1.6 mm, whereas milder cases of Pappas IX showed a ∆ MAD/month of 0.8. Mild FH (type Ia) showed a mean ∆ MAD/month of 0.39 mm, whereas mean ∆ MAD/month for FH type Ib/II was 0.72 mm. In FH type II cases, mean ∆ MAD/month was 0.79 mm after resection of the fibular anlage compared with 1.98 mm in those without resection. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence in FH and CFD was not dependent on patient age but partly on FH and CFD type. Limbs with more severe ball-and-socket knee joints showed more recurrence. Overcorrection depending deformity type should be performed.