Incidental finding of an atypical cartilaginous tumor in an adult female with recurrent patellar dislocation: Single-stage extended curettage using freezing nitrogen ethanol composite followed by Medial Patello-Femoral Ligament Reconstruction

@#Atypical cartilaginous tumor (ACT) refers to a low-grade cartilaginous neoplasm microscopically identical to grade 1 chondrosarcoma, affecting the appendicular skeleton. Treatment with intralesional curettage has been found to provide sufficient local control with less morbidity compared to wide resection. This is the first reported case of a simultaneous medial patello-femoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction with extended curettage for ACT on the ipsilateral femur. A 45-year-old female presented with chronic recurrent patellar dislocation of the right knee. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tear of the MPFL, with an incidental epi-metaphyseal chondroid lesion. After biopsy confirmed an ACT, single-stage extended curettage using freezing nitrogen ethanol composite (FNEC) and MPFL reconstruction was performed, followed by augmentation with bone cement and a distal femoral plate. Currently, the patient is independently ambulatory, with full range of motion about the knee. Following histologic confirmation of an ACT in the setting of a concurrent MCL tear, a single-stage procedure to address both conditions is a viable option that can reduce complications associated with multiple surgeries. Extended curettage using FNEC has been shown to produce good short-term oncologic outcomes while maximizing function.

A comparison of complication rates between early and delayed surgery among Filipino patients with fragility fractures of the hip

Objectives@#Existing standards of care recommend operative management for fragility fractures of the hip. Early intervention has been associated with lower incidence of morbidity and mortality. A lack of consensus remains in the Philippines however, regarding timing of surgery. We sought to determine the effects of surgical timing on in-hospital complications among Filipino patients with fragility hip fractures.@*Methods@#All patients admitted for fragility hip fractures in a single tertiary-care facility from 2014-2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Subjects treated within 72 hours were grouped under “early intervention,” while those managed beyond were designated “delayed intervention.” Primary outcomes were complications during admission, while secondary outcome was length of hospital stay. A total of 96 patients met our inclusion criteria, of which 41 (42.71%) underwent early intervention. Baseline characteristics for both groups were comparable.@*Results@#A significantly lower incidence of pressure ulcers (2.4% for ≤72hours vs 45.5%; p=<0.0001), pneumonia (7.32% vs 47.27%; p=<0.0001), and urinary tract infection (4.88% vs 40%; p=<0.0001), as well as shorter hospital stay (mean: 8.85 days±5.4 vs 14.6 days±13.3; p=0.01) were seen in the early intervention group. More cases of documented deep vein thrombosis were recorded in the delayed intervention group (83.3% versus 16.6%), as was the only case of in-hospital mortality. @*Conclusion@#Early intervention showed a significantly lower incidence of in-hospital complications among patients with fragility fractures of the hip, suggesting that surgery within 72 hours may lead to better outcomes by helping to reduce the incidence of pressure sores, pneumonia, and urinary tract infection among Filipinos with hip fractures, while reducing length of admission.

Functional outcome of displaced intra-articular fractures of the distal radius: Comparison of closed reduction percutaneous pinning with or without external fixation versus open reduction plate fixation

OBJECTIVES@#The purpose of the study was to determine the outcomes of closed reduction percutaneous pinning (CRPP) with or without external fixation (EF) with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using plate and screws. @*METHODS@#Outcomes of ORIF versus CRPP, with or without external fixation for intra-articular distal radius fractures were compared through a multicenter, non-randomized, ambispective cohort study. A validated Filipino version of the DASH score (FIL-DASH) was used as primary outcome measure.@*RESULTS@#The ORIF group consisted of 13 patients and the CRPP group, eight patients. Pain scores, post-operative complications and radiographic measurements were also evaluated. Mean FIL-DASH score for the ORIF group (M=26.69, SD=4.88) was significantly higher versus the CRPP group (M=14.59, SD=10.64; t(19)=3.58, p=0.002). No significant differences in radiologic parameters, pain scores, and complications were found.@*CONCLUSION@#The study demonstrates that functional outcomes post-CRPP with or without external fixation compares favorably over ORIF for distal radius fractures at one-year post-surgery.