Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Secondary to Tuberculous Tenosynovitis With Rice Bodies: A Case Report.

CASE: We report the case of a 34-year-old African man who presented with severe symptoms of recurrent left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and left hand swelling after previous open decompression. Considering the recurrent unilateral affection of the left hand in a patient working in a slaughterhouse in an area with a moderate burden for tuberculosis, tuberculous infection was suspected. Open surgery and biopsy revealed tuberculous tenosynovitis of flexor tendon sheath and shiny white rice bodies. CONCLUSION: Tuberculous tenosynovitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of the CTS when there is evidence of proliferative tenosynovitis in patients from an endemic area for tuberculosis.

Recurrent heel ulcers with calcaneal osteomyelitis in myelomeningocele: Treatment by partial calcanectomy and posterior transfer of tibialis anterior tendon.

OVERVIEW: Calcaneus deformity of the foot is common in patients with myelodysplasia, mainly due to muscle imbalance. This deformity, especially in ambulatory patients, can result in gait problems and development of pressure sores, which can be complicated by calcaneal osteomyelitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 12 patients (18 feet), with calcaneus deformity due to myelomeningocele, and presented with penetrating heel ulcers complicated by calcaneal osteomyelitis. The mean age of the included cases was 11 years. The ulcers were unilateral in six patients and bilateral in six. Sensation was absent on the plantar aspect of the foot in all cases. The treatment was done in two stages; The first stage was eradication of infection and obtaining good soft tissue coverage, and the second stage was obtaining motor balance to achieve a more plantigrade and braceable foot. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 19.2 months. In the final follow-up, twelve feet were graded as good, five as fair and one as poor according to Legaspi grading system. CONCLUSION: The combination of partial calcanectomy and subsequent transfer of tibialis anterior tendon, to improve the foot position and gait, can efficiently prevent ulcer recurrence in myelomeningocele patients with calcaneal deformity. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE: 4: Retrospective case series study.

Traumatic Composite Bone and Soft Tissue Loss of the Leg: Region-Specific Classification and Treatment Algorithm.

BACKGROUND: The management of traumatic composite bone and soft tissue loss (TCBSTL) requires a classification system and decision-making algorithm for the purpose of description, prognosis and choice of treatment method. PATIENTS AND METHODS: between the year 2000 and 2017 a series of 254 cases of TCBSTL were treated using distraction histogenesis and external fixation techniques. The tissue loss was due to either the initial injury or debridement of infection. Adjunctive procedures included split thickness skin grafting and ICBG when indicated. A classification system was designed by the author. The classification is based on factors that influence management and prognosis; (1) stability of the host bone (intact tibia or a well-fixed fracture), (2) presence or absence of infection in the fracture site, (3) size of bone defect, and (4) contamination (infection) of the medullary cavity. A flowchart and decision-making algorithm was subsequently developed. RESULTS: Ilizarov external fixator was used in all cases. Ten cases (4%) had combined Masquelet - Ilizarov technique. One hundred seventy five cases (68.9%) had gradual distraction-compression (GDC) technique; while 79 cases (31.1%) had acute shortening and re-lengthening (ASRL) technique. Seventy-two cases (28.3%) had autogenous iliac crest bone graft (ICBG). All cases (100%) had complete clinical and radiological fracture union. All patients completed the follow up that ranged from 24 to 118 months (mean 43.3 ± 23). The results were satisfactory in 212 cases (83.5%) and unsatisfactory in 42 (16.5%) cases due to residual leg length discrepancy, joint stiffness, and persistent pain. DISCUSSION: the proposed classification is simple, applicable, recallable and includes most scenarios of reconstructable TCBSTL. The classification provides a basis for communication, description and evaluation of such cases. The algorithm, based on our classification, provides a guideline for management without over/under treatment.

Midterm results of Ilizarov hip reconstruction for late sequelae of childhood septic arthritis.

The management of hip instability as a consequence of septic arthritis in childhood is difficult. Ilizarov hip reconstruction is a double-level femoral osteotomy with the objective of eliminating hip instability, through a proximal valgus-extension-derotation osteotomy and a distal varization-lengthening osteotomy for mechanical axis correction and equalization limb length. Ilizarov hip reconstruction was performed for 16 adult patients with complaints of hip pain, leg-length discrepancy, limping, reduced activity and limited abduction of the hip as a result of childhood septic arthritis. Their ages ranged from 19 to 32 years (mean 23.2 ± 4.2). Ilizarov external fixator was used in all cases. At the time of last follow-up that ranged from 60 to 132 months (mean 85.6 ± 23.5), the Harris hip score (HHS) showed excellent functional outcome in two cases (12.50 %), good in 13 cases (81.25 %) and fair in one case (6.25 %). There was no poor functional outcome in any case. Preoperatively, the mean HHS was 56.18 points, and at the time of last follow-up, it improved to a mean of 84.62 points. Pain subsided in all patients, the Trendelenburg sign became negative in all but three (19 %) patients, no patient had limb-length discrepancy, and the alignment of the extremity was reestablished in all cases. No additional operations were required. Ilizarov hip reconstruction is a valuable and durable solution for the late sequelae of childhood septic arthritis of the hip presenting in adult patients.

Hybrid grafting of post-traumatic bone defects using ß-tricalcium phosphate and demineralized bone matrix.

OBJECTIVES: Management of post-traumatic bone defects continues to be a substantial clinical challenge in orthopaedic trauma. This retrospective study evaluates the results of primary hybrid grafting of residual bone defects or voids, in displaced and comminuted long-bone fractures treated by plate fixation, using ß-tricalcium phosphate and demineralized bone matrix. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients having 62 fractures were included. Their mean age was 40.7±10.7 years; femoral and tibial fractures were the commonest (70.9%) in this study. Eight fractures (12.9%) were open injuries; 13 fractures had critical-sized defects that averaged 3.4±0.9 cm. Cortical bone defects occurred in 51 cases, and cancellous bone voids in eleven. Eleven patients (20%) were polytraumatized. Tobramycin powder was added to the graft in all open fractures. The functional outcome was evaluated according to a modified Karlström and Olerud criteria. RESULTS: All fractures (100%) had solid union without any implant failure. There was a significant delayed union (P<0.001) in all critical-sized defects. The mean healing time showed a highly significant difference (P<0.001) between closed and open fractures. The functional outcome was excellent in 28 fractures, good in 21 fractures, fair in nine fractures and poor in four fractures. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the ideal bone graft substitute for all situations does not exist; however, this hybrid grafting is a very good alternative to autogenous grafts especially in polytraumatized patients and when massive bone grafting is needed to reconstruct more than one bone in absence of segmental defects.

Ilizarov treatment for pseudarthrosis of the tibia due to haematogenous osteomyelitis.

Haematogenous osteomyelitis is associated with poverty and overcrowding. The infection may extend through the entire length of a long bone and as a part of debridement, the sequestrum may be removed, resulting in a defect. Infection of tibial growth plates would result in altered growth rates of the tibia and fibula and produce deformities and shortening. Fourteen children were treated for pseudarthrosis of the tibia because of haematogenous osteomyelitis. Their ages ranged from 4 to 13 years. There were nine male and five female children. The treatment included the use of Ilizarov techniques in the form of distraction of a stiff pseudarthrosis (n=5) and acute shortening and relengthening for bone defects (n=9). No active infection was present at the time of treatment. In all cases, the bone defects were bridged and consolidated. No residual infection was present. Transient palsy of the common peroneal nerve occurred in two cases during deformity correction and lengthening. Refracture occurred in one case at the site of a previous wire. Residual leg shortening of more than 1 inch was present in two cases. The results were satisfactory in 12 cases (86%) and unsatisfactory in two cases (14%) because of residual shortening and ankle joint fusion. Ilizarov techniques comprehensively address the problems associated with chronic haematogenous osteomyelitis of the tibia in children despite the difficulties in their application because of the nature of the illness.

Distal tibial hypertrophic nonunion with deformity: treatment by fixator-assisted acute deformity correction and LCP fixation.

Distal tibial hypertrophic nonunion with angular deformity has been successfully treated by circular external fixator. The inconvenience of the bulky external fixator and frequent pin tract infection would not be accepted in certain cases. This study included thirteen patients (mean age 39 years) with angular deformity of the distal dia-/metaphyseal tibial shaft. Five patients were originally treated by interlocking nail, three were treated by plate and screws fixation, four treated conservatively and one had deformity secondary to fracture of a lengthening regenerate. All patients were treated by osteotomy and acute correction of the deformity using temporary unilateral fixator and internal fixation by a locking compression plate (LCP). The external fixator was removed at the end of surgery. The results were evaluated both clinically and radiologically. All osteotomies healed within 3 (2-4) months. All patients were able to work within an average of 2.3 months. The function of the upper ankle joint was unrestricted in twelve cases, and in 1 case there was a mild functional deficit. The mean follow-up was 60 months (24-120). The frontal plane alignment parameters (the mechanical axis deviation, the lateral distal tibial angle and the medial proximal tibial angle) and the sagittal alignment parameters (the posterior proximal tibial angle and the anterior distal tibial angle) were within normal values postoperatively. No cases of deep infection or failure of fixation were encountered. Acute correction of distal tibial shaft hypertrophic nonunion with deformity and LCP fixation is a reliable option in well-selected cases.

Nonunited humerus shaft fractures treated by external fixator augmented by intramedullary rod.

BACKGROUND: Nonunion of humeral shaft fractures after previously failed surgical treatment presents a challenging therapeutic problem especially in the presence of osteoporosis, bone defect, and joint stiffness. It would be beneficial to combine the use of external fixation technique and intramedullary rod in the treatment of such cases. The present study evaluates the results of using external fixator augmented by intramedullary rod and autogenous iliac crest bone grafting (ICBG) for the treatment of humerus shaft nonunion following previously failed surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with atrophic nonunion of the humeral shaft following previous implant surgery with no active infection were included in the present study. The procedure included exploration of the nonunion, insertion of intramedullary rod (IM rod), autogenous ICBG and application of external fixator for compression. Ilizarov fixator was used in eight cases and monolateral fixator in ten cases. The monolateral fixator was preferred for females and obese patients to avoid abutment against the breast or chest wall following the use of Ilizarov fixator. The fixator was removed after clinical and radiological healing of the nonunion, but the IM rod was left indefinitely. The evaluation of results included both bone results (union rate, angular deformity and limb shortening) and functional outcome using the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) rating scale. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 35 months (range 24 to 52 months). Bone union was obtained in all cases. The functional outcome was satisfactory in 15 cases (83%) and unsatisfactory in 3 cases (17%) due to joint stiffness. The time to bone healing averaged 4.2 months (range 3 to 7 months). The external fixator time averaged 4.5 months (range 3.2 to 8 months). Superficial pin tract infection occurred in 39% (28/72) of the pins. No cases of nerve palsy, refracture, or deep infection were encountered. CONCLUSION: The proposed technique is effective in treating humeral nonunion especially in the presence of osteoporosis and short bone segments. The inclusion of intramedullary rod as internal splint improves stability of fixation and prevents refracture after fixator removal.