Early vs late surgical treatment of radial instability of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint. A retrospective cohort study.

There is no clear evidence in the literature whether treating thumb radial collateral ligament (RCL) injury in the acute phase improves outcome. The purpose of the present study was to compare the clinical and radiological results of RCL repair in acute and chronic settings. Fourteen patients were included. Clinical range of motion (ROM) of the thumb, Kapandji score and radiological parameters were compared pre- and post-operatively to the contralateral uninjured thumb (control group) to evaluate the results of the surgical technique. Patients were then divided into two groups according to early versus late repair and outcomes were compared between the two groups and the control group. Preoperatively, mean spontaneous angle between first metacarpal (M1) and proximal phalanx (P1) (spontaneous M1P1 angle), ulnar stress M1P1 angle, ROM and Kapandji score differed significantly between injured and uninjured sides. Postoperatively these parameters for the injured side improved, reaching values similar to those on the uninjured side, especially with acute phase treatment; late treatment also tended to provide clinical improvement in ROM, Kapandji score and ulnar stress angle, but with significant improvement only for spontaneous deviation of the thumb. This study showed the late and immediate repair of the RCL of the thumb both gave good results, with slightly better outcome with acute phase repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level III.

Outcomes of peroral endoscopic myotomy in patients with achalasia and prior bariatric surgery: A multicenter experience.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in patients with achalasia who are status post bariatric surgery may be technically challenging due to postsurgical scarring and altered anatomy. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of POEM for achalasia in patients with prior bariatric surgery. A review of prospectively maintained databases at three tertiary referral centers from January 2015 to January 2021 was performed. The primary outcome of interest was clinical success, defined as a post-treatment Eckardt score ≤ 3 or improvement in Eckardt score by ≥ 1 when the baseline score was <3, and improvement of symptoms. Secondary outcomes were adverse event rates and symptom recurrence. Sixteen patients status post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n = 14) and sleeve gastrectomy (n = 2) met inclusion criteria. Indications for POEM were achalasia type I (n = 2), type II (n = 9), and type III (n = 5). POEM was performed either by anterior or posterior approach. The pre-POEM mean integrated relaxation pressure was 26.2 ± 7.6 mm Hg. The mean total myotomy length was 10.2 ± 2.7 cm. The mean length of hospitalization was 1.4 ± 0.7 days. Pre- and postprocedure Eckardt scores were 6.1 ± 2.1 and 1.7 ± 1.8, respectively. The overall clinical success rate was 93.8% (15/16) with mean follow-up duration of 15.5 months. One patient had esophageal leak on postprocedure esophagram and managed endoscopically. Dysphagia recurred in two patients, which was successfully managed with pneumatic dilation with or without botulinum toxin injection. POEM appears to be safe and effective in the management of patients with achalasia who have undergone prior bariatric surgery.

Understanding the foot's functional anatomy in physiological and pathological conditions: the calcaneopedal unit concept.

BACKGROUND: A thorough review of the available orthopaedic literature shows significant controversies, inconsistencies and sparse data regarding the terminology used to describe foot deformities. This lack of consensus on terminology creates confusion in professional discussions of foot anatomy, pathoanatomy and treatment of deformities. The controversies apply to joint movements as well as static relationships between the bones. DESCRIPTION: The calcaneopedal unit (CPU) is a specific anatomical and physiological entity, represented by the entire foot excepted the talus. The calcaneus, midfoot and forefoot are solidly bound by three strong ligaments that create a unit that articulates with the talus. The movement of the CPU is complex, as it rotates under the talus, around the axis of Henke that coincides with the talo-calcaneal ligament of Farabeuf.This calcaneopedal unit is deformable. It is compared with a twisted plate, able to adapt to many physiological situations in standing position, in order to acheive a plantigrade position.Moreover, the calcaneopedal unit and the talo-tibiofibular complex are interdependent; rotation of the latter produces morphologic modifications inside the former and vice versa. PURPOSE: This paper is a review article of this concept and of its physiopathological applications.

Positional disappearance of motor evoked potentials is much more likely to occur in non-idiopathic scoliosis.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates intraoperative disappearance of motor waveforms related to patient positioning in neurologically asymptomatic patients with spinal deformity. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 190 neurologically asymptomatic patients aged seven to 17 years planned for posterior instrumentation under neuromonitoring. There were 159 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and 31 patients with secondary scoliosis. Patients underwent surgery with transcranial electric stimulation motor evoked potentials (TES-MEPs). In case of abnormal findings, surgery was temporarily discontinued and necessary measures undertaken. In case of permanent signal disappearance surgery was definitively discontinued. RESULTS: Six patients showed permanent loss of signal during early stages of surgery. These patients had a mean major curve of 64° Cobb angle and a mean thoracic kyphosis (D2 to D12) of 72°. The 184 remaining patients had a mean major curve of 50° Cobb angle and a thoracic kyphosis of 35°. A retrospective descriptive review of the patients' radiographs shows hyperkyphosis to be the common ground between the six secondary scoliosis cases. Gradual preoperative traction maintained during the surgery applied in two of these patients taken back to surgery six months later was associated with maintenance of TES-MEP signals throughout the surgery. CONCLUSION: This study shows that positional permanent loss of neuromonitoring signals is more likely to occur in patients with secondary scoliosis and hyperkyphosis shown to have sharper spine deformity and suspected to have a more vulnerable spinal cord. Gradual skeletal traction performed in two of these patients and maintained during surgery showed promising results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

[Computer-assisted surgery in total knee replacement. Preliminary results: report of 60 cases]. / Prothèse totale du genou assistée par ordinateur Résultats préliminaires: à propos de 60 cas.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Conventional techniques proposed for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), necessarily require an acceptable alignment of the lower limb. Computer-assisted surgery is becoming increasingly popular in order to improve the precision of the component alignment, an essential element for good long-term results. The purpose of this prospective study was to present our preliminary results with computer-assisted implantation of TKA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of 55 patients (60 knees) included at random for computer-assisted TKA between April 2004 and September 2005. Mean age was 70.5 years. The preoperative assessment noted genu varum in 56 knees and genu valgum in four knees. Three knees with unilateral degenerative disease presented a post traumatic tibia malunion. The same surgeon performed all of the operations using the same prosthesis and navigation system (P.F.C. Sigma). Lower limb alignment and orientation of the prosthetic implants were assessed with standard pre- and postoperative gonometry. Sagittal alignment was measured on the standard X-rays (lateral and anteroposterior view). RESULTS: Knee alignment improved from 8.1+/-4.5 degrees varus (10 degrees valgus to 18 degrees varus) preoperatively, to 0.4+/-0.6 degrees varus (1 degrees valgus to 2 degrees varus) postoperatively. In the frontal plane, the mean angle of the femoral component on the anteroposterior (ap) view was 89.7+/-0.7 degrees (88-91 degrees). The mean angle of the tibial component on the ap view was 89.9+/-0.7 degrees (88.5-91 degrees). The femorotibial mechanical axis was within +/-2 degrees for all prostheses. In the sagittal plane, the mean angle of the femoral component on the lateral view was 4.8 degrees (3-6.5 degrees). The mean tibial slope was 2.7 degrees (1-4 degrees) for the prostheses with a fixed tibial plateau and 0.2 degrees (-1 degrees to +1 degrees) for those with a rotating plateau. The mean operative time was 135 min (110-180 min) and was inversely proportional to experience. There was one conversion to conventional surgery due to software dysfunction. There were no complications related to the operative technique. DISCUSSION: The best outcome, particularly in terms of aseptic loosening, is reported for knees with a valgus or varus angle within 3 degrees . The improved accuracy of computer-assisted implantation has enabled better orientation of the components in the frontal, sagittal and horizontal planes with implantations well within this range.

[Total elbow arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis using GUEPAR prosthesis]. / Prothèse totale bicompartimentaire de coude GUEPAR. Résultats dans la polyarthrite rhumatoïde (16 cas).

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: We report a retrospective analysis of 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with a total humero-ulnar and humero-radial GUEPAR prosthesis (GIII). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The GUEPAR III elbow prosthesis is an anatomic polyethylene-metal gliding prosthesis designed to maintain physiological valgus. Right and left models are available in two sizes. On the humero-ulnar side of the prosthesis, was associated with a radial head, born on an intramedullary metallic stem, that can be fit with several sizes of mobile polyethylene cups. The 16 GIII prostheses were implanted in 1997 to 2001 in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Mean follow-up was 2 years. RESULTS: Before surgical treatment, all patients had moderate or severe but invalidating pain. The Mayo Clinic score was 33 points. The Larsen radiographic score was grade III (7 elbows) or grade IV (9 elbows). Patients were reassessed 1 to 5 years after implantation of the GIII (mean follow-up 2 years). At last follow-up the mean Mayo Clinic score had improved from 33 to 90 points. Outcome was considered excellent for 15 elbows and fair for 1. DISCUSSION: We review the indications for total elbow arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Semi-constrained prostheses are useful and necessary for the treatment of elbows exhibiting massive destruction, but the use of minimally constrained prostheses such as the GUEPAR III is becoming increasingly widespread. We use the GUEPAR III for 70% of our patients, particularly those with rheumatoid arthritis.

Incidence of Toxoplasma and Toxocara antibodies among out-patients in the Ophthalmic Research Institute, Egypt.

Infection by Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara canis is getting much important nowadays. Both are soil transmitted infections. The present study was planned to detect the incidence of T. gondii and T. canis antibodies among 100 patients attending the outpatient clinics in Research Institutes of Ophthalmology (RIO), whose urine and stool were free from other parasitic stages. Patients were classified into two groups, group I; (70 ocular cases) and group II, (30 non-occular cases). Control group (group III); 30 healthy persons. Sera from all individuals were subjected to IFAT and IHAT to detect Toxoplasma antibodies and IFAT to detect Toxocara antibodies. By using IFAT for Toxoplasma revealed, 25% as a total incidence, 21.4% in group I, 33.3% in group II and 6.6% in group III. While IHAT revealed 51% as a total incidence, 51.4% in group I, 50% in group II and 23.3% in group III. Among group I, retinochoroiditis cases showed the highest incidence and titre. While hydrocephalic cases showed highest incidence and titre in group II. T. canis antibodies revealed 23% as a total incidence, 14.3% in group I, 43.3% in group II and 5% in group III. Cases presented with retinal detachment showed the highest incidence and titre in group I while in group II hepatomegalic cases gave the highest incidence and titre. Concomitant infection of both Toxoplasma and Toxocara was detected in 8% of positive cases.