Successful Outcome Following Limb Conservation Surgery for a Recurrent Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour: A Case Report.

Introduction: A malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare soft-tissue sarcoma with a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Early diagnosis and complete surgical excision are the fundamental principles of treatment. A benign presentation and low clinical suspicion often delay definitive diagnosis, and en bloc excision may not be feasible depending on the size and location of the tumor. We describe a rare case of a recurrent MPNST successfully treated by surgical excision. Case Report: A 35-year-old woman presented with a rapidly growing painful mass 3 months following incomplete removal of a MPNST from her forearm. Staging investigations showed no evidence of metastasis. The patient underwent en-bloc surgical excision, split skin grafting, and adjuvant radiation therapy. Histology and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed a MPNST. Five years after having surgery, the patient shows no evidence of recurrence and has excellent function. Conclusion: MPNST are rare soft tissue sarcomas that can masquerade as benign lumps. There is a paucity of literature on the outcome of surgically-treated recurrent disease. Notwithstanding local recurrence of the tumor, complete surgical excision can yield excellent clinical results.

Hip Fracture Surgery in Trinidad and Tobago During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Two Patients Treated in the Parallel Healthcare System.

The rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has fundamentally affected healthcare delivery globally. As governments struggled to preserve life, several approaches to healthcare delivery have emerged. Central to limiting viral transmission is the separation of patients based on their COVID-19 status. Studies have shown that a geographically separate dual-site service is preferable, contingent upon the local infrastructure and circumstances. Despite the restrictions on free movement, most studies indicate that low-energy hip fractures in elderly patients have remained relatively constant throughout the pandemic. Arguably these patients represent the most vulnerable subgroup in society and are susceptible to developing severe COVID-19 respiratory disease. In keeping with global recommendations, the government of Trinidad and Tobago devised a parallel healthcare system to limit the spread of disease. All regional health authorities under the Ministry of Health were at liberty to implement the system in a manner best suited for their particular infrastructure leading to highly variable practices among institutions. This report describes the clinical course of two hip fracture patients treated within the parallel healthcare system at different regional health authorities. Analysis of these cases provides an understanding of the potential risks to patients entering the parallel healthcare system and an insight into preventative measures to improve clinical outcomes.

Removing a bent femoral nail - man versus metal: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Intramedullary nailing is the treatment of choice for femoral shaft fractures in adults with excellent clinical results and low complication rates reported in the literature. However, in situ bending of a femoral nail is a rare complication that merits special attention. While there are several extraction techniques and algorithms the scientific evidence to support these decision-making tools is unconvincing. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 26-year old man presented to the Accident and Emergency Department with a deformed thigh following a low-energy injury. Radiographs showed a bent femoral nail in situ and the patient disclosed that he had surgery four weeks earlier for a fractured femur sustained in a motor vehicle accident. A treatment algorithm was followed in planning the surgical strategy, but ultimately a simple hacksaw blade was used to cut and remove the nail. The fracture which was stabilised by exchange nailing went on to uncomplicated union and the patient recovered fully. DISCUSSION: Non-invasive methods of removing a bent femoral nail are often unsuccessful and may result in iatrogenic injuries. Surgeons should assess the available local resources and first consider using simple open methods when attempting to remove a bent femoral nail. CONCLUSION: Open extraction methods often disregard the low-resource environment in which many surgeons work. We describe a simple and economical technique that uses a regular hacksaw blade to cut and remove a bent femoral nail.

Extensor mechanism reconstruction and joint preservation surgery following a tibial tuberosity fracture in giant cell tumor of bone: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Pathologic fractures of the tibial tuberosity secondary to giant cell tumor of bone are rare injuries. While there are several well-described methods in the literature to reattach the tibial tuberosity, these techniques rely on good quality bone. However, in the presence of diseased and weak bone, additional factors have to be considered. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old man with a Giant Cell Tumor of bone affecting the proximal tibia presented with a displaced avulsion fracture of the tibial tuberosity. The patient underwent surgical curettage, bone grafting and osteosynthesis with reattachment of the tibial tuberosity. Eighteen months after surgery there is no evidence of tumor recurrence, and despite mild knee pain and a limited range of movement, the patient has returned to work. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The extensor mechanism was repaired by first reinforcing the tuberosity fragment with an autograft before reattaching it using a tension band FibreWire ® suture. Without access to a tumor endoprosthesis we used a joint sparing approach to treat the Giant Cell Tumor. CONCLUSION: Patients with dual-pathology present technical challenges in repairing the extensor mechanism and treating the underlying condition. Surgeons must address competing priorities in a holistic, patient-centred approach consistent with their working environment.

A case report of bloody pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Haemobilia is an uncommon entity even though its frequency has increased with hepato-biliary instrumentation and procedures. It can be associated with obstructive jaundice and pancreatitis (Green et al., 2001) [1]. Haemobilia following cholecystectomy has frequently been reported in association with hepatic artery pseudo-aneurysm (Curet et al., 1981; Ribeiro et al., 1998) [2,3]. The authors wish to report a case of haemobilia due to a porto-biliary fistula presenting as acute pancreatitis. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 34-year-old female admitted as an urgency with upper abdominal pain for 3 weeks. She had, in the preceding days, been admitted to another hospital with acute pancreatitis. She reported an episode of rectal bleeding during that admission and possessed an abdominal ultrasound scan (USS) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) which suggested the presence of a biliary tract neoplasm. The patient was also found to be jaundiced and the diagnosis of a porto-biliary fistula was made at operation. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis in this case was found to be a portal vein-biliary tract fistula occurring post cholecystectomy. An awareness of the spectrum of complications related to modern surgical techniques may aid timely diagnosis and the achievement of favourable outcomes.