Long-Term Results of Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Patients with at Least 10 Brain Metastases at Diagnosis.

PURPOSE: to evaluate an SRT approach in patients with at least 10 lesions at the time of BM initial diagnosis. METHODS: This is a monocentric prospective cohort of patients treated by SRT, followed by a brain MRI every two months. Subsequent SRT could be delivered in cases of new BMs during follow-up. The main endpoints were local control rate (LCR), overall survival (OS), and strategy success rate (SSR). Acute and late toxicity were evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy patients were included from October 2014 to January 2019, and the most frequent primary diagnosis was non-small-cell lung cancer (N = 36, 51.4%). A total of 1174 BMs were treated at first treatment, corresponding to a median number of 14 BMs per patient. Most of the patients (N = 51, 72.6%) received a single fraction of 20-24 Gy. At 1 year, OS was 62.3%, with a median OS of 19.2 months, and SSR was 77.8%. A cumulative number of 1537 BM were treated over time, corresponding to a median cumulative number of 16 BM per patient. At 1-year, the LCR was 97.3%, with a cumulative incidence of radio-necrosis of 2.1% per lesion. Three patients (4.3%) presented Grade 2 toxicity, and there was no Grade ≥ 3 toxicity. The number of treated BMs and the treatment volume did not influence OS or SSR (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SRT was highly efficient in controlling the BM, with minimal side effects. In this setting, an SRT treatment should be proposed even in patients with ≥10 BMs at diagnosis.

Role of Critical Shoulder Angle in Degenerative Type Rotator Cuff Tears: A Turkish Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND This retrospective study investigated the association between the critical shoulder angle (CSA) and the development of full-thickness rotator cuff tears (FTRCTs) in the Turkish population. The CSA is an imaging parameter that quantifies the relationship between the inclination of the glenoid and the lateral extension of the acromion in the coronal plane. The CSA is an anatomical measurement, and higher CSA values have been associated with an increased incidence of FTRCTs. However, there is a lack of data on CSA regarding the Turkish population. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, CSA measurements were recorded in 2 groups: 50 patients with FTRCT who had arthroscopic repair (group 1) and 50 age- and sex-matched individuals with no FTRCT detected by magnetic resonance imaging (group 2). Sex, age, affected side, dominant side, and smoking status were recorded for each patient. The CSA measurements of the affected sides were performed on true anterior-posterior view radiographs. RESULTS The results showed a statistically significant difference between the mean CSA values of group 1 (37.48°) and group 2 (33.53°), P<0.001. CSA values of 36 and above had a sensitivity of 73.58%, specificity of 74.47%, positive predictive value of 75%, and negative predictive value of 74.47% for detecting FTRCT. CONCLUSIONS CSA measurement on radiographs is a useful diagnostic tool in the Turkish population, and an above-average CSA value is associated with a significantly increased incidence of degenerative-type FTRCT.

Case Report of a Patient With Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Treated With Wide Resection.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are soft tissue sarcomas originating from peripheral nerves. They are more frequently diagnosed in individuals with neurofibromatosis and tend to affect young men more often than women. The most common sites for these tumors within the peripheral nerve sheath are in the pelvis and the distal femur. Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not frequently used, it should be noted that in some cases, postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be beneficial. The primary treatment approach typically involves the complete surgical removal of the tumor. Here, we discuss the case of our patient whom we successfully treated with extensive resection and followed up with postoperative radiotherapy at our clinic.

Evaluation of patients' post-operative results operated for hip fracture with computerized dynamic posturography: Proximal femoral nailing versus hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Proximal femoral nailing (PFN) and hip arthroplasty (HA) are the two most often utilized surgical procedures for treating hip fractures in older patients. The post-operative postural balance and functional outcomes of patients may be significantly influenced by the technical distinctions between PFN and HA. This will influence the surgeon's preferred course of therapy. To examine the functional outcomes of patients treated with PFN and HA following a hip fracture, this study used computerized dynamic posturography (CDP). The aim of that study was to evaluate how the two treatment modalities affected patients' post-operative balance, postural stability, and functional rehabilitation. METHODS: A total of 26 patients who underwent proximal femoral surgery (15 patients PFN [58%] and 11 patients HA [42%]) due to hip fractures were evaluated at least 12 months postoperatively. They were tested by direct radiographs, hip joint examinations, Harris hip score (HHS), and CDP. RESULTS: Twelve (46%) of 26 patients were male and 14 (54%) were female. The mean age of the participants in the study was 67.9±14.2 years. The mean follow-up period was 24 (12-44) months. The average Harris score of PFN group was 79.3 (46.8-100) points and HA group was 83.7 (61.9-99.9) points. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of Harris Score (P=0.54). The average of the mixed value of the balance results obtained with CDP (the Composite score) for PFN group was 70.5 (56-79) points, and for HA group was 71.9 (56-83) points. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the Composite Score (P=0.47). Accordingly, 12 (80%) of the patients who underwent PFN had good results and 3 (20%) of them had bad results. Eight (72.7%) of those who underwent HA had good results and 3 (27.3%) had bad results. There was no statistically significant difference (P=0.66). CONCLUSION: Comparing the composite score for balance results and HHS results for rehabilitation with the data of the patients who underwent PFN and HA, there was no statistically significant difference between these two techniques in terms of postural stabil-ity and balance as a result of CDP examination.

A Large Mass Displaying a Malignant Character on the Forearm: A Rare Case of Upper Extremity Pilomatrixoma.

In this study, a 50-year-old male patient had a painless swelling on his right forearm. The lump on the forearm started one year ago and increased in size in the last two months. The mass was 3x6 cm and had a malignant appearance on radiological imaging. The case was reported as pilomatrixoma in the histopathological examination after marginal excision. In this case report, we emphasized that pilomatrixoma is one of the diagnoses we considered in mass formations that can be seen in the upper extremity, although rare. The large mass displaying a malignant character in radiological imaging can be pilomatrixoma, and the Tru-cut biopsy before the final surgery may help diagnosis by preventing the surgeons from aggressive surgical treatment. The marginal excision shall be enough in the definitive treatment. With this study, we aimed to discuss the place of pilomatrixoma in the orthopedic literature, which is published chiefly by otolaryngology, pathology, and dermatology clinics and lacks in the orthopedic literature because it rarely involves the extremities.

Aspergillus fumigatus Septic Arthritis of the Wrist: A Report of a Rare Case in an Immunocompromised Patient.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprophytic fungus encountered as a pathogen in airborne lung infections. Although it commonly causes pulmonary infectious diseases, when disseminated, it may cause a systemic infection termed invasive aspergillosis, which is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Virtually, all organ systems may be involved. However, the musculoskeletal system is relatively uncommon. Here, we present a case of invasive aspergillosis in an immunocompromised patient involving the wrist joint, an exceedingly rare site. Our treatment choice is serial open debridement, irrigation, and intravenous antibiotics. This case study exemplifies the potential challenges in the identification and treatment of such an uncommon clinical condition. A thorough clinical and microbiological evaluation is essential for accurate diagnosis of fungal septic arthritis of the wrist. Aggressive early surgical treatment combined with appropriate early intravenous antibiotics is crucial for eradicating joint infection.

Match the Metatarsal Heads: A Case of All-Metatarsal Fractures After a Motorcycle Accident.

Metatarsal bone fractures are one of the most frequent foot injuries, especially after motor vehicle accidents in children. This case report briefly demonstrated a rare instance of pediatric all-metatarsal fractures of the left foot in an adolescent patient with polytrauma after a motorcycle accident. This case report illustrated the surgical procedure's potential for healing pediatric foot fractures in teenage patients after polytrauma. In the examination of a 16-year-old male patient brought to the emergency department after a motorcycle accident, we detected a right foot third finger proximal phalanx open fracture, right foot fourth finger proximal phalanx fracture, left foot first metatarsal proximal fracture, left foot second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal distal fractures, left foot cuboid, and navicular bone fractures. The patient's left foot's metatarsals were all fractured. The posterolateral wall fracture of the patient's right maxilla was also detected. All metatarsals were displaced, the second metatarsal paired with the third, etc., and because of this displacement, the closed reduction was impossible, and even the open reduction was challenging to reach the correct pairs. We performed closed reduction and fixation with Kirschner wire for the left foot's first metatarsal fracture and open reduction and fixation with Kirschner wire for the left foot's second, third, and fourth metatarsal distal fractures. We also performed closed reduction and fixation with Kirschner wire for the right foot third and fourth proximal phalanx fractures. We observed callus formation in the sixth week and removed the patient's K-wires. At eight weeks, the X-ray demonstrated the correct alignment of all metatarsals. The proper alignment of all metatarsals and the full range of motion of all foot and ankle joints were achieved with early surgical intervention, open reduction, and timely rehabilitation. This case also emphasizes the importance of open reduction in such irreducible and heavily displaced cases of multiple fractures as all-metatarsal fractures and contributes to the literature with a specific treatment modality in the case of all-metatarsal fractures lacking in the literature.

A Case of Malignant Myxofibrosarcoma With Hypoglycemia Attacks.

Myxofibrosarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal tumor and a fibroblastic sarcoma of the elderly. Myxofibrosarcoma can be low-grade or high-grade depending on the cell characteristics. Wide surgical resection with or without radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the basis of its treatment. Sometimes, tumor cells secrete insulin or insulin-like substances and cause hypoglycemia attacks. Here, we intend to demonstrate the role of early surgery to end hypoglycemia attacks and prevent recurrence and metastases. We also intend to show the insufficiency of tru-cut biopsy to distinguish between low- and high-grade myxofibrosarcoma. An 82-year-old male patient visited our clinic with a rapidly growing giant mass in the left retroscapular area and suffered from hypoglycemic attacks several times a day. After imaging and initial biopsy, the tumor grade was indeterminate on histopathological examination; hence, the mass was removed surgically. The pathological examination resulted in high-grade myxofibrosarcoma whereas the initial biopsy could not elaborate on the grade. The hypoglycemia attacks ceased after the surgery. Adjuvant local radiotherapy at a total dose of 60 Gy was administered in 30 fractions to the surgery area with no complications after the surgery. No new mass, recurrence, or hypoglycemia attack was detected in the three-year follow-up. In conclusion, hypoglycemia attacks may be a marker of malignant tumor presence and may be a clue at the beginning and in the follow-up period both for recurrence and the aggressiveness of the tumoral mass. Because a biopsy may show the diagnosis but not the grade of the tumor, early surgical intervention is needed.

Double Dislocation of the Interphalangeal Joints of the Little Finger.

High-energy traumas may lead to the dislocation of joints with or without fractures. However, simultaneous double dislocation of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints (PIP and DIP) in fingers shows up rarely. Although it can be inferred as simultaneous dislocation occurring during the same trauma, consecutive events should be taken into consideration. A 29-year-old, right-hand dominant male patient presented to the emergency room with a left little finger deformity after being hit by a ball while playing football. Despite the inability to move the little afteruent to this hyperextension injury, there was mild swelling, ecchymosis, and pain with no trace of laceration or neurovascular injury. PIP and DIP joint dislocations of the left-hand little finger with distal phalanx proximal fracture were detected on the radiograph indicating a stepladder deformity. Closed reduction was achieved by longitudinal traction and applying pressure over the base of the dislocated digit. Afterward, an aluminum finger splint was applied to the little finger in the functional position to prevent further damage. Re-evaluation radiographs revealed a successful reduction of both joints. Immobilization via an aluminum finger splint was recommended for three weeks. Subsequently, range of motion exercises and rehabilitation were started. Three-month follow-up revealed an almost full range of motion in both PIP and DIP joints without stiffness and pain. Although double dislocation seems to present with more painful and swollen fingers than single dislocations, it can also present with mild pain and swelling, as in this case. The little finger is easily exposed to traumas due to the lack of surrounding tissue. Therefore, double dislocation is mostly seen in the little finger. This case report briefly illustrates a rare incidence of double dislocation involving both the PIP and DIP joints of the little finger. Normal range of motion of both joints was reached by early reduction followed by timely rehabilitation.

Diagnosis and Treatment Planning of Developmental Hip Dysplasia: Evaluation of Care Practices of the Members of the Turkish Pediatric Orthopedics Association.

OBJECTIVE: Developmental dysplasia of the hip is one of the most important causes of childhood disabilities. Although there are accepted treatment algorithms for developmental dysplasia of the hip, diagnosis and treatment approaches can show variations in the management among physicians. This study aimed to develop a diagnosis and treatment algorithm for developmental dysplasia of the hip according to the preferences of members of the Turkish Pediatric Orthopedics Association. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An interview by telephone call was made with 76 orthopedists (group 1: more experienced 39 physicians, group 2: less experienced 37 physicians) who are members of the Turkish Pediatric Orthopedics Association. Participants were q uesti onnai red ab out their demographic information, experiences, diagnostic criteria that they use for developmental dysplasia of the hip, and treatment approaches to patient scenarios of different ages. RESULTS: Most of the participants recommended universal screening at the age of 4 weeks. It was observed that the most significant physical examination finding was limited hip abduction, and the most frequently used radiographic evaluation on x-ray was acetabular index measurement. The most frequently used description for dysplasia was found as acetabular index >30°. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are some differences among orthopedists in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up approach of developmental dysplasia of the hip, there was no significant difference according to the experience-based grouping. The treatment algorithm, which was created with the most frequently given answers, was designed, which we think may be beneficial for pediatricians and orthopedists.

Salvage LATTICE radiotherapy for a growing tumour despite conventional radio chemotherapy treatment of lung cancer.

A 40-year-old patient with cT4cN1M0 squamous cell lung cancer of the upper right lobe received preoperative induction chemotherapy. Systemic induction treatment failed to reverse tumour growth with the addition of conventional radiotherapy (RT). A salvage lattice RT boost of 12 Gy was administered immediately to increase the dose to the tumour. Conventional RT was resumed at the planned dose of 60 Gy. The tumour shrank rapidly, and the patient was surged. The postoperative pathology remained ypT0ypN0 status.

Intralesional curettage and cementation of low-grade chondrosarcomas of the appendicular skeleton: Long-term results from a single center.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the results and complications in patients who had low-grade chondrosarcomas in the appendicular skeleton and were treated by intralesional curettage and cementation within the scope of 25 years of experience in a single center. METHODS: Ninety-one patients (72 female and 19 male) were retrospectively analyzed. The median at the time of surgery was 43 (17-78) years, and the median follow-up was 102 (26-288) months. All patients were treated by intralesional curettage followed by cementation with high-viscosity bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate). Complications and local recurrence rates, as well as clinical outcome scores were recorded. RESULTS: Five patients (5.49%) developed local recurrence at an average of 6.6 (6-9) months postoperatively. Four were treated with local wide excision and reconstruction with tumor prosthesis. One patient received recurettage and cementation. Two recurred patients were dedifferentiated into grade II chondrosarcomas in the last intervention. No major postoperative complication was identified in the series. Patients achieved an average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scoring system of 92.4% (standard deviation 5.2; range 80-100) in the sixth postoperative month. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scores in the recurrent patients decreased from an average of 90% to 75.3% after the final intervention. CONCLUSION: Intralesional curettage and cementation seem safe and reliable techniques with low recurrence and complication rates in treating low-grade chondrosarcomas of the appendicular skeleton. Clinical, radiological, and pathological evaluations are mandatory before surgical intervention, and a multidisciplinary approach is crucial. A strict follow-up regimen in the early postoperative period is needed and strongly recommended to detect local recurrence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Therapeutic Study.

The Effect of Preoperative Albendazole Treatment on Intramuscular Cyst Structure in a Patient with Simultaneous Cystic Echinococcusis of Liver and Vastus Lateralis Muscle.

We report a 44-years-old woman with cystic echinococcosis (CE) who presented with simultaneous involvement of liver and vastus lateralis muscle to Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey in 2020. Although she underwent surgery for the liver, the intramuscular mass was ignored. While the patient was under post-operative albendazole treatment, she was investigated for the mass on her right thigh which was excised later. The comparison of magnetic resonance imaging before and after albendazole treatment showed that albendazole eliminated the intramuscular vesicle structures by accelerating the degeneration process of the cyst. The comparison of pathology samples sent from both liver and intramuscular CE also revealed that the albendazole has left the laminar membrane intact, degenerate the germinative membrane, thereby reducing the intra-vesicle pressure and also caused the scolex structures to disappear. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to report the effect of preoperative albendazole treatment on the structure of intramuscular CE.

Improving Patients' Life Quality after Radiotherapy Treatment by Predicting Late Toxicities.

Personalized treatment and precision medicine have become the new standard of care in oncology and radiotherapy. Because treatment outcomes have considerably improved over the last few years, permanent side-effects are becoming an increasingly significant issue for cancer survivors. Five to ten percent of patients will develop severe late toxicity after radiotherapy. Identifying these patients before treatment start would allow for treatment adaptation to minimize definitive side effects that could impair their long-term quality of life. Over the last decades, several tests and biomarkers have been developed to identify these patients. However, out of these, only the Radiation-Induced Lymphocyte Apoptosis (RILA) assay has been prospectively validated in multi-center cohorts. This test, based on a simple blood draught, has been shown to be correlated with late radiation-induced toxicity in breast, prostate, cervical and head and neck cancer. It could therefore greatly improve decision making in precision radiation oncology. This literature review summarizes the development and bases of this assay, as well as its clinical results and compares its results to the other available assays.

Comparison of ultra-high versus conventional dose rate radiotherapy in a patient with cutaneous lymphoma.

A patient with a cutaneous lymphoma was treated on the same day for 2 distinct tumors using a 15 Gy single electron dose given in a dose rate of 0.08 Gy/second versus 166 Gy/second. Comparing the two treatments, there was no difference for acute reactions, late effects at 2 years and tumor control.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the first 100 days on orthopedic trauma surgery practice, the experience of a university hospital in Istanbul.

BACKGROUND: With the rapid and effective change created by the COVID-19 pandemic in all medical practice, we aimed to evaluate the impact of the first 100 days of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations performed in a reference university hospital in the field of orthopedics and traumatology. Compare the results with the same period of the previous year and aim to evaluate importance of restrictions. METHODS: The operations performed in orthopedics and traumatology clinic between March 18, 2020 (the day we stopped the elective surgeries), and July 1, 2020 (when the normalization process began), were collected from the electronic archive to compare with the same period of 2019. RESULTS: Comparing the same periods of the year, it was seen that 102 surgeries were performed in the 2020 COVID-19 period compared to 380 operations performed in 2019. Although most of the operations performed during the COVID-19 period were traumas, the comparison revealed that trauma cases decreased by 25% from 73 to 58 (p<0.001). Among trauma patients operated in the restraint period, decrease in the pediatric group and the increase in patients over 65 years of age had seen statistically significant. Compared to the same period of the previous year, 50% increase seen in amputation cases related to diabetic foot (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The postponement of elective cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic enabled us to manage trauma cases despite decreasing capacity utilization. In addition, it was observed that the transition of schools to online education and the implementation of curfews significantly reduced the number of trauma in the pediatric group. Separation of operating rooms and wards had a huge effect on protection of non-COVID patients. We hope that, in light of this study, we can guide health policies and help other colleagues to manage the possible new waves of the pandemic process or similar processes that may occur in the future.

High hip center arthroplasty in the treatment of severe hip dysplasia: Are knee and ankle compromised?

BACKGROUND: There is limited information about the effect of hip center location on gait parameters of knee and ankle. This study aimed to compare anatomical vs. high hip center arthroplasty according to gait parameters of knee and ankle and investigate whether the high hip center has any adverse effect on these joints or not. METHODS: 20 patients who underwent unilateral total hip arthroplasty (Group 1; 10 patients with anatomical reconstruction, Group 2; 10 patients with high hip center) due to Crowe type III-IV developmental dysplasia of the hip and completed 2 years of follow-up were included. The patients were examined by 3-D gait analysis. FINDINGS: The maximum extension of the knee on the operated side was lower in Group 2 (p = 0.044). Longitudinal knee joint force was higher in Group 2 on both operated (p = 0.041) and non-operated sides (p = 0.031). Lateral knee joint force was also higher in Group 2 (p = 0.023). No significant difference was detected in ankle parameters. INTERPRETATION: Unilateral high hip center has been shown to restrict the dynamic knee range of motion on the operated side and increase the knee load on both sides, thus putting the knees at risk for osteoarthritis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Retrospective comparative study.

Re-irradiation of recurrent vertebral metastasis after two previous spinal cord irradiation: A case report.

Background: Management of a recurrent vertebral metastasis in a situation of previously irradiated spinal cord is a challenging clinical dilemma. Case presentation: We report a first case of second retreatment of a spinal metastasis initially irradiated with standard radiotherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), who subsequently progressed with imaging-confirmed local tumor progression at the same level. After a third course of irradiation with SBRT, a complete response was achieved. After 8 months of follow-up, the patients remain free of local recurrence. Conclusion: A third course of vertebral irradiation for a recurrent vertebral metastasis failing to two previous irradiations, in this particular case, have shown the feasibility and efficacy of the technique as a salvage treatment option. This approach could be used in a selected group of patient if an adequate dose is delivered to the target while observing critical tissue tolerance limits.

Anatomical variations of intercostobrachial nerve: A potential candidate for neurotization after traumatic median nerve injury?

BACKGROUND: This study focused on the anatomical characteristics and variations of intercostobrachial (ICBN) nerve and median nerve to investigate the possible use of ICBN in restoration of sensory damage of hand after traumatic median nerve injury and to evaluate the feasibility of ICBN neurotization to median nerve. METHODS: Variations of ICBN were noted in 16 axillary region dissections of eight cadavers. Measurements for ICBN's suitability in terms of neurotization to brachial plexus were done with millimetric devices. The distance of ICBN to the distal end of the lateral (LCMN) and medial (MCMN) contributions of the median nerve and the diameters of ICBN, LCMN, and MCMN were measured. RESULTS: Fifteen axillary dissections exhibited ICBN, whereas it was absent on the left side of one of the cadavers. The mean diameter of ICBN at its origin was 2.0±0.7 mm and the mean diameter of ICBN at its coaptation point was 3.1±0.9 mm. The mean diameter of the LCMN was 3.9±2.0 mm, the mean diameter of MCMN was 3.5±0.9 mm. The length of ICBN was found to be adequate at both 45 and 90° of shoulder abduction to be extended to both LCMN and MCMN. The diameters of LCMN and MCMN were not significantly correlated with the diameter of ICBN both at origin and at coaptation point (LCMN: p=0.55-0.63 and MCMN: p=0.89-0.85). There is no significant difference between the diameter of LCMN and the diameter of ICBN at its coaptation point (p=0.168) and also between the diameter of MCMN and the diameter of ICBN at its coaptation point (p=0.232). CONCLUSION: All ICBNs dissected showed adequate length to reach the lateral and medial contribution of the median nerve directly. The ICBN could be a feasible candidate since its diameter was close to LCMN and MCMN according to the descriptive and inferential statistics.