Radiographic Incidence of Lumbar Spinal Instability in Patients with Non-spondylolisthetic Low Backache.

Introduction Radiological lumbar spinal instability may exist without obvious spondylolisthesis. We aim to determine the incidence of this non-spondylolisthetic cause of instability in conservatively managed patients and operated groups of patients. We also attempted to study the relationship between instability and its occurrence with respect to age, sex, signs and symptoms. Materials and methods Twenty-three patients treated conservatively (group A) for non-spondylolisthetic backache were studied for radiological evidence of instability by evaluating angular rotation and sagittal translation at each lumbar motion segment. The influence of age, sex, signs and symptoms on the occurrence of instability was studied. A total of 18 patients treated surgically (group B) for non-spondylolisthetic backache in the form of discectomy/decompression were evaluated for occurrence of instability at three months, six months and nine months postoperatively. Results Four out of 23 patients (17.4%) in group A had radiological instability. Angular rotation was found to have negative correlation with age, while sagittal translation did not show any consistent correlation with age. Neither had any significant correlation with sex. The incidence of instability in patients treated with discectomy at three months and six months was 20% which reduced to 10% at nine months while that in patients treated with decompression was about 37.5% over three months, six months and nine months of follow-up. Conclusion If patients with spondylolisthesis were excluded from the study, instability could still result from the rotational component in sagittal plane. Secondary iatrogenic instabilities do result in patients undergoing extensive decompression for spinal stenosis and should always be thought of.

Impalement Injury to Thigh: A Case Report with Review of Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Impalement injuries are one of the rare presentations in the emergency department and present complex surgical challenges in management. Prompt transfer to tertiary centre, pre-operative planning, and multi specialty involvement is crucial in the management of such cases. CASE REPORT: We report a case of 18-year-old male who sustained impalement injury to thigh with an iron rod after falling from height. After quick assessment ofv ital parameters and ruling out major organ injury, wound extent was examined. In collaboration with vascular and plastic surgeons, the rod was successfully removed under direct vision. The patient recuperated without sequelae. CONCLUSION: One should not get distracted by the appearance of the impalement injuries. After initial resuscitation, full trauma evaluation should be carried out before attending to local injury. Minimal manipulation, extraction of impaled object in operation theater under direct vision, wound debridement, and administration of antibiotics to prevent wound infection are pearls of the management of impalement injury.

Minimally Invasive Treatment of a Complex Tibial Plateau Fracture with Diaphyseal Extension in a Patient with Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Fractures of the proximal tibia comprise a huge spectrum of injuries with different fracture configurations. The combination of tibia plateau fracture with diaphyseal extension is a rare injury with sparse literature being available on treatment of the same. Various treatment modalities can be adopted with the aim of achieving a well-aligned, congruous, stable joint, which allows early motion and function. We report a case of a 40-year-old male who sustained a Schatzker type VI fracture of left tibial plateau with diaphyseal extension. On further investigations, the patient was diagnosed to have diabetes mellitus with grossly deranged blood sugar levels. The depressed tibial condyle was manipulated to lift its articular surface using K-wire as a joystick and stabilized with an additional K-wire. Distal tibial skeletal traction was maintained for three weeks followed by an above knee cast. At eight months of follow-up, X-rays revealed a well-consolidated fracture site, and the patient had attained a reasonably good range of motion with only terminal restriction of squatting. Tibial plateau fractures with diaphyseal extension in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is certainly a challenging entity. After an extended search of literature, we could not find any reports highlighting a similar method of treatment for complex tibial plateau injuries in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.