Epithelioma cuniculatum of the sole of the foot mimicking an infection.

Epithelioma cuniculatum is characterized as a slow growing lesion on the sole of the foot. A diagnosis is usually delayed by a low clinical suspicion and misdirection due to its similarity to an infection. This tumor rarely metastasize but a local invasion of adjacent soft tissues is common, requiring ample surgical resection or even amputation in advanced cases. We report a case a 76-year-old patient with a 5-year-old lesion on the sole of the foot, which was originally treated as a wart without improvement while the lesion slowly evolved. The patient was referred to our center with a diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis. An excisional biopsy revealed an invasive keratinizing squamous carcinoma. In this advanced phase of the disease the only possible treatment was a Syme amputation.

El epitelioma cuniculatum se caracteriza por una lesión de crecimiento lento en la planta del pie cuyo diagnóstico suele retrasarse por la baja sospecha clínica y por su similitud con una infección. Este tumor raramente metastatiza, pero es común que produzca una invasión local a los tejidos blandos adyacentes, requiriendo una amplia resección quirúrgica o incluso una amputación en casos avanzados. Presentamos un caso de un paciente de 76 años con una lesión de 5 años de edad en la planta del pie, que originalmente fue tratada como una verruga plantar común sin mejoría, mientras que la lesión evolucionó lentamente. El paciente fue remitido a nuestro centro con un diagnóstico de osteomielitis crónica. Una biopsia excisional reveló un carcinoma escamoso queratinizante invasivo. En esta fase avanzada de la enfermedad el único tratamiento posible fue una amputación de Syme.

Fracturas intraarticulares de calcáneo tratadas quirúrgicamente: ¿qué nos aporta la tomografía computarizada postoperatoria? / Surgically treated calcaneal joint fractures: what does postoperative computed tomography give us?

INTRODUCCIÓN: Actualmente existe gran controversia sobre el tratamiento ideal de las fracturas articulares de calcáneo. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la utilidad de la tomografía computarizada (TC) postoperatoria. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo de pacientes intervenidos en el período 2007 a 2015 en nuestro centro. Se recogieron variables epidemiológicas, datos específicos de la fractura, intervención quirúrgica, así como resultados y complicaciones. La evaluación radiológica se realizó mediante radiología simple (ángulo de Böhler) y TC coronal (congruencia de subastragalina posterior). Para los resultados funcionales utilizamos la escala AOFAS de retro pie y la escala EVA para el nivel de dolor. RESULTADOS: Incluimos 46 fracturas en 43 pacientes (tres bilaterales). Treinta y cinco eran varones y ocho mujeres, con una edad promedio de 42 años (18-79) y un seguimiento medio de 57,39 meses (33-129). LA TC preoperatoria se realizó en todos los casos, de los que 11 fueron Sanders ii, 23 tipo III y 12 tipo IV. El TC postoperatorio solo se realizó en 17 casos. La reducción de la subastragalina posterior medida por TC fue satisfactoria (escalón articular < 2 mm) en 12 casos. El ángulo de Böhler prequirúrgico promedio fue de 6,45 ± 10,21 ([-22]-25) y el posquirúrgico de 20,46 ± 7,09 (4-38). La artrosis subastragalina se desarrolló en 19 casos (sintomática en 12) y la artrosis calcáneo-cuboidea en seis (solo uno sintomático). El AOFAS fue de 74,28 ± 18,98 (27-100) y el EVA de 4,14 ± 2,98 (2-9). Resultó estadísticamente significativo un TC con escalón inferior a 2 mm con mayor resultado en la escala AOFAS (77,17 puntos de promedio), así como menor EVA de promedio (2,83) (p = 0,002). Respecto al Böhler, resultó significativa la relación de un ángulo > 20° posquirúrgico con mayor AOFAS (80,82) y menor EVA (3,18) (p = 0,001). La búsqueda bibliográfica obtuvo un total de 117 artículos que cumplieron los criterios de búsqueda, de los cuales solo 29 solicitaron TC postoperatorio. CONCLUSIONES: La TC postoperatoria es la mejor técnica para corroborar la correcta reducción de la superficie articular subastragalina, sin embargo, su indicación no está universalmente aceptada

INTRODUCTION: There is currently great controversy about the ideal treatment of intraarticular calcaneal fractures. The objective of this study is to determine the usefulness of postoperative computed tomography (CT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of patients operated on in the period 2007 to 2015 in our center. Epidemiological variables, specific fracture data, surgical intervention as well as results and complications were collected. The radiological evaluation was performed using simple radiology (Böhler angle) and coronal CT (congruence of posterior subtalar joint). For the functional results we use the AOFAS hindfoot scale and the EVA scale for the level of pain. RESULTS: We included 46 fractures in 43 patients (three bilateral). Thirty-five were male and eight female, with an average age of 42 years (18-79) and an average follow-up of 57.39 months (33-129). Preoperative CT was performed in all cases, of which 11 were Sanders ii, 23 type III and 12 type IV. Postoperative CT was only performed in 17 cases. The subsequent subtalar reduction measured by CT was satisfactory (articular step < 2 mm) in 12 cases. The average presurgical Böhler angle was 6.45 ± 10.21 ([-22]-25) and the post-surgical angle of 20.46 ± 7.09 (4-38). Subtalar osteoarthritis developed in 19 cases (symptomatic in 12) and calcaneo-cuboid osteoarthritis in six cases (only one symptomatic). The AOFAS was 74.28 ± 18.98 (27-100) and the EVA was 4.14 ± 2.98 (2-9). A CT scan with a step of less than 2 mm was statistically significant, with a higher result on the AOFAS scale (77.17 average points) as well as lower EVA on average (2.83) (p = 0.002). Regarding the Böhler, it was statistically significant the relationship of an angle > 20° post-surgical with higher AOFAS (80.82) and lower VAS (3.18) (p = 0.001). The literature search obtained a total of 117 articles that met the search criteria, of which only 29 requested postoperative CT. CONCLUSIONS: The indication of postoperative CT in patients operated by intraarticular calcaneal fracture is the best technique to corroborate the correct reduction of the subtalar joint surface, although it is not universally accepted, according to the literature

Surgically treated calcaneal joint fractures: what does postoperative computed tomography give us? / Fracturas intraarticulares de calcáneo tratadas quirúrgicamente: ¿qué nos aporta la tomografía computarizada postoperatoria?

INTRODUCTION: There is currently great controversy about the ideal treatment of intraarticular calcaneal fractures. The objective of this study is to determine the usefulness of postoperative computed tomography (CT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of patients operated on in the period 2007 to 2015 in our center. Epidemiological variables, specific fracture data, surgical intervention as well as results and complications were collected. The radiological evaluation was performed using simple radiology (Böhler angle) and coronal CT (congruence of posterior subtalar joint). For the functional results we use the AOFAS hindfoot scale and the EVA scale for the level of pain. RESULTS: We included 46 fractures in 43 patients (three bilateral). Thirty-five were male and eight female, with an average age of 42 years (18-79) and an average follow-up of 57.39 months (33-129). Preoperative CT was performed in all cases, of which 11 were Sanders ii, 23 type iii and 12 type iv. Postoperative CT was only performed in 17 cases. The subsequent subtalar reduction measured by CT was satisfactory (articular step < 2 mm) in 12 cases. The average presurgical Böhler angle was 6.45 ± 10.21 ([-22]-25) and the post-surgical angle of 20.46 ± 7.09 (4-38). Subtalar osteoarthritis developed in 19 cases (symptomatic in 12) and calcaneo-cuboid osteoarthritis in six cases (only one symptomatic). The AOFAS was 74.28 ± 18.98 (27-100) and the EVA was 4.14 ± 2.98 (2-9). A CT scan with a step of less than 2 mm was statistically significant, with a higher result on the AOFAS scale (77.17 average points) as well as lower EVA on average (2.83) (p = 0.002). Regarding the Böhler, it was statistically significant the relationship of an angle > 20° post-surgical with higher AOFAS (80.82) and lower VAS (3.18) (p = 0.001). The literature search obtained a total of 117 articles that met the search criteria, of which only 29 requested postoperative CT. CONCLUSIONS: The indication of postoperative CT in patients operated by intraarticular calcaneal fracture is the best technique to corroborate the correct reduction of the subtalar joint surface, although it is not universally accepted, according to the literature.

Experience using the «Shetty test¼ for initial foot and ankle fracture screening in the Emergency Department. / Experiencia con la aplicación del test de Shetty para el despistaje inicial de fracturas del pie y tobillo en el área de Urgencias.

OBJECTIVE: The indiscriminate practice of radiographs for foot and ankle injuries is not justified and numerous studies have corroborated the usefulness of clinical screening tests such as the Ottawa Ankle Rules. The aim of our study is to clinically validate the so-called Shetty Test in our area. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional observational study by applying the Shetty test to patients seen in the Emergency Department. RESULTS: We enrolled 100 patients with an average age of 39.25 (16-86). The Shetty test was positive on 14 occasions. Subsequent radiography revealed a fracture in 10 cases: 4 were false positives. The test was negative in the remaining 86 patients and radiography confirmed the absence of fracture (with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 95.56%, positive predictive value of 71.40%, and negative predictive value of 100%). CONCLUSIONS: The Shetty test is a valid clinical screening tool to decide whether simple radiography is indicated for foot and ankle injuries. It is a simple, quick and reproducible test.

Detection of pathogenic Leptospira species associated with phyllostomid bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from Veracruz, Mexico.

The genus Leptospira encompass 22 species of spirochaetes, with ten pathogenic species that have been recorded in more than 160 mammals worldwide. In the last two decades, the numbers of records of these agents associated with bats have increased exponentially, particularly in America. Although order Chiroptera represents the second most diverse order of mammals in Mexico, and leptospirosis represents a human and veterinary problem in the country, few studies have been conducted to identify potential wildlife reservoirs. The aim of this study was to detect the presence and diversity of Leptospira sp. in communities of bats in an endemic state of leptospirosis in Mexico. During January to September 2016, 81 bats of ten species from three localities of Veracruz, Mexico, were collected with mist nets. Kidney samples were obtained from all specimens. For the detection of Leptospira sp., we amplified several genes using specific primers. Amplicons of the expected size were submitted to sequencing, and sequences recovered were compared with those of reference deposited in GenBank using the BLAST tool. To identify their phylogenetic position, we realized a reconstruction using maximum-likelihood (ML) method. Twenty-five samples from three bat species (Artibeus lituratus, Choeroniscus godmani and Desmodus rotundus) showed the presence of Leptospira DNA. Sequences recovered were close to Leptospira noguchii, Leptospira weilii and Leptospira interrogans. Our results include the first record of Leptospira in bats from Mexico and exhibit a high diversity of these pathogens circulating in the state. Due to the finding of a large number of positive wild animals, it is necessary to implement a surveillance system in populations of the positive bats as well as in related species, in order to understand their role as carriers of this bacterial genus.