Influence of tendon injuries on the clinical outcome of ankle and hindfoot fractures.

BACKGROUND: Associations of tendon injuries with ankle and hindfoot fractures is a current concern and recent research has linked specific fractures with specific tendon injuries, despite its functional impact being unknown. The purpose of this study is to assess that impact. METHODS: Computed tomography scans of patients with ankle and hindfoot fractures were reviewed for tendon injuries. Patients were clinically evaluated with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ), via a telephonic interview. RESULTS: Eighty-five patients were included in the study. The mean age was of 49.9 ± 16.5 (14-80) years and there were 43 females (50,6%). Mean follow-up was of 43,7 ± 15,1 (24,4-82,2) months. Tendon injuries were identified in 23 patients (27,1%) and the most common lesion was tendon entrapment. The tibialis posterior tendon (TP) was injured in 18 patients (21,2%) and comprised 58,1% of all tendon injuries. Tendon injuries were mostly associated with pilon fractures, which was the most common fracture type (44,7%). There was no clinical difference between patients with a tendon injury [VAS of 4,3 ± 2,6 (0-8) and MOXFQ score of 35,1 ± 22,4 (5-80)], and those without [VAS of 3,9 ± 2,5 (0-10) and MOXFQ of 34,3 ± 26,0 (0-95), respectively (p = 0,281 and 0,689)]. CONCLUSION: Tendon injuries were present in 27% of patients with ankle and hindfoot injuries. The most frequently injured tendon was the TP in association with pilon fractures, with entrapment being the most common lesion. These lesions, however, do not seem to reflect in a worse functional outcome at two years of follow-up.

Localised laryngotracheal amyloidosis: a differential diagnosis not to forget.

We present a case of multifocal laryngotracheal amyloidosis (LTA) in a 43-year-old man with persistent and progressive dysphonia and dyspnoea, and a first inconclusive histology. Although laryngeal amyloidosis accounts for fewer than 1% of all benign laryngeal tumours, it is in fact the most common site of amyloid deposition in the head, neck and respiratory tract. The clinical scenario is non-specific and diagnosis depends on a high degree of suspicion and on histology. Imaging is useful in mapping lesions, which are often more extensive than they appear during laryngoscopy. Despite being a benign entity, the prognosis is variable with a high-rate and long-latency recurrences, requiring long-term follow-up.

Zinner and Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndromes: when unilateral renal agenesis meets genital anomalies.

Congenital unilateral renal agenesis is a relatively frequent condition at birth diagnosed mostly incidentally. Despite the excellent prognosis, unilateral renal agenesis is associated with an increased risk of other structural abnormalities, including genital malformations. The authors present two cases of asymptomatic adolescents with known congenital unilateral renal agenesis and associated genital malformations solely diagnosed during puberty-a man with Zinner syndrome and a female with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome.