Acetabular anteversion is associated with gluteal tendinopathy at MRI.

OBJECTIVE: Gluteal tendinopathy and greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) remain incompletely understood despite their pervasiveness in clinical practice. To date, no study has analyzed the morphometric characteristics of the hip on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that may predispose to gluteal tendinopathy. This study aimed to evaluate whether acetabular anteversion (AA), femoral neck anteversion (FNA), and femoral neck-shaft angle (FNSA) are associated with MRI features of gluteal tendinopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 203 MRI examinations of the hip met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. A single blinded investigator measured AA, FNA, and FNSA according to validated MRI techniques. Two blinded subspecialty-trained musculoskeletal radiologists then independently evaluated the presence of gluteal tendinosis, trochanteric bursitis, and subgluteal bursitis. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA; post-hoc Tukey's range test). RESULTS: At MRI, 57 patients had gluteal tendinosis with or without bursitis, 26 had isolated trochanteric bursitis, and 11 had isolated subgluteal bursitis. AA was significantly (p = 0.01) increased in patients with MRI evidence of gluteal tendinosis with or without bursitis [mean: 18.4°, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 17.2°-19.6°] compared with normal controls (mean: 15.7°, 95 % CI: 14.7°-16.8°). Similarly, AA was significantly (p = 0.04) increased in patients with isolated trochanteric bursitis (mean: 18.8°, 95 % CI: 16.2°-21.6°). No association was found between FNA or FNSA and the presence of gluteal tendinopathy. Interobserver agreement for the presence and categorization of gluteal tendinopathy was very good (kappa = 0.859, 95 % CI: 0.815-0.903). CONCLUSION: Our MRI study suggests that there is an association between increased AA and gluteal tendinopathy, which supports a growing body of evidence implicating abnormal biomechanics in the development of this condition.

An unusual case of dual left anterior descending artery with coronary computed tomographic angiographic correlation.

Dual left anterior descending artery (LAD) is a rare coronary anomaly that is important to recognize at coronary imaging as it may influence reperfusion strategies. Four types of dual LAD are described by the traditional literature. We present a novel case of dual LAD with coronary computed tomographic angiographic correlation that does not fit into this classification system. Rather, our case supports the recently proposed notion of adding a fifth variant to the traditional dual LAD classification system.

Bowel obstruction following appendectomy: what is the true incidence?

INTRODUCTION: Appendicitis is a common problem that is typically treated with an appendectomy. Following abdominal surgery, adhesions may form and may cause a subsequent small bowel obstruction (SBO). The purpose of our study was to determine the rate of post-appendectomy SBO in an adult population, and to observe any difference in SBO rates between open versus laparoscopic appendectomies. METHODS: All patients who underwent an appendectomy at an adult hospital in the Calgary Health Region between 1999 and 2002 were identified by using the administrative discharge database. Pathology and operative technique (laparoscopic, McBurney incision, midline laparotomy) were reviewed. Using those regional health numbers, any further admissions with a diagnostic code for bowel obstruction were identified. Medical charts (n = 1777) were reviewed to confirm the rate of post-appendectomy SBO. A logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors of post-appendectomy SBO and expressed as odds ratios (95% confidence interval). RESULTS: The overall SBO rate was 2.8% over an average 4.1-year follow-up period. The risk factors for developing SBO following appendectomy for appendicitis included, perforated appendicitis (odds ratio [OR] = 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-6.6), and midline incisions (OR = 5.4, 95% CI: 2.8-10.4). Those with pathology of cancer or chronic appendicitis conferred the greatest overall risk of SBO (OR = 7.4, 95% CI: 2.7-20.3). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of SBO following appendectomy in adults was 2.8%, or 0.0069 cases per person-year. The greatest risk factors for developing SBO were midline incision and nonappendicitis pathology. There is no statistically significant difference in SBO rates following laparoscopic appendectomy compared with open approaches.