Evaluation of joint cartilage thickness in healthy children by ultrasound: An experience from a developing nation.

OBJECTIVES: Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) has a crucial role in clinical assessment and monitoring of patients with rheumatologic diseases. Early detection of joint cartilage destruction is difficult. MSUS is a cheap, noninvasive, nonhazardous bedside tool that can be used for detection of cartilage damage. We aimed to generate normative data of joint cartilage thickness of children in our population using this tool. METHODS: Healthy children, aged between 2 and 12 years, not suffering from any joint disorders and not on any chronic medication were recruited. The thickness of joint cartilage at wrist, knee and ankle were measured by ultrasound as per European League Against Rheumatism standard scan criteria. The scans were done by a single observer. RESULTS: Data of 409 children revealed median cartilage thickness at right wrist, knee and ankle joints as 2.20 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.60-3.00) mm, 2.40 (1.80-3.10) mm and 2.20 (1.80-3.00) mm, respectively. The right-left differences were not statistically significant except at the knee joint. Comparison between genders showed that boys had marginally thicker cartilage than girls at all three joints; this difference was statistically significant for the knee and ankle joints, but not at the wrist. Joint cartilage thickness showed a steady decline with age. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of joint cartilage thickness in children with MSUS and comparison with these normative values can help in better screening for joint-related disease in children.

Role of endovascular embolization in improving the quality of life in a patient suffering from complicated intralobar pulmonary sequestration - A case report.

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital malformation characterized by the presence of nonfunctional parenchymal lung tissue, receiving systemic arterial blood supply and lacking normal communication with tracheobronchial tree. Recurrent pneumonia and massive hemoptysis are life threatening complications associated with it. Delay in the diagnosis and management can be fatal. We report here a case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration in a 18 year old female who presented with recurrent severe episodes of pneumonia and hemoptysis forcing her to drop out of school. The diagnosis was confirmed by CECT Thorax and CT Angiography. The patient was managed by minimally invasive endovascular treatment in the form of feeding artery embolization. She made a full recovery with satisfactory outcome. On subsequent follow up, there was no recurrence of symptoms and she is doing well socially and academically. The aim of this case report is to show feasibility and safety of embolization as a less-invasive management option for adult pulmonary sequestration complicated with hemoptysis and LRTIs and emphasize the importance of such minimally invasive technique to enhance the quality of life in such patients.