Sequential Imaging Characteristics and Potential Role of F18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/CT in the Evaluation of Treatment Response in Cases of Spinal Tuberculosis Without Neurological Involvement: Results From a Pilot Study.

Purpose In this non-randomized study, we prospectively studied the sequential imaging properties of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and evaluated the role of FDG PET as a non-invasive imaging modality for identifying non-responders during anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) of spinal tuberculosis (TB). Methods Before starting anti-tubercular treatment, 25 patients with clinically and radiological suspected; pathologically confirmed spinal TB had a pretreatment contrast-enhanced whole-body FDG PET scan, followed by scans at six, 12, and 18 months. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was computed, and the mean change in SUVmax was compared. The mean change in SUVmax was correlated with the clinicoradiological improvement.  Result In cases of spinal tuberculosis, the FDG PET scan can help identify extra-spinal and non-contagious involvement. In our 25 cases of spinal TB, the baseline peak SUVmax of lesions ranged from 6.3 to 28.5 (mean 14.8). Despite treatment, the condition progressed in two patients, and they had neurological deficits; in both cases, the SUVmax levels increased. The fall in SUVmax during the treatment course was statistically significant (p-value <0.05) and correlated well with the clinical improvement. Conclusion The inflammatory cells show increased uptake of F18 FDG, so uptake of radioactive tracer localizes and quantifies the disease activity; thus, FDG PET/CT holds a promising role as a sensitive non-invasive modality for the detection, staging, assessing disease activity, and monitoring therapy and deciding end point treatment in spinal TB.

Comparative Analysis of Arthroscopic Tight Rope ACL Reconstruction Using four Strand Isolated Semitendinosus Graft and Quadrupled Combined Hamstring Graft.

Background: Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using hamstring autograft is a quite a popular surgical procedure. But there is a conflict regarding the use of isolated semitendinosus graft or a combined hamstring graft. We did a comparative analysis of the functional outcome after ACL reconstruction performed with four strand semitendinosus graft and a combined hamstring graft over tightrope. Methods: Two groups of 30 patients each with similar demographic profiles, presenting with symptoms of instability after chronic ACL tear were included. A standard single bundle arthroscopic ACL reconstruction was performed by using four-strand semitendinosus graft in Group A and combined hamstring graft in Group B patients. Clinical and functional outcome analysis was done using quantitative anterior tibial translation measurement and Lysholm score. Results: The mean age of subjects in group A was 29 years and in Group B was 28 years. The semitendinosus graft length was insufficient in 13.33% cases in group A. The improvement in Lysholm score and the decrease in the tibial translation were comparable in both the groups at one year of follow-up. No added comorbidities were noted in additional removal of gracilis tendon in group B patients. Conclusion: Isolated semitendinosus four-strand autograft can be used for arthroscopic single bundle ACL reconstruction when adequate graft length is obtained. However, one should not be hesitant in additional removal of gracilis tendon when needed. In terms of functional outcome and patient satisfaction, both the graft configurations stand the same.

Congenital Elbow Dislocation: A Case Report.

CASE: We present a case of a 12-day-old male baby who presented with right elbow deformity and inability to flex the elbow. Radiographs and computed tomography scan of the elbow revealed loss of humeroulnar alignment, superior migration of olecranon, and posteromedial displacement, suggesting an elbow dislocation. The child was successfully managed with open reduction and Kirschner wire fixation of the elbow joint. At 1-year follow-up, the child has a well-reduced and stable elbow joint with a functional range of movements. CONCLUSION: Congenital dislocation of the ulnohumeral joint can occur because of hypoplasia of the skeletal components or tissue interposition within the joint articulation.

Clinical outcome and correction following V osteotomy for genu valgum in adolescents and young adults: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Genu Valgum usually originates from distal femur and many open and closed wedge osteotomies of distal femur have been reported but none has proved to be the best. Distal femur V osteotomy is a wedgeless osteotomy and is a rarely reported osteotomy with only a few case series and 167 cases of isolated distal femur V osteotomy for genus valgum in young patients (<25 years) in literature but with a tendency to have an excellent outcomes. PURPOSE: To determine correction and clinical outcome following V osteotomy for genu valgum in adolescents and young adults (10-25 years). PATIENT AND METHODS: A systematic research was conducted of PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar to identify studies reporting the correction and clinical outcome following V osteotomy in adolescents and young adults (10-25 years) for genu valgum by 2 different authors according to PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: 5 studies with 167 patients and 263 knees were identified meeting the inclusion criteria for review. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 36 months. Overall complication rate was 12.3%, the most common being plaster sore, 4.2% (11/263) followed by superficial infection, 2.7% (7/263). The mean correction was 19.1° and a mean post-operative valgus was 5.7°. In those compared with Bostman score (157/167), 94.3% had excellent (148/157) and remaining 5.7% (9/157) had good scores (20-27/30) with none showing poor score (<20/30). CONCLUSION: V osteotomy is a reliable method of distal femoral osteotomy to attain a good correction with an excellent clinical outcome even with variations of fixation however longer follow-up period are required for better evaluation of recurrence.

Improvement in Pain Following Ganglion Impar Blocks and Radiofrequency Ablation in Coccygodynia Patients: A Systematic Review.

Nearly 90% of cases of coccydynia can be managed with conservative medical treatment; the remaining 10% need other invasive modalities for pain relief, such as ganglion impar block (GIB) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the ganglion impar. A systematic research was conducted of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar to identify studies reporting pain relief in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS), or its counterparts, following GIB or RFA in coccydynia patients with the purpose to determine the efficacy of GIB and RFA of the ganglion impar in controlling pain in coccydynia patients. Seven studies were delineated, with a total of 189 patients (104 in GIB group and 85 in RFA group). In the GIB group, the mean VAS improved from 7.83 at baseline to 3.11 in the short-term follow-up, 3.55 in the intermediate-term follow-up, and 4.71 in the long-term follow-up. In the RFA group, the mean VAS improved from 6.92 at baseline to 4.25 in the short-term follow-up, and 4.04 in the long-term follow-up. In the GIB group, a 13.92% failure rate (11/79) and a 2.88% complication rate (3/104) were reported, while in the RFA group, a 14.08% failure rate (10/71) and no complications (0%) were reported. Total success rate was > 85% with either modality. Ganglion impar block and RFA of the ganglion impar are reliable and probably excellent methods of pain control in coccydynia patients not responding to conservative medical treatment. However, a demarcation between responders, non-responders, and late non-responders should be considered, and larger studies with a longer follow-up (> 1 year) are needed.

Usage of Accessory Anteromedial Portal for Anatomical Placement of Femoral Tunnel in Transportal Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Prospective Study.

Background and objective The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has an essential role in preserving the function and stability of the knee joint. It acts primarily to prevent anterior tibial translation. Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using quadrupled hamstring graft is the widely practiced modality for treating ACL injuries nowadays. The objective of this study was to assess the functional outcomes of ACL reconstruction using the transportal approach for a femoral tunnel through an accessory anteromedial portal (AAM). Materials and methods This prospective study included 35 patients who met the inclusion criteria. All patients underwent arthroscopic reconstruction of ACL using quadrupled hamstring tendon graft via transportal technique for femoral canal reaming through AAM. Patients were assessed for the functional outcome for a year using the Tegner-Lysholm knee scoring system. Results The analysis of the studied cases revealed that the mean age of the patients was around 27 years. Males were affected more than females. The left side (77.14%) was affected more than the right side (22.86%); 54.28% of patients had a history of road traffic accidents (RTAs). Preoperatively, 19 (54.28%) patients had poor and 16 (45.72%) patients had fair Tegner-Lysholm scores. After one year of follow-up, 29 (82.85%) of the patients had an excellent score as per the Tegner-Lysholm scoring system. Three patients had knee pain and thigh muscle wasting (2-3 cm), and two of them also had a sense of giving away during follow-up. Conclusion Anatomical reattachment of tendon graft for ACL reconstruction at femoral and tibial footprints is indispensable for good functional outcome and knee kinematics, and the usage of the AAM provides good visualization of femoral footprint and ease to surgeons during ACL reconstruction for making a near-accurate femoral tunnel and thereby achieving better outcomes.

Mammoth Giant Cell Tumor of the First Metacarpal: A Case Report and Management Trends.

Giant cell tumor (GCT) is classically described as a locally aggressive, epiphyseo-metaphyseal osteolytic tumor occurring in young adults. They are mostly seen in long bones while some are also found in the iliac bone and spine and a very small proportion occurs in hand bones. Due to the rarity of GCT in metacarpal, there is a paucity of treatment options available. In an extensive literature search on PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Ovid from 2004 till date, very few cases were reported. The various treatment options available are intralesional curettage with or without adjuvant therapy, wide resection, free osteoarticular metatarsal transfer, and, occasionally, ray amputation may also be done. After simple curettage, a reasonably high recurrence rate also imposes comprehensive en-bloc excision, but still, there are many case reports of recurrence. Experience with a case of GCT of the whole first metacarpal extending from the carpometacarpal to the metacarpophalangeal joint is not thoroughly described in the literature. We hereby report a mammoth GCT of the first metacarpal treated by excision and reconstruction by free fibular graft and adjacent joint fusion with an excellent functional outcome at one-year follow-up.

Clinical Reliability of Adjustable Femoral Cortical Suspensory Fixation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Correlation of Clinical Outcomes With Demographic and Perioperative Factors.

Background and objective The primary goal of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is to protect the initial graft fixation against heavy loads encountered during the rehabilitation phase. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional outcomes (Lysholm score) and laxity [anterior tibial translation (ATT), anterior drawer test, Lachman test, and pivot shift test] of ACLR with adjustable-loop femoral cortical suspensory fixation (CSF) and tibial interferences crew fixation. Methods This study included 100 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction using quadruple hamstring grafts secured with TightRope® (Arthrex Inc, Naples, FL) femoral fixation and an interference screw on the tibial end. Six patients were excluded from the final analysis (four lost to follow-up, one suffered re-injury, and one had septic arthritis). The remaining 94 patients were evaluated for laxity and functional outcomes preoperatively, as well as at one, six, and 12 months postoperatively. Regression analysis was performed to determine the association between outcomes and 11 independent variables. This was designed as a prospective cohort study (level of evidence: II). Results The mean age of the participants was 28.46 ± 7.01 years. The median preoperative Lysholm knee score of 49 (mean ± SD: 48.2 ± 5.42) improved to 93 (92.7 ± 2.1) at six months and 98 (97.6 ± 2.1) at the one-year follow-up. The improvement was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01). The median ATT was 10 mm preoperatively, which decreased to 2 mm at one month, remained the same at six months, and rose to 3 mm at the one-year follow-up. ATT was found significantly reduced at one month postoperatively (p<.001) and did not show any significant further changes at subsequent follow-ups (p>0.05). Multiple linear regression revealed that one-year postoperative ATT (Rolimeter, Aircast Europa, Stephanskirchen, Germany) was independent of all demographic and perioperative variables tested. Conclusion Quadrupled hamstring graft ACLR with adjustable-loop fixation showed excellent subjective and objective outcomes with no residual laxity or failure of graft over mid-term follow-up. Postoperative laxity was not correlated with graft and tunnel dimensions.

Modifiable Risk Factors of Plantar Fasciitis in Non-Athletic Patients and Proposal of a New Objective Assessment System - RKISP.

Objective To determine the modifiable risk factors associated with severity of plantar fasciitis and to formulate an objective scoring system for indexing plantar fasciitis in the non-athletic population. Methods This was a prospective observational study. The main outcome measure was the association of a modifiable risk factor, which was measured with the Pearson coefficient (R-value) and the level of significance, which was kept as p < 0.05. Result In a sample size of 50 patients, the body mass index (BMI) and ill-cushioned shoes were found to be significantly associated with pain in plantar fasciitis. All the other risk factors were either non-modifiable or had no significant association. Conclusion Based on available data and further interpretation, an index was be formulated, named as Ranjeet-Kunal Index for Scoring Plantar fasciitis (RKISP), which can be successfully used for not only grading plantar fasciitis but also prognosticating the conservative management of the same, thus deciding the modality of treatment.

Giant Cell Tumor of the Distal Radius: Wide Resection, Ulna Translocation With Wrist Arthrodesis.

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of the bone is a locally aggressive neoplasm and usually managed with extended curettage and adjuvant therapy, which is associated with reduced risk of recurrence. The juxta-articular distal radius giant cell tumor is challenging due to the destruction of subchondral bone and articular cartilage, making it difficult to salvage the wrist joint anatomy and function. Various methods described include wide resection and reconstruction of allograft or centralization of the ulna with wrist arthrodesis. We present the functional outcome of distal end radius GCT, which was successfully managed with wide local excision, ulna translocation, and wrist arthrodesis. At the two years follow-up, the patient shows excellent functional outcome with supination and pronation movements and no local recurrence.

The Successful Management of a Repetitively Infected Recurrent Proximal Humerus Giant Cell Tumour of 20 Years' Duration With Two-Staged Surgery: A Rare Case Report.

The recurrence of giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB) is quite well known. It is mainly attributed to the presence of microscopic tumour remnants left behind after tumour treatment by intralesional curettage. This condition becomes more serious and alarming when the lesion gets infected postoperatively. Several studies have indicated that the role of adjuvants in preventing the recurrence of GCTs is limited, and complete removal of malignant cells is often mandatory. We present a rare case GCT of the proximal humerus in a female patient who developed repetitive recurrences of the tumour; her salvage procedures were also complicated by the development of infection after every treatment procedure for over 20 years. The patient was finally treated successfully with a two-stage revision and reconstruction procedure.

Arthroscopic Subtalar Arthrodesis as a Treatment Strategy for Subtalar Arthritis: A Systematic Review.

Arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis is a relatively new technique which is increasingly being used by foot and ankle surgeons as an alternative to open surgery. However, there is still a lack of consensus with respect to the efficacy of the procedure. The purpose of this review was to ascertain (1) whether arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis improves the functional outcome of treated patients and (2) how do the 2 techniques of subtalar arthroscopy (posterior and lateral) compare with each other. MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases were accessed by 2 independent reviewers. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were predefined. National Institute of Health risk of bias assessment tool was used to determine the methodological quality of the included studies. A total of ten studies with 234 patients (240 feet) were included. The most common indication for arthroscopic subtalar fusion was posttraumatic subtalar arthritis. Weighted pre- and postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores were 47 and 80.7, respectively. Average time to fusion was 10.2 weeks and weighted mean fusion rate was 95%. Pain secondary to prominent hardware and nonunion were the most common complications. Although improvement in functional scores was higher and complication rate lower with the posterior group, a better fusion rate was seen with the lateral approach. Arthroscopic fusion techniques have shown to be an effective alternative to open surgery. While there was a trend for better functional outcome with the posterior approach, randomized control trials comparing the 2 techniques are needed to better assess their respective outcomes.

Modifiable Risk Factors of Plantar Fasciitis in Non-Athletic Patients and Proposal of a New Objective Assessment System - RKISP / Fatores de risco modificáveis para fasciíte plantar em pacientes não atletas e proposta de um novo sistema de avaliação objetiva - RKISP

Abstract Objective To determine the modifiable risk factors associated with severity of plantar fasciitis and to formulate an objective scoring system for indexing plantar fasciitis in the non-athletic population. Methods This was a prospective observational study. The main outcome measure was the association of a modifiable risk factor, which was measured with the Pearson coefficient (R-value) and the level of significance, which was kept as p < 0.05. Result In a sample size of 50 patients, the body mass index (BMI) and ill-cushioned shoes were found to be significantly associated with pain in plantar fasciitis. All the other risk factors were either non-modifiable or had no significant association. Conclusion Based on available data and further interpretation, an index was be formulated, named as Ranjeet-Kunal Index for Scoring Plantar fasciitis (RKISP), which can be successfully used for not only grading plantar fasciitis but also prognosticating the conservative management of the same, thus deciding the modality of treatment.

Resumo Objetivo Determinar os fatores de risco modificáveis associados à gravidade da fasciíte plantar e formular um sistema objetivo de pontuação para indexação da doença na população não atlética. Métodos Estudo observacional prospectivo. A principal medida de desfecho foi a associação de um fator de risco modificável, mensurada pelo valor de R (coeficiente de Pearson) e pelo nível de significância de p < 0,05. Resultados Em uma amostra de 50 pacientes, o índice de massa corporal (IMC) e calçados com amortecimento inadequado foram associados de maneira significativa à dor na fasciíte plantar. Todos os demais fatores de risco eram não modificáveis ou não apresentaram associação significativa. Conclusão Com base nos dados à disposição e sua interpretação, um índice, denominado Índice de Ranjeet-Kunal de Pontuação da Fasciíte Plantar (RKISP, em inglês) , foi formulado e utilizado com sucesso não apenas na classificação da fasciíte plantar, mas também na determinação do prognóstico de seu tratamento conservativo, auxiliando a escolha da modalidade terapêutica.