Locking plates for distal fibula fractures in young and elderly patients: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Ankle fractures are common injuries in the young and elderly populations. To prevent post-traumatic arthritis, an anatomic reconstruction of the ankle structure is mandatory. Open reduction and internal fixation is the treatment of choice among orthopaedics. Conventional plates allow stability of the fracture if bone quality is present. Locking plates might offer an advantage for the treatment of lateral malleolar fracture in patients with comminution, severe instability, distal fractures, or osteoporotic bone. Our hospital introduced a new locking plate for fracture of the distal fibula. AIM: To evaluate locking plates in terms of outcomes and complications in young and elderly patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 67 patients treated for displaced distal fibula fractures. Demographic data, number of comorbidities, use of inter fragmentary screw, complication, time of fracture healing, partial or full weight bearing, and reoperation were recorded for all patients. Clinical outcome was assessed by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society clinical scoring system. Radiographs were obtained at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 wk until radiographic union was obtained. RESULTS: All patients displayed complete bony union on radiographic assessment, and no patients developed any serious complications. We observed two superficial infections, one delayed wound healing, and two plate intolerances. Significant differences were observed between the two age groups in terms of radiographic healing (11.9 wk in younger patients vs 13.7 wk in older patients; P = 0.011) and in the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society score at 6 mo after surgery (88.2 in younger patients vs 86.0 in older patients; P = 0.001) and at 12 mo after surgery (92.6 in younger patients vs 90.0 in older patients; P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Locking plates provide a stable and rigid fixation in multifragmentary and comminuted fractures or in the presence of poor bone quality.

The Efficacy of Conservative Treatment of Bone Marrow Edema Syndrome: A Scoping Review of the Last Ten Years of Literature.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this review was to conduct a literature search assessing the efficacy of various conservative treatments of BMES. METHODS: According to the PRISMA guidelines, a literature search was conducted in April 2021 in MEDLINE database via PubMed and Embase to identify original articles describing the results of conservative treatments for BMES of hip and knee published in the last ten years. For each study, information regarding study characteristics, description of the treatment, patient's demographic and clinical data, length of follow-up, clinical outcome measure, disability, adverse events, classification, and extent and of edema on MRI, were extracted. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies were identified. Two studies described treatment with iloprost, three with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), two with bisphosphonates, five with extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). The total number of patients was 351: 34 treated with iloprost, 64 with hyperbaric oxygen, 37 with bisphosphonates, 216 with ESWT. In ESWT studies, treatment with a higher flux density and a higher number of therapy sessions lead to better clinical and radiological scores. In iloprost studies, a more remarkable improvement in the VAS scale was observed in the study on hip patients. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of idiopathic bone marrow edema is currently not standardized, making it difficult to find data that can be compared in a highly reliable way. The studies available in the literature show promising results as for the possibility to cure bone marrow edema efficiently. Standardized radiological scores for evaluating bone marrow edema area are needed in future studies.

Misdiagnosed desmoid fibromatosis of the chest wall presenting in emergency like as recurrence of post-traumatic hematoma: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Desmoid Fibromatosis (DF) represents a rare neoplasm developing from fascial and musculoaponeurotic structures. Preoperative diagnosis of DF is a challenge because of its rarity and nonspecific presentation. Imaging may be helpful for determining the correct diagnosis. Currently there are different clinical treatments of DF including surgical treatment, drug treatment and radiotherapy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 43-year-old Caucasian male presented to the Emergency Department with a 6-month history of recurrence of post-traumatic chest wall hematoma. Physical examination revealed a partially solid, painless mass on the right anterior chest wall. Laboratory tests reported and neutrophilic leukocytosis. Thoracic contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a smooth contour, heterogeneous and hypodense subcutaneous soft tissue mass anterior to the right pectoral muscles and to the right 4th-7th rib. The patient underwent surgery: a solid suprafascial neoplasm was completely excised. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: DF is a soft tissue neoplasm with a tendency for local invasion and recurrence. The course of DF cannot be predicted, being fatal if DF infiltrates vital structures. Diagnosis of DF is difficult and imaging may be helpful for determining the correct diagnosis. Currently the treatment for DF has shifted from surgery (post-operative recurrence rates of 20%-70%) to conservative therapy including watchful waiting. CONCLUSION: DF is a myofibroblastic proliferative soft tissue tumor and classified as an intermediate malignancy. Preoperative diagnosis of DF needs a high index of suspicion and is facilitated by imaging. Surgery, among different treatments, represents a potentially curative treatment of DF.

Management of acute length-unstable Monteggia fractures in children: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Monteggia fractures are uncommon injuries in paediatric age. Treatment algorithms assert that length-unstable fractures are treated with plate fixation. In this case report, intramedullary fixation of an acute length-unstable Monteggia fracture allowed a stable reduction to be achieved, along with an appropriate ulnar length and alignment as well as radio capitellar reduction despite the fact that the orthopaedic surgeon did not use a plate for the ulnar fracture. The scope of treatment is to avoid the use of a plate that causes periosteal stripping and blood circulation disruption around the fracture. CASE SUMMARY: A four-year-old girl presented at the Emergency Department following an accidental fall off a chair onto the right forearm. The X-ray highlighted a length-unstable acute Bado type 1 Monteggia fracture of the right forearm. On the same day, the patient underwent surgical treatment of the Monteggia fracture. The surgeon preferred not to use a plate to avoid a delay in fracture healing and to allow the micromotion necessary for callus formation. The operation comprised percutaneous fixation with an elastic intramedullary K-wire of the ulnar fracture and, subsequently, humeroradial joint reduction through manual manipulation. The orthopaedic surgeon assessed the stability of the radial head reduction under fluoroscopic control through flexion, extension, pronation and supination of the forearm. Healing of the fracture occurred within six weeks after surgery, as indicated by the presence of calluses on at least three cortices on standard radiographs. Dislocation/subluxation or loss of ulnar reduction was not apparent at the final X-ray examination. CONCLUSION: Intramedullary fixation of unstable Monteggia fractures results in excellent outcomes, provides reliable reduction and causes fewer complications.

Use of short stems in revision of standard femoral stem: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Short stems are usually uncemented prosthetics and are recommended in the treatment of traumatic or degenerative diseases of hip. In revision procedures for elderly patients with serious comorbidity, applying a short stem could reduce peri- and post-operative secondary surgical risks to femoral osteotomy, which are necessary for the removal of parts of the implant or acrylic cement from the medullary canal. There are no cases in the literature that apply a short stem for prosthetic revision by acrylic cement anchorage. CASE SUMMARY: A male patient had a left hip replacement in 1995 due to coxarthrosis. At the age of eighty the patient reported an accidental trauma and walked with pain in the left thigh. The X-ray highlighted the stem breakage in the distal section without fracturing the femoral cortex. The patient had various comorbidities (diabetes, anaemia, heart deficiency, and arrhythmia) presenting a high operation risk (ASA 4). During the revision procedure, the distal apex of the stem could not be removed from the femoral cortex. Because of the poor general health of the patient, the surgeon decided not to perform a Wagner femoral osteotomy to remove the distal section of the stem and decided to implant a short stem to avoid removing the stem section of the previous implant. The patient had his left femur X-rayed 15 d post-trauma. CONCLUSION: A field of application of short stem may be the development of a cemented short stem to reduce the complexity of the revision procedure.

Hemorrhagic shock from post-traumatic rupture of microcystic splenic lymphangioma: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Lymphangioma is an abnormal proliferation of lymphatic vessels. Isolated splenic lymphangioma (SL) is rare; in the last 30 years only 22 cases were reported in the literature. Diagnosis is difficult by the absence of typical symptoms and signs. SL is often asymptomatic and occasionally detected through radiological exams or, after the onset of a life-threatening complication, at surgery or pathological examination. Surgery represents the treatment of choice. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 22-year-old Caucasian male was admitted to the Emergency Department after a car accident, complaining of sudden onset, severe, left upper quadrant abdominal pain. Abdominal examination revealed mild abdominal distention and a severe abdominal pain on superficial and deep palpation of left upper abdominal quadrant with obvious muscle guarding and rebound tenderness. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed splenic rupture with hemoperitoneum. Laboratory tests reported severe anemia. The patient received blood transfusions and was taken emergently to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy, evacuation of hemoperitoneum and splenectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful, the patient was discharged on the 7th post-operative day. Diagnosis of microcystic SL was made at pathological examination. DISCUSSION: Post-traumatic splenic rupture may be favored by the presence of a unknown and asymptomatic isolated SL. Although different types of treatment of SL are reported in the literature, splenectomy represents the treatment of choice to avoid complications. CONCLUSION: Isolated SL is difficult to diagnose and suspect because of lack of pathognomonic symptoms and specific diagnostic signs. It can be diagnosed after the onset of a life-threatening complication. Splenectomy is the preferable definitive treatment.

Giant parathyroid adenoma: a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism mimicking a carcinoma.

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Bouveret's syndrome as a rare complication of cholelithiasis: Disputes in current management and report of two cases.

INTRODUCTION: Bouveret's syndrome is a rare complication of cholelithiasis that determines an unusual type of gallstone ileus, secondary to an acquired fistula between the gallbladder and either the duodenum or stomach with impaction of a large gallbladder stone. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult because of its rarity and the absence of typical symptoms. Adequate treatment consists of endoscopic or surgical removal of obstructive stone. PRESENTATION OF CASES: Two old females patients were admitted to the Emergency Department with a history of abdominal pain associated with bilious vomiting. Physical examination revealed abdominal distension with tympanic percussion of the upper quadrants, abdominal pain on deep palpation of all quadrants and in the first patient positive Murphy's sign. Preoperative diagnosis of gallstone impacted in the duodenum was obtained by abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan in the first patient and by esophagogastroduodenoscopy in the second one. Both patients underwent surgery with extraction of the gallstone from the stomach. Postoperative course of two patients was uneventful and they were discharged home. DISCUSSION: Bouveret's syndrome usually presents with signs and symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction. Preoperative radiological investigations not always are useful for its diagnosis. Appropriate treatment, endoscopic or surgical, is debated and must be tailored to each patient considering medical condition, age and comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Bouveret's syndrome is a very rare complication of cholelithiasis, difficult to diagnose and suspect, because of lack of pathognomonic symptoms. Nowaday there are no guidelines for the correct management of this pathology. Endoscopic or surgical removal of obstructive stone represents the correct treatment.

Grisel syndrome, sigmoid sinus thrombosis and rheumatic carditis: Case report of a rare association.

Grisel's syndrome (GS) is a non traumatic atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation of C1-C2 joint. A six year old girl, 20 days after an episode of fever, developed a torticollis and a 3/6 heart murmur. The echocardiography showed a Rheumatic Carditis. The Brain and cervical spine Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the Computerized Tomography (CT) showed rotary dislocation of C1-C2 vertebrae, compatible with GS, and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). An antibiotic therapy, Prednisone and a low molecular weight heparin for 7 days was prescribedfollowed by an oral anticoagulant for 6 months. After a month the MRI showed a reduction of the dislocation and cerebral venous recanalization.

Acetabular revisions using porous tantalum components: A retrospective study with 5-10 years follow-up.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical and X-ray results of acetabular components and tantalum augments in prosthetic hip revisions. METHODS: Fifty-eight hip prostheses with primary failure of the acetabular component were reviewed with tantalum implants. The clinical records and X-rays of these cases were retrospectively reviewed. Bone defect evaluations were based on preoperative CT scans and classified according to Paprosky criteria of Radiolucent lines and periprosthetic gaps; implant mobilization and osteolysis were evaluated by X-ray. An ad hoc database was created and statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 23.0). Statistical analyses were carried out using the Student's t test for independent and paired samples. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant and cumulative survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 87.6 ± 25.6 mo (range 3-120 mo). 25 cases (43.1%) were classified as minor defects, and 33 cases (56.9%) as major defects. The preoperative HHS rating improved significantly from a mean of 40.7 ± 6.1 (range: 29-53) before revision, to a mean of 85.8 ± 6.1 (range: 70-94) at the end of the follow-up (Student's t test for paired samples: P < 0.001). Considering HHS only at the end of follow-up, no statistically significant difference was observed between patients with a major or minor defect (Student's t test for independent samples: P > 0.05). Radiolucent lines were found in 4 implants (6.9%). Postoperative acetabular gaps were observed in 5 hips (8.6%). No signs of implant mobilization or areas of periprosthetic osteolysis were found in the x-rays at the final follow-up. Only 3 implants failed: 1 case of infection and 2 cases of instability. Defined as the end-point, cumulative survival at 10 years was 95% (for all reasons) and 100% for aseptic loosening of the acetabular component. CONCLUSION: The medium-term use of prosthetic tantalum components in prosthetic hip revisions is safe and effective in a wide variety of acetabular bone defects.

Hypophosphatemic rickets: etiology, clinical features and treatment.

Hypophosphatemic rickets (HR) is a genetic disorder, which prevents sufficient reabsorption of phosphate in the proximal renal tubule, with increased phosphate excretion, resulting in rickets. The more common form of HR is an X-linked inherited trait, with a prevalence of 1/20,000. The defective gene is located on the X chromosome, but females may present with a wide variety of clinical manifestations. The less common form of HR is caused by autosomal-dominant transmission. Activating mutations of the fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) gene and inactivating mutations in the phosphate regulating gene (PHEX gene with homologies to endopeptidases on the X chromosome), involved in the regulation of FGF-23, have been identified and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of these disturbances. A review of etiopathogenesis and clinical, differential diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of HR, with a particular emphasis on bone impairment, is reported.

The natural history of focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia in the young child with tibia vara.

BACKGROUND: Focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia is an uncommon disorder that affects young children causing unilateral deformity of the tibia. The lesion is seen in other similar conditions but this anomaly shows peculiar clinical characteristic. METHODS: Eleven young patients have been seen between the years 2002-2010 and followed up clinically and radiographically from 3 to 9 years. Family history, previous episode of trauma, infections, and bone disease in the children were not recountered. RESULTS: All cases were treated conservatively and self-corrected by the last follow-up. One case (9.09%) displayed a 4° of varus, and one case (9.09%) displayed a 5° of varus and one (9.09%) a slight leg length discrepancy. CONCLUSION: According to our results and those reported in the literature, focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia is a benign affection that does not need treatment with a Levine and Drennan angle of <30°.

Osteosynthesis systems in fragility fracture.

Atraumatic fractures, more commonly known as "fragility fractures", have as their basis the decreased bone strength due to osteoporosis. The major technical problem is the difficulty in obtaining secure fixation in osteoporotic bone, because the pull-out strength of implant is significantly reduced. The high rate of complications has encouraged extensive research into the development of implant which can improve the bone-implant interface by preventing high stress and distributing the forces transmitted to bone in a load-sharing, rather than load-bearing way.