[Surgical repair of a thigh muscle herniation with synthetic mesh].

We present the case of a 14-year-old female patient with a big muscle hernia in the thigh after extraction of a fascia lata strip to repair bilateral congenital ptosis. After three weeks, a progressive emergence of a large bulge between the two thigh incisions in a standing position was noticeable, with local discomfort, dull pain on exertion and unsightly ap-pearance that worried the patient. On surgery three months later, a large tear in the fascia lata and muscle herniation was revealed. The fascial tear was debrided and a synthetic mesh was applied. Ten years later, the patient confirmed her continued asymptomatic condition. Muscular hernia of significant size as a consequence of a fascia lata strip harvest is extremely infrequent in adoles-cents. Surgical repair of big muscular hernias in extremities with synthetic mesh, usually used in groin hernia repair, is an infrequent orthopaedic tool but is safe, easy to apply and inexpensive.

[Slipped capital femoral epiphysis in an ambulant patient with spastic cerebral palsy. A long-term evolution].

We report the case of a boy aged 13 years and 9 months, with predominantly right-sided spastic tetraparesis, who could walk with assistance, GMFCS III, phenotype consistent with adiposogenital syndrome. He presented a 4-week history of left-sided limp without pain, radiologically classified as a stable, chronic slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) with mild slippage (<30º) on the Southwick classification. In situ fixation of the hip was performed using a full-headed screw, followed by six weeks of rest. Twelve years since the intervention, the patient remains asymptomatic with no clinical or radiological changes. SCFE in patients with cerebral palsy, while highly unusual, is possible. A high level of suspicion is required for diagnosing it. We would suggest ruling out the appearance of SCFE during surveillance screening of patients with cerebral palsy, =?10 years-old, particularly in obese individuals with or without adiposogenital phenotype and limited ability to communicate verbally.

Acute haematogenous septic arthritis of a lumbar facet joint in an otherwise healthy adolescent.

Facet joint septic arthritis is a rare cause of spinal infection in children with only four cases reported. The transmission pathway is believed to be haematogenous in 72% of cases. The authors present the case of a 13-year-old boy hospitalised for acute lumbosciatalgia, limp and fever, with pain upon palpation of the paravertebral muscles, a positive Laségue signal and elevated serum inflammatory markers. The initial lumbar computerised tomography (TC) scan revealed no abnormalities in the interapophyseal joints. After improving on treatment with analgesics and antibiotics, he was readmitted one month later due to clinical deterioration, and septic arthritis of left facet joint L3-L4 was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient experienced a full recovery after treatment with systemic antibiotics (cefotaxime-cloxacilin) and rehabilitation. A high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose this localization as a manifestation of lumbosciatalgia and/or limp in children. CT-scan or, preferably, MRI is mandatory to confirm this diagnosis.

Distal radial torus fracture in an adult. A new type of occult wrist fracture?

Torus or buckle fractures typically affect children who have suffered indirect minor wrist injuries. They are axial compression-type metaphyseal fractures of cortical and cancellous bone, which are stable and their treatment therefore consists in immobilisation of the joint for three to four weeks. We present an atypical case of distal radius torus fracture in a 19-year-old adult male, which has not been previously reported in adults and can be considered a new type of occult fracture. Knowledge of this possibility is mandatory to be able to make a differential diagnosis of wrist sprain in adults, and avoid performing superfluous complementary tests due to the persistence of pain and functional incapacity.

Enfermedad de Blount: a propósito de un caso / Blount disease: a case report

La enfermedad de Blount o tibia vara es una alteración del desarrollo que afecta al cartílago de crecimiento proximal de la tibia. Es una entidad poco frecuente y de probable origen multifactorial, cuya etiología no está aclarada. Provoca una deformidad progresiva con un arqueamiento de las extremidades inferiores en forma de genu varo. En la variante precoz es más frecuente la afectación bilateral por lo que en los casos leves puede ser difícil diferenciar del genu varo fisiológico. Presentamos el caso de una niña de 15 meses de origen africano que presenta un genu varo bilateral progresivo. Tras un seguimiento clínico y radiológico precisó finalmente corrección quirúrgica de la deformidad (AU)

Blount disease is a developmental disorder that affects the proximal growth cartilage of the tibia. It is a rare entity of probable multifactorial origin whose etiology is not clear. It causes a progressive deformity with a bowing of the lower limbs in the form of a genu varum. In the early variant, bilateral involvement is more frequent, so in mild cases it may be difficult to differentiate between the physiological variant. We present the case of a 15-month-old girl of African origin, who has a progressive bilateral genu varum. After a clinical and radiological follow-up, he finally needed surgical correction of the deformity (AU)

[Idiopatic chondrolysis of the hip. Long-term follow-up of a case]. / Condrolisis idiopática de cadera. Evolución a largo plazo.

Idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip is a very rare disease occurring during adolescence. Pain and limp are the most common symptoms and are a consequence of an accelerated loss of the articular cartilage with a lower range of move-ment producing rigidity in the last instance. The natural history is unpredictable and varies between complete and spon-taneous recovery and the ankylosis. The current recommended treatment is conservative, restricting the surgical option for residual stiffness. A clinical case of an eleven year old patient is presented. He consulted for a 2 year, torpid course of left groin pain with limp and rigidity. He received treatment with rest, discharge, analgesics and rehabilitation without any improvement initially. He was treated conservatively with NSAIDS, extremity discharge periods, soft traction in the hospital and at home and rehabilitation, recovering mobility and normal gait 6 years after the beginning of the symptoms. Twelve years after the onset of the symptoms the patient leads a normal life without symptoms and has a symmetric range of motion of both hips.

Condrolisis idiopática de cadera. Evolución a largo plazo / Idiopatic chondrolysis of the hip. Long-term follow-up of a case

La condrolisis idiopática de cadera es una rara condición que se presenta durante la adolescencia. Se caracteriza por dolor y cojera producidos por una pérdida acelerada del cartílago articular con una disminución del grado de movilidad llegando a rigidez. La historia va desde la resolución espontánea completa a la anquilosis. El tratamiento recomendado actualmente es el conservador. Se presenta el caso clínico de un paciente de 11 años de edad con un cuadro clínico de 2 años de evolución tórpida de dolor inguinal izquierdo acompañado de cojera y rigidez. Se instauró reposo, descarga, analgésicos y rehabilitación sin mejoría inicial. Posteriormente recibió tratamiento conservador con AINE, periodos de descarga de la extremidad, tracción blanda hospitalaria, tracción ambulatoria nocturna y rehabilitación, recuperando la movilidad y marcha normal 6 años después del inicio de los síntomas. Catorce años más tarde el paciente hace una vida normal, asintomático y con movilidad simétrica de ambas caderas (AU)

Idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip is a very rare disease occurring during adolescence. Pain and limp are the most common symptoms and are a consequence of an accelerated loss of the articular cartilage with a lower range of movement producing rigidity in the last instance. The natural history is unpredictable and varies between complete and spontaneous recovery and the ankylosis. The current recommended treatment is conservative, restricting the surgical option for residual stiffness. A clinical case of an eleven year old patient is presented. He consulted for a 2 year, torpid course of left groin pain with limp and rigidity. He received treatment with rest, discharge, analgesics and rehabilitation without any improvement initially. He was treated conservatively with NSAIDS, extremity discharge periods, soft traction in the hospital and at home and rehabilitation, recovering mobility and normal gait 6 years after the beginning of the symptoms. Twelve years after the onset of the symptoms the patient leads a normal life without symptoms and has a symmetric range of motion of both hips (AU)

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire.Validation study of the Spanish version.

BACKGROUND: In the last few years, instruments that measure outcomes and quality of life as perceived by the patient have become tools of great clinical value. The Zurich Claudication Questionnaire is one of the main instruments for the assessment of patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis. Nonetheless, no valid version has been published for use in the Spanish population. METHODS: The Zurich Claudication Questionnaire was translated and cross-culturally adapted to Spanish and the psychometric characteristics of the new version were then studied. Seventy-six patients were selected who were to undergo epidural steroid injection or were seen in the Hospital Complex of Navarre Spinal Unit. RESULTS: The Spanish version of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire shows high Cronbach alpha internal consistency values, high reproducibility, a good correlation with the most important low back condition questionnaires used worldwide and good sensitivity for detecting clinical change in patients who undergo epidural steroid injection. CONCLUSION: This study resulted in a version of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire or Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire translated and cross-culturally adapted to Spanish, with highly reliable, valid and sensitive psychometric characteristics. These proven properties make the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire available for the Spanish population, to evaluate outcomes and health status as perceived by patients with spinal stenosis and claudication syndrome.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire. Validation study of the Spanish versión / Adaptación transcultural de Cuestionario de Claudicación Zurich. Estudio de validación de la versión española

Background: In the last few years, instruments that measure outcomes and quality of life as perceived by the patient have become tools of great clinical value. The Zurich Claudication Questionnaire is one of the main instruments for the assessment of patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis. Nonetheless, no valid version has been published for use in the Spanish population. Methods: The Zurich Claudication Questionnaire was translated and cross-culturally adapted to Spanish and the psychometric characteristics of the new version were then studied. Seventy-six patients were selected who were to undergo epidural steroid injection or were seen in the Hospital Complex of Navarre Spinal Unit. Results: The Spanish version of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire shows high Cronbach alpha internal consistency values, high reproducibility, a good correlation with the most important low back condition questionnaires used worldwide and good sensitivity for detecting clinical change in patients who undergo epidural steroid injection. Conclusion: This study resulted in a version of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire or Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire translated and cross-culturally adapted to Spanish, with highly reliable, valid and sensitive psychometric characteristics. These proven properties make the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire available for the Spanish population, to evaluate outcomes and health status as perceived by patients with spinal stenosis and claudication sindrome (AU)

Introducción: En los últimos años, los instrumentos de medida de resultados y calidad de vida percibida por el paciente, se han convertido en herramientas de gran utilidad clínica. El Cuestionario de Claudicación de Zurich es uno de los principales instrumentos para el estudio de los pacientes afectos de estenosis del canal lumbar. Actualmente, no se ha publicado una versión validada para su uso en la población española. Métodos: El Cuestionario de Claudicación de Zurich ha sido traducido y adaptado transculturalmente al español, y se han estudiado las características psicométricas de la nueva versión. Se seleccionaron 76 pacientes a los que se les iba a realizar una infiltración epidural de esteroides o que eran vistos en consultas de la Unidad de Raquis Quirúrgico del Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra. Resultados: La versión española del Cuestionario de Claudicación de Zurich muestra altos valores de consistencia interna alfa de Cronbach, alta reproducibilidad, una buena correlación con los cuestionarios de patología lumbar más importantes a nivel mundial, y una buena sensibilidad para detectar cambios clínicos en pacientes a los que se les realiza una infiltración epidural de corticoides. Conclusión: Se ha obtenido una versión del Cuestionario de Claudicación de Zurich traducida y adaptada transculturalmente al español, con altos valores en las características psicométricas de fiabilidad, validez y sensibilidad. Esto permite, en la población española, evaluar los resultados y el estado de salud percibido por los pacientes con estenosis de canal y síndrome de claudicación (AU)

Termómetros de mercurio, aún tóxicos aún presentes / Mercury thermometers, still toxic, still present

Los termómetros de mercurio han sido y son, a pesar de la prohibición de su fabricación, una de las principales fuentes de exposición en la edad pediátrica al mercurio (Hg) elemental en nuestro medio. La toxicidad producida por el Hg elemental depende de la vía de exposición y de la duración de la misma. La exposición a través del tracto digestivo no produce prácticamente toxicidad, pero la inoculación subcutánea o endovenosa y la inhalación puede producir lesiones a nivel local o sistémico. Presentamos el caso clínico de una niña, que presentó inoculación de mercurio líquido en tejido subcutáneo tras la rotura de un termómetro de cristal, produciéndose daño a nivel local con este atonecrosis del tejido. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante estudio radiológico y precisó intervención quirúrgica urgente con escisión en cuña de piel y tejido subcutáneo, guiada con radioscopia. Se descartó la extensión a nivel sistémico, comprobándose la normalidad de los niveles de mercurio en sangre y orina(AU)

Mercury thermometers are and have been, despite their manufacture being banned, one of the main sources of exposure at the paediatric age to elementary mercury (Hg) in our environment. The toxicityproduced by elementary Hg depends on the exposure channel and its length. Exposure through the digestive tract produces hardly any toxicity, but subcutaneous or intravenous inoculation and inhalation of mercury may produce damages at a local or system level. We present the case of a child who showed inoculation of liquid mercury in subcutaneous tissue after a liquid-in-glass thermometer broke. This provoked damages at a local level with steatonecrosis of the tissue. The diagnosis was decided through a radiological test and required urgent surgery with excision of skin and subcutaneous tissue, guided by radioscopy. Any spread at a system level was discarded. The levels of mercury in the bloodstream and in the urine were regular (AU)

[Mercury thermometers, still toxic, still present]. / Termómetros de mercurio, aún tóxicos aún presentes.

Mercury thermometers are and have been, despite their manufacture being banned, one of the main sources of exposure at the paediatric age to elementary mercury (Hg) in our environment. The toxicity produced by elementary Hg depends on the exposure channel and its length. Exposure through the digestive tract produces hardly any toxicity, but subcutaneous or intravenous inoculation and inhalation of mercury may produce damages at a local or system level. We present the case of a child who showed inoculation of liquid mercury in subcutaneous tissue after a liquid-in-glass thermometer broke. This provoked damages at a local level with steatonecrosis of the tissue. The diagnosis was decided through a radiological test and required urgent surgery with excision of skin and subcutaneous tissue, guided by radioscopy. Any spread at a system level was discarded. The levels of mercury in the bloodstream and in the urine were regular.

Fractura abierta de apófisis cervical transversa producida por herida por asta de toro / Open fracture of a cervical transverse process as a result of a bull-horn wound

No disponible

Fibrosis retroperitoneal postraumática como causa de dolor lumbar / Post traumatic retroperitoneal fibrosis as a cause of low-back pain

We present the case of a male patient with posttraumatic retroperitoneal fibrosis whose main clinical expression was low-back pain. Diagnosis was establis hedusing CAT-scan and MRI, which revealed a largemass of soft tissue that almost entirely enveloped the abdominal aorta. Treatment with 40 mg of prednisone every 24 hours was established. This dose was reduced gradually, and progressive remission of clinical sign sand symptoms was achieved, with a significant improvement of subsequent imaging-test results. Treatment was continued for one year. Two and a half years later the patient remains symptom-free, with no recurrence of his condition (AU)

Se presenta el caso de un paciente varón afecto de una fibrosis retroperitoneal postraumática, a cuyo diagnóstico se llegó a partir de dolor lumbar como síntoma principal. El diagnóstico se efectuó en base a los estudios mediante CT y RM, los cuales demostraron una gran masa de tejido de partes blandas que rodeabanla aorta. El tratamiento consistió en dosis de prednisonaque inicialmente se instauró a 40 mg cada 24 horas, y posteriormente se fue reduciendo de forma gradual hasta la remisión de los signos y síntomas, y consecuentemente de los estudios de imagen. El tratamiento con corticoides se mantuvo durante un año. Dos años y medio el paciente está libre de síntomas sin recidivade su proceso (AU)

[Glenohumeral osteometry-scapulometry in anterior shoulder instabilities. Study of one of the static stabilizers through computer tomography]. / Osteometría-escapulometría glenohumeral en las inestabilidades anteriores recidivantes de hombro. Estudio etiopatogénico de uno de los estabilizadores.

We have carried out a scapulometric study, using CT-scan, of 98 shoulders: 36 with recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation (RAD), 37 stable contralateral shoulders (CSS) and 25 normal shoulders (NS). Six parameters were evaluated: Horizontal and Vertical glenohumeral index, glenoid tilt, anteversion angle of the scapula, glenoid angle and humeral retroversion. We found statistically significant differences between the RAD and CSS groups in the horizontal glenohumeral index. Both the RAD and CSS groups showed significant differences in comparison with the NS group in the horizontal glenohumeral index, glenoid tilt and anteversion angle of the scapula. An imbalance of the head-glenoid size and the anterior glenoid tilt are the anatomical factors which favour instability. The determination of these three parameters has great value when assessing patients with anterior shoulder instability. Our results confirm that although the aetiology of anterior glenohumeral instability is multifactorial, there is an anatomical congenital predisposition which favours instability and this predisposition affects (to a lesser extent) the stable contralateral side, confirming the role of subtle congenital dysplasic theory. In addition the following were revealed as relevant parameters in the study of anterior instability: the horizontal glenohumeral index, glenoid tilt and angle of anteversion of the scapula; while the value of the humeral retroversion is under discussion.

Osteometría-escapulometría glenohumeral en las inestabilidades anteriores recidivantes de hombro. Estudio etiopatogénico de uno de los estabilizadores estáticos mediante tomografía computarizada / Glenohumeral osteometry-scapulometry in anterior shoulder instabilities. Study of one of the static stabilizers through computer tomography

Se realizó un estudio escapulométrico de 98 hombros,mediante TAC: 36 con luxación anterior recidivante(LRH), 37 hombros estables contralaterales de esospacientes (HEC) y 25 hombros normales (HN). Se evaluaronseis parámetros: índice glenohumeral horizontal,índice glenohumeral vertical, inclinación glenoidea,ángulo de anteversión de la escápula, ángulo glenoideoy retroversión humeral.Encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativasentre los grupos LRH y HEC en relación al índiceglenohumeral horizontal. Ambos grupos (LRH y HEC)mostraban diferencias significativas en comparacióncon el grupo de hombros normales (HN) en relación alíndice glenohumeral horizontal, inclinación glenoidea yángulo de anteversión de la escápula. La desproporcióncefalo-glenoidea y la inclinación anterior glenoidea sonlos factores anatómicos desestabilizantes.Nuestros resultados confirman que, aunque la etiologíade la inestabilidad anterior de hombro es multifactorial,existe una predisposición congénita anatómicaque la favorece y, en menor grado, también en el hombroestable contralateral, confirmando la existencia deuna sutil displasia congénita. Además se revelan comoparámetros relevantes en el estudio de la inestabilidadanterior: el índice glenohumeral horizontal, inclinaciónglenoidea y ángulo de anteversión de la escápula, siendodiscutido el papel de la retroversión humeral(AU)

We have carried out a scapulometric study, usingCT-scan, of 98 shoulders: 36 with recurrent anteriorshoulder dislocation (RAD), 37 stable contralateralshoulders (CSS) and 25 normal shoulders (NS). Sixparameters were evaluated: Horizontal and Verticalglenohumeral index, glenoid tilt, anteversion angle ofthe scapula, glenoid angle and humeral retroversion.We found statistically significant differences betweenthe RAD and CSS groups in the horizontal glenohumeralindex. Both the RAD and CSS groups showed significantdifferences in comparison with the NS group in the horizontalglenohumeral index, glenoid tilt and anteversionangle of the scapula. An imbalance of the head-glenoidsize and the anterior glenoid tilt are the anatomicalfactors which favour instability. The determination ofthese three parameters has great value when assessingpatients with anterior shoulder instability.Our results confirm that although the aetiology ofanterior glenohumeral instability is multifactorial, thereis an anatomical congenital predisposition which favoursinstability and this predisposition affects (to a lesser extent)the stable contralateral side, confirming the roleof subtle congenital dysplasic theory. In addition the followingwere revealed as relevant parameters in the studyof anterior instability: the horizontal glenohumeral index,glenoid tilt and angle of anteversion of the scapula; whilethe value of the humeral retroversion is under discussion(AU)

Post traumatic retroperitoneal fibrosis as a cause of low-back pain.

We present the case of a male patient with post traumatic retroperitoneal fibrosis whose main clinical expression was low-back pain. Diagnosis was established using CAT-scan and MRI, which revealed a large mass of soft tissue that almost entirely enveloped the abdominal aorta. Treatment with 40 mg of prednisone every 24 hours was established. This dose was reduced gradually, and progressive remission of clinical signs and symptoms was achieved, with a significant improvement of subsequent imaging-test results. Treatment was continued for one year. Two and a half years later the patient remains symptom-free, with no recurrence of his condition.

Valgus slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Valgus slips of the epiphysis are rare, making radiological diagnosis difficult. A high degree of clinical suspicion is required to diagnose the condition. The patient was a 13-year, 7-month-old girl who had been suffering from pain in the left thigh for ten days. She had a limp and a positive Trendelenburg sign. Menstrual function had started when she was 12 years and 10 months old. Pain occurred with getting up from a chair. Hip radiographs revealed symmetrical, bilateral caput valgum, which was a potential cause of confusion given the valgus displacement of the proximal femoral epiphysis. Axial view showed an almost imperceptible posterior slip. The patient was diagnosed as having a valgus slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Surgical treatment was performed using in-situ fixation with a cannulated, fully threaded percutaneous screw placed through the external cortex of the femoral neck. Non-weight-bearing for six weeks was prescribed. Although a medial approach is usually used for screw insertion using a more medial entry-point, preventing neurovascular risks, in-situ fixation (through a lateral approach) was performed more safely and distally. This was done through the outer cortex of the femoral neck (and centered in the axial view), to achieve fixation of the femoral head in the center of the femoral neck and head.

Unilateral non-traumatic radiocarpal volar dislocation in a child. A long-term evolution.

We report an eight year-old female with trisomy 21 referred to our clinic for limitation of wrist mobility. The patient had been diagnosed and treated by polyarticular juvenile chronic arthritis for six months. Clinical and radiological study revealed volar radiocarpal dislocation of the left wrist. She was treated surgically by open reduction, temporary K-w fixation with six weeks of immobilization. The dislocation relapsed but the joint remained painless. One year later she had 5 masculine of dorsal flexion and 25 masculine of volar flexion and absence of pain. In spite of this situation the family said that the girl lived normal life without any limitation because of her condition, refusing further treatment. Eight years later the girl remains asymptomatic and does a normal life without limitation because of her condition. The patient and her family refused any treatment. Based in the failure of surgical treatment performed in our case we think that abstention could be the most reasonable option, mainly in the immature patients.