Outcome of percutaneous curettage for bone cysts in the upper extremities

To evaluate the bone healing and recurrence rate after percutaneous curettage of bone cysts in the upper extremities in children and young adolescents. Orthopaedic department at Jordan University Hospital -Amman. The study started from September 1998 to August 2007, treating 10 children [seven males and three females] with a mean age of 8.57 year [range 3 to 12.3 years].There were eight cysts in the humerus and two in the radius. The cases comprised 5 simple bone cysts [SBC] and 5 aneurysmal bone cysts [ABC] confirmed histopathologically. All cases were treated percutaneously under the guidance of image intensifier by the senior author under general anaesthesia. After a mean duration of follow-up of 2.84 years [range 15m- 4 years], complete healing of the bone cysts had occurred in all cases at the most recent radiograph. All patients returned to full activities and were asymptomatic. No early or late complications were encountered during the course of follow-up. The use of percutaneous curettage in the surgical treatment of benign bone cystic lesions in the upper extremities is an effective treatment to control local recurrences and enhance bony consolidation without using bone graft

Absence of the palmaris longus tendon in mid eastern population

Determine the incidence of the absence of the palmaris longus tendon in the middle eastern population with relation to gender, hand dominance. Orthopaedic department, Plastic and reconstructive surgery department Jordan University Hospital -Amman. Between September 2004 and August 2007, we examined 1,020 Jordanian subjects, [510 men, 510 women] aged between six and 77 years [Mean 29.35 years] for the absence of Palmaris longus tendon. The examination was done using the usual method of detection by firm opposition of the thumb to little finger with slight wrist flexion. All statistical analyses were carried out using the statistical software programme SPSS [Version 14]. In right-handed subjects bilateral absence was more common than unilateral absence, [p = 0.0002]. Bilateral absence in females and males was more common than unilateral absence, [p = 0.0013, and 0.0029], respectively. Overall absence in females was more common than for males, [p = 0.0069]. Our figures form another variability as the reported literature regarding the unilateral and bilateral absence, furthermore this put middle eastern population comes second to the Turkish population in term of the overall prevalence of absence and higher than the Caucasian population. There is no statistical significance between the dominant hand and the absent palmaris longus, [p = 0.632]. Palmaris longus tendon is an essential tendon graft for different surgical specialities. It is advisable for clinicians working in the middle east region to be aware of these findings

Ablation of osteoid osteoma of lower extremity using dynamic Hip screw drill

Evaluate the efficacy of Image Intensifier- guidance percutaneous ablation of osteoid osteoma of lower extremity in children and adolescents, using a dynamic hip-screw [DHS] drill pit [9- mm] as a minimally invasive therapy. Orthopaedic department at Jordan University Hospital -Amman. The Study Started from November 1999 October 2006, Treating 18 children, [eleven males and seven females], with a mean age of 12.17 years [range 4-16 years]. The mean follow-up period was 35.37 months [range 18-78 months]. There were fourteen lesions in the femur and four in the tibia. All patients were treated percutaneously under Image intensifier guidance by the first author under general anesthesia. Initial clinical success in the first week was achieved in 88.88% of children [16/18] from drilling once. Two patients 11.11% needed redrilling two weeks later after failure of the first drilling to target the nidus. Complications included one fractured tibia and two skin abrasions over the tibia. At long- and medium term follow-up, all patients were classified to have good clinical response. The combination of intraoperative localization of osteoid osteoma by image intensifier, using a dynamic hip-screw [DHS] drill, resulted in an efficient, safe, and curative procedure with minimal bone loss. This method can be used as an alternative to the standard techniques for removal of osteoid osteoma. Using the technique for the tibia may be associated with higher incidence of complications