Glomus Tumor of Hoffa's Fat Pad and Its Management by Arthroscopic Excision

We present a rare case of glomus tumor of Hoffa's fat pad in a 42-year-old woman. Magnetic resonance imaging findings along with the characteristic clinical picture led us to suspect a glomus tumor as the possible etiology. An ischemia test was found to be positive and this further substantiated our diagnosis. An arthroscopic excision was performed and the histology confirmed the diagnosis of glomus tumor of Hoffa's fat pad. The patient responded well to the excision with immediate complete resolution of pain and she remains asymptomatic at the last follow-up after 15 months. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of glomus tumor of Hoffa's fat pad and the first ever to be managed by simple arthroscopic excision. The tumor poses a great challenge to an orthopedic surgeon. However, knowledge of its characteristic clinical presentation and the recognition of such a rare entity can help achieve an early diagnosis and timely management.

Cephalomedullary fixation for femoral neck/intertrochanteric and ipsilateral shaft fractures: surgical tips and pitfalls / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Surgical management options for femoral shaft fracture and ipsilateral proximal femur fracture vary from single-implant to double-implant fixation. Cephalomedullary fixation in such fractures has relative advantages over other techniques especially because of less soft tissue dissection and immediate postoperative weight bearing with accelerated rehabilitation. However, the surgery is technically demanding and there is a paucity of literature describing the surgical techniques for this fixation. The aim of the study was to describe the surgical technique of cephalomedullary fixation for femoral shaft fracture and ipsilateral proximal femur fracture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen cases (10 males and 6 females with a mean age of 41.8 years) of ipsilateral proximal femur and shaft fractures were treated by single-stage cephalomedullary fixation at tertiary level trauma center in northern India. The fractures were classified according to AO classification. An intraoperative record of duration of surgery as well as technical challenges unique to each fracture pattern was kept for all the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The most common proximal femoral pattern was AO B2.1 observed in 9 of our patients. The AO B2.3 fractures were seen in 4 patients while the AO A1.2 fractures in 3 patients. Four of the AO B2.1 and 2 of the AO B2.3 fractures required open reduction with Watson-Jones approach. The mean operative time was around 78 minutes, which tended to decrease as the surgical experience increased. There was only one case of malreduction, which required revision surgery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination of ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture and neck/intertrochanteric fracture is a difficult fracture pattern for trauma surgeons. Cephalomedullary nail is an excellent implant for such fractures but it requires careful insertion to avoid complications. Surgery is technically demanding with a definite learning curve. Nevertheless, a majority of these fractures can be surgically managed by single-implant cephalomedullary fixation by following basic surgical principles that have been summarized in this article.</p>

Pediatric Femoral Neck Fractures: Our 10 Years of Experience

BACKGROUND: Femoral neck fractures are rare injuries in children, but the high incidence of long term complications make it an important clinical entity. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the clinical outcomes of pediatric femur neck fractures that we managed over a 10 year period. METHODS: The study included 36 children (20 boys and 16 girls) who sustained femoral neck fractures and completed a minimum follow-up of one year. The children were treated either conservatively, or by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), or closed reduction and internal fixation (CRIF). The outcomes were analyzed using Ratliff criteria and a detailed record of complications was kept for all patients. RESULTS: The mean age of included patients was 10 years (range, 3 to 16 years) and the average follow-up was 3.2 years (range, 1.1 to 8.5 years). Based on Delbet's classification system, there were 0 type I (transepiphyseal), 16 type II, 11 type III, and 9 type IV fractures. There were 8 undisplaced fractures, 4 of which later displaced after being managed initially in a hip spica. A satisfactory outcome was obtained in 27 (75%) children. Avascular necrosis (AVN) was the most common complication. It was seen in 7 of our patients, all of whom had an unsatisfactory outcome. Other complications included three cases each of coxa vara, non-union, and arthritic changes; and one case each of infection, primary screw perforation of head, and premature epiphyseal closure. Complications were lowest in the group treated by ORIF. Only 2 patients managed exclusively by conservative treatment ultimately achieved a satisfactory outcome. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that internal fixation of pediatric femoral neck fractures is preferred whenever feasible because conservative treatment carries a high risk of failure of reduction. Aggressive operative treatments aimed at anatomical reduction should be the goal and there should be no hesitation in choosing ORIF over CRIF. Outcome of patients is influenced primarily by development of AVN which occurs as an independent entity without much relation to the mode of treatment carried out.

Failure of intramedullary femoral nail with segmental breakage of distal locking bolts: a case report and review of the literature / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Breakage of locking bolts is an important cause of interlocking nail failure in femoral fractures. It usually occurs in the form of single breakage in one of the distal bolts of the nail or nail breakage around the distal locking hole. Here we report an unusual case of intramedullary femoral nail failure with segmental breakage of both the distal locking bolts. Such a scenario usually complicates further management. We successfully managed this case with exchange nailing without bone grafting. Here we briefly reviewed the literature regarding such an unusual presentation and discussed in detail the possible etiology of such a presentation and the management options when facing such a complex situation.

Double segmental tibial fractures--an unusual fracture pattern / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

A case of a 50-year-old pedestrian who was hit by a bike and suffered fractures of both bones of his right leg was presented. Complete clinical and radiographic assessment showed double segmental fractures of the tibia and multisegmental fractures of the fibula. Review of the literature revealed that this fracture pattern was unique and only a single case was reported so far. Moreover, we discussed the possible mechanisms which can lead to such an injury. We also discussed the management of segmental tibial fracture and the difficulties encountered with them. This case was managed by modern osteosynthesis technique with a pleasing outcome.

A rare case of bicondylar Hoffa fracture associated with ipsilateral tibial spine avulsion and extensor mechanism disruption / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Intra-articular coronal fractures (Hoffas fractures) of distal femur are rare. Although bicondylar involvement in these fractures has been reported in the literature in association with high velocity traumata, the occurrence of these fractures involving extensor mechanism rupture and avulsion of ipsilateral tibial spine is extremely rare. To our acquaintance, such a fracture pattern has not yet been reported in the literature so far. In this article, we report one such case and discuss the importance of early diagnosis and prompt internal fixation in the management of such cases.We believe that these rare combinations of injuries should be treated aggressively by early open reduction and anatomic rigid internal fixation in order to achieve good recovery of function.

Neglected lateral process of talus fracture presenting as a loose body in tarsal canal / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Lateral process fractures of talus are rare injuries with a potential to cause significant morbidity if misdiagnosed. The appropriate management of these fractures is still controversial and only a few reports are avai- lable on this subject. We presented a case of a 37-year-old male with neglected fracture on the lateral process of talus which was misdiagnosed at the time of injury. The patient presented to 7 months after misdiagnosis with a chronic ankle pain. Our case is unique in the sense that it is a rare case of neglected fracture on the lateral process of talus which presented as a loose body in sinus tarsi. However, a surgery with an excision of the loose body presented a satis- factory outcome along with 2 years' follow-up. To our knowledge, it ought to be the first case reported in the English literature. Through this case report, we highlight the importance of high index of suspicion for such rare bony injuries while evaluating trauma to the lateral side of ankle and discuss the principles of management of these fractures.