Evaluation of the acromiohumeral distance by means of magnetic resonance imaging umerus / Avaliação da distância úmero-acromial por meio da ressonância magnética

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the relationship between the size, degree of retraction and topography of rotator cuff injuries and the degree of rise of the humeral head, and to evaluate the influence of gravity, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: We evaluated 181 shoulder MRIs from 160 patients aged over 45 years, between November 2013 and July 2014. The patients were divided into two groups: one control (no lesion or partial damage to the rotator cuff); and the other with complete tears of the rotator cuff. We measured the acromiohumeral distance in the sagittal plane, and established the shortest distance between the apex of the head and the acromion. RESULTS: In this study, 96 examinations on female patients (53.04%) and 58 on male patients (46.96%) were evaluated. The mean age was 63.27 years: in the control group, 61.46; and in the group with injuries, 65.19. From analysis on the measurements of the subacromial space, we observed significantly higher values in the control group (7.71 mm) than in the group with injuries (6.99). In comparing the control group with some specific subgroup, i.e. posterosuperior (6.77), anteroposterior-superior (4.16) and retraction Patte III (5.01), we confirmed the importance of topography and degree of retraction in relation to the rise of the humeral head. CONCLUSION: The rise of the humeral head was directly related to the size, degree of retraction and topography of the rotator cuff injuries, with greater degrees of rise in cases of superior and posterior lesions and anteroposterior-superior (massive) lesions. The assessment using MRI was not influenced by the force of gravity.

OBJETIVO: Demonstrar a relação entre o tamanho, grau de retração e topografia das lesões do manguito rotador com o grau de ascensão da cabeça umeral e avaliar a influência da força da gravidade na ressonância magnética. MÉTODOS: Avaliamos 181 ressonâncias magnéticas de ombro de 160 pacientes com mais de 45 anos, entre novembro de 2013 e julho de 2014. Os pacientes eram divididos em dois grupos, um de controle (sem lesão ou com lesão parcial do MR) e outro com lesão completa do MR. Fizemos a mensuração da distância acrômio-umeral nos cortes sagitais e foi estabelecida a menor distância entre o ápice da cabeça e o acrômio. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados neste estudo 96 (53,04%) exames de pacientes do sexo feminino e 58 de pacientes do sexo masculino (46,96%). A idade média foi 63,27 anos, a do grupo controle 61,46 e a do grupo com lesão 65,19. Ao analisar as medidas do espaço subacromial, observamos valores significativamente maiores no grupo controle (7,71 mm) do que no grupo com lesão (6,99). Quando comparamos o grupo controle com alguns subgrupos específicos, posterossuperior (6,77), anteroposterossuperior (4,16) e retração Patte III (5,01), confirmamos a importância da topografia e grau de retração para ascensão da cabeça umeral. CONCLUSÃO: A ascensão da cabeça umeral tem relação direta com o tamanho, grau de retração e a topografia das lesões do manguito rotador, com graus maiores de ascensão nas lesões posterossuperiores e anteroposterossuperiores (extensas). A avaliação feita pela ressonância magnética não sofre influência da força da gravidade.

Histoplasmosis diagnosed after arthroscopy of the knee: case report

ABSTRACTFungal arthritis is a rare complication of arthroscopic surgeries, but its possibility should always be considered due its deleterious effects on any joint. Infection caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum is the most common cause of respiratory tract infections by fungi, meanwhile histoplasmosis arthritis is more rare than all other fungal infections. However, their atypical forms of arthritis and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment cannot be over-emphasized. Herein we report a case of knee monoarthritis in an immunocompetent patient with histoplasmosis arthritis following an arthroscopic meniscetomy, diagnosed by synovial biopsy and culture performed during a second arthroscopic procedure. The joint was debrided in this second intervention and the patient received itraconazole initially and fluconazole latter on. The arthritis subsided after 10 months of treatment.