Unexpected sequelae of plantar fasciitis: latrogenic calcaneal osteomyelitis following plantar heel injection

@#The injection of a local anesthetic in combination with a corticosteroid is an accepted choice in the treatment of plantar fasciitis with recalcitrant heel pain. When the injection is performed properly, post-injection infection is extremely rare. We are reporting a rare case of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis that developed secondary to a local corticosteroid injection. A 56-year-old lady diagnosed with right plantar fasciitis presented with a 6-month history of pain and a persistent sinus with serous discharge of her right heel following a local infiltration of a corticosteroid. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging demonstrated right calcaneal osteomyelitis with intramuscular abscess. Surgical drainage and debridement were done, followed by antibiotic therapy. A recurrence of infection was not detected throughout the duration of follow-up. It is suggested that a plantar heel injection be done in a more controlled environment, such as in operating theatre, to reduce the risk of infection and to avoid injecting a steroid as compared to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in view of their safety profiles. However, such an injection should only be offered after conservative treatment has failed, as 80% of patients recover well after initial conservative management.

The Kuala Pilah cluster cataract study: Accessible eye care reduces cataract blindness

@#Objective: The Ministry of Health introduced the cluster hospital project in Kuala Pilah district in 2016 to allow sharing of resources between the hospitals in the same vicinity. The aim of this study is to compare the demographic profile, prevalence of cataract blindness and low vision among patients who presented for cataract surgery before and after the programme. Methodology: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent cataract surgery in Kuala Pilah Cluster Hospitals between 2010 and 2017. A total of 2539 records of patients were reviewed. Patients were assigned into two groups: Group 1 (2010-2012)- before the programme (2010-2012) and Group 2 (2015-2017) after the introduction of the programme. Results: There was a significant increase in number of cataract cases in the district hospital after the cluster initiative. The mean age of patients undergoing cataract surgery was similar in both groups. The common comorbidities were hypertension (Group 1=57.3%; Group 2=70.8%) and diabetes mellitus (Group 1=40.6%; Group 2=51.1%). In 2010-2012, most of the patients were one eye blind (34.4%), whereas in 2015-2017 majority of patients presented with vision better than 6/18 (43.5%). The proportion of patients with cataract blindness reduced from 6% in 2010-2012 to 4.3% in 2015-2017 (p<0.01). Conclusion: There is a significant decrease in percentage of patients with cataract blindness and low vision after the introduction of Kuala Pilah Cluster Hospital Program. We believe that that cluster hospital system is effective in improving accessibility to eye care and therefore increases the cataract detection rate.

Appraisal of tipu sultan's contributions toward development of unani medicine: a critical analysis

Unani system of medicine has enjoyed the status of being royal since antiquity, and various rulers and governments have paid special attention toward its growth and development. In India, Tipu Sultan, a highly cultured intellectual, academician, physician, scholar, and a great scientist, was one of those who played an important role in the advancement of Unani medicine. He had an imperial library located at Srirangapatna housing more than 2000 manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, and Hindi, dealing with medicine, military science, music, Hadith, law, Sufism, history, philosophy, grammar, astrology, poetry, and mathematics, of which 62 books were related to medicine. He also possessed vast expertise in treating various diseases, which is inferred from his personal letters and communications. He not only showed interest in preserving Unani manuscripts but also mentioned about 45 books on the subject of medicine in his memoirs. The health system was highly sophisticated in his territory among his contemporary kingdoms. Moreover, physicians and surgeons were regularly inducted to serve the injured and wounded soldiers in every battalion. The present study judiciously inspected the contributions of Tipu Sultan toward the patronage and promotion of Unani medicine, especially in the southern part of India in the 18[th] century

Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings between Pathologically Proven Cases of Atypical Tubercular Spine and Tumour Metastasis: A Retrospective Study in 40 Patients

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: To note the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) differences between pathologically proven cases of atypical spinal tuberculosis and spinal metastasis in 40 cases. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Spinal tuberculosis, or Pott's spine, constitutes less than 1% of all cases of tuberculosis and can be associated with a neurologic deficit. Breast, prostate and lung cancer are responsible for more than 80% of metastatic bone disease cases, and spine is the most common site of bone metastasis. Thus, early diagnosis and prompt management of these pathologies are essential in preventing various complications. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 40 cases of atypical tuberculosis and metastasis affecting the spine from the year 2012 to 2014, with 20 cases each that were proven by histopathological examination. MR imaging was performed on 1.5 T MR-Scanner (Magnetom Avanto, Siemens) utilizing standard surface coils of spine with contrast injection. Chi-square test was used for determining the statistical significance and p-values were calculated. RESULTS: The most common site of involvement was the thoracic spine, seen in 85% cases of metastasis and 65% cases of Pott's spine (p=0.144). The mean age of patients with tubercular spine was found to be 40 years and that of metastatic spine was 56 years. The following MR imaging findings showed statistical significance (p<0.05): combined vertebral body and posterior elements involvement, skip lesions, solitary lesion, intra-spinal lesions, concentric collapse, abscess formation and syrinx formation. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of various spinal lesions including metastasis, fungal spondylodiskitis, sarcoidosis and lymphoma, particularly in endemic countries. Spinal tuberculosis is considered one of the great mimickers of disease as it could present in a variety of typical and atypical patterns, so proper imaging must be performed in order to facilitate appropriate treatment.

Kirner's deformity misdiagnosed as fracture: a case report

Kirner's deformity or dystelephalangy is a rare entity which presents with painless, progressive, bilateral radiovolar curving of the terminal phalanges of the little fingers. It is a clinicoradiological diagnosis. Herein, we present a case where the patient was being treated as having a fracture of the distal phalanx because of misdiagnosis of Kirner's deformity. Given the rarity of the deformity, we believe it useful to present our case report as a contribution to the literature

Concomitant bilateral testicular epidermoid cysts

Epidermoid cyst of the testis is a rare benign germ cell tumor, comprising 1-2% of all resected benign testicular masses. Approximately 300 cases have been reported to date. Unilateral involvement has often been reported in the English literature. However, bilateral occurrence is very rare and to the best of our knowledge, there are only 3 previous reports of bilateral testicular epidermoid cysts. The fact that they are completely benign makes them amenable to treatment by local excision, thereby saving patient from orchidectomy. Recognition of their characteristic ultrasonographic features is very important to avoid unnecessary intervention. We present here, a case of bilateral epidermoid cyst in which characteristic ultrasound US findings allowed testis-sparing enucleation instead of radical orchiectomy